Team GBR

2009 saw Yorkshire-based eventer Nicola Wilson (age 32) earn her first Senior squad selection on 12-year-old black gelding Opposition Buzz, owned and bred by Rosemary Search. The pair ended up in 9th place individually at the Senior European Championships at Fontainebleau in 2009.

Nicola has again had had a fantastic 2010 season so far with ‘Buzz’ including a top ten placing at Badminton Horse Trials plus posting an impressive win at Barbury Castle in the CIC3* in front of the British Team selectors with her 2009 team horse Opposition Buzz, on whom she has again been selected to represent Great Britain at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Nicola has had the ride on Opposition Buzz since 2004 and has ridden him from Novice level through to his first 4* event at Badminton in 2007, where the combination finished 16th. They have both continued to achieve consistently good results at 4* level ever since, coming 7th at Badminton and 5th at Burghley in 2008, by far the pair’s best season to date. Nicola’s hard work also paid off in 2008 when she was chosen to be a part of the World Class Development Squad. Nicola is currently sponsored by Top Spec, William McCiler, Devoucoux and Kan-Teq.

Nicola has been dedicated to horses since a young age, getting her first taste of competition with the Hurworth Pony Club, where she competed in numerous pony club games and triathlons. Nicola was also a keen member of the Bedale Hunt, along with her brother and sister and her mother was also the hunt master for nine seasons.

Nicola began competing with British Eventing in her mid-teens and got her first taste of success in 1997 when she was selected to ride as an individual for the Young Rider European Squad in Pratoni on Mr Bumble, a horse that Nicola had ridden since the age of 13. The combination then came 10th at Burghley in 1998. Nicola was also selected as a reserve for the 2005 Senior Europeans at Blenheim on Skiver.

Nicola has always known that she wanted a career in horses and continued riding through school, A-levels and University. Following the completion of A-levels in Business Studies, Sports Science and Music, Nicola then went onto study Sport and Business Management at Manchester University, graduating with a 2:1 in 1999.

Outside of eventing, Nicola enjoys spending time with friends and family and also enjoys watching her husband play rugby. On the odd occasion, Nicola has also been known to dabble at playing the flute and piano.

Nicola's official website can be found at http://nicolawilsoneventing.com/

Recent Achievements:

2010
1st Barbury Castle CIC3* (Opposition Buzz)
10th Bramham CCI3* (Bee Diplomatic)
9th Chatsworth CIC3* (Bee Diplomatic)
8th Badminton CCI4* (Opposition Buzz)
5th Burnham Market CIC3* (Opposition Buzz)
Individual 9th Place at the 2010 Senior Europeans at Fontainebleau (Opposition Buzz)

2009
6th Festival of British Eventing CICW*** (Opposition Buzz)
12th Barbury Castle CIC*** (Opposition Buzz)
2nd Bramham CCI*** (Master Banks)
11th Lexington CCI**** (Opposition Buzz)

2008
5th Burghley CCI**** (Opposition Buzz)
6th Blair Castle CCI*** (Master Banks)
7th Badminton CCI**** (Opposition Buzz)
12th Burnham Market CIC***W (Opposition Buzz)

2007
15th Burghley CCI**** (Opposition Buzz)
Completed Gatcombe Park CIC*** (Don’t Underestimate)
17th British Open Championship (Opposition Buzz)
3rd Bramham CCI*** (Skiver)
5th Chatsworth CIC*** (Skiver)

2006
13th Pau CCI*** (Opposition Buzz)
9th Pau CCI*** (Skiver)
11th Bramham CCI*** (Opposition Buzz)
5th Chatsworth CIC*** (Opposition Buzz)

2005
10th British Open Championships, Gatcombe Park (Skiver)
9th Luhmühlen CCI**** (Skiver)
Completed Bramham CCI*** (Highland Loch II)
10th Chatsworth CICW*** (Skiver)

2004
4th Blair Castle CCI*** (Highland Loch II)
4th Intermediate Championships, Gatcombe Park (Highland Loch II)
16th Bramham CCI*** (Diable Au Corps)
20th Badminton CCI**** (Skiver)