EVENTING'S golden girl Pippa Funnell spearheads the British challenge at the Bramham International Horse Trials next month.

A recent winner at Badminton for the second year running, the 34-year-old from Dorking is hoping to follow last year's victory at Bramham on Walk On Star with Jurassic Rising. She also won at Bramham on Metronome in 1992.

Funnell, William Fox-Pitt, Jeanette Brakewell, Leslie Law, Kristina Cook and Polly Stockton will represent Britain in the European Championships in September and have all entered horses at Bramham.

Oxfordshire-based Fox-Pitt has entered four horses and will ride Ballincoola or Cavalcade and either Stunning or Wallow as his other ride.

Heading the international entries are David and Karen O'Connor from the United States.

David won individual Olympic gold at Sydney 2000 on Custom Male when he achieved the best eventing dressage score in Olympic history.

His wife, Karen, was a member of the American squad which won team bronze, riding Prince Panache.

This year's course has been designed by Sue Benson and includes 26 fences.

The first trials at Bramham were held in 1974 and it is now firmly established on the eventing calendar as one of the highlights of the international season.

Four days of action at Bramham, which is sponsored for the first time by Cheltenham-based Guardian Collections, starts on Thursday, June 5.

Provisional timetable

Wednesday, June 4: Senior inspection (4pm)

Thursday, June 5

Competition horse breeding and young stock classes (8.30am), Senior dressage (9am), Hunter show (noon), Under-25s inspection (4pm).

Friday, June 6

Senior dressage CCI (9am), Under-25s CCI Dressage (9am), Young Event Horse Competition (1.30pm).

Saturday, June 7

Senior and Under-25 speed, edurance and cross country (8.45am), First horse on phase 'D' (9.47am), BSJA showjumping classes (1.45pm).

Sunday, June 8

Senior final inspection (8.30am), Under-25 final inspection (9.30am), Senior CCI showjumping - lower placings - (10am), U25 CCI parade and showjumping (10.45am), U25 CCI prize giving (noon), showjumpers and eventers relay class (12.15pm), Senior showjumping - last 25 - (1.30pm), BSJA accumulator class (1.45pm), Senior CCI prize giving (2.30pm), Parade of hounds (3pm), BSJA Grand Prix (3.15pm), Pony Club Games (3.30pm).

Updated: 10:31 Saturday, May 24, 2003