British Squad

FEI World Horse Pairs Championships

Beekbergen (NED)

20-24 August 2025

Meet the British Horse Pairs Driving Squad.  

We’re heading to Beekbergen, Netherlands this August for the FEI World Championships for Horse Pairs, and we’re excited to announce the definite entries representing Great Britain:

 Peter Bennett TEAM 

Peter is based in Cheshire and started driving with John Carter when he was twelve years old.

He took a break from horses at fifteen but when he turned twenty three, Mary Burleton (the mother of the experienced BC Course Designer, Julian) encouraged him to take up driving again.

Peter has already had a good season, winning all the national events he has contested and becoming British National Advanced Horse Pairs Champion. He also achieved an excellent seventh place internationally in Kronenberg.

Peter’s wife Emily (also an experienced carriage driver) will contest the cones and dressage phases of the championships while his friend, David Rockall, will join him for the marathon.

All Peter’s horses are KWPN geldings. Dirk (aka Jack) is 17yo, Lodewijk is 9yp and Lutiano (aka Louis) is 9yo. Standing poised in the wings, in case he is needed, is Kroonprins (aka Prince) at 10yo.

 Roger Campbell TEAM 

Based in Minden, Germany, Roger Campbell has been selected to represent the British squad at the 2025 Horse Pair World Championships.

A seasoned international carriage driver, Roger now competes with his own horses: Kensington, a 10yo gelding (aka King, Magic Morgan G, an 8yo gelding (aka Magic) and Jumper, an 11yo gelding. Together with his girlfriend, Line, he trains the horses at home, having brought them on as a partnership from the start.

Roger is supported at competitions by his sister and groom, Clare Campbell, who travels across Europe with him throughout the season and will also groom for him at the World Championships.

He is backed by a close-knit team including the Campbell family, girlfriend Line, and additional support at the Championships from Phoebe Matthews.

A former FEI Silver Medallist (2021, Pony Pair) and 2019 FEI Top Driver Award winner for Pony Four-in-Hand, Roger also claimed victory at Royal Windsor in 2019.

Since transitioning to horse pairs, he has secured multiple podium and top-10 finishes leading into the 2025 season.  

 Tara WilkinsonTEAM 

Although currently based in Belgium, Tara comes from a family of enthusiastic carriage drivers based in the North East of England.

Her mother, Leslee, will sit up for the dressage and cones while her friend Harvey Clegram-Brown will assist on the marathon.

At twenty eight years old, Tara is the youngest member of the squad contesting the World Horse Pairs Championships in Beekbergen.

She started driving aged twelve with her former mounted games pony.

Both of her parents drive and support the North Eastern Driving trials club where Tara first starting competing.

She started her international career in 2014, winning a bronze youth medal and ICKD gold with her first pony.

Tara says, “I was lucky to have the opportunity to compete Emma Burge’s pair of ponies (in 2017) and take part in my first world championships, winning a gold medal”.

She then moved onto competing horses and in 2024 contested her first Single Horse World Championships, placing in the top ten in both the dressage and marathon phases.

Tara has already enjoyed significant success this year finishing second in Kadruby and third in Bornem.

Tara drives KWPN geldings. Her three championship horses are Kane B, a 10yo owned by Ivan Degrieck, Kadans, a 10yo which she owns and Natuur (aka Nero) a 7yo owned jointly with her father John.

Keep up to date with Tara’s progress via “Team Wilkinson Carriage driving” on Facebook.

 John Ripley

Kent-based John Ripley returns for his second Horse Pairs World Championships with his 12-year-old KWPN geldings, iPhone (aka Ike) and iPad (aka Paddy)

At the Championships, John will be joined by his trusted team – partner Karen keeping everything on track, groom Diane Phillips after a full season together, and Amy Matthews stepping in for the champs.

John’s successes in pairs include two top-ten international dressage placings, highlighted by a standout sub-50 score, and victory at the Chepstow International.

 Chris Smith

Based in Essex, Chris has Megan Parker and Clare Barton grooming for the dressage and cones phases of the competition while his daughter, Grace, will contest the marathon with him.

Chris has been competing internationally since 2016 and has represented Great Britain at previous World Championships in Drebkau and Kronenberg.

He also has considerable national success having won both Indoor and Outdoor National Champion titles including the Advanced Horse Pair National Championship in 2022.

Chris competes with Arabo Freisian horses. He will take B Diederik (aka Doods), an 11yo gelding, Heike de la Pourcaud (shortened to Heike) a 15yo mare and  Jellie fan ‘e Wierewei (shortened to Jellie), a 14yo mare to Beekbergen. Hiske V, a 15yo mare, is staying at home but will be ready to step up if required.

As a former Chair of British Carriagedriving and the current Chair of the British Equestrian Council, Chris has a keen interest in all equestrian sport.

 Nicola Pimbblet

Isle of Man-based carriage driver Nicola Pimbblet heads to her third Horse Pairs World Championships with her own KWPN geldings Harrard (“Harald”), Just Your Money (“Jed”), and Off-White I&S (“Leo”).

Splitting her time between the UK and her European base at PSC de Dijkgraaf, Nicola brings both experience and determination to the competition.

Supported by her international team of grooms Kari Harmen and Stacey Erlandson, Nicola has built up a wealth of international experience this season, including a podium finish at the Chepstow International.

Alongside the horses, Nicola’s corgi Pippin — a beloved and very important member of the team — is eagerly anticipating the trip to Beekbergen.

 Graham Heath

Graham started driving eighteen years ago having been encouraged by his wife, Allison (Allie), to “have a go”. Graham says she has probably regretted it ever since!

Allie and Fiona Stewart have groomed for him since he started on his carriage driving journey which as seen him win the British National Championships in both Open Singles and Pairs.

Graham has always had an interest in equestrian sport and rode in Point to Points as a teenager while Allie started out producing show hunters and event horses.

Graham has Allie on his carriage for dressage and cones while his friend, Christopher Priestley, will backstep for the marathon.

Graham drives KWPN horses and will be taking Getseminee V.D. (aka Googie) a 14yo gelding, Interessant (aka Cendro), a 12yo gelding and Leandro (aka Lando), a 9yo gelding to Beekbergen.

 Support team

To keep up to date with the Squad on approach and throughout the Championships, make sure you are following the British Horse Pairs Driving Team Facebook page.

FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs

Beekbergen (NED)

20-24 August 2025

  NOMINATED ENTRIES (PDF)