British Squad

FEI Para Driving World Championship

Lähden (GER)

4-7 September 2025

Meet the British Para Driving Squad.  

The British Para Driving Squad is delighted to confirm the athletes who will represent Great Britain at the 2025 FEI Para Driving World Championships, taking place from 4–7 September 2025 in Lähden, Germany.

 These athletes have earned their place through consistent performance, dedication, and strong partnerships with their horses over the past two years.

The squad now focuses on their final preparations, aiming to build on their previous bronze medal success at the World Championships.

The British Para Driving Squad looks forward to showcasing their talent and determination in Lähden.

 Deborah Daniel TEAM 

Deborah Daniel has been selected for the British Travelling Squad for the 2025 FEI Para Driving World Championships in Lahden, Germany, where she aims to contest the Grade 1 class.

This will be her seventh World Championship appearance, following her historic FEI Gold Badge of Honour—awarded after completing six championships, the first and only GB Para athlete to achieve this.

Deborah will drive Capitola Mr. Houdini (“H”), a Welsh Section C gelding owned by Averina Snow, with Averina also joining her on the backstep.

A former RDA participant who took up carriage driving after becoming paraplegic in an accident on a dive boat, Deborah has earned an Individual Bronze and four Team Bronzes internationally, alongside numerous national titles, including at able-bodied Advanced Single Pony level.

She credits her success to the “army” of supporters who have helped her along the way.

 Jayne McGarvie TEAM 

Jayne McGarvie has been selected for the British Travelling Squad for the 2025 FEI Para Driving World Championships in Lahden, Germany, where she will compete in Grade 2.

Jayne’s para driving journey began after a car accident in 2014 caused a stroke, leading to left-side weakness.

Starting with RDA carriage driving, she progressed through national competitions before making her international debut at the 2023 FEI Para Driving World Championships in Exloo, Netherlands.

Since then, she has trained extensively with the GB POD Training Group under Robert Buck, and competed at major UK events, including Hopetoun, Sandringham, and the Para Nationals - where she won the 2024 National Para title.

She was also named Horsescotland Para Performer of the Year in 2024.

Jayne will drive Pandoras Diplomat (“Matt”), on loan from Julie Camm, with Lucy Scott as backstepper.

She credits her success to the GB POD Training Group and the many supporters who have helped her reach the world stage.

 Emily Ham TEAM 

Emily Ham, 34, from Wales, has been selected for the British Travelling Squad for the 2025 FEI Para Driving World Championships in Lahden, Germany, where she will compete in Grade 1 with her 14.2hh Welsh Section D cob, Beechwood Bracken (“Alfie”).

A five-time Young Driver Champion - twice with Alfie - Emily has represented Great Britain abroad with her stallion Mr J, competing in Austria and Hungary.

After six years away from competition due to health challenges, she returned in 2023, bringing Alfie out of retirement.

With the support of the GB POD Training Group and CDSG-dd, she won the National Certius Championships and was selected for the 2023 GBR Para Driving Team at Exloo, contributing to the team bronze medal with a 3rd place marathon and double clear in cones, finishing 4th individually as the top British partnership.

In 2025, Emily will be backstepped by Esther Rawlinson and continues to train under Robert Buck.

She credits her success to her dedicated home support team, especially her father “Hammy,” and looks forward to building on Alfie’s remarkable career in Germany.

 Tracey Spencer

Tracey Spencer has been selected for the British Para Driving Travelling Squad for the 2025 World Championships in Germany.

She started riding with RDA at age 4 for physiotherapy and went on to compete successfully in regional and national dressage, winning the Astor Trophy on three different horses.

She took up driving 12 years ago, progressing quickly through RDA, beginner, novice, and open classes, and fulfilled her dream of competing for Great Britain.

Tracey brought her own medium-advanced dressage horse at 21, competing successfully in both RDA and mainstream competitions.

Her horses Bill and Leo are now ridden by her grandchildren and foster girls with special needs, and driven by RDA drivers.

Tracey trains with Sara Howe and Anna Grayson, mentored by Phillipa Howe, and is supported by backstepper Sally Bullar and her daily team Shannon Grice, Emily Martin, and Clare Underwood.

She is thrilled to represent Great Britain again and aims for a successful 2025 World Championships.

 Amanda Shirtcliffe

Amanda Shirtcliffe has been selected for the British Para Driving Travelling Squad for the 2025 World Championships.

She will be driving Ranger, owned by Averina Snow, in what is her first competitive season.

Despite having no prior official driving experience, Amanda was hooked after her very first session and is now fully committed to para driving.

Previously, Amanda spent nearly 10 years competing internationally as a para dressage rider within the World Class programme.

A twist of fate and a chance opportunity introduced her to carriage driving, and she quickly fell in love with the sport.

While taking a short sabbatical from dressage to focus on driving, Amanda is embracing the challenge of competing at the highest level in a completely new discipline.

Fully aware she is the underdog in a field of experienced para drivers, Amanda and Ranger are determined to give their absolute best.

Ambitious and enthusiastic, they are aiming for a successful 2025 season and hope to make their mark at the FEI Para Driving World Championships.

 Louise Blanch

Louise Blanch has been selected for the British Para Driving Travelling Squad for 2025 and is excited to represent Great Britain, looking forward to an ambitious and exciting World Championships.

Louise started driving with Somerset Levels RDA and fell in love with the sport.

She began competing with her family pony, Cheetah, in 2017 and has steadily progressed, gaining her competence card in 2024 and qualifying for the BC National Championships in the small equine class.

What Cheetah lacks in height (12.1hh), he more than makes up for in attitude.

Her dedicated support team includes Nicky and Simon Gibbard, Caitlin Larcombe, Chloë, and Claire, with coaching from Kathryn Howard and Robert Buck.

Indoor opportunities driving Katy Cleeves’ pony, Rosie, have also helped build experience and confidence.

Louise and Cheetah are looking forward to an ambitious and exciting World Championships in 2025.

 Jeni Longley

Jeni Longley has been selected for the British Para Driving Travelling Squad for 2025 and is excited, humbled, and a little nervous to represent Great Britain at the World Championships in Germany.

Jeni has been around horses for over 50 years, starting as a child in the saddle and progressing to affiliated showjumping before spinal problems led her to carriage driving - a sport she has since grown to love.

Having enjoyed success indoors with Team Kent and Sussex, she ventured into outdoor driving this season and is relishing the challenge.

She will compete with her much-loved pony Pops - breeding unknown, but famously the holder of a donkey passport - who has loyally looked after her for many seasons.

Jeni is hugely grateful for the support and training from Anna Grayson, Sally Bullar, and all who have helped her on the journey to Germany.

 Support team

FEI Para Driving World Championship

Lähden (GER)

  FEI APPROVED SCHEDULE (PDF) 

  NOMINATED ENTRIES (PDF) 

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