WATFORD rider Catherine Cawdron has joined established names in the equestrian world like Tim Stockdale and Graham and Tina Fletcher for the Spillers Diamond Tour, but for her the significance of the trip goes beyond riding skills.

Cawdron is hoping to make the step up to second star three-day eventing next season, which includes speed and endurance, dressage and show jumping, but to do this she needs the right horse.

To improve her chances of finding one, she is hopefull of establishing her own stable in Hertfordshire where she can train horses, both her own and those belonging to other people, specifically for high-level eventing.

She says: "The Spillers tour is really going to help me. It's attracted an awful lot of publicity which will really advertise me."

Cawdron has been eventing since 1992 and is already well-known in the sport. She was recently in Pau, France for the European Championships where she groomed for Jeanette Brakewell, part of the British team that won gold.

"Through Jeanette I've met a lot of people and I've also made enough friends myself to think that I can go out into the eventing world on my own and be successful."

Next season she hopes to compete at second star level in the renowned three day event at Windsor Castle, but her ambitions do not stop there: "My ultimate is to have horses to ride for other people and get to the Badminton Horse Trials within three years. Badminton is one the most pretigious events in the world but you need a horse."

She will hear if she has received the green light to set up a stable later this month.

A positive response would cap what has already been a successful, if foot and mouth-restricted, season. Cawdron has been placed in each of the ten events she has competed, including a second at the Great Witchingham Horse Trials in July.

October 30, 2001 15:30