TWO Worcestershire-based riders are be among the line-up at the Bramham International Horse Trials, a Yorkshire staged three star three-day event making a welcome return to the equestrian calendar after last year's foot and mouth forced cancellations.

The event has attracted such top names as Australia's reigning Olympic Champion Andrew Hoy and leading New Zealand rider Andrew Nicholson and among those taking them on will be Stourport's Austin O'Connor.

The Irish rider, who is based at Lincomb Equestrian Centre and admits to "loving the area", will be riding the 11-year-old bay gelding Whiskey Mac for Irish owner Bob McAlleenan.

"I've been to Bramham before but never got higher than about 20th, remarked the 27 year old, a former Young Riders European gold medallist.

"Whiskey Mac is a very good horse but he is slightly in at the deep end - the main thing is that he gets a good, confidence boosting round.

"It's my second season with him and he is quite strong in all the phases and a bit green in dressage particularly. It's all a bit new to him so we'll have to see how he goes."

The pair recently went well in a top advanced section at Hartpury College one day affiliated event, finishing fourth in a strong section.

"I was pleased with the horse's dressage at Hartpury and he went well over what was a really good cross country track, so it was a good warm-up," Austin added.

Abbots Moreton rider Carolyne Ryan-Bell, who recently completed Windsor three day event, is due to ride the chestnut Peggy's Boy.

"It will be the horse's first three star event," said Carolyne, who has competed successfully several times at Badminton in the past and rides the horse for Jeanette Aspinal.

"He's a bit tricky and a bit dodgy at water so we'll just have to see how it goes!"

Entrants in the British Under 25 Championships, an event in its first year and sponsored by Hartpury College, include HRH The Princess Royal's daughter Zara Phillips, who rides her 2001 Windsor three day event partner Toytown.