Equestrianism: Funnell returns to defend title

Hugh Thomas, director and course designer of the Badminton Horse Trials, finds himself in the unaccustomed position of hoping for rain as he prepares for next month's big event, which runs from 1 to 4 May. "We're already spiking the course and we'll start watering around the fences tomorrow," Thomas said yesterday.

Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt, who filled the top two places last year, will be back in contention as they bid for a record first prize of £37,500 – an increase of £2,500 over Funnell's pay out in 2002. Both riders went on to enjoy a successful year, with Fox-Pitt heading the world rankings for the first time and Funnell close behind him in second place.

Entries also include three other previous winners: the British riders Mary King and Rodney Powell, plus the 53-year-old Bruce Davidson from the United States. Davidson first competed at Badminton in 1974, the year that he won the first of his two consecutive world titles. Another dual world champion, the New Zealander Blyth Tait, will be looking for his first Badminton victory having been runner-up on three occasions.

This year's course will include seven of the frangible fences that were introduced as a safety measure after five rider fatalities in 1999. These obstacles collapse when hit with force, thus helping to prevent the horse from somersaulting on to the rider. Thomas has also introduced a novel conundrum at fence 22, the Charisma Puzzle, where the last of three elements can be taken from either direction.