CHARLOTTE Lawson and her mare Obsidian III were competing at Badminton today in the final of the Badminton Grass Roots championships.

It’s a case of better late than never for the pair.

Charlotte, who hails from Keldholme bought Obsidian III as an eight-year-old and the duo started competing in British Eventing a few years ago, notching three top 10 placings including a win. That would have qualified them for the Badminton Grass Roots but Charlotte discovered that the mare was actually in foal, putting an end to the championships before it even began.

Obsidian had her foal, a colt now rising three, and the pair picked up the reins again with a mission to try to qualify again, which they did with a win at Eden Valley. That, in turn, qualified them for the regional 90 final at Bishop Burton last October where the pair finished on their dressage score of 27 and double clear to give them their ticket to Badminton.

Only the top 10 per cent of the usual British Eventing 90 classes are eligible for the regional finals, where then only the top 20 per cent go through to the championships.

The pair were due to compete against 50 others who have qualified from various regions across the United Kingdom.

Charlotte said: “I am just so happy to have qualified and to be given the opportunity to compete on the famous Badminton course where I will give it my best shot to come home in the frame.”

The championships are being run alongside the famous Badminton Horse Trials which are held from today until Sunday.