A DUNBAR woman was celebrating finishing as the top Scot at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Grassroots Championships in Gloucester.

Karon Carson, from Dunbar, and her coloured gelding Finding Nico, finisheed in fourth place overall, with only a 0.5 penalty seperating them from third, and a 1.1 penalty behind the winners.

She still left the championships as the top-placed Scot and also collected a trophy for the best over-40 rider.

Karon and Finding Nico qualified for the prestigous event after she rode at one of the regional qualifier at Burgham International last July, with an outstanding dressage score of 24.5 followed by a double clear show-jumping and cross country to finish in first place.

A week later they cemented their entry qualification to the event by winning The British Eventing 90 Scottish Championship at Hendersyde Horse Trials on another tremendous dressage score of 22 and a double clear of jumping.

Karon told Courier Sport it was "a special experience" and added: “Approximately 1,000 horse and rider combinations qualified for Regional Finals, but only 200 out of that get the opportunity to go to the legendary Badminton!

"It was something I’ll never forget.

“Badminton Horse Trials is the highest regarded competition in the eventing calendar which only the elite four-star riders in the world competing.

"It allows amateur riders the chance to ride alongside the top athletes. The cross country course was highly influential on the final placing and was a real championship test beautifully built to look and befitting of a major event”.

She also hailed the role played by the 10-year-old thoroughbred Finding Nico, who she described as "a one in a million horse."

The 43-year-old county star said: "Nico was awesome from start to finish I was over the moon with his performance, our partnership is so strong.

"It was a completely overwhelming experience being placed at Badminton.

"I have always worked so hard all my life to finally get to this position that all the hard work, disappointments, lack of money and hard graft came flooding back as we lined up to receive our prize and I’m afraid I burst into tears.

"I really struggle financially to pay for my horses and competing is so expensive and to do so well at this event well it just made it all worthwhile”.

The pair will be back in action in Kelso on Saturday, as Karon hopes to quality for the Scottish Championships once more.

To follow their progress, search @Team_Carson on Twitter or Karon Carson Equestrian on Facebook.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Karon can contact her at karon.carson@btinternet.com.