JERSEY’S Nicola Blandin and her husband Kerry won a silver medal at the National Outdoor Carriage Driving Championships last weekend.

At Catton Hall in Derbyshire, hosts of the 2005 World Championships, the venue provided drivers with a challenging course and Welsh pony Oldemere Jester responded well to become the Reserve National Novice Champion for 2007.

Blandin and her pony OJ recently swapped two wheels for four to enjoy the challenge of three-day eventing.

The dressage requires an obedient and well-trained horse.

This is followed by the marathon which includes sections over roads and tracks followed by several gated obstacles which have to be driven in order and at speed.

The cone driving requires good judgment of distance and space and again speed with the time allowed being very tight.

Blandin qualified for the event having won all three sections at the South Downs Harness Club event during the summer.

After the dressage at Catton Hall, Blandin was lying second and following the marathon she recorded some good times to remain second but close the gap on the leader.

The cones section had to be driven in reverse order thus requiring nerves of steel as the pressure was on.

OJ performed brilliantly incurring just three penalty points to remain second overall.

Blandin said: ‘It was an adrenaline rush of a weekend and just brilliant to be competing on an international course.

We learned a lot and we look forward to trying again next year when we move up to the intermediate level.

‘OJ has been slow to mature, dressage asks more questions of him than private driving [showing] and we both have to learn new techniques.

‘We have received some intensive coaching from our trainer Araminta Winn and it is rewarding to see that it has helped us improve.’