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Driving squad

Karen Bassett

  • Age: 63
  • Based in: Holbeck, Nottinghamshire
  • World ranking: 60

Known as ‘the lady in red’ due to her trademark scarlet competition colours, Karen Bassett is one of Britain’s most accomplished four‑in‑hand carriage drivers and has played a pioneering role as a woman in the sport over her long career of representing Great Britain at the highest international levels.

Karen's equestrian journey began at age eight with a Shetland pony. When she outgrew the pony, her mother broke him to harness so he could remain in the family – an experience that sparked Karen's lifelong passion for driving.

By age 15, she was already driving a four‑in‑hand team, starting with four Shetland ponies and later moving to a team of British Spotted ponies, which made her widely known across Europe.

Karen dominated British pony driving throughout the 1980s, winning the British National Championships six times between 1980 and 1990.

In 1995, she made history as the first woman ever to win the National Driving Championships in Great Britain – a landmark achievement in a sport with deep traditional roots.

Bassett transitioned to driving Trakehner horses in 1990, forming the world’s only pure Trakehner four‑in‑hand team. With them, she achieved major international success, including becoming the first female driver to win an international event in 1995, followed by a team bronze at the 1996 World Championships. In 1997, she became the first woman to hold a top-five place in the World Rankings.

Her sister Pippa Bassett is also an accomplished carriage driver, who has represented Great Britain internationally.

In 2003, Karen established a horse‑drawn carriage company specialising in weddings, funerals and ceremonial events. Her most high‑profile assignment came in 2015, when she drove the gun carriage carrying King Richard III to his final resting place at Leicester Cathedral – an event watched worldwide.

She has also worked as a stunt double for actress Suranne Jones in the BBC/HBO series Gentleman Jack.

Previous senior championship appearances

  • FEI European Championship 2015
  • FEI World Championship 2008 
  • FEI World Championship 2006
  • FEI World Championship 2004 
  • FEI World Championship 2002
  • FEI World Championship 2000
  • FEI World Championship 1998
  • FEI World Championship 1996
  • FEI World Championship 1994

Horses

  • Flora (black, mare, 16yrs)
  • Galvani Hedegaard (black, gelding, 10yrs)
  • Gratia (black, mare, 15yrs)
  • Skyfall (black, gelding, 14yrs)
  • Thit Hedegaard (black, mare, 13yrs)

Grooms

  • Mick Etherington
  • Alex Loveman
  • Sanchia May
  • Eva Williams

Peter Bennett

  • Age: 63
  • Based in: Tarporley, Cheshire
  • World ranking: 45

Hailing from Tarporley in Cheshire, Peter Bennett is a British international pairs carriage driver best known for his 2025 comeback to top‑level FEI competition, where he helped Great Britain win a historic team silver medal at the FEI Horse Pairs World Championships in Beekbergen – the nation’s first in 28 years. His return, after nearly two decades away from international sport, to duly take a team silver medal gave a great story.

Previous senior championship appearances

  • FEI World Championship 2025 (pairs) (team silver)
  • FEI World Championship 2008 (four in hand) 

Horses

  • Dirk (black, gelding, 18yrs)
  • Elmo Almire (bay, gelding, 17yrs)
  • Kroonprins (bay, gelding, 11yrs)
  • Lodewijk (black, gelding, 10yrs)
  • Lutiano (gelding, 10yrs)

Grooms

  • Pearl Gott,
  • Charlie Jenkins
  • Charlotte Mansi
  • Pheobe Matthews

Daniel Naprous

  • Age: 49
  • Based in: Mursley, Buckinghamshire
  • World ranking: 34

Daniel is one of Britain’s most accomplished and versatile horsemen, combining elite four‑in‑hand carriage-driving with a major career in equestrian film and television stuntwork. Born in London, Dan grew up immersed in horses and driving. His father, Gerard Naprous, founded The Devil’s Horsemen – Europe’s leading film‑industry horse supplier, known for its massive carriage collection and elite stunt‑riding team. He now runs the business with his sister, Camilla.

Daniel is internationally known for his stunt and acting work across television and film. His credits include Game of Thrones, The Crown, Wonder Woman, Sherlock Holmes and the Lloyds Bank’s iconic horse adverts. He also has the honour of playing Darth Vader in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

In his sporting life, Daniel is widely recognised as Britain’s number one four‑in‑hand driver, competing at the highest FEI levels and a regular competitor at top CAIO and CAI events. He enjoys the high-octane FE Driving World Cup indoor series because it suits his powerful marathon driving and precision in cones.

Previous senior championship appearances

  • FEI European Championship 2023 
  • FEI European Championship 2019 
  • FEI World Championship 2016
  • FEI World Championship 2012 
  • FEI European Championship 2011 

Horses

  • Ippon (chestnut, stallion, 13yrs)
  • Jack (chestnut, stallion, 12yrs)
  • Lord P.C (chestnut, gelding, 10yrs)
  • Lyzander .V (bay, gelding, 10yrs)
  • Maystro (chestnut, gelding, 9yrs)

Grooms

  • Mason Bertram
  • Carolyn Gayle
  • Felix Naprous
  •  Cuairidh Stephen

Robert Wilkinson

  • Age: 64
  • Based in: Rolleston, Leicestershire
  • World ranking: 23

Robert has risen up the four‑in‑hand carriage driving ranks over the last two seasons, following a return to competitive action after a decade-long hiatus. His results across 2025–2026 place him among the most competitive British drivers in the sport’s top tier. Two podium finishes in 2026 really heralded his presence on the international stage, earning selection for his first World Championships aged 64.

Robert’s home is Rolleston Hall in the heart of the beautiful Leicestershire countryside, which formally hosted an annual British Eventing horse trial. The local Pony Club is a regular visitor for competitions, fun rides and camps. Australian driver Boyd Excell was based at Rolleston for a period and was a part of establishing Robert’s driving expertise and passion.

Horses

  • Fernando (chestnut, gelding, 16yrs)
  • Kamore (chestnut, gelding, 11yrs)
  • Luxor S (chestnut, gelding, 10yrs)
  • Muwandro (chestnut, gelding, 9yrs)
  • Norwold (chestnut, gelding, 8yrs)

Grooms

  • Ned Andrew
  • Lisa Mitchell
  • Weronika Pastwa
  • Owen Pilling

FEI World Championships 2026