Further Personal Information |
| Residence |
Northallerton, ENG |
| Higher education |
Business Management, Sport Management - University of Manchester: England |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
She was given her first pony at age three, and began competing at the Hurworth Pony Club branch in Thirsk, England. |
Further Personal Information |
| Other names |
Nicola Tweddle |
| Occupation |
Athlete, Coach, Horse Trainer |
| Languages |
English |
Last Update |
| |
26 Apr 2022 |
Sport Specific Information |
| Club / Team |
Nicola Wilson Equestrian: Northallerton, ENG |
General Interest |
| Other information |
SPINAL INJURY
In May 2022 she suffered a spinal cord injury after a fall competing at the Badminton Horse Trials in England. In September 2022 she returned home after spending four-and-a-half months recovering in hospital. Her injury affected the mobility of her arms, hands, and legs, and she has had to re-learn some necessary movement functions. "I'm so, so grateful to medical team at Badminton, who saved my life. I'm so indebted to you for doing that and for putting me in the position where I am now. There is a lot more rehab and work to be done, but I'm so delighted to have phase one completed and behind me." (Facebook page, 29 Nov 2022; eventingnation.com, 16 Sep 2022)
STABLES
She runs Nicola Wilson Equestrian in Northallerton, England. (Facebook page, 18 Apr 2022)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
In January 2014 she became a patron of the Riding for the Disabled Association [RDA] Unicorn Centre in Hemlington, England. She has also worked as an ambassador for Saddle Up, a campaign for spinal research. (nicolawilsoneventing.co.uk, 30 Mar 2016) |
| Injuries |
In May 2022 she suffered a spinal cord injury after a fall competing at the Badminton Horse Trials in England. She returned home in September 2022 after four-and-a-half months in hospital. (eventingnation.com, 16 Sep 2022)
In June 2019 she fractured four vertebrae in her back after a fall from her horse in Arville, Belgium. She needed six months of recovery. (horseandhound.co.uk, 23 Sep 2021, 28 Jun 2019; fei.org, 23 Sep 2021)
She suffered a knee injury in a fall from her horse in 2018. (horseandhound.co.uk, 01 Aug 2018; eventingnation.com, 09 Jul 2018)
In February 2015 she broke her collarbone during a competition in Port Royal, England. (thenorthernecho.co.uk, 12 Aug 2015) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
"I have always ridden and been passionate about horses. I did all the usual Pony Club competitions and really enjoyed cross-country so the eventing really developed from there." |
General Interest |
| Famous relatives |
Her mother Mary Tweddle served as a field master of the Bedale Hunt in England for eight years. (badminton-horse.co.uk, 2017; yorkshirepost.co.uk, 07 Mar 2008) |
| Awards and honours |
In November 2022 she was presented with the Horse Dialog Inspiration of the Year Award at the Horse & Hound Awards Dinner. (Facebook page, 01 Dec 2022)
She was named the 2017 Leading Rider of the Year by the British Equestrian Writers' Association. (nicolawilsoneventing.co.uk, 22 Dec 2017)
She received the 2017 Professional Rider of the Year award from British equestrian magazine Horse & Hound. (nicolawilsoneventing.co.uk, 14 Nov 2017) |
| Most influential person in career |
Coach Christopher Bartle, British rider Lucinda Green. (localrider.co.uk, 11 Sep 2018) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Ride the waves, enjoying the highs and learning from the lows. Always be prepared to dig deep and appreciate everyone who does so much to help you achieve. Aim high, be realistic, and work hard." (localrider.co.uk, 11 Sep 2018) |
| Milestones |
Alongside British teammates Kitty King, Rosalind Canter and Piggy March, she was part of the first all-female eventing team to win gold at the European championships when they triumphed at the 2021 edition of the tournament in Avenches, Switzerland. (fei.org, 26 Sep 2021) |
Olympic Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2012 |
OG-C London (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
28 |
2 |
World Equestrian Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2010 |
6th WEG-C Lexington KY (USA) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
15 |
1 |
Continental Championships and Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2011 |
CH-M-YH-CCI2* Le Lion d'Angers (FRA) |
ANNIE CLOVER |
5 |
|
| 2011 |
CH-EU-C3* Luhmühlen (GER) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
16 |
3 |
| 2010 |
CH-M-YH-CCI1* Le Lion d'Angers (FRA) |
ANNIE CLOVER |
2 |
|
| 2010 |
CH-M-YH-CCI2* Le Lion d'Angers (FRA) |
INDE |
23 |
|
| 2009 |
CH-EU-C3* Fontainebleau (FRA) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
9 |
1 |
Other Events |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
11 |
|
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
30 |
|
| 2013 |
CCI4*-HSBC Luhmühlen (GER) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
EL |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
7 |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Pau (FRA) |
BEE DIPLOMATIC |
18 |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
BEE DIPLOMATIC |
RET |
|
| 2010 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
8 |
|
| 2009 |
CCI4*-HSBC Lexington KY (USA) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
11 |
|
| 2009 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
MASTER BANKS |
30 |
|
| 2009 |
CCI4*-HSBC Luhmühlen (GER) |
OINGY BOINGY |
EL |
|
| 2008 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
5 |
|
| 2008 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
7 |
|
| 2007 |
CCI4* Burghley (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
15 |
|
| 2007 |
CCI4* Badminton (GBR) |
OPPOSITION BUZZ |
16 |
|
| 2005 |
CCI4* Luhmühlen (GER) |
SKIVER |
9 |
|
| 2005 |
CCI4*-SC Badminton (GBR) |
SKIVER |
RET |
|
| 2005 |
CCI4*-SC Burghley (GBR) |
SKIVER |
WD |
|
| 2005 |
CCI4*-SC Burghley (GBR) |
HIGHLAND LOCH II |
WD |
|
| 2004 |
CCI4* Badminton (GBR) |
SKIVER |
20 |
|
| 2003 |
CCI4* Badminton (GBR) |
SKIVER |
27 |
|
