INTERNATIONAL eventing stars travelled to HRH Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate last weekend, where they competed in a variety of classes, ranging, from Novice to CIC** at the Whatley Manor International Horse Trials.

British Olympic silver medallist William Fox-Pitt bought six horses to the event on Saturday, and recent Burghley winner Andrew Nicholson had a total of seven rides in Novice and Intermediate classes.

However, it was local girl Kitty King, from Lower Stanton St Quinton, who took the honours in the prestigious CIC 2** class on Sunday, riding Persimmon. Faultless rounds in both show jumping and cross country phases of the competition meant that a dressage score of 37.2 was good enough to win, just 0.1 point ahead of New Zealand’s Lucy Jackson, who collected 0.4 time fault s in the Cross Country.

South Africa’s Alexander Peternell, who lives in South Hinton, also put in a great performance to finish in 10th position on AP Topstar (50.6).

Hannah Bate took first place in the CIC* event, riding Aspen Apire, achieving a score of 39, with Sam Griffiths (Aus) taking 2nd on a score of 42.8. Another local lad, Chris King, who has a yard near Chippenham, took fourth on House of Tudor, behind Brazil’s Tosi Marcelo.

Chipping Sodbury’s Nick Gauntlett came in a respectable 6th place (41.5) in the Intermediate competition (Section D) on Saturday.

Daisy Berkeley also competed in the Open Intermediate class with a trio of horses - Sprinbok IV, Tsaro and Vrolijk - but unfortunately picked up cross country faults with all three, putting them out of contention for the top spots despite some good dressage scores.

The next event at Gatcombe will be Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 March 2013.