NEW ZEALAND’S Dan Jocelyn won the CIC** event at the Whatley Manor International Horse Trials held at Gatcombe Park, writes Rebecca Rhodes.

Jocelyn topped a truly international field – the top 10 riders included representatives from New Zealand, Great Britain, Australia, USA, Ireland and Italy.

The cross country course designed by HRH The Princess Royal and Mike Etherington-Smith, required accuracy and positive riding and saw a number of competitors eliminated due to errors.

Dan, who was lying in fourth place after the dressage and cross country phases, jumped a faultless clear round aboard Beaucatcher to lift the coveted Guzerat Trophy.

Runner-up was local rider Kitty King from Stanton St Quintin with Vendredi Biats. Kitty also took eighth place on her other mount Billy Bounce. Kitty’s fellow Olympic Team GB rider Gemma Tattersall took fifth with Billy Senora.

Australia’s Olympic bronze medal-winning team member Sam Griffiths (Paulank Kings River) finished third with the USA’s Tamra Smith (Twizted Syster) in fourth.

Jonty Evans, from Shipton Ollife, riding A Chance Affair was in pole position after the cross country but knocked the last two show jumps to drop to sixth. Jonty was a member of the Irish Olympic team which finished eighth in Rio with Jonty finishing ninth in the individual competition.

As well as riding at the event Jonty found time to commentate during the cross country phase.

Italian rider Roberto Scalisi, based in Idbury near Chipping Norton, took seventh with Topaze Du Plain.

Tim Price (Falco IV) gave New Zealand a double in the two main competitions, winning the CIC* Section A on a score of 39.08.

Tim, who is based in Marlborough, was part of Team NZ in Rio, and finished fourth at the recent Land Rover Burghley four star event.

He pushed Highworth-based Aussie Paul Tapner (Wickstead Kangaroo) into second place. National classes saw several wins for local riders. Tom McEwen, who recently relocated from Swindon and is now based at Gatcombe Park, rode six horses, won Intermediate Section D on Barina 50 and was placed in the top five with three other rides.

Lambourn’s Laura Collett won Int Sec C with Oratorio II plus two second places and a third in other classes.

Denied a win in the CIC*, Tapner, who just missed out for selection in the Aussie team for Rio, took first in Open Intermediate Section F with Bonza King of Rouges.