THE second British Eventing Calmsden Horse Trials took place at Ampney Knowle Farm with great success, despite very blustery winds.

The rolling Cotswold hills were the perfect backdrop to a packed day of BE90 and BE100 classes.

New this year was the qualifier for the National Schools Series, a partnership between British Eventing and the National Schools Equestrian Association. The winner was Gemma Gurvidi, who finished on her dressage score of 25.5. Rendcomb College sponsored this class and pupils Lucy Kernon and Paddy Gilling took part.

Other local riders included Hannah Mace from Wickstead Equestrian Centre, who won a BE100 section riding Mrs Amanda Burns' Southern Crown with a score of 27.0. Leonard Goerens from Crudwell came second riding Asnoname. Paul Tapner, also from Wickstead near Highworth, won the BE100 Sec C with Vrolijk. He was also second in the Sec A on Indian Mill.

Isabel McKeeman of Kempsford respectable 13th in the BE90 Sec E.

Polly Williamson had a busy afternoon with two double clear rounds on VWH Hunt MFH Susie Goess-Saurau's Dunofear and Tinkertime, coming home in fourth and fifth.

The Williamsons' young groom Hector Fetherstonhaugh won his first BE100 class (Sec H) riding The Lucky Deal II to beat his boss.

Hector was also fifth in the BE90 riding Lady Tash. Fetherstonhaugh finished on his dressage score in both classes. The course had been superbly prepared and recent showers made the going perfect.

MALMESBURY SCHOOL Equestrian Team fought off stiff competition to qualify for the National Finals of the UK Inter-School Equestrian Championships to be held at Addington Manor later this month.

The team of six travelled to Hartpury College where teams from all over the region competed. Only the top two individuals or teams in each class could qualify.

In Class 1 (70cm jumping with style) the team of Evelyn Dyer, Freya Dibble and Isabel Stevens finished third, just missing out on a place in the Championships. However, Evelyn Dyer placed second individually to qualify.

Class 2 saw a second team of Evelyn Dyer, Freya Dibble, Isabel Stevens and Rosie Pyle ride a fantastic team effort in the 70cm Show jumping to come home second and thus qualify for the finals.

In the final two 80cm jumping classes the teams achieved fifth spot (Freya Dibble, Isabel Stevens, Paige Davy and Kirsty Poulton) and sixth (Paige Davy, Kirsty Poulton, Rosie Pyle and Evelyn Dyer) with Kirsty Poulton fifth individually.

Tim Gilson, Malmesbury headteacher, said: "We are very proud of the girls' achievements and I am very grateful to the group of parents who organise the teams on the school's behalf."

THREE-DAY EVENT rider Michael Jackson, of Cold Aston, won the international 1* and placed third in the 2* section at Osberton International Horse Trials earlier this month.

Jackson (31), who is based near Stow-on-the-Wold, stormed to an impressive lead in the dressage with Jocelyn Riley's eight-year-old Direct Mission (stable name Arden) and held the lead throughout to beat 96 starters. After the two-star dressage phase, Jackson was in sixth place with The Master's Apprentice (Archie), owned by Deborah Toogood, but after an effortless clear cross-country round inside the time, the pair moved up to third.

Despite rolling one pole in the final show jumping section, they remained in third place. The two-star was won by this year's German European team gold medallist Ingrid Klimke.

"To have both horses come home with a good result is more than I could have hoped for especially in such tough competition," said Jackson.

"I only took the ride on Arden at the beginning of the year but he has more than proved himself capable of going on, while Archie is looking like an exciting prospect for next season and is now ready to join the big boys at three-star level."

Last month Jackson won the prize for the best first-timer at Blenheim International Horse Trials.