KITTY KING and Persimmon retained their title in the prestigious CIC** class at the Whatley Manor International Horse Trials held at Gatcombe Park, writes Rebecca Rhodes.

Runner-up was Irish rider Austin O’Connor with Kilpatrick Knight, but a number of riders failed to complete the testing cross country phase. Nick Gauntlett from Chipping Sodbury, took third with Akela and fourth and fifth in the Novice classes.

Freya Hibberd, 20, from Cirencester, took seventh place riding The Rusty Box.

King was also placed second and fourth in the Intermediate classes.

Daisy Berkeley won an Open Intermediate class with Tsaro and was also placed with Montserrat and Mopani in other classes.

Many international riders competed, including the winner of the CIC* class, 24-year-old Frenchman Gireg Le Coz, riding his own Sieger Racing Luck.

Long-time leader Millie Dumas and The Duke of Cavan slipped to second place by just 0.7 penalties.

Dumas was part of the British Young Rider silver medal winning team at the recent European Championships in France.

Christian Landolt, owner of Whatley Manor, the title sponsor of the event, competed in the CIC* on his own horse Billy Be Better to take 13th place. He has evented to the highest level and is an international three day eventing judge.

Jonty Evans from Shipton Oliffe won an Intermediate class with Cooley Rorkes Drift and a Novice with Ranger Wing.

William Fox-Pitt, Individual bronze medal winner at the recent European Championships, rode eight horses over two days and was first and second in a Novice class and had three other top ten placings.

Friday’s spectators were able to see Sir Mark Todd and his 2011 Badminton winner NZB Land Vision, competing for the first time after two years side-lined with a tendon injury.

TV presenter and gardener, Alan Titchmarsh attended on Sunday as a personal guest of HRH The Princess Royal.