By Rebecca Rhodes

New Zealand’s Dan Jocelyn came out on top at the  CIC** Whatley Manor International Horse Trials held at Gatcombe Park.

A truly international field, the final top ten included riders 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.

Show jumping in reverse order, Dan, lying in 4th place after the dressage and cross country phases, jumped a faultless clear round, riding Beaucatcher, to win this illustrious competition and lift the coveted Guzerat Trophy.

Runner up was local rider Kitty King with Vendredi Biats, Kitty also took 8th place with Billy Bounce. Kitty’s fellow Olympic Team GB rider Gemma Tattersall took 5th with Billy Senora.

Australia’s Olympic Bronze winning team member Sam Griffiths riding Angelo IV was placed 3rd with the USA’s Tamra Smith and Twizted Syster in 4th.

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 6th. Jonty was a member of the Irish Olympic team which finished 8th in Rio with Jonty finishing 9th 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 7th with Topaze Du Plain.

Tim Price and Falco IV completed on a score of 70.21 which dropped him out of contention. Tim who is based in Marlborough was part of Team NZ in Rio, was 4th at the recent Land Rover Burghley 4* event and was placed in the national classes at Gatcombe. New Zealand and also took the spoils in the CIC* competition.

Both Paul and Gemma’s horses are sons of the famous Chilli Morning. Chilli Morning ridden by William Fox-Pitt competed in Rio and is the only stallion to ever win Badminton Horse Trials.

National classes saw wins for local riders. Tom McEwen who recently relocated from Swindon and is now based at Gatcombe Park, rode 6 horses, won Int Sec D on Barina 50 and was placed top 5 with 3 other rides.

Lambourn’s Laura Collett won Int Sec C with Oratoria II plus two 2nd places and one 3rd in other classes.

Denied a win in the CIC*, Paul Tapner took 1st in OI Sec F with Bonza King of Rogues.