FARMER James Hussey might be an amateur in the eventing world, but when he sets off across country today at Barbury Horse Trials he will be one of the highest profile competitors.

The enthusiast, who is riding in memory of wife Gill, will be dressed from top to bottom in pink to highlight the £2.9 appeal to equip a radiotherapy unit at the Great Western Hospital.

As he prepared for a dressage test yesterday, he said: “It’s very exciting and quite nerve-wracking.”

He and his horse Tim, will also be lining up against some of the world’s best riders. Olympian William Fox-Pitt, Nations Cup rider Kitty King and former European champion Kristina Cook are all expected at the event, which started on Thursday.

“It is a lovely sport, whereby amateurs can actually compete against the professionals,” said James, whose farm is so close to the Barbury Castle ground that he could hack home afterwards if he wanted.

He said his mount, whose official name is Kildare Kid, was a happy horse who loved what he did.

“He is a real treasure,” he said.

The 58-year-old said he didn’t have grand ambitions but his aim was to complete the event.

“I’m really competing in memory of Gill and supporting Brighter Futures,” he said.

“I love my eventing. I get huge pleasure from it. I know I should be sensible but I’ve no intention of being sensible yet.”

As well as competing in pink kit, he has decorated the showground with pink bales of haylage from the farm.

Gill, who died in 2014 from cancer, loved riding and jumped part of the Barbury course with the Berks and Bucks Draghounds ride.

The couple’s daughter Julia Norman is also competing this year with three horses.

Since Gill’s death James has raised thousands of pounds for the Brighter Futures appeal to build a radiotherapy unit at Great Western Hospital so cancer patients don't have to make the journey to Oxford for treatment.

He said: “Travelling to Oxford for radiotherapy is really a tough and unnecessary thing.”

The appeal, which will also benefit from a special lunch during the event, hosted by patron Rory Bremner, currently stands at more than £770,000.

And in one of James’s fields almost next door to the course, an intricate crop circle, see video below, is raising even more money. In just a week it has brought in £1,000. It is open for another week to 10 days before it is harvested.

Visit www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk for information and tickets to the lunch.