MANTON-BASED New Zealand international Jonelle Richards was among the winners at the Land Rover Gatcombe Horse Trials, held on the Princess Royal’s estate.

Richards led from the opening dressage phase in an Intermediate section, for up and coming horses, riding eight year old Reminiscent. The pair were fastest cross country in the section and beat off their nearest rival by close to six marks in the one-day event.

“We came home cross country just one second over the optimum time,” said Richards, who is based with partner and fellow international eventer Tim Price. “The course rode tougher than it walked but that’s often the way at Gatcombe – going in and out of the woods can cast a spell.”

She has ridden the gelding for two years, finishing just outside the top ten at the Hartpury International three-day event last August.

“I got to know him when Eleanor Barns-Graham, who was based close by with David Green, had him and I bought him as a six year old,” she added.

“He’s a pleasure to work with and train and has been knocking on the door for a while, so it was nice to win.”

Richards’ top two rides are Flint Star, who she bought at the same time as Reminiscent and who is listed for the New Zealand 2012 Olympic team, and The Deputy.

This nine year old started his season well with a second in an Open Intermediate at Tweseldown BE event in Hampshire a fortnight ago.

“I was delighted with The Deputy at Tweseldown – it was a strong class, with quite a few world class horses in,” she added.

“He’s becoming quite strong on the flat – show jumping was his weakest phase and it has taken time to get this right.”

The Deputy will be aimed at the two-star Houghton International this spring, with Blenheim in the autumn, and Flint Star will go to the three star international at Saumur in France in May.

“Tim and I have close to 30 horses in work between us at the moment – we also break and can always take in more,” Richards added.

West Littleton’s Harry Meade came close to a double at Gatcombe, first heading an Open Novice section on Peter and Jan Price’s Easter Fable.

The 11 year old was one of just four in the section to complete on his dressage score, with Meade beating his old boss William Fox-Pitt into second.

“It’s been a project to get Easter Fable right and I didn’t start eventing him until towards the end of last season, and bad weather then stopped him having many runs,” said Reade.

“I was thrilled with his dressage at Gatcombe – it was a correct test and very consistent.

“It was good to make the time cross country – this can be difficult as the course has a few combinations that break your rhythm and it shows all the hard work is paying off.”

Reade, whose wedding to Rosemarie Bradford at the end of 2010 was attended by good friend Prince William and Kate Middleton, was then second on his Novice ride A Modern Duchess.

The eight year old, owned by mum and daughter Helen Harvey and Alex Robinson, would have won but for one show jump down.

“The mare was sent to me as a just backed six year old and this was only her second Novice event,” he said.

“I was really pleased with her too an again it shows solid preparation pays off.”

Meade gave his 2011 Badminton ride Wild Lone a run in the dressage and show jumping phases at Gatcombe but pulled Charlotte Opperman’s 10 year old out before cross country.

“I had always meant to – Wild Lone will go to Belton in Lincolnshire this coming weekend where he will have a preparatory cross country run if the ground is right,” he added.

“He did a really good test and was third or fourth out of 60 horses, so that was good.

“He’s a late developer and the plan would be to get him to the Olympics – it would be wonderful if we could but he still has more maturing to do.”

Another New Zealander, Marlborough’s Andrew Nicholson, was runner-up in the top Advanced Intermediate section, just half a mark between Chipping Sodbury-based winners Nick Gauntlett and Electron.

The 2010 World Equestrian Games bronze medallist rode Nicola and Robin Salmon’s 10 year old Mr Cruise Control, whose one show jumping error also cost him a win on his frst run of the year.

Lower Stanton St. Quinton’s Kitty King was second on her Intermediate Novice ride Starlight IV and fourth on her Intermediate ride Zidante.

Triple Olympic gold medallist Andrew Hoy, the Australian rider currently based near Swindon, was runner-up in an Intermdiate section on Rutherglen.

MORE EQUESTRIAN NEWS & PICTURES ONLINE AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK AND IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD