TICKETS have gone on sale for the St James’s Place Barbury Horse Trials from July 5-8 this year.

Another huge international entry is expected for the event on the Marlborough Downs, with classes running from novice to CIC3* level and the feature class being a leg of the televised Event Rider Masters series.

Changes have been made to the site layout for 2018, while the start and finish of the cross country course has been relocated.

Opportunities for amateur riders have also been increased, with the popular arena eventing classes at 90cm and 100cm moved to now take place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Event director Martyn Johnson said: “We are really excited about this year’s St James’s Place Barbury, which will have a new look and feel to it.

“The sporting action is second to none - we always get a vast entry and more international horses run at Barbury than at any other event in the country.

"This year the CIC2* classes will showjump in the main arena, giving these horses and riders valuable exposure to the special atmosphere of a major event.”

To buy tickets, visit www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk.

BADMINTON Horse Trials entrants used Sunday's Land Rover Gatcombe Horse Trials as an opportunity to test their early-season form on Sunday.

Saturday's competition had to be abandoned due to the ground conditions but the following day's events took place and among those competing was West Littleton rider Harry Meade on Away Cruising.

Highworth-based Australian Paul Tapner and Bonza King of Rouges finished fifth in the Advanced Intermediate section, while New Zealand’s Dan Jocelyn, based in Oaksey, was fifth in Open Intermediate Section K.

Previous Badminton winners Australian Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh were 12th in the Advanced Intermediate.

Top British eventer Izzy Taylor enjoyed triple success, winning Intermediate section G with Tregolls, Intermediate section H with Direct Tullyoran Cruise and Open Intermediate section K with Impromptu II.

Gatcombe-based Tom McEwen competed 5five horses, all finishing in the top 20, winning Intermediate section I on Royal Roxey.

McEwen was placed ninth and 15th in the Advanced Intermediate class on BGS Class Affair and Watkins, both horses previously competed by Zara Tindall, who is currently awaiting the arrival of her second child.

Tom Rowland, who has relocated to Ampney Knowle near Cirencester, finished in the top 10 with his three rides.

MGH Maybe A Mission was equal second in Section H and Possible Mission was fourth in section K, while Colby II was eighth in section J and will next compete at Belton Horse Trials in the CIC** class before crossing the channel to compete in the CCI*** at Saumur in France.

British-born Lucy Jackson, who rides for New Zealand, took second and fourth in the Advanced Intermediate section with Willy Do and Superstition II.