Equestrian: Paul Tapner came home from Lincolnshire with the Grantham Cup, the top prize on offer at the 2008 Belton Park International Horse trials.
The Grantham Cup is awarded to the winner of the CIC Three Star international one day event at Belton and Tapner, the Australian international based at Highworth, came out top after a thrilling finish.
He beat last year's European team gold and individual silver medal winner Mary King by just .3 of a mark, on his Beijing Olympic prospect Inonothing.
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It was the second win from three runs this season for the 12-year-old gelding, who climbed up the order from dressage thanks to one of the quickest cross country times in the section and a single show jumping time penalty, in a phase that caused plenty of problems.
It was an ideal confidence boost on the run up to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton three day event for the duo, who finished 13th on their debut there last year, and if their form continues a place on the Australian Olympic team looks likely.
Marlborough based Andrew Nicholson, also looking for a place at the Beijing Olympics for his native New Zealand, took a trio of horses into the top three in the strong Advanced sections at Belton.
He was beaten to the top spot by just .2 of a mark on the promising eight year old Nereo, fourth at the Burnham Market CIC Three Star two weeks earlier, and was also runner-up on another up-and-coming advanced ride, Epic.
Armada, one of three horses Nicholson has entered for Badminton next month, was third in his section.
Other Marlborough based riders to go well at the venue included Italy's Alberto Giugni, fourth on his Advanced ride The Nightflight, Julia Crowson, also fourth in an Advanced section on Jakata and currently 28th on the Badminton wait list, and Australia's Stuart Tinney, fifth at this level on Vettori, who has a definite Badminton place.
Bromham's Lucie McNichol finished seventh in her Advanced section - six were held in total to try and give entry starved riders a chance of action, as many events have fallen victim to the weather this season - on Zeus of Rushall.
n Market Lavington's Gail Worthy had made a successful return to competition with her horse Tashi.
The pair were among the winners at Warminster Saddle Club's unaffiliated dressage competition at Oxedene, where they headed the Prelim Seven open section.
Tashi has been out of action with illness for much of 2008 but his victory proved he has returned to health and regained his previous good form.
Lucy Gunson and Seal of Hope made a successful move up from Walk and Trot level to head the Prelim Four restricted test and Frome duo Gemma Anstis and Stacey Martin took the top two places in the Prelim Four open section.
The Prelim Seven restricted test went to Warminster's Frances Frears, with her Saddle Club horse Crackerjack.
The Saddle Club will now be running a show jumping competition on April 25, from 5pm to 8pm.
Log on to warminstersa
ddleclub.com for more information.
Results: Francis & Jackson Walk & Trot: 1) Indi, J Mckernan 2) Corky, Emily Woodland 3) Romeo, Victoria Spragg 4) = Megan Bach, Hannah Thomas & River Dancer, Freya Logan 6) Buddy, Grace Logan.
Totally Tack Prelim 4 Restricted: 1) Seal of Hope, Lucy Gunson 2) Aegean Spirit, Lucy Francis 3) Indi 4) Mayfly, Hannah Pole 5)Betsy, Heather Noakes 6) Lunsford Luke, Natasha Davis.
Prelim 4 Open: 1) Sir Alfie, Gemma Anstis 2) Marley III, Stacey Martin 3) Tashi, Gail Worthy 4) Jimbob, Laura Griffin.
Prelim 7 Open: 1)Tashi 2) Sir Alfie 3) Marley III 4) Finn, Fay Stratton.
n Alex Mason was the top scorer at Bath Riding Club's Winter Dressage Championships at Lackham College. The Colerne based accountant scored a mightily impressive 83.1 per cent to win the Walk and Trot Championship on her bay roan cob The Cobfather, who scored a clutch of nines to see off all his rivals by a clear margin.
"He's my only horse, I couldn't afford another, and he produced a super test that the judge described as a pleasure to judge'," said Mason.
"I also show The Cobfather in cob classes and will make the move into affiliated showing competitions this year."
Two other riders scored 70 per cent or over at the finals. Bath's Anne Peters topped the Prelim 13 Championships on her Danish Warmblood mare Wilhemia, who earned
a mark of 70 per cent
and has not yet turned five.
"Wilhemia is 17.1hh but her height has not proved a problem and she shows a lot of promise," said Peters.
"I'd like to try and qualify her for the Badminton Young Dressage Horse of the Future finals this year."
Westbury's Rachel Yeomans, regularly successful in the Bath dressage competitions this winter, headed the Novice 25 Championship on 70.8 per cent.
She rode her long time partner, the 15.2hh grey horse Monty.
The Percentage Championship went to Dauntsey's Clare Davey, riding the ex-eventer George for her bosses Annie and Phil Bevins, and home club duo Georgina Bryce and Kim Walker took home the Pairs Championship title on Master Max and Otto.
Results: Percentage test: 1) Rebecca Harris, Carmen 2) Arlene Struthers, Good Omens 3) Nicci Phelps, Solo 4) Liz Pickman, Sally 5) Samantha White, Bambi on Ice 6) Ann Acton, Rolo.
Walk and Trot Championship: 1) Alex Mason, The Cobfather 2)Bambi on Ice 3) Carol Lovelock, Big 4) Rosie Marlow, Tasmanian Devil 5)Sally 6) Good Omens.
Prelim 13 Restricted Championship: 1) Solo 2) Emma Lovell, Windwillow Mischief 3) Carmen 4) The Cobfather 5) Marianne Hall, Guinness 6) Lucy Grimshaw, Desperately Seeking Silver.
Prelim 13 Open Championship: 1) Anne Peters, Wilhemia 2) Hilary Miles, Pele 3) Maizie Ransome, Moonlight Serenade 4) Kim Gibson, Needwood Legend 5) Christine Wickens, Saker B 6) Jill Beck, Rocky Mountain.
Percentage (Prelim7; Novice 27 or Elem 44) Championship: 1) Clare Davey, George 2)Georgina Bryce, Otto 3) Kim Walker, Master Max 4) George 5) Sue Hocking, Master Veritas 6) Sue Hocking, Joshua.
Novice 25 Championship: 1) Rachel Yeomans, Monty 2) Joshua 3) Otto 4) George 5) Janet Border, Decca Daze 6) Janet Knight, Bombala
Pairs Championship: 1) Master Max & Otto 2) Jonty Bevins, Mooch & Elena Palmer, Magic 3) The Cobfather & Carol Lovelock, Tobermory
n Peter Phillips is to join his dad Mark on The Festival of British Eventing committee.
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