LOCAL rider Georgie Spence scored a Novice section win at the Dauntsey Park Horse Trials, that again attracted a world-class field to Great Somerford, writes KATE HEALEY.

The trials which made a welcome return to the British Eventing (BE) calendar in 2008 and are organised by event rider Beanie Sturgis, featured a cross country course designed by ex-event rider turned BBC equestrian commentator Mike Tucker and built by the Willis brothers of Badminton fame.

Former U21 European gold medallist Spence, based at Foxham, saw off her nearest rival by just under six marks on Kerry Lynch’s seven year old grey horse Millhollow Classic (Milo), who completed on his dressage score.

“It was lovely to go to such a local event – having just a 25 minute drive was bliss,” said Spence.

“Milo led the dressage and then jumped a fantastic clear inside the time over a tough cross country course, to win by a good margin.”

The talented 22 year old, who also made the Pony European showjumping team in the past, was fourth in another Novice section on What a Night.

She rounded off a good event with second on her BE100 ride Bromsden Orlando, who had just one show jump down in an otherwise faultless performance. “Andy, as the horse is known at home, finished inside the time cross country to make it a fantastic event for me – he’s come a long way this season,” she added. “The only hiccup was for my other Novice ride Victory Bay. He had a very unlucky slip on the take-off to a difficult skinny fence cross country and couldn’t make the jump.

“He popped over it beautifully second time and would have won but for this.

“That’s eventing for you but he went very well which is the main thing.”

Lower Stanton St Quinton’s Kitty King picked up a second on her Novice ride Persimmon, who came home just two seconds over the cross country optimum time to finish behind Hereford’s Louise Skelton. The six year old, who King rides for owner Jane Murfett, had already enjoyed wins at Stonar and West Wilts this season.

Chippenham’s Allun Sutherland also picked up a second on his Novice ride Bonza Bendigo, who was recording his best BE result to date.

The 10 year old gelding was the second quickest cross country in the section to pull up from 21st after dressage and leave Olympians Austin O’Connor and Dan Jocelyn in third and fourth.

VWH Pony Club’s Anna Horton was among the BE100 section winners on the eight year old Dartons Gilbert, who was having only his second BE run in close to two years.

The Swindon teenager pulled up from third after dressage, when the two riders above her had faults in the middle showjumping phase, thanks to a good double clear.

Corsham’s Char Burkey was second at BE100 level on Domino Dancer, a winner at Hambleden back in May, and Tytherton Lucas international Chris King had a fourth and fifth on his BE100 rides Rosscarbery’s Fair Day and Ramiros Untouchable.

“Rosscarberys Fair Day had his best dressage mark to date and jumped a lovely double clear,” said the former Blenheim and Barbury international title winner. “He's certainly proving himself as he’s made the top five in all but one of his six runs so far this season.”

Young Corsham rider Emily Waldron, a highly successful rider for the Avon Vale Pony Club, was second to Jo and Supces with another faultless performance. Her partner was the evergreen Ferrari, now 18 but going as well as ever.

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