Record field for top horse trials

No less than 520 entries - 53 more than last year - have been received for the prestigious event which takes place this weekend.

An event spokesman said: “We’ve got even more this year. Due to the wet summer, lots of events have been cancelled so we’re choc-a-bloc. In fact, we’ve got a waiting list. It’s looking all very positive.”

The field includes Blyth Tait, the great New Zealand rider who won four Olympic medals during the 1990s, as well as four World Championship gold medals.

Teams from the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Belgium will also be taking part in the 26th staging of the annual equestrian event.

The action will take place throughout Saturday and Sunday with the dressage getting under way from 9am and the cross-country, for which the going is expected to be good, starting at 10am.

The highlight of the event - the international class - will take place on Sunday. Admission is £10 per car with a concession for single occupancy. There will also be terrier racing and spectators are welcome to bring a picnic.

The prizes are due to be presented by Tom Queally, jockey of racehorse Frankel which won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and was named European Horse of the Year in 2011.

See tomorrow’s Battle Observer for the full article.