EVENTING: Zara’s Back!

REIGNING world champion Zara Phillips is among the competitors in a strong field at the prestigious Barbury International CIC*** this weekend.

Phillips will ride on Glenbuck alongside Great Britain’s Olympic bronze medal quintet of William Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Sharon Hunt, Daisy Dick and Kristina Cook in the event’s showcase class.

Barbury’s inaugural winner in 2005, Fox-Pitt has two strong contenders in Idalgo and Macchiato, while Dick on Spring Along and Hunt on Tankers Town are also in with a shout.

Individual Olympic bronze medallist Tina Cook has two rides on First Flight and Carraig Dubh, and other British riders in the mix include Mary King (Apache Sauce), this year’s Badminton Champions Oliver Townend and Flint Curtis, and 2006 Barbury winner Polly Stockton.

Ruth Edge has two excellent horses in Two Thyme and Mayhem III, while Pippa Funnell has Ensign and Lucy Wiegersma brings Simon Porloe.

Nicola Wilson meanwhile, is hungry for selection for the senior squad for the European Championships in France, on either Opposition Buzz or Master Banks.

The International challenge is largely Antipodean but there are some European challengers who cannot be ruled out.

New Zealander Andrew Nicholson, who has been on blistering form this year, brings two horses in the form of Mr Cruise Control and Spanish-bred Armada.

His fellow Kiwis Joe Meyer, Dan Jocelyn and Neil Spratt are also names to watch.

While current Barbury Champion Lucinda Fredericks is without a horse to defend her title, she will be in action in the CIC** and Novice classes over the weekend.

China’s equestrian superstar Alex Hua Tian, fresh from his A-level exams, brings his Olympic mount, FBW Chico, as well as Magenta.

Ireland once again send a strong squad – Elizabeth Power has two rides in Doonaveeragh O One and Kilpatrick River, while Louise Lyons will be looking for a top 10 finish with her Olympic partner Watership Down.

Friday’s action is mainly dressage for the CIC*** and ** sections plus one section of Novice.

The star equines of the future will be on show in the Burghley Dubarry Young Event Horse Classes for four and five-year-olds.

On Saturday the focus is on the Novice class and one section of CIC**, while dressage for the main section continues throughout the day and the Retraining of Racehorse (ROR) Championship gets underway.

Sunday gets underway at 8am with the CIC*** show jumping in reverse order, and the winner of the second CIC** section will be known by lunchtime.

The main arena will host the fast and furious Inter Hunt Team Relay competitions for senior and junior riders as well as the Malverns Masters Show Jumping.

The ROR title will be settled in the main arena about 1pm, and the day ends with CIC*** competitors battling it out on Mark Phillips’ stunning cross country course, to become 2009 Barbury Champion.