World champion Zara crashes to ninth at annual horse trials

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year entered three horses in the annual event, near Richmond.

The sprawling lands of Aske Hall, which is owned by the Zetland Estate, hosted the three-day event.

World champion eventer Zara Phillips rode in the dressage, cross-country and showjumping sections.

Miss Phillips, 26, is the daughter of Princess Anne and her former husband, Captain Mark Phillips, and is 11th in line to the throne.

Her horse, Red Barron, was ninth in the open intermediate Section A class of the trials.

She also took two other horses, Tsunami II and Glenbuck, to the trials.

Miss Phillips has ridden at Aske before and at other local rides such as Bramham Horse Trials, near Wetherby, West Yorkshire.

Dressage organiser Emma Yarrow said: "It has definitely been a success, and even the weather has held out.

"We have had a lot more entries than normal and the riders have come from all over the country.

"Zara rode in the dressage on Friday and did the cross-country and showjumping on Saturday.

"But we have had other big-name riders here this year, like Ruth Edge, who has come down from Scotland."

The money raised by the trials will go to the Zetland Hunt.

The event was spread to a third day because of the number of entries. The recent foot-and-mouth scare led to fears it may have been cancelled, but it was able to go ahead.

Precautions were put in place and organisers praised local farmers for their help. A minor change to the cross-country route meant it could take place.

Visitors who braved the blustery wind and threat of rain enjoyed a high quality of riding.

Riders of all ages competed, with many locals testing their skills, including Nicola Wilson, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Show organiser Hazel Ritchie-Bland said: "Foot-and-mouth was a worry, but it has all gone really well. We could have taken a lot more entries, but I would say we have had a lot of good riders."

Results are at www.bdwp.co.uk