STOKESLEY'S Julie Robinson was among the prize-winners at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials, staged in 1,000 acres of Derbyshire parkland and attracting riders from several nations.

Robinson finished fourth in a strong advanced section, won by triple Olympic gold medallist Matt Ryan, on her bright bay thoroughbred horse Irish Skater. The pair jumped a double clear, adding just a few cross-country time penalties to their dressage score.

"I was very pleased with my horse's whole performance there," said Julie. "He did a good dressage test and then jumped well, taking all the direct routes across country.

"The cross-country course was big and hilly, fabulously presented and with lots of questions asked. Irish Skater hadn't been out since Weston Park three-day event last month, so he was on his toes."

The horse is in his 14th eventing season, having completed Badminton and Burghley successfully in the past, and is now an evergreen 19-year-old.

"Irish Skater is so experienced now that he makes it all feel easy," continued Julie. "I had said he'd just do one-day events, but he's feeling so well we might aim him at a short format three-day event this season."

Julie finished second in an intermediate novice section on the chestnut stallion Primitive Faerie Tale, who also jumped a double clear. The horse is home bred and Julie also evented his mother at intermediate level.

"He's going to stud straight after Chatsworth and will have a holiday from competitions for six weeks," said Julie. "Hopefully he'll come back and do a two star international later in the year, possibly at Gatcombe."

Morton on Swale four star international Nicola Tweddle won an intermediate novice section at Chatsworth by nearly four marks on her up and coming ride Mr Nickleby.

The horse jumped the fastest cross-country round in the section, coming home clear with just 2.8 time penalties to add to the five wins he enjoyed in 2004.

Nicola also fitted in a visit to the Aston le Walls one-day event in Northants the day before Chatsworth, adding a fifth in an open intermediate section on Don't Underestimate to her tally.