NICOLA Tweddle, the Morton on Swale-based rider who has competed at the highest four star level, went well at the UAE Windsor three-day event recently.

The two star event is a proving ground for up and coming three-day event horses and the North Yorkshire rider looks to have a good prospect in Mr Pickwick VI, who finished just inside the top 20.

The event was closely contested, with just 20 penalties covering the top 20 horses.

Nicola lay 43rd after the opening dressage phase - from an entry of 130 horses - and then jumped clear inside the time over the testing and newly-designed cross-country course.

The second water complex on the course caused several falls for the first few horses out and was then removed from the course, something Nicola was unaware of when she started out as the 26th rider on the course.

She said: "When I got to the water complex they had flagged part of it off and it called for some quick thinking about which route to take, as I had intended to go the direct way.

"Mr Pickwick gave me a superb ride on what was his first time at this level and the rest of the course was beautifully built, with the going as good as it could be at Windsor."

The final show jumping phase also proved highly influential, but Nicola had just one fence down to finish in 18th place overall.

She said: "My horse just had a parallel in the middle of the course down, but otherwise went well. He'll now have a holiday and I then plan to do the British Intermediate Championships at the Festival of Eventing at Gatcombe with him in August."

Nicola will be competing at this weekend's Bramham international three-day event, which is a step higher at three star level. She will be riding both Highland Loch II and Diable Au Corps in the CCI*** senior section and will then head to Scotland for the Burgie three-day event with two more of her rides.