DURHAM-BASED Jamie Atkinson was on good form at the first northern horse trials fixture of the season, riding Kathleen Barnett's six-year-old High Learchild.

The Langley Park entrant rode to victory in the pre-novice section C at the 26th WCF Country Centres Brougham horse trials.

The pair added nothing to their dressage score of 31 to finish six marks ahead of their nearest rivals.

There were three full pre-novice sections, with Nicola Tweddle from North Yorkshire on Waterbeck Basil winning section B.

The course, which stood up well to more than 250 riders, had been extensively repaired and refurbished, including a new combination fence built to test rider accuracy.

Balloting had taken place for the first time in the event's history, with more than 200 riders disappointed