ANDREW Nicholson made the most of his big stable of talented horses, when he scored a hat-trick at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, writes KATE HEALEY.

The Festival, held in August every year at HRH The Princess Royal’s estate features three top titles – the British Open, British Intermediate and British Novice Championships.

The Marlborough based New Zealander, who celebrated his 50th birthday just before the Festival, dominated the British Open Championship despite being up against a world-class field. He won on Deborah Sellar’s Spanish-bred 11 year old Nereo, who completed on his dressage score of 29.9, and was runner-up on Rosemary and Mark Barlow’s gelding Avebury. Avebury, who started the event with what Nicholson described as his “best ever dressage test”, would have beaten his stablemate but for one down in the show jumping arena.

Both horses came home inside the time over Captain Mark Phillips daunting cross country course, which boasted seven new combination fences this year.

“They are both good horses and I knew they could go well,’ said Nicholson, who won individual and team bronze at last years World Equestrian Games with Nereo.

“Nereo made it all feel very easy. He makes it feel like he’s been here before and seems to know the jumps – even when I make a mistake he manages to make it feel like it isn’t too bad.”

Nicholson’s compatriots Jonathan Paget (Clifton Lush) and Mark Todd (Major Milestone) finished third and fourth to complete a New Zealand clean sweep.

Highworth-based Australian Paul Tapner, winner of the 2010 Badminton three-day event, filled ninth spot on Kilfinnie II, with one show jump down costing them just two places.

Nicholson went on to win both Advanced sections on offer at the Festival on Calico Joe And another Spanish bred horse, Quimbo.

Calico Joe, having only his second run in a year, led from the showjumping phase and left his rivals no room for manoeuvre when he came home inside the time in the final cross country phase to win by eight marks.

2010 Young Rider European team gold medallist Tom McEwen, from Hodson, was third on Dry Old Party, just 0.1 of a penalty off second and marginally ahead of last years British Open champion Daisy Berkeley.

Nicholson’s second advanced win saw him lead from start to finish with the eight-year-old Quimbo, who was again well clear of the field.

The veteran eventer, who has ridden at six Olympic Games, was also sixth on the Thoroughbred Shady Grey. Bishopstone’s Rodney Powell and Happy Go Lucky took fifth spot after completing on their dressage score.

Nicholson had to settle for second in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship, finishing just behind Shropshire-based Brit Oliver Townend.

His ride, the 10 year old Omeya, is in her first BE (British Eventing) season, having previously showjumped in Spain.

“I've been trying to buy her for two years,” added Nicholson. “She's looks classy and is beautiful to sit on.”

Chinese Olympian Alex Hua Tian, trained by Little Cheverell’s Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks, made a successful Festival debut when he clinched third place on Furst Love, who was bred for the dressage arena but has gone from pre-novice to advanced in one event season.

Malmesbury School A level student Lici Hawker rode superbly to finish seventh in the British Novice Championship, taking on the sport’s greats in style at the age of just 16. Her partner was the French-bred liver chestnut horse Nankin Des Ruettes, who came home bang on the time cross country and would have finished two places higher but for one show jump down.

“The cross country course caused enough problems, particularly at an offset combination of two ‘houses’ early in the course,” said Hullavington-based Hawker’s mum Ann.

“You went into the water over a hanging log and you jumped out over a Loch Ness monster. Lici was one of only seven to get home inside the time.”

The promising teenager gained a Symms International training bursary at Hambleden Horse Trials earlier in the season, one of five awarded each season, and has been putting it to good use with instructors Rhian Jones and Tessa Saunders.

“She was eighth at the Glanusk International in July and is also riding McGuigans Lad, who has jumped double clears in all ten runs this year, and the new mare Anthe, who has yet to go eventing,”

added Mrs Hawker.

A team from the Beaufort Hunt Pony Club finished third in the Inter Branch team Pony Club show jumping at the Festival, just missing a two-way jump off for first after the main two rounds.

The team consisted of Tetbury’s Gabrielle and Persephone Rose (Aldata Babe and Highcourt Appeal), Chippenham’s Jasmine Punter (Miss Darco) and Malmesbury’s Lynda King (Clio V).

FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS, REPORTS & PICTURES SEE FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @WTSport