ANDREW Nicholson clinched his first major title since his return from serious injury as he won the CCI three-star class at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials in Yorkshire today.

Marlborough-based New Zealander Nicholson up to top spot on Jet Set IV as just 0.9 penalties separated the top four riders as Great Britain's Oliver Townend lost the overnight lead to finish third.

Yorkshireman Townend could afford to have a showjumping fence down aboard MHS King Joules and still win, but eight faults cost him dearly.

It was Nicholson's third Bramham crown in 10 years, and his first major title since he suffered a serious neck injury during last summer's Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park.

He said: “I’ve been away for a few months and to win here after the absence feels great.

"It’s been such a team effort to come this far.

"I owe so much to surgeon Jeremy Reynolds who fixed me and of course my wife Wiggy who has stood by my through everything.

"It’s so tough for her, after all, I’m back doing the sport which nearly ruined me.

"My owners have been incredible while I’ve been off and they’ve supported me so much. I can’t thank the team who’ve got me here now.

“It was tense at the end but there’s no point worrying about the others and how they ride, you can’t control that. You have to stick to your game plan.

“It’s touching – the crowd here at Bramham are knowledgeable  horse people. You feel they appreciate when you do a good job.''

The four-strong British team for the Rio Olympics in Brazil will be announced on July 5, and Wiltshire rider Kitty King again boosted her prospects by finishing fourth aboard Ceylor LAN behind winner, Great Britain teammate and Sussex-based Gemma Tattersall in the CIC three-star event.

China’s Alex Hua Tian, riding Don Geniro, made history at leg two of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) by becoming the first Chinese equestrian to win at three star international level on British soil.

Alex, who finished in last place in the first competition of the series at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials, reversed this form by winning the second leg following faultless show-jumping and cross-country rounds to finish on their dressage mark of 40.1.

Second was America’s Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen, while Marlborough-based New Zealander Jonelle Price boosted her Olympic hopes with third place aboard Faerie Dianimo.

“This mare has been a little short on work, as I have been away six weeks on the trot competing at three day-events, so I am thrilled with her this weekend,'' said Price.

"This was a good platform to prepare ‘Maggie May’ for Rio, I am very lucky as she is one of two of my rides that could be an Olympic hope, Classic Moet being the other.

"However, I would probably favour this one for Rio, but we’ll see what happens.

"It’s likely I will probably aim Classic Moet at leg three of the ERM series at Barbury in July”.

Marlborough-based Frenchman Astier Nicolas, the winner of first of the ERM series at Chatsworth finished in 10th place, riding Molakai on a score of 48.6.

After two legs, he leads the ERM leaderboard on 47 points, with the next leg being at the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials (July 7-10).

Meanwhile Badgerstown-based rider Tom McEwen took his second Bramham title with the Bishop Burton College U25 CCI*** on Toledo De Kerser.

McEwen, who has won the class in 2013, had two fences in hand going into the showjumping and felled just one to finish on 46.8 penalties.

“He’s a real good horse and really deserves it,” said McEwen, who is in his final year of eligibility for the Under 25 section. "He’s a very exciting future prospect.”

“It’s the first time he’s had a rail down this year so I’m annoyed at myself for that but he’s been phenomenal all week.

“I love this place and it really suits him. We’ll be looking at Pau or Burghley with him this autumn; he’s a superstar of a horse.”