NEXT week’s Whatley Manor & Spa International Horse Trials held at Gatcombe Park, the home of The Princess Royal, near Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire will be the last.

The Land Rover Novice & Intermediate event, held in March, is also in its last year of competition but the Festival of British Eventing, which is held at the venue in August, will continue as ever.

Next week’s Gatcombe Horse Trials begin on Friday and last until Sunday, with dressage, show jumping and cross-country phases run throughout the three days.

At various times during the weekend, HRH The Princess Royal will present the prizes.

Amongst the star-studded entry list will be Zara Tindall, a success competitor at the highest level of the sport and also well known as the daughter of The Princess Royal.

Now in its 24th year of running, with support from Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa since 2011, the event takes place on a course which utilises a different area of the Gatcombe Park Estate to that used by the Festival of British Eventing last month.

This year, a completely new CIC-S3* international cross-country course has been designed by Mark Phillips, while the other three courses have, as usual, been designed by HRH The Princess Royal.

Gatcombe Park is situated at Hampton Fields, midway between Minchinhampton and Avening.

Spectator admission is £6 for a car and all occupants and £4 for a programme.

For full information about directions, accommodation, course maps, timetable and all entries, visit www.gatcombehorsetrials.co.uk.