DAVID Doel is hoping that an impressive Barbury will count in his favour as he chases a spot on the Great Britain team for September’s FEI Young Rider European Championships.

The 20-year-old, from Reybridge, held a top-four position in the top CIC3* section A class for a large chunk of Sunday’s final day of competition before finishing a respectable 15th overall, with 67.7 penalties on experienced ride Koyuna Sun Magic.

Doel, who had only previously competed in one other 3* event at Tattersalls, Ireland, in May, also finished fourth in the CIC ** section D on nine-year-old gelding Ricoshea (49.8), with Chris King taking the title.

The European Young Rider championships take place in September 12-15 in Haras de Jardy, France, and Wiltshire rider Doel is currently on the long list (made up of eleven horse and rider combinations) with both of his Barbury rides.

“We had a bit of an average start to the week but it got better and better really. It’s rewarding and it’s been a good Barbury,” said Doel.

“I’m very fortunate that I’ve got some very experienced horses to be able to do the step up on to, but it’s been great.

“You see all these other people having problems and I’m sort of thinking ‘why am I not having any?’ because I’ve just had a cracking ride around.

“But (Koyuna Sun Magic) is 17 and he’s been there and done it whereas a lot of these guys will be on ten-year-olds.

“My main aim is the Young Rider Europeans and it’s just about keeping the results going really.

“We’re on the long list so we’ve just got to keep showing we’re consistent enough and good enough to warrant a place.”

Elsewhere in the CIC3* section A class, Milton Lilbourne-based New Zealander Tim Price was 21st with Wesko, Australian Olympian Lucinda Fredericks, from Little Cheverill, was 28th on Prada, West Littleton’s Harry Meade was 36th with Wild Lone, Great Somerford’s Beanie Sturgis was 38th on Wizard From Aus and Tom McEwen, who is based in Foxhill, finished 43rd with Private Rudolf.

In the CIC2* section C, Wiltshire-based Fredericks finished second with 13-year-old gelding The Navigator.

Fredericks finished behind winner Nicky Roncoroni with 46.7 penalties, beating Sweden’s Ludwig Svenner-stall and Great Britain international Pippa Funnell by just 0.1.

“I only got the ride back on him on Monday but it was amazing because after the first five fences, it was like he clocked in and thought ‘ah, I remember this one’,” said the Australian star.

“He’s a thoroughbred, so it was really good fun to just go turbo.

“He will go on the market now, which is sad but it’s a business decision.

“Barbury is one of the best events around and it’s local to us, meaning that we can go backwards and forwards and go to all the parties across the weekend.”

Flora Harris won CIC2* section E with Amazing VIII while there was reason to celebrate for Wiltshire’s Price, who retained the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) championship with Vortex.

The New Zealander led the standings with 18.2 penalties before jumping a clear round in Sunday’s top-ten jump-off with his 19-year-old former racehorse.

  • PUMBAA Goess-Saurau, who lives next door to the Barbury Estate, finished second with Killacoran Blue behind Yasmin Ingham in the Pony Team Final Trial.

FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS, REPORTS & PICTURES SEE THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport