THE Queen’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, was among the competitors in the Bramham International Horse Trials.

Zara, 31, the daughter of Princess Anne, carried the Olympic torch in Cheltenham two weeks ago, and was among those competing for Olympic qualification at the trials near Wetherby yesterday in the CIC*** class on High Kingdom.

This year the organisers extended the competition to 100 extra entrants after rain led to the cancellation of two other important UK equestrian events, the horse trials at Badminton and Chatsworth which were to serve as selection events for the 2012 Olympics.

Winnie Murphy, of Bramham International Horse Trials, said recent heavy rain had hampered things at Bramham, but organisers were doing everything possible to keep the main eventing competitions running.

She said: “The rain hasn’t helped. It’s quite muddy and quite wet under foot. We have had to cancel some of the side competitions to keep the main competitions, but a bit of sunshine and wind and things will soon dry out.

“The forecasters are telling us that the weekend is looking much better so if we can get through today we’re in for a good competition.”

Ms Murphy said 60,000 spectators were expected at the four-day event, which has seen riders from France, Germany, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand competing. Joylse Clancy, from York, and James Somerville, from Boroughbridge, were also expected to compete for a place on the Olympic team.