Express & Star

The Queen’s grand-daughter Zara Phillips was in Staffordshire today competing at Rodbaston College’s two-day horse trials.

The 27-year-old will join competitors at the Penkridge college where she will ride four horses in the novice class.

One of the horses she will be riding belongs to the Queen and another belongs to her mother Princess Anne. Miss Phillips has made a name for herself in the equestrian world, competing in three-day eventing competitions which earned her an MBE for services to equestrianism last year.

Her career accomplishments include a 2006 victory in the three-day event at the World Equestrian Games, making her only the third rider in history to hold the world and European titles at the same time.

Her appearance at Rodbaston will be part of her preparations ahead of the Olympic Games this summer in Bejing.

Miss Phillips spoke to the Express & Star while walking the course ahead of today’s games.

She said: “This is my first time at Rodbaston but the facilities are good. I am in the novice class because the horses are novices themselves, they are only young horses so the idea is to build them up to educate them.”She said the event in Staffordshire was not part of her Olympics preparations.

“This event is not really at the level of the Olympics. I’m not thinking about the Olympics at the moment, I’m not here for that.

“I have to get selected for the Olympics first and I don’t know what the plans are for that but I will go out there about two weeks before the games.”

Rodbaston College horse trials began today and include show jumping and cross country.

The event has grown in stature since its introduction in 1994 and has become a showpiece event for the West Midlands, attracting more than 600 competitors.

Marcus Clinton, head of the school of animals and equine studies, said: “This blue ribbon event showcases equestrianism at Rodbaston College. For our equine staff and students to experience such a high-profile event is the best education they can possibly have.”