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Kingham's Douglas Gittins secured first place at the Hambledon Horse Trials near Henley-on-Thames.

Competing in the KBIS British Insurance Junior Regional Novice event, the 16-year-old won the section on his 17-hand bay Arctic Chair.

With the best dressage in the class of 27.9, Gittins maintained his lead, finishing clear throughout the day.

Known as Charlie, Arctic Chair and Gittins won the Junior Regional Novice section with an impressive advantage of five points.

Gittins said: "It was totally unexpected. I am so pleased with Charlie's performance. He is a terrific horse.

"It is only Charlie's second event since 2006, so he has done brilliantly, especially as in two weeks he has gone from the worst dressage score of the section to the best."

Gittins is now preparing his two horses for their first Intermediate class at Cleobury Mortimer Horse Trials.

But with his GCSEs fast approaching, his eventing career will have to take second place for a while.

9:18am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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