WILLIAM Fox-Pitt won the Open Championship at the Festival of British Eventing held at HRH the Princess Royal's home, Gatcombe Park, over the weekend.

This was William's third win and his second on the unpredictable Moon Man. He won with Stunning in 2003, when Moon Man came second.

"He loves it here, he's never gone better and he got round the cross country course inside the time. He must have got up in the right frame of mind this morning," said a delighted William of his enigmatic mount.

In second place came Gatcombe-based Australian, triple Olympic gold-medallist Andrew Hoy, riding Master Monarch, who was only a second over the time, with Gatcombe specialist Mary King on the late Caroline Pratt's horse, Call Again Cavalier, a close third.

"I feel we're really getting to know each other. I'm trusting him more and he's learning to respect me - and he's a wonderful jumper," said Mary.

Olympic gold medallist Leslie Law came fourth with Shear L'Eau and seventh with Shear H20. Jeanette Brakewell on the evergreen Over To You was sixth, with German rider Anne Warnecke and Twinkle Bee sandwiched in in fifth place.

It was, however, a somewhat depleted competition, with most of the British team who compete at the European Championships at Blenheim next month, withdrawing their championship horses after the dressage and show jumping phases.

The only two who went on to jump across country were Jeanette Brakewell and Pippa Funnell who retired after Primmore's Pride had two uncharistic run outs.

This meant that there was no chance to see local riders Zara Phillips and Toytown, lying second after the dressage phase, or Kitty Boggis and Five Boys who were also well placed.

Ollie Townend on the talented Topping, owned by Mr and Mrs William Russell of Charlton, near Malmesbury, also withdrew.

In no way, however, did this diminish the excitment of the competition on Mark Phillips's course, felt by most riders to be the most tiring on the event circuit, with its numerous hills and many twists and turns, nor did it detract from the skill of the eventual winners.

Elsewhere in the three days of competition, William Fox-Pitt had another win, this time on Mr Dumbledore in Advanced Section 2, when Chipping Sodbury-based Nick Gauntlett and Calibre came a very creditable fourth.

Zara Phillips also did well, coming third in the Intermediate Championship on Red Baron, to the obvious delight of both her parents.