THE Princess Royal's daughter, Zara Phillips, will be among more than 500 competitors at the Eridge Horse Trials at Eridge Park, near Tunbridge Wells, on Saturday and Sunday.

Zara Phillips, 20, makes her first visit to the venue where her mother, as Princess Anne, competed in the 1970s. Her father, Captain Mark Phillips, is a noted equestrian in his own right.

Zara will be riding her horse, Toytown, which notched up a win in a two-day event at Chepstow and was placed 13th in her first senior three-day event last month.

Competing in the Eridge in the Wood and Pilcher open intermediate trials, Zara will be up against some of the world's top riders.

They include triple Olympic gold medallist Matt Ryan, from Australia; European gold medallist Pippa Funnel, formerly from Wadhurst, near Tunbridge Wells, and Kristina Gifford, from Findon, Sussex.

More than 10 nations will be represented at the event, which has gained a particularly large entry in the wake of many trials being cancelled earlier this year due to the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Many competitors are travelling hundreds of miles just for the opportunity to take part. Dressage is from 8.30am each day, show jumping from 9am and cross-country from 11am. Entry is £10 per car.