Top horse riders have just a week left to prepare for one of the country's biggest events.

Among them is local favourite William Fox-Pitt who will be hoping to repeat his amazing success of finishing first and second at this year's Blenheim Petplan International Horse Trials.

William Fox-Pitt with Tamarillo Last year, Fox-Pitt, of Goddington, took the top two places with his horses Stunning and Tamarillo at the trials held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, Woodstock.

The organisers of the 12th Blenheim Petplan International Trials, which take place from September 6 to 9, have been overwhelmed with more than 180 entries from no fewer than 15 countries.

The event is the only "three-star" event in Britain this year, due to the early season cancellations due to the foot and mouth crisis, and is an essential competition for anyone hoping to gain entry to Badminton horse trials next spring.

Among the sponsors of one of the county's biggest sporting events is the Oxford Mail's sister paper, The Oxford Times.

Other local sponsors include Bicester Village, Countrywide Stores, which recently announced it was opening a new store in Witney, and Faringdon-based Ariat, which makes riding boots.

Fox-Pitt will face tough opposition from Olympic silver medallists Pippa Funnell, Ian Stark and Leslie Law, and former Badminton winners Mary King and Lucinda Green.

The event director Mike Etherington-Smith has made a number of changes to the cross country course including seven all-new fences.

Other attractions include a 180-shop retail village including rural crafts, world of wine and the world of the horse.