SOME of the top British equestrian stars are heading to Salisbury at the weekend for the annual Wilton Horse Trials, writes Mike Turner.

The event, set in the splendid surroundings of Wilton House, is now in its 27th year.

Almost 500 competitors will take part in the two-day event which starts on Saturday.

Among a number of local competitors in action is Winterbourne Stoke rider Louisa Lockwood who heads to Wilton in confident mood on the back of her latest success at the Longleat Horse Trials where Blue Gray Celebrity enjoyed a convincing Novice win.

Louisa, who has competed at Wilton for the past five years, says she is very much looking forward to the weekend: "This seems to be a lucky event for me.

"Last year I had a Novice first and third, so I will be hoping my luck holds."

Louisa will be riding six horses this weekend and is hoping that Blue Gray Celebrity, who is owned by William Grant and sponsored by Salisbury estate agents and auctioneers Woolley & Wallis, will repeat the form shown at Longleat.

Louisa will also be hoping for a place on six-year-old Sovereign Striker in the Novice section, while Freddie Lee - first in the Novice at Tweseldown and Larkhill - will be making his Intermediate debut.