Britain's Olympic three day event team are to have their final competition before leaving for Sydney at the Doubleprint British Open Horse Trials Championships, Gatcombe Park from August 4 to 6.

Chairman of selectors Mandy Stibbe said: "Gatcombe is the horses' last chance to run before they go into two weeks quarantine in England and fly to Australia on August 24 for the remaining three weeks."

The Gatcombe course is run by Captain Mark Phillips and he has re-designed parts of the challenging 3350-metre cross-country track with the squad's Olympic preparations in mind.

Stibbe added: "Mark has made a great effort and used the ground to good advantage. This is not a trial for the riders and horses, but a chance to assess form.

"If they are going to have a problem, I would rather they had it at Gatcombe, so the rider has a chance to put it right."

Ian Stark with Jaybee and Arakai, Pippa Funnell with Supreme Rock and Mary King with Star Appeal are among the front runners for the squad of seven riders and eight horses.