Zara's Olympic bid

The Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, has been selected to compete in the equestrian events at the Beijing Olympics. Zara will be following in her father's footsteps as she competes in Beijing - Capt Mark Phillips won gold in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

She will be riding her horse Toytown, who was injured four years ago and cost her the opportunity to participate in the 2004 games in Athens. In August, Zara will participate with a team of five, including Mary King, William Fox-Pitt, Lucy Wiegersma and Sharon Hunt.

Zara said, "It is nice to be selected, but we still have a long way to go. I am lucky in that Toytown has been to championship events before, so he knows about big occasions and has been consistent, but an Olympic Games is really special."

There are three phases to this three day event: the first is dressage where, through precise riding, the rider has to demonstrate a perfect union with the horse; the second is cross-country, the more commonly televised event with fences and obstacles; the last is show jumping.

Royal Forum