This year's Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials produced a thrilling competition which went right to the final fence.

After last year's cancellation, it produced one of the best entries seen in recent years. New Zealand rider, Jock Paget, kept his cool to finish on his dressage score of 39.7, when jumping double clear in a nail-biting final showjumping phase on his first visit to the Gloucestershire estate.

German rider, Michael Jung – the current world and Olympic champion with La Biosthetique Sam – looked to have the competition in the bag when leading after dressage.

They took a couple of long routes in the cross-country section but finished under the optimum time to hold onto their lead going into the showjumping phase but a late-falling rail at the final fence saw his chances of adding Badminton to his cv evaporate.

Jock also lying second after dressage produced a double clear on Clifton Promise. "I came here knowing I had two great horses and could win, but I didn't think I would win," said Jock.

"At the past few four-stars I've made mistakes that lost me the win, but this time both horses did everything I asked and it turned out to be enough,"

Clifton Promise, a 15-year-old bay gelding by Engagement, improved on his second pace at Pau four-star last autumn and his 10th place at the London Olympics.

The competition also saw William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson both attempt to win the Rolex Grand Slam – worth $350,000 after both winning Burghley and Kentucky.

Lying in third and fourth place going into the showjumping phase, William dropped to fifth place after Parklane Hawk had the final element of the treble combination down.

Andrew Nicholson had a clear round on Nereo to move up to third, but had to rely on Michael and Jock to make mistakes to make his Rolex dream a reality. It was not to be as 14 horses jumped clear inside the time, the time allowed was fairly tight, and 19 combinations collected time faults.

Five Scottish riders took part. Best of the riders was Nicky Roncoroni with her own Trig Point, who finished in 40th place. They are now based in Gloucestershire, and were clear cross country, with 7.2 time penalties and also had two fences down showjumping.

Olivia Wilmot, from East Kilbride, was double clear with Cool Dancer for 45th place. The 12-year-old is Irish-bred and Olivia has been riding him since he was five years old. They completed Burghley last year, but this was their first time at Badminton, although Olivia has twice been to the event with Patrius Filius and Fortunesnight.

"He warmed up brilliantly for the dressage but then we were after Zara Phillips and was slightly inattentive," said Olivia. "I was slightly disappointed as I know he can go so much better. He tried really hard jumping, he was keen and went all the direct routes and made it feel easy. I'm now slightly kicking myself that we didn't make the time. He has loads of scope over the fences and makes it feel very easy.

"He'll have a break for a few weeks and will next go to Eglinton, then Gatcombe for the British Open and then Burghley."

Olivia is trained by David Gatherer and Ian Stark – who walked the cross-country course with Olivia four times in preparation before riding the course. She is also part of the horsescotland performance squad and next goes to Richmond with two horses, followed by Floors Castle the following weekend.

Charlotte Agnew, from Kelso and now based in Oxfordshire, rode her family's home-bred Out of Africa Two to be 46th.

Last year they were best GB rider to be fifth at Luhmuhlen. They went clear cross country and had two showjumping poles.

Charlotte said: "He's was very clever, he's such an intelligent horse, you don't have to tell him things twice. He was completely on it, and I kept him focussed on me"

First timer, Louisa Milne Home from Kinross with King Eider was clear cross country and had one showjumping rail to finish in 50th place.

"It's been a long time coming," said Louisa, this was the pairings fourth four-star event, having been twice at Burghley and Luhmuhlen.

Three weeks earlier King Eider had been suffering from atrial fibrillation and was treated at the Dick Vet School.

"He felt great. He's so clever and looks after himself. He loves it, and is really honest and reliable. It's so nice to finally get to it!" added Louisa, who next goes to Chatsworth this weekeend with Porthill Rusty Nail and then to Floors Castle with four horses.

Emily Galbraith, from Jedburgh, with her own Timing, had a few hairy moments on the way to a final place of 54th. They had a run out across country and survived a hairy moment at the water but showjumped clear.

"I had to gain his confidence! I came round to that bounce at Huntsmen's Close (7), and he jumped too big and I couldn't hold on coming out. He was a bit dodgy into the water, but apart from that he was awesome-so brave, and I'm thrilled with him.