A bumper three days of affiliated showjumping action kept the Cabin Equestrian Centre, outside Inverurie, busy over the last weekend of March.
Enjoying a hat trick of wins at the event on Clover Royale, Kintore-based Amanda Paterson topped the 85cm national amateur first round, before also amassing two further firsts and a second place rosette over the weekend.
“I’ve only been riding properly for just over a year now and am really enjoying it,” explained Amanda.
“I made the decision to register with British Showjumping (BS) this month and am so glad I did. This was my first affiliated competition.
“I’m so lucky to own Clover Royale she’s proved the perfect horse to teach me how it’s done, so a big thank you to Shaun and Emma Murray who have been brilliant teachers for me,” she added.
“She has given me so much confidence and is quick and careful against the clock which makes jump offs great fun.”
Amanda and Clover Royale were narrowly pipped to the post on Friday by Echt based British Eventing accredited trainer Sue Hendry on the consistent coloured gelding Tomahawk.
Meanwhile, Rashbook Equestrian proprietor and a qualified freelance instructor Les Thomson, from Elgin, led the way in Friday’s British Novice on his wife’s six-year-old mare Courvoisier SMH.
Les also notched up a win in Saturday’s class with his own horse Stonebyres Barry.
Together Les and Barry are the reigning Courier/BHS Scotland riding club working hunter championship title holders after topping the working hunter final at Blair Castle, in August.
“We had a great weekend and it was super to have my wife there too jumping in the 80cm and 85cm both days as it was our first BS outing together for a fair few years, since having children,” said Les.
“Both horses are feeling great. It’s been helped by having an easy winter but it’s time to get going again and crack on with the working hunter qualifiers.
“We’re hoping to get Barry to Blair again to continue our winning streak,” he added.
“We also had a livery with us Shona Morrison who was riding her own Quintessa. This was her first show as a BS member so it was a bit of a Rashbook Equestrian outing. She did really well too winning Saturday’s 80cm class and second on Friday,” said Les.
Dominating the 95cm national amateur over the three day duration was Jules Coburn on the nimble 14.3hh New Forest cross coloured gelding Skye IV.
Jules headed both the Friday and Sunday 95cms classes, before progressing to take a first place win in Sunday’s 1m05 also.
Their success continues a near clean sheet record of first placings for the pair, who affiliated to BS around two years ago.
Underlining that “good things in small packages”, Jules explained that her daughter Sasha also rides Skye in shows and gymkhanas.
“The show was great and the course built by Diane on the Sunday for the 1m05 was one of the most challenging I’ve jumped. It was twisty and full of short and long stride options,” explained Jules.
“This is only my second year into competing and I’ve just moved out of the Newcomers but my little horse Skye is still young just turning six. I’d like to enjoy the summer staying around the 1m10 height and now I’ve qualified for the 95cm and 1m05 Amateur second rounds. I’ll try for the 1m10 second round too and, if I’m lucky enough to get to Scope Festival, then I’ll definitely go,” she added.
“I’ve also set my mind on a bit of grass too and I’m just waiting for the full schedule for Blair Horse Trials in August so it looks like a pretty busy year all round.”
Oldmeldrum-based Carolyn Andrews also became another rider to enjoy a double of wins, taking two first place wins over the weekend.
She took Saturday’s 1m05 and then Sunday’s 1m10 class with her own horse Peniki.
Self-employed teaching and riding services owners Sarah Gibb notched up a first in Saturday’s 1m10 on her speedy grey mare Chellijana Z, before taking a second place in the 1m15 open behind eventual winners Kayleigh Spalding and Dolous.
And Sarah’s weekend didn’t stop there as she also added a third and fourth place win on her “brave and bold” rising six-year-old Ultimo Ashbank.
“She felt really good in the 1m10,” explained Sarah.
“She was springy and very excited with a few bucks and kicks and was the same in the 1m15. She’s a fab horse. Oddly, she loves red jumps the best!”
Meanwhile, Kayleigh commented of her six-year-old gelding, by Tangelo Van De Zuutthoeve: “I couldn’t fault him on Saturday he felt great and jumped just super.
“I sometimes forget he’s only coming up six.
“My Dad imported him as an unbroken four year old from Holland,” she explained. “He is a brilliant young horse with a very trainable attitude and great character.
“He’s now moved on to Foxhunter level and has gained a few double clears and placings at this level already.
“He has qualified for the Newcomer Regionals this year so I’m hoping to jump them and also the Young Horse Championships in summer,” she added.
“I really hope to progress to my first 1m30 on him at the end of the summer. He is my horse of a lifetime.”
Results
Friday. 80cm unaff: 1 Ringo, Amanda Kilgour; 2 Quintessa, Shona Morrison; 3 Talisker Bay, Karen Thomson. 85cm national amateur: 1 Tomahawk, Sue Hendry; 2 Clover Royale, Amanda Paterson; 3 Stonebyres Barry, Les Thomson. British novice: 1 Courvoisier SMH, Les Thomson; 2 Benarys Luipillia, David Lawson; 3 Budstar, Aileen Field. 95cm national amateur: 1 Skye IV, Jules Coburn; 2 Avenue, Jodie Maher; 3 Gazelle IV, Holly Miller. 1m05 national amateur: 1 Rascalion, Pauline Richardson; 2 Early Girl, Holly Miller; 3 Skye IV, Jules Coburn. 1m10 national amateur: 1 Turbok, Rebecca McRonald; 2 Rascalion, Pauline Richardson.
Saturday. 80cm unaff: 1 Quintessa, Shona Morrison; 2d Talisker Bay, Karen Thomson; 3 Roughmoors Pride Brightwells Surprise, Benna Strachan. 85cm national amateur: 1 Clover Royale, Amanda Paterson; 2 Bally Malloy Kinvara, Fiona Quennell; 3 Silver Shamrock, Sophie Elder. British novice: 1 Stonebyres Barry, Les Thomson; 2 Benarys Luipillia, David Lawson; 3 Balou Rhapsody, Kim Tedcastle. 95cm national amateur: 1 HHS Dramatiker, Garry Charlish; 2 Carlos, Jordan Lyon; 3 Balou Rhapsody, Kim Tedcastle. 1m05 national amateur: 1 Peniki, Carolyn Andrews; 2 Rascalion, Pauline Richardson; 3 Suzie Q, Kirsty Richardson. 1m10 national amateur: 1 Chellijana Z, Sarah Gibb; 2 Paris III, Fraser McDonald; 3 Ultimo Ashbank, Sarah Gibb. 1m15 open: 1 Dolous, Kayleigh Spalding; 2 Chellijana Z, Sarah Gibb; 3 Junior H, Alan Spalding.
Sunday. 80cm unaff: 1 Dakota, Amanda Kilgour; 2 Ipad, Lindsey Brown; 3 HHS Zuriel, Ellen Charlish. 85cm national amateur: 1 Clover Royale, Amanda Paterson; 2 HHS Zuriel, Ellen Charlish; 3 Knockbeg Breffini, Jordan Lyon. British novice: 1 Bengarys Luipillia, David Lawson; 2 Hi Ho Silver II, Stephanie Slater; 3 HHS Dramarko, Garry Charlish. 95cm national amateur: 1 Skye IV, Jules Coburn; 2 Hi Ho Silver II, Stephanie Slater; 3 Johny No 7, Laura Mackay. 1m05 national amateur: 1 Skye IV, Jules Coburn; 2 La Saphir, Amy Clark; 3 Vian Van De Vromboutshoeve, Jodie Paterson. 1m10 national amateur: 1 Peniki, Carolyn Andrews; 2 Early Girl, Holly Miller; 3 Palmalano, Sally Coull.
End