More than 220 tests were ridden over a weekend of fierce competition during the North East Dressage Championships.
Run jointly for the first time by The Cabin and Gordon Dressage Group, the championships attracted 20-strong classes with some of Scotland’s top riders battling it out for the titles, championship rugs and sashes.
Adjudicating were Linda Whetstone, Penelope Lang and Helen Brown.
Oldmeldrum rider Emma Cheyne took the prelim title, riding her horse Little Trouble a seven-year-old 15.2hh Irish sport horse cross Connemara, known at home as Ollie.
Emma a project controls manager for WGPSN scored a superb 74.5% to top the championship, ridden to prelim 19, under the eagle eye of high-listed judge Penelope Lang.
“This was our first dressage outing since March as we have been concentrating on eventing,” said Emma.
“He really concentrated in the test and I was able to show him off.
“Ollie has a super attitude to competing and takes everything in his stride,” she added.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to win as the competition was fierce and it has taken us a long time to trust each other and become a real team.”
The day after headlining the North East championships, Emma hot-footed it to Burgie Horse Trials, where the partnership notched up a second place in the BE80 section, only 1.8 penalty points behind the winner.
Meanwhile, winner of the Novice championship was Newmachar-based Debbie Murray on the athletic MFS gelding MFS Fancyman.
Earlier this year the combination made the 1,000-mile round trip to the Winter Championships where they won the KBIS Preliminary Championships with an impressive 72.76%, commanding a 2% margin over the rest of the field.
The British-bred gelding, which carried forward Fidertanz and De Niro bloodline, started his affiliated dressage career with Debbie 15 months previously.
Meanwhile, the journey to Inverurie from Angus proved fruitful for Suzanne Cargill and Ellie-AT, when they topped the dressage to music championship.
“This was only our second dressage to music competition, so I was thrilled to win on a score of 77.5%,” said Suzanne.
She rode her test to music including Puccini’s Nessun Dorma and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance.
Her eight-year-old mare Ellie, which is sired by the Gillespies’ showjumping stallion Tornado, has progressed well this year. They have already qualified for the Scottish Regionals at Novice level and for Novice to Music and for the Scottish BD Dressage Championships at Novice and Elementary.
“I’m hoping to qualify for Elementary to Music before the end of the year also,” she added.
Suzanne has been kept busy readying herself for the launch of a new cattery business Elliot Mews at her home on the outskirts of Arbroath, but makes time to have regular training with Hamish Cameron, as well as from Albert Van Schie during his visits from Holland.
Claire Grant, chair of Gordon Dressage Group, said: “The North East Championships has been our busiest show this year.
“We were delighted to see so many people there who had qualified and also some new faces,” she said.
“It was great having such high quality and positive judging from our much valued local and south judges.”
The Cabin owner Fiona Quennell added: “We were delighted at such a large turnout for this event and look forward to seeing everyone again soon and at the Summer Regionals.”
Results
Intro: Richard McKnight, Melody’s Magic, 67.39.
Prelim: Emma Cheyne, Little Trouble, 74.55.
Novice open: Nicky Heale, Seramai, 76.29. Novice restricted: Debbie Murray, Fancyman MFS, 75.97.
Elementary open: Nicky Heale, Retanach Request, 71.76. Elementary open: Lorna Anderson, Luwe, 65.74.
Medium: Mhairi Niven, Cocktail M, 70.15. Unaffiliated: Shuna Mardon, Hjemdal Astrid, 57.94.
Advanced medium open: Hannah Guild, Corienta, 68.29. Advanced medium restricted: Mhairi Niven, Cocktail M, 68.29.
Prix St George: Doreen Duffin, Linka S, 65.79.
Music championship: Suzanne Cargill, Ellie-at, 77.5.