The loss of Scone Palace as the venue for Central Scotland Horse Trials was nothing short of heart-breaking for event organisers, spectators and riders.
But following a year’s grace from Scotland’s British Eventing calendar, the CSHT organising committee can only be applauded for their dogged perseverance not only in keeping their show running, but in securing the breath-taking estate setting of Dalkeith as its successor, offering almost limitless potential for the continuation of the historical event for future years.
“The committee pulled out all of the stops,” said CSHT organiser James Oakden, deferring much of the credit for the success of the horse trials to his hardworking band of volunteers.
“Of course the weather made all the difference but spectators numbers were very considerable, particularly as we had done little in the way of marketing, and the layout, arenas and fences were all presented and dressed as best they could have ever been.”
Conceding the overall event plan, and in particular the location of the cross country, had not panned out as initially anticipated, Mr Oakden said that the success of this inaugural competition at Dalkeith paves the way for plenty of changes and improvements for coming years.
Despite being “badly let-down” by affiliate body BE, which decided long after a second date for Dalkeith had been cemented onto the calendar for July that it was going to gift the weekend over to Hopetoun organisers instead, Mr Oakden said Dalkeith has the making of being amongst the very best of venues.
“I’ve visited the site on a few occasions over various times of the year and the ground conditions were so good that the event could have run on any of these.
“The location of the dressage on the front lawn with Dalkeith Palace set as its backdrop just cannot be beaten.
“We have to say a huge thankyou to Buccleuch Estates for the opportunity to be here, and of course all volunteers that have kept CSHT on its feet.”
REIGNITING THEIR their former partnership has reaped huge dividends for Perthshire rider Rosie Allen and her seasoned event horse Big J, who came together to top the open novice section at Dalkeith.
A member of the Allen family now for the last eight years, the upstanding grey gelding was bought from Ireland originally as a hunt horse for her mother Anne.
“When my pony went lame I started to ride and event Jay and we competed in our first novice when I was only 14,” explained Rosie.
Unfortunately, illness prevented Rosie from completing the 2010 season allowing Wills Oakden to take over Jay’s reigns and progress him to two-star and intermediate but now stronger again, Rosie is once again back in the driving seat.
“It was great to be able to do the dressage in front if the beautiful house and Jay produced a really nice test,” said Rosie, who is currently doing a degree in equine studies at Bishop Burton, where she benefits from twice weekly training from Catherine Cundall and from Wills Oakden, when she is at home.
Nervous ahead of the showjumping, which at that point had yeilded only one clear, she added: “The round was actually really great fun.
“Jay was just jumping out of his stride I was shocked to have gone clear. The cross county rode amazingly well, it was lovely and flowing. I thought the venue was fabulous and the weather just helped it along its way!”
With a double clear, adding just 0.8 time to their otherwise flawless 33 dressage penalities, Rosie now has the one-star contest at Blair almost within reach.
“It has been a goal of mine for quite some years,” she said.
Fresh from a win at Kirriemuir the preceding weekend, Fife rider Katherine Lindsay and her horse Shannondale Somax remained on song to top their novice leaderboard at Dalkeith.
Making the best of their step up to Novice level competition, the 17-year-old rode ‘Bear’ to complete double clear to take the lead.
From his position in the control box as cross country commentator for the Sunday of the competition, Mr Oakden said he was pleased to see the cross country ride “exactly as it had been designed to be”.
“It was a relatively technnical ask. We set the angled rails at quite a sharp angle for the novice competitors, the combination at 14 [a corner to arrowhead skinny], and bounce all posed a serious questions to answer.”
Mr Oakden said time separated novice riders: “The nature of the track meant if the riders didn’t go for the time earlier in the course there was little gallop space to make it back.”
Stopping the clock just three seconds over the optimum time, adding just 1.2 time penalties, to their 36.5 dressage to end in the lead, Katherine said the course was “perfect” for Bear.
“She is quite small and nippy, so therefore makes her turns easily.”
Katherine bought the seven-year-old mare by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan, from Perthshire rider Rose Macpherson at the end of the 2012 season.
Rose had taken Bear from her friend Eamonn McIntyre, in Durham, to bring on.
Having done no competing and being “pretty feral” Rose took the mare through a season at BE90 level, finishing with consecutive seconds at Hendersyde and Eglinton BE.
“She was always a very natural jumper, which not surprising from her pedigree as it includes Sarco, Darco, Voltaire and Ramiro.
“She is a special little horse and was always talented in all phases making her the ideal event package.
“Bear has found the perfect partner in Katherine.”
With AS level exams at Queen Margarets, in Yorkshire looming, Katherine gets help at home from Sarah Sewell to keep Bear hacking, whilst Team Oakden help her to compete.
They head next to Floors for the open novice under 18s.
“I thought the whole event was organised incredibly well,” reflected Katherine. “Both the jump phases ran ahead of time and I thought that it definitely has potential to be an amazing event.”
Within the grassroots classes Dundee rider Jane Reid was thrilled to end her first affiliated outing of the year at BE100 level in the equal lead.
Jane, who fulfils the busy voluntary role of regional training organiser for BE in Scotland, took the win with her over height Connemara Greyford Boy.
The rising six-year-old by Ashfield Romeo started the season where he left off last year, having won at Wee Burgie in the autumn of 2013.
An active member of Strathmore and District Riding Club, Jane said although her next BE outing will be at local competition, Brechin, she plans to represent the club at the area horse trials competition and for the time being this will keep them at 100 level for BE.
“He certainly has the scope to go novice,” explained Jane, who herself travels to Balcormo to trains with Sandra Low-Mitchell and who spent the winter hunting in preparation for the season with the Fife Foxhounds.
“Dalkeith was certainly a stunning venue, with plenty more to come in future.”
Amongst the BE90 winners was Stirlingshire’s Giorgia Burns and her nine-year-old Cavalier sired gelding, Avontuur.
“I have had him for four or five years now and its safe to say he was a nightmare when we got him. He wouldn’t even go near a pole on the ground, but absolute patience, just working away quietly has really proved rewarding.
“He finished last year doing very well at BE100 getting placed top four of his last four outings.
“Compared to 2013 – its great to see him finally maturing. He will be ready for novice this season.”
Want to ride the new Dalkeith course? Take a spin around the BE90 track with competitor Philippa Stephen and her horse Woody. [All rights reserved by British Eventing]
Results
BE90 A: 1 Alexandra Meikle, Damdeasy, 30,0,0,0=30; 2 Rose Macpherson, Rainstown Cracker, 30,0,0,0=30; 3 Catriona Meikle, Whos Vision, 26.5,4,0,0=30.5. BE90 B: 1 Sandra Lamb, Winnietoe II, 25.5,0,0,0=25.5; 2 Lesley Higgins, Upsekee De Leau, 22,8,0,0=30; 3 Emma Pate, Vienna, 32.5,4,0,0=36.5. BE90 C: 1 Louise Clark, Coco X, 33,4,0,0=37; 2 Grace Reilly, Rhodes Rimmer, 32,0,0,5.2=37.2; 3 Morag O’Mara, Mr Incredible II, 33.5,4,0,0=37.5.
BE80 D: 1 Miranda Robertson, Elstar Van De Smishoeve, 27,4,0,0=31; 2 Jade Thompson, Ervelough Padraic, 32,0,0,0=32; 3 Joanna Mitchell, Forever Frederick, 31.5,4,0,0=35.5. BE80 E: 1 Tiffany Mactaggart, Highly Delighted, 26.5,0,0,2.0=28.5; 2 Rachael Aiton, Mr Redford, 31,0,0,0=31; 3 Jade Thompson, Balladeer Maestro, 31.5,0,0,0=31.5. BE80 F: 1 Gillian Sleight, Cobblers Dream, 26,0,0,0=26; 2 Laura Sanderson, Tamarosa, 22.5,4,0,0=26.5; 3 Jade Hunter, Diamond Cruiser, 25,4,0,0=29.0.
Novice G: 1 Sonya Cunningham, Opposition Eclipse II, 28,0,0,0.4=28.4; 2 Alysa Spittle, Rodney Clover, 39.5,4,0,2.0=45.5; 3 Josephine Alexander, Zuccero II, 39,0,0,15.2=54.2.
Open Novice H: 1 Rosie Allen, Big J, 33,0,0,0.8=33.8; 2 Sonya Cunningham, Dryffe Royal Cavalier, 32.5,4,0,0=36.5; 3 Kirsty Brewis, Harbour Lights, 34,4,0,0=38.
BE100 I: 1 Stuart Sloan, Tinkas Flash, 26,0,0,0.4=26.4; 2 Joanna Dun, Amazing Merlin, 29.5,0,0,0=29.5; 3 Sarah Hislop, Cuffesgrange Cut The Past, 33.5,0,0,0=33.5. BE100 J: 1 Caitlin Padfield, Mr RM, 26.5,0,0,0=26.5; 2 Hannah Yule, McGuire IV, 31,0,0,0=31; 3 Henny Cooper, Soprano DL Herbage, 29.5,4,0,0=33.5. BE100 K: 1 (equal) Jane Reid, Greyford Boy and Rachael Lupton, Mission Man II, 30.5,0,0,0=30.5; 3 Daniel Scott, Casmo Z, 31.5,0,0,0=31.5.BE100u18 L: 1 Kirstin Bamford, Coosh, 24.5,0,0,0=24.5; 2 Felix Feather, Opposite Reflection, 20,4,0,4tf=28; 3 Connie Wishart, Devonair SH, 30,0,0,0=30.
BE90 M: 1 Giorgia Burns, Avontuur, 23.5,0,0,0=23.5; 2 Kirsty Cordner, Chance X, 24.5,0,0,0=24.5; 3 Sam Magennis, Springtime Jazz, 24.5,0,0,0=24.5. BE90 N: 1 Nydia Hadley, Goldies Indiana, 27,0,0,0=27; 2 Kate Sanderson, Cefncoch Crusader, 27,0,0,0=27; 3 Suzanne Cruickshank, Vistimar, 29,4,0,0=33.
Novice O: 1 Katherine Lindsay, Shannondale Somax, 36.5,0,0,1.2=37.7; 2 Emily Galbraith, Lawd of the Mill, 36.5,0,0,2.0=38.5; 3 Emily Parker, Athlone Acorn, 34.5,4,0,0.4=38.9.