Rarely do Scotland’s riders get the opportunity to set foot on the Royal Highland Showground’s hallowed turf outside the national flagship agricultural event, so there was a special feel to the BS Scotland branch’s inaugural Summer Extravaganza two-day showjumping event.
The show at Ingliston included two new, hotly contested, championship finals for competitors jumping at the smaller heights.
However, the highlight of the weekend was the battle for the Newcomers and Foxhunter second rounds.
Fresh from big success in the Spanish GP Sunshine Tour earlier this year, Richard Howley romped home on the opening day of competition to secure the Newcomers second round win with Westpoint Baros.
Richard brought Baros to Edinburgh from his base in Nottingham, having scooped HOYS qualif ication at Foxhunter level with a second-round win at this level from Southview, in Cheshire, only days previously.
Baros an eight-year-old son of Balou Du Rouet and Westpoint Farrelle which was previously produced by Tessa Blackburn, is a relatively new addition to the HK Horses stable and is now co-owned by Richard and Morgan Kent.
With distance no object to the goal of HOYS qualification, many of the competitors travelled a considerable mileage to reach the event.
However, the Foxhunter win remained in Scotland with Fife rider Douglas Duffin clinching the top spot and ticket to HOYS riding Shannon Kelly’s horse Hi Midnight Millie.
Douglas achieved the only clear round with the eight-year-old mare over Mark McGowan’s testing big track.
Douglas was not surprised there were no other riders to finish with a clean sheet.
Drawn around three-quarters of the way through the field, he said Hi Midnight Millie was on-form on grass going into the arena having, similarly to Richard and Westpoint Baros, competed in Spain on the Sunshine Tour, but also having finished second at the Royal Highland in the Grade C Championship.
“She’s very careful and consistent,” he said.
“Mark had built a very technical track and, with the size and technicality of the fences, coupled to the use of the water jump within a combination and the fact it was on grass, it wasn’t a surprise we achieved the only clear round.
“I just don’t think there are as many opportunities out there for riders to get their horses prepared for jumping in a grass arena too much jumping is on artificial surfaces.
“The SunshineTour in Spain provides you with the perfect turf to get horses prepared for the season ahead.”
He now hopes to couple his HOYS qualification with Hi Midnight Millie at Foxhunter level, with qualification at Newcomers also.
“We’ve been the fastest placed four faulter at our last two qualification attempts, so I feel like it really is within reach for us,” he said.
With Pippa Allen and Grenoble 46 occupying second places across both the second-round classes, Kirkcaldy-based David Harland narrowly missed out on making it a Scots HOYS qualification one-two from the Foxhunter class, finishing in third spot with Suzanne Craighead’s Fauber.
Fauber recently won on the same turf at the Royal Highland.
equestrian@thecourier.co.uk Results
Saturday 1m15 open: 1 Laura Templeton, Vurelise; 2 Annabel Shields, Darco L; 3 James Lamont, Lynnbank Aragorn. Newcomers (second round): 1 Richard Howley, Westpoint Baros; 2 Pippa Allen, Grenoble 46; 3 Pippa Allen, Grandis Van De Lindehoeve. Foxhunter: 1 Rachael Connor, Rosgan Quizzical; 2 Lynsey Yeoman, Penny Blue; 3 Simon Buckley, Delinquent Jx. 1m20 open: 1 Morgan Kent, Torboy Magic; 2 Sally Hopkinson, Zellweger; 3 Stephen Lohoar, L Aurore Des Vavres. National 1m30 championship qualifier: 1 Richard Howley, Remi Delux; 2 Pippa Allen, Bonfire III; 3 Graham Babes, Boucheron. British novice: 1 James Smith, Josephina Z; 2 Laura Whitfield, Apricor Sunshine; 3 Jenna Stead, Harre Island. Discovery: 1 Aileen Craig, Gold Du Sud; 2 James Smith, Dynamic II; 3 Gillian Donnell, Roxane Du Talus. 1m open: 1 Fiona Macintyre, David DDH; 2 Megan Sheret, Iam Hektor; 3 Megan Sheret, Goldata. Loch Leven 1m05 qualifier: 1 James Lamont, Lynnbank Aragorn; 2 Aileen Craig, Gold Du Sud; 3 Craig Hamilton, The Eastern Advocat. Newcomers: 1 Heather Donaldson, Dylan XI; 2 Laura Hutt, All Saint; 3 Hayley Brogan, HHS Faro. LPW Finance 1m15 qualifier: 1 (equal) Martin Arnott, Timberland S and Rachel Payne, Clarabelle II; 3 Martin Arnott, Ujasper.
Sunday 1m25 open: 1 Sally Hopkinson, Zellweger; 2 Morgan Kent, Torboy Magic; 3 Nicola Mcarthur, Cadavloro. Foxhunter (second round): 1 Douglas Duffin, Hi Midnight Millie; 2 Pippa Allen, Grenoble 46; 3 David Harland, Fauber. Grand Prix: 1 Stephen Crosby, TGF Rubin; 2 Aimee Bell, Cameron Poe; 3 Pippa Allen, Bonfire III. Loch Leven Summer Extravaganza 1m05 championship final: 1 Lucinda Stewart, Con 3; 2 Stephen Lohoar, L Aurore Des Vavres; 3 Natalie Devlin, Coulters Candy. LPW Finance Summer Extravaganza 1m15 championship final: 1 Laura Hutt, Wyona; 2 Susan Deasy, Woliena BB; 3 Martin Arnott, Ujasper. British novice: 1 Mark Turnbull, Ashton Dawn Rose; 2 Rachel Kane, Duncrynes Bella Ruby; 3 Greg Taylor, Esunja. Discovery: 1 Caroline Paxton, Antonio VP Wisbecq; 2 Sandra Low-Mitchell, Eccosse; 3 Abbie Carruthers, Pocheen Boy. Alex Barr Equestrian Mini Grand Prix: 1 Amy Ogilvie, Wizard XI; 2 Rosie Williams, Chimano Van De Heide Z; 3 Megan Sheret, Goldata. 1m10 open: 1 Nadine Warwick, Kelso Lady Joycie; 2 William Walker, Alexia; 3 Louisa Timmins, Spindra Z. Newcomers: 1 Douglas Duffin, Maggie May IV; 2 Daniel Ockenden, Lanvaro Belle; 3 Amy Ogilvie, CMS Capitol.