The recent two-day British Showjumping contest Perthshire venue Inchcoonans attracted bumper entries, with floodlit competition running well into the evening.
Kicking off the weekend with the 85cm amateur class win was local rider Larisa Cathro and her veteran mare Champagne Supa Nova.
This 22-year-old, of unknown breeding, has proved the perfect allrounder competing across both eventing and showjumping disciplines for Larisa, who works in Perth as a customer service adviser.
“This year the plan is to take part in some BE90 level eventing competitions, so we’ve been showjumping in preparation for that,” said Larisa, who loaned Storm for several years before buying her. “We are going to keep showjumping this year, too,” she added.
As the day progressed, 2014 HOYS bronze league finalists Jane Ault and Triomf L topped the leaderboard in the 1m05 amateur.
The 15-year-old 15.2hh Lux mare is owned by Avonmill Equestrian’s Joanne Fairbrother and had, until the end of the 2012 season, been ridden by her son Andrew up to Foxhunter level.
After joining the Stirling livery as yard manager two years ago, Jane took over the ride on ‘Saffy’ early in 2013, gaining her first win on the mare at Kingsbarn Equestrian Centre only a few weeks later.
They began their 2015 campaign together with an open win at 1m10 at Morris Equestrian Centre and backed this up with the top prize money from the 1m15 class at Ingliston.
Kirkcaldy-based full-time rider and British Showjumping academy coach Kelly Connor took first place from the Newcomers section.
Her class winner was Double Smoked, a seven-year-old Dutch-bred mare, sired by Cade Z, which Kelly has produced herself over the last three years. Still in Grade C, ‘Smokie’ has amassed winnings of more than £640, although this was her first competitive outing of the season. “She just wants to work to please,” said Kelly. “She is very consistent in the showjumping arena.”
Kelly added: “She can be grumpy with other horses and doesn’t like being in the field, but she’s definitely a ‘people person’.”
Last year Smokie picked up class placings at up to Foxhunter level at centres including Morris EC, Inchcoonans and SNEC, and topped the podium at the South WestArea Show as the best from the Newcomers entry. She also won the six-year-old class at Chepstow International last May and will progress this season having achieved all of her Newcomers and Foxhunter double clears.
Notching up his second double of wins in as many weeks, Jamie Raeside took pole position in both the 1m15 and Foxhunter competitions.
“Buddaire was feeling great,” said Jamie, who returned to the saddle after a 12-year break only last year and is based at his family’s livery yard at Brownhills Farm, outside St Andrews. His winner, known at home as Buddy, was bred at the Brendon Stud. He was sired byThallot K, a son of Corland, and bred out of Jaspaire (by Garanco). The Grade C 10-year-old, 17hh gelding, now boasts winnings of £860, courtesy of recent wins at Highfield at Howe and qualification for the 1m20 Winter Novice Championships earlier this year at SNEC.
“He’s growing in confidence every time out particularly as this was his first time jumping at Inchcoonans.”
Big entries and classes from 85cm to Foxhunter level meant the partnership had fading light and shadows cast by the floodlighting to contend with.
“I’m hoping to have a good summer now with him,” said Jamie, who bought Buddaire last May from Sandra Low-Mitchell and has continued to be trained by her since.
Jamie now plans to set his sights on qualification for the Royal Highland Show, while building up towards higher height classes.
equestrian@thecourier.co.uk Results
Saturday (Senior) 85cm national amateur: 1 Larisa Cathro, Champagne Supa Nova; 2 Lesley Ross, Everlong; 3 Catherine Patterson, Warchant. British novice: 1 Catherine Patterson, Warchant; 2 Sofia Tobin, Mulgrave Freddie; 3 Carol Wivell, Carneils Diamond Lady. 90cm open: 1 Lesley Ross, Everlong. 95cm national amateur: 1 Jenna Brown, Sissi S; 2 Laura Collins, Donnadoni B; 3 Ryan Leavey, Mandalay III. Discovery: 1 Emily Ryder, Enjoy II; 2 Carol Wivell, Carneils Diamond Lady; 3 Sharon Shand, Viedora. 1m open: 1 Jodie Crawford, Ce Llonka Vh Meyerhof; 2 Rowan Ball, Bon Ami V. 1m05 national amateur: 1 Jane Ault, Triomf L; 2 Rowan Ball, Bon Ami V; 3 Rachel Fagan, Zielame. Newcomers: 1 Kelly Connor, Double Smoked; 2 Emily Ryder, Zippo III; 3 Morgan Thompson, WKD Cosmopolitan. 1m15 open: 1 Jamie Raeside, Buddaire; 2 Jodie Crawford, Telstar O; 3 David Grant, Immilton Vant Heike. Foxhunter: 1 Jamie Raeside, Buddaire; 2 Holly Miller, Early Girl; 3 Jodie Crawford, Telstar O.
Sunday (Junior and Club). 60cm open: 1 Kennedy McDonald, Ink Spot; 2 Iona Bruce, Zala; 3 MacKenzie Fyffe, Fernella Fudge. Club/unaffiliated 70cm open: 1 Iona Bruce, Zala; 2 Kennedy McDonald, Ink Spot; 3 MacKenzie Fyffe, Fernella Fudge. Club/unaffiliated 80cm open: 1 MacKenzie Fyffe, Fernella Fudge. Unaffiliated 70cm beginners stakes: 1 Tegan Humphreys, Rozans Romeo; 2 William Stewart, Miss Daisy D; 3 James Bainbridge-Craig, Raemoir Perignon. Pony British novice/80cm open: 1 Lucy Rennie, Robeen Lucky Lass; 2 Charlotte Hamilton, Kayem Fridays Dance. Pony Discovery/90cm open: 1 Lucy Rennie, Robeen Lucky Lass; 2 Morgan McCormack, JJ Lucky Star. Stepping Stones 128cms/138cm handicap qualifier: 1 (equal) William Stewart, Miss Daisy D; Hannah Farm, Kingsland Fergal; Lucy Bainbridge-Craig, Sarim Mr Scoot; and Emma Woods, Champfleurie Crackerjack. Newcomers/1m open: 1 Lucy Bainbridge-Craig, Bowes Cemtex; 2 Matthew Farm, The Mighty Quinn. Foxhunter/1m10 open: 1 Matthew Farm, The Might Quinn.