A hearty number of competitors donned festive finery and made the journey to Gleneagles for its annual Christmas Charity Show, raising money for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund.
The first class of the day was Santa’s New Start Stakes, which saw 25 riders variously bedecked in tinsel, antlers and all other imaginable decoration, forward to ride a clear round track.
All the riders were awarded a festive rosette, and the Gleneagles Centre Pony Club members were given a large gold Gleneagles chocolate coin to mark their achievements.
The next class into the arena was the Christmas Crib Stakes a two-phase competition, with first-round fences up to 50cm and the second phase timed against the clock.
“A great atmosphere was building as the class got under way,” said organiser Jane Cepok.
“A total of 15 riders took part and most went clear in the first phase; so it was in the second phase that the clock played its part in deciding the winners,” she added.
Producing the fastest double clear to win the class were East Stirlingshire Pony Club member Emma Woods and her pony Taran.
Emma, a regular competitor at Gleneagles, stopped the clock with a speedy time of 25.31 seconds to take the win from second-placed Jasmine Baleazard and the very well turned out Poppy who clocked 28.28 seconds.
Poppy collected the festive prize for the best turned out pony.
The festive Horse and Hound class followed, with seven riders and their dogs forward to navigate Linda Lucey’s clever course.
Jasmine Baleazard stormed around her section clear with her pony Poppy, and then it was the turn of Tony the dog.
The trio cleared the obstacles in a combined time of 65.10 seconds, from Heather Halley riding Lumpy with Laddie the dog, who finished on 68.43 in second place.
Third spot was taken by Nicola Swan riding the irrepressible WHW Rupert, who went around in 72.60 seconds.
Moving on to slightly more serious matters, the show also incorporated affiliated British Showjumping club classes.
Meanwhile, some 22 riders tackled the 70cm open track.
This produced 13 combinations going double clear.
Ultimately, the win went to Rhianna Edge riding Mystic Maggie May in a very fast time of 20.41.
In second place was Connie Giannandrea, from Auchterarder, riding Dave.
The 80cm open class was supported by 16 riders.
Emma Woods took to the top of the rostrum once again, with Champfleurie Crackerjack, which was previously ridden by her brother Daniel before he moved on to horses.
Emma has seamlessly taken over the ride on Crackerjack, producing a lovely clear in a time of 31.86 from Rhianna and Mystic Maggie May who took second.
Snatching another win, though, Rhianna then took first place in the festive Santa’s Time, Fault and Out speed class. In this challenge the rider has to continue jumping the course of fences until the bell sounds at 45 seconds.
If the rider makes any sort of mistake they are out.
Rhianna left the arena after setting a target of 10 fences in 57.83.
Although brilliant efforts by both Claire Henderson and Chino and Daisy Cross and Billy saw them reach nine fences each, the lead proved unassailable.
Within the latter classes, the BS 90cm open class was won by Courtney Valentine riding Gus, double clear in a time of 14.41 seconds.
The 1m open went to Jo Heaton and her partner Daz.
“The final class of this very busy day was the Tinsel Top Score, which gave the judges quite a headache when calculating the points,” said Jane.
Ultimately, the winner was Courtney Valentine, who scored 870 points in a time of 51.47.
Jo Heaton and Daz took second.