With the cross country facilities at the Gleneagles Equestrian Centre now in the midst of a three-phase improvement plan, riders at the recent Spring Hunter Trials were greeted by fresh new fences across the levels.
“We introduced a number of portable fences, which were made for the centre by well-known course designer Douglas Weymouth, from Cumbria,” said Gleneagles equestrian event organiser Jane Cepok.
She said Mr Weymouth has also played a fundamental role in the citing of new fences as well as the new and potential routings that best suit the Gleneagles’ terrain.
Over the moon to top the open class entry was Dunfermline rider Laura Nash. She topped the class with her 14-year-old Irish-bred former hunt horse Diamond Impact.
Laura said the Irish Draught cross Thoroughbred, by Colin Diamond, is known at home as Puzzle.
“It really suits him he has quite a big personality and he likes to show his opinions,” she said.
“We’ve been around Gleneagles before but previously our best achievement was a fourth place. I was absolutely delighted to win.
“The course rode really well and it was great to see that Gleneagles have continued to make changes and improvements to the course.
“The whole event was really well run and was great fun to be part of. Last season, Laura and Puzzle collected a spring win at the Fife Riding Club hunter trials event at Craigie, but both horse and rider were latterly sidelined due to injury.
“As a result, we had quite a quiet year and we’ve mostly spent the winter working with Elisabeth Leslie to prepare for the season ahead,” she said. “Hopefully we will get out more this year.”
They head to their first affiliated British Eventing competition of 2015, at Eden Valley.
Within the well contested intermediate sections, the adult and junior wins went home with Lucy Dobbs and Hannah Cuthill, respectively.
Lucy topped the leader board riding her aunt’s 12-year-old mare June stopping the clock bag on the money of the 4m 40 second optimum time.
“June’s breeding is recorded as ‘unknown’ but we believe she is an Irish Draught cross,” said Lucy. “She came over from Ireland as a four-year-old to a home in the south of England, where she competed in Pony Club and lower level BE with a family for eight years.”
She added: “My aunt bought her last summer for my cousin. I’ve not owned a horse since I started university at Edinburgh but luckily, as my aunt lives in Perth, I get some opportunities to ride and compete and I love it.
“June took the course at Gleneagles all in her stride. It was a really fun start to the season for both of us.”
Hannah, meanwhile, shared the junior spoils with her own nine-year-old Connemara pony Coco.
This ‘class one’ son of Ashfield Jovial Joker, was originally bred in Ireland, but came to Hannah via RT Equestrian, in Thirsk, three years ago.
“I bought him as an event pony and had hoped to start eventing with him in 2012, but we both suffered accidents that meant we lost our first six months together,” said Hannah, a Perth Academy pupil.
But one loss provides another gain, and she added: “It gave us lots of bonding time together. I love Coco so much he means the world to me.”
Notching up a top record at the Perthshire venue, the partnership has previously won around the 75cms track. “This was our first clear around the 90cm,” Hannah added.
A winter spent at new indoor venue Netherton has put groundwork in place for their showjumping and dressage and they will now head to contest the BE80 class at Central Scotland Horse Trials (Dalkeith).
“I really liked the new upgrades and changes to course, it seemed to flow very well,” said Hannah.
“Coco felt confident and willing to go the entire time and still had plenty of energy left at the end.”
As part of the first phase of the cross country re-development, the novice and nursery novice courses were re-routed to run in the same direction as the higher 90cm and 100cm courses.
“It has made a huge difference to the running of the event and if the competitor feedback is anything to go by, the changes have proved very popular,” said Jane.
Rebecca Taylor praised the changes after taking the adult novice win on-board Stan.
She has owned the nine-year-old thoroughbred gelding, by Needle Gun and out of Marconda, for almost a year. “I bought him from Ireland as a project horse. He had been turned away through no fault of his own,” said Rebecca.
Working away slowly with him to re-establish and build his strength and balance has paid huge dividends.
“He has come out this year better than ever,” said Rebecca, who is also aiming towards Dalkeith BE. “This was actually our first competition together and he gave me an excellent ride.
“He was looking to go round again when we finished. The course rode well and the new layout allowed us to get into a nice rhythm in the open country before finishing through the woods.”
Jumping the same course and taking the respective win from the junior novice entry was Strathearn Pony Club member Heather Halley, from Methven. She won with her 14.1hh thoroughbred crossArab called Teddy.
Now 16 years young, Teddy, who has formed part of the Halley family for the last two-and-a-half years, lives out all year round.
“We bought him from Kilgraston,” said Heather, who is also a pupil at the school.
Although she has been around Gleneagles “many times” previously and has also won at 75cms level Heather said the new course was “very nice to ride”.
Without much under their belt yet for the current season, she now hopes to fill Teddy’s 2015 diary with showjumping and eventing at 90cm level, and will also take part in mounted games.
Looking forwards, the second planned phase of the cross country development at Gleneagles will bring with it an extension to the 90cm and 1m courses, towards the northern end of the field, introducing more new fences and some additional
“galloping space”.
Meanwhile, the final phase will include the refurbishment of some of the existing older fences such as the drop walls, steps, open ditches and water complex.
equestrian@thecourier.co.ukResults
Junior novice: 1 Heather Halley, Teddy; 2 Rowanne Westwood, Merlin; 3 Charlotte Fraser, Whykiki; 4 (equal) Jordan Doyle, Joey and Amy Cadger, Tom; 6 Hugh Nichols, Miss Hazel.
Adult novice: 1 Rebecca Taylor, Stan; 2 Margaret Paterson, Aka The Lady; 3 Tracy Moir, Tommy; 4 Emma Wake, Tropix; 5 Joy Clark, Angrove Arctic Roll; 6 Shirley Melling, Woodburys Generous.
Pairs: 1 Sophie Namey, Pigbush Jim and Jenny Holdsworth, Millie; 2 Jane Reid, Ted and Diana Ewart, Derby Boy; 3 Rowanne Westwood, Merlin and Millie Wilson, Amy; 4 Vanessa Smith, Bentley and Charlotte Nevison, Squiffy; 5 Mhairi Cameron, High Spirit and Megan Shelley, Going Places; 6 Miles Westwood, Buddy and High Nichols, Rosie.
Junior intermediate: 1 Hannah Cuthill, Coco; 2 Ellis Watson, Louis; 3 Rebecca Innes, Puddledub Innes; 4 Lizzie Montgomery, Whats The Story; 5 (equal) Joanne Bizzarri, Missy and Chloe Ogg, Chance.
Adult intermediate: 1 Lucy Dobbs, June; 2 (equal) Jennifer Meredith, Oscar and Suzanne Hodgson, Meikle Cameron; 4 Joanna Heaton, Hobo; 5 Liz Fincher, Ivor; 6 Claire Skinner, Irish law.
Open: 1 Laura Nash, Diamond Impact; 2 Sally Kidd, Darcy; 3 Anne Shaw, Bella; 4 Blyth Brewster, Carosso; 5 Pollyanna Smith, Cookie; 5 (equal) Karen Low, Marco and Georgia Burns, Venture.