After several testing springs the weather gods were finally smiling on Kirriemuir Horse Trials for the opening competition of Scotland’s 2014 British Eventing season.
A “tremendous turnout” of riders and spectators were greeted by near perfect conditions at Auchlishie, which plays host to the event annually.
“We were blessed with great weather and really good going, so we really couldn’t have asked for a better platform for the competition,” explained event organiser and farmer James Helyer.
In a bid to provide the 242 horse trials competitors with a fresh challenge, Mr Helyer brought course designer Andrew Hunter north to ring some changes to the well-established Kirrie course.
The majority of the alterations, which began this year and will continue over coming seasons, are being concentrated on “the middle section” of the courses at Auchlishie in the stone dyke loop and will include new jumps into the water complex.
“The changes will allow the course to have a better flow,” explained James.
The first new addition for this year came in the form of a fresh coffin complex with a roll-top to a ditch and arrowhead for Novice level competitors, running round to a new drop fence.
“This combination of fences did take a few prisoners,” said James. “But the riders who were able to watch how others took it on certainly learned from it, and as the day progressed it was ridden much better.”
One rider to sail through the new line of fences was Ellon’s Emma Murray, who ran out winner of the 34-strong Novice section with her mare Clonbrock Misty. Emma, who works part-time for husband Shaun’s oil company, bought the 14-year-old mare from Sport Horse UK in 2008 with the sole aim of competing in British Showjumping.
“We progressed from jumping British Novice [90cm] up to 1m20 and she became a Grade B,” said Emma.
“The only reason I began eventing with her was actually to make her more saleable. But as it turned out, I really quite enjoyed it.”
From a standing start in 2011, with a run at BE90 and BE100 level apiece, Emma and the Golden Rush-sired mare progressed up to international one-star level in just two seasons.
In 2012 they quickly notched up a fifth place at Kirrie before making their novice debut at Scotsburn, ending the year on a high with a win at Aswanley.
Last year three strong novice runs, including a fifth position at Kirriemuir, preceded the CIC* at Floors where they finished double clear and sixth, the CIC* at Hopetoun and finally a CCI* debut at Blair.
“Missy has won numerous times showjumping at 1m10 level. She is consistent, quick and careful,” said Emma.
Reflecting on what she felt was a rather “tense” dressage performance this year at Kirrie, Emma rose through the ranks from 37.5 penalties, which had initially put them in equal 19th.
After their double clear jumping performance, and as one of only two competitors in the section to come home inside the time XC, they soared into the lead.
“Missy is bold but not silly. She finds it easy to gallop and jump, so making the novice time has never been a problem,” said Emma.
“The XC for me rode really well. The ground couldn’t have been better, the whole course was looking great and the new fences from 11 to 13 rode brilliantly,” she added.
Emma put her success, in part, down to training with Jennifer Johnston: “She is fantastic, enthusiastic and very encouraging. She often takes time to drive to events just to warm me up and walk the course.”
Planning ahead for the year and headed next to Burgie, Emma said: “This year we are aiming to have a bash at a two-star international.
“Missy has taught me so much already that to achieve even more would be just fantastic.”
To read a full report, view pictures, results and a video from the BE90 and BE100 classes at Kirriemuir, click HERE
Romping around the cross country to stop the clock just 11 seconds over the optimum time, adding 4.4 time penalties to their otherwise faultless performance, Peterhead-based rider Claire Smith and Denzel SB finished in second on 38.4.
Having navigated around what was “certainly the biggest fences I’ve jumped in a long time”, Claire was thrilled with her final position.
“I never thought I’d be doing this level again, so to do so well at our first go of Novice is just awesome!” she said.
Claire, who previously evented to Intermediate level with her former ride the Aspiranto, has concentrated on grass-roots level competition since having her three children.
But during recent years, her hugely successful BE90 and 100 campaigner Elstar Van De Smishoeve reignited her passion for eventing.
In search of a horse to take her back up the grades, she found 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood Denzel, which had one BE point to his credit, via the internet and bought him unseen.
“He arrived at the end of October and I’ve spent the winter getting to know him going showjumping and having lessons with Sue Hendry and Sue Baxter.”
Reflecting on their novice debut, Claire said: “The new coffin complex was certainly influential. It took some fairly determined riding, but Denzel was just awesome and totally helped me out there.”
Their season began in the dense fog of Burgham, where they collected a 10th in the open BE100 section and now Claire hopes Denzel will help her fulfill a dream of contesting one-star international competition later this year.
Want to ride the Kirrie course? Take a spin around the Novice track with Claire and Denzel via our equestrian facebook page atwww.facebook.com/CourierEquestrian [All rights reserve by British Eventing]
The Open Novice section win went to East Lothian-based management consultant Sonya Cunningham her fourth first-prize rosette from Kirrie since 2011.
Her winner at this level for the second year on the bounce was 12-year-old gelding Dryfe Royal Cavalier, known at home as BB.
“I’m beginning to really quite like Kirrie,” Sonya said. “My family are from nearby, so it feels like a local venue.
“The cross country is just my kind of course, too you just get out there and kick on,” she added.
Achieving a dressage of just 31.5 coupled to a double clear with 5.6 time penalties, they topped the leaderboard on a final penalty of 37.1.
“I felt we were still a little ring-rusty, so there is better yet to come on the flat. But as the showjumping is my real nemesis it was great to jump clear.”
With her sights very much set on the hope of GB two-star team selection, Sonya has turned increasingly to Robert Wilson, from Aberdeenshire, for both her flatwork and jump training.
“We’ve worked endlessly on grids, pole work and technical line jumping, so our canter between fences is now much more solid.”
Turning to cross country, she added: “He might be little more than a pony at 15.1hh, but he has a huge jump and masses of power.
“He’s like a horse with five legs and two brains when you are out there.”
Having competed last season up to two-star level, and with a novice run from Lincoln and an intermediate from Burgham under their belts, Sonya said BB found the new questions at Kirrie “relatively easy”.
“Our only slight hiccup was being held two fences from home. It makes it harder to start a horse on the XC so close to home, when they think they’ve already completed.”
Beyond the team trials which lie on the horizon, the partnership head north next to contest the OI at Burgie, with the further aim of selection to compete at Tattersalls, in Northern Ireland.
Results
Novice H: 1 Emma Murray, Clonbrock Misty, 37.5,0,0,0=37.5; 2 Claire Smith, Denzel SB, 34,0,0,4.4=38.4; 3 Fiona Robertson, Spiral, 32.5,4,0,2.0=38.5; 4 Wills Oakden, Lucius II, 33,4,0,2.4=39.4; 5 Harriet Baird, The Irish Flash, 32.5,0,0,8.4=40.9; 6 Isabella Mackenzie, Apaches Blaze, 37.5,0,0,4.8=42.3.
Open Novice I: 1 Sonya Cunningham, Dryfe Ryal Cavalier, 31.5,0,0,5.6=37.1; 2 Stephanie O’Neil, Beek Fee, 35,4,0,2.0=41; 3 Stephanie O’Neil, Millridge Auroras Diamond, 38.5,4,0,0=42.5; 4 Wills Oakden, Tayvale Benedict, 36,4,0,4.8=44.8; 5 Wills Oakden, Chiara D, 33,4,0,10.0=47; 6 Sara Dudgeon, Zipilo, 35,4,0,10.8=49.8.
To read afull report, view pictures, results and a videofrom theBE90andBE100classes at Kirriemuir, clickHERE