The bustling Puddledub winter working hunter event launched the 2015 show season into full swing with a packed 10 hours of competition.
Supreme champion at close of play in Highfield at Howe’s main indoor arena was experienced young jockey Olivia Grant and her new Connemara pony Skellorn Lord of the Dance.
The Kilgraston school pupil bought Dan a son of the illustrious show stallion Skellorn Harrison, which stood as a HOYS Cuddy finalist on three occasions and qualified for the RIHS, HOYS and Olympia under saddle just recently, and this was only their second outing together.
The eight-year-old gelding was bred at the Skellorn Stud, at Adlington in Cheshire, out of Dominique Donna.
“He is a really eye-catching pony,” said Fife-based show producer and rider Kirsty Aird, who judged the show supreme. “He offers a lovely uphill way of going and, even at the end of a long day, he produced a fantastic groundcovering gallop which clinched the supreme.”
A former supreme champion at the Connemara breed show, Skellorn Lord of the Dance has previously been placed at Windsor and qualified for the Royal International. On his debut outing with Olivia he stood reserve supreme at the North Highland College Show at Caithness.
“I was delighted to get the supreme of show,” commented Olivia, who trains at home in Inverness with James Munro and Russell Skelton. “I think Dan is going to be amazing this season. He is an absolute gentleman and I love him to bits.”
Kirsty’s choice for the working hunter horse championship, On N Away, progressed to stand as the reserve supreme of show.
“He is a good stamp of a working hunter and, although he was green, he had a nice attitude,” she said, following her decision.
“There were good numbers for this time of year, and Graham Barclay’s courses were well built and fair,” Kirsty added.
This young British Sports Horse, owned and ridden by Fife-based rider Freya Petrie, brought elite showjumping bloodlines to the fore. Now rising seven, this upstanding grey gelding, sired by Mystical II, was originally bred in Yorkshire by Alyse Clancey out of the Ricardo Z mare On a Dream.
Freya bought Lyle at the end of the spring last year from event rider Jamie Atkinson, who had produced him to BE100 level on behalf of the Clanceys.
“I went down to try him and fell in love with him,” said Freya, who works full time as a dentist in Edinburgh and bases Lyle with the Oakdens at Dunbog, Newburgh. “We only had a few runs at the end of last year as we were quite a new partnership,” she said, having notched up double clears at BE90 level at Hopetoun and Burgham, before stepping up to BE100 at Hutton and Aske.
She added: “We have been working hard over the winter to get ready for the start of the BE season in March.”
To cement their partnership, Freya has concentrated the last few months on getting Lyle out and about to experience everything from showjumping to dressage and showing.
“I was really happy with how he jumped,” Freya reflected on his worker’s performance.
“The course flowed nicely and he jumped in a lovely forward rhythm and didn’t bat an eyelid at any of the spooky fillers, so I couldn’t really have asked for more from him,” she said.
Laura Halil and Copper V stood as horse reserve.
Copper a rising nine-year-old Irish Draught cross mare had initially changed hands five times in the 18 months after she was broken, before she found Laura. She has since rewarded Laura tenfold for her patience in gaining her trust and resolving teeth and back problems, getting her relaxed and back into work.
“She has turned into the most sweet, genuine pony,” said Laura.
Successful in the working hunter sphere, the partnership has qualified for The Courier/BHS Scotland Riding Club working hunter championship for the last four years in succession, finishing in the top six at Blair Castle in 2013. At 15hh she has also contested the working hunter pony finals. However, Laura has found it difficult to find a young jockey to partner her.
Equally adept in the showjumping arena, Copper has more than £500 in British Showjumping winnings and jumped double clear for British Eventing last season at Eden Valley, Hopetoun and Drumclog.
Laura ended the season with a trip south to Brooksby Melton College for the BRC championships, where they finished 16th, completing on their dressage score of 38.
“I wish I had found her when she was a four-year-old,” Laura added.
“She has a lovely bascule and style over the fence, and she is not the normal stereotypical chestnut mare. She gives you a really great feel over a fence.
“She is very forgiving, is a total sweetheart to work around and is getting better all the time,” she added.
ResultsSupreme: Olivia Grant, Skellorn Lord of the Dance. Reserve: Freya Petrie, On N Away.Mini champion: Maia Fleming, Cadlan Valley Picasso. Reserve: Mary Gair, Georgian Dorian.Lead rein/assisted: 1 Lucy Allison, Strathisla Logansville; 2 Keira Sainsbury, Naderson Goodwill.BSPS open cradle stakes: 1 Clemmie Morrison, Brambles; 2 Lauren Sainsbury, Naderson Goodwill.BSPS open (restricted) nursery stakes: 1 Maia Fleming, Cadlan Valley Picasso; 2 Mary Gair, Georgian Dorian; 3 Ami Conchie, Naderson Goodwill.BSPS mixed height novice WHP: 1 Eilidh Jack, Ballina Boy Victory; 2 Lana Conchie, Northview Popcorn; 3 Jennifer Adam, Hero.BSPS mixed height open (restricted) WHP: 1 Maia Fleming, Cadlan Valley Picasso; 2 Rachel Hamilton, Shannondale Somax; 3 Jennifer Adam, Hero.BSPS heritage open M&M nursery stakes: 1 Mary Gair, Georgian Dorian; 2 Ami Conchie, Wynswood Footprint; 3 Maria McElhinney, Seaview Romeo.BSPS heritage novice mixed height M&M: 1 Eilidh Jack, Ballina Boy Victory; 2 Pam Gray, Ridgehill Eamon; 3 Molly Mahoney, Caebryn Finn.BSPS heritage open (restricted) mixed height M&M: 1 Maia Fleming, Cadlan Valley Picasso; 2 Olivia Grant, Skellorn Lord of the Dance; 3 Pam Gray, Ridgehill Eamon.Working hunter horse champion: Freya Petrie, On N Away. Reserve: Laura Halil, Copper V.Nursery novice: 1 Katie Scott, Fleur; 2 Kim Wilson, Don Eduardo; 3 Rhona Beda, Puddledub Tempterress.New combinations: 1 Nicole Spittle, Rodney Clover; 2 Nancy Orr, Beseeka Red Hot Chilli Pepper; 3 George Chalmers-Gray, Millhorn Ellie.Novice: 1 Ailsa Roberts, Little Miss Buttons Blue; 2 Laura Halil, Copper V; 3 Alison McLeod, Colourville Justastar.Small open: 1 Laura Halil, Copper V; 2 Freya Petrie, On N Away; 3 Leanne McBain, Ruben.Open: 1 Freya Petrie, On N Away; 2 Nancy Orr, Beseeka Red Hot Chilli Pepper.