Freezing fog and poor visibility made for exceptionally testing conditions at the Fife Foxhounds Spring HunterTrials, but did not prevent more than 170 riders from supporting the competition.
The event at Foresterseat, Glenfarg, was run courtesy of Mr and Mrs Ewan Cheape.
Course designers Sue Cheape and Colin Campbell provided riders of all levels the opportunity to tackle a fresh and challenging course. Most notable of the new features was a water complex sponsored by Binn Skips.
“At times, it was lucky if anybody could see anything, anywhere,” said entries secretary Mandy Peden of the challenging conditions. A thoroughly great day was had by all, however, despite the conditions.”
The open entries kick-started the day, run over the 1m course.
The adult section winner was Dundee rider Joanna Wilkie. Jo, who works part-time for Dundee Council and runs a livery yard at Longforgan with husband David, took the win on her 10-year-old gelding Piper II.
She bought the son of Secundus from Edinburgh’s Fiona Burgoyne as a five-year-old.
Equally adept in the dressage arena and British Eventing circuit, Piper took a third-place overall from the Petplan winter area festival finals and last season evented up to novice level.
The hunter trials at Foresterseat was a good pipe-opener before a 2014 BE season debut at Eden Valley this weekend.
“The fog was a slight issue, but other than making it a little difficult to know quite where I was going, Piper coped with it really well,” said Jo.
“This was his first cross country after concentrating on dressage over the winter,” she added.
The duo recently took second at Medium level in the Morris/TSF dressage finals.
“The course rode very well with plenty of questions and variety,” she said. “It was clear the amount of effort that had gone into the very professional looking course, and the ground conditions were very good considering the time of year and weather on the day.
“It is great to have such a well-run newhunter trial so locally.”
Following Eden Valley, Jo and Piper will head to new Central Scotland Horse Trials venue Dalkeith. They are also qualified to compete a regional final at BE100 level, so have a top placing in that contest as a target.
With the open entries split, the junior win went to Rachael Jackson with Jay.
In the adult novice section Midlothian rider Jane Hollands prevailed on Lookout Oyster Fionn a 15hh registered Connemara, sired by Mirah’s Oyster Bandit.
Jane, who breaks and schools horses, and trains point-to-pointers, found ‘Jimmy’ , now aged six, in Ireland as an unbroken three-year-old.
Foresterseat provided his first taste of a 90cm track.
“I was absolutely delighted with him,” said Jane. “Our aim is to do a bit of BE this summer, but I’d also like to find a younger jockey to partner him in some affiliated WHP classes, too, as he’s a really smart little horse.”
Although Jimmy will be for sale, Jane said she is reluctant to part with him.
“I’ve not advertised him yet I’m having a lot of fun with him in the meantime.
“Foresterseat was a fantastic confidence giver for him as it’s so well built and up to height,” she added.
The junior win for this section was taken by Central rider Daniel Woods, from Airth, outside Falkirk.The Larbert High School pupil took the win on his 16h3 Dutch warmblood Orrin.
In addition to showjumping, some affiliated BS and team showjumping from 90cm right up to 1m15 on his string of horses and ponies, Daniel also competes regularly at tetrathlon. In both 2012 and last year Daniel travelled to Milton Keynes and then Pembrey to represent the Scottish junior boys’team jumping clear on board his pony Prince.
This year, Orrin will partner Daniel to Milton Keynes.
“He’s known as a big dafty in our family,” he said. “Once he has worked out how to do something, he is very good at it. We worked a lot on skinny fences with him prior to Foresteseat, and now he much better.”
Daniel trains with Will Dunn, but also benefits from occasional lessons at Pony Club and the BSJA academy with David Harland.
“Will certainly helped me a lot with my old pony, and now we’ve started to get real breakthroughs with Orrin.”
Asides from tetrathlon, they will now aim towards jumping consistently over 1m and 1m10.
“I’d like to qualify for the Highland Show and possibly Scottish HOYS again,” Daniel added.
The Fife Foxhounds will be hosting their popular Pick-a-Fence competition during the summer. It is scheduled for June 15, at Craigie, Leuchars.
equestrian@thecourier.co.ukResults
Adult open: 1 Jo Wilkie, Piper; 2 Caitlin Wood, Paradox; 3 Kerry Voice, Jack The Lad.
Junior open: 1 Rachael Jackson, Jay; 2 Sally Mair, Not Just Jack; 3 Charlotte Gowing, Rainbow Quest.
Adult novice: 1 Jane Hollands, Lookout Oyster Fionn; 2 Jenna Cushnie, Calli; 3 Laura Anderson, Cookie.
Junior novice: 1 Daniel Woods, Orrin; 2 Corrie Hay, Lindisfarne Whimberry; 3 Iona Wilson, Sir Starsailor.
Adult pre-novice: 1 Lucy Hendry, Tequilla Sunrise; 2 Ellise Ranson, Rio-Diamond; 3 Kelly Welsh, Joy.
Junior pre-novice: 1 Tara Stockwell, Cavero; 2 Brooke Walker, Tino; 3 Elara Wilson, Greybrook Lara.
Minimus: 1 Lindsey Foreman, Jasper; 2 Louisa Milne Home, Go with the Flo; 3 Kirsty Aitchison, Alice.