The final Arena event in Les Smith’s 2014 series was held at Gleneagles Equestrian Centre.
“It is very interesting to watch combinations progress throughout the series and over the years,” reflected Les.
“When I first started, very few could ride a corner properly. Now it’s too easy so I put a corner as the second part of a double, and even then most found it easy!”
In the open intermediate section Grace Moran and her fabulous campaigner Porthill Rusty Nail notched up a stylish double clear. Grace had last season off whilst on maternity leave, whilst Rusty was ridden, with great success, by Louisa Milne Home.
Grace has owned the 17-year-old advanced event horse all of his life: “He really tried for me, I’m definitely getting less rusty now!
“Louisa keeps suggesting I have baby number two, as she loved having him, but I am delighted to get him back,” said Grace.
“We have not jumped a solid fence together now for two years, so although we are still 3* qualified, I will aim at Hopetoun 2* as that seems far more sensible.
“I want to have fun with him, as with work, child and horses I will have to play it by ear as to what we can fit in.”
Runner-up in this class was Wills Oakden and Alfie Brown, who jumped double clear in the CIC*** at Blair last year.
Wills commented: “Alfie has a great sense of humour, which is what makes him special. He keeps me on my toes, but he jumped really well today.”
Stephanie O’Neil was third with Beek Fee and, having previously also finished second in the Novice, she topped the final points leaderboard for the series.
Stephanie has had the eight-year-old for 18 months and is hoping to move up to Intermediate this season.
She said: “He was a good boy. He loves the questions in the arena events, it really focuses him and makes him think.”
The winner of the Novice was 13-year-old Melrose rider Lucinda Crawford and her new ride Vattrick. Lucinda got the 11-year-old as a Christmas present last year. She is too young to do Novice BE, so they will be
hoping to get to know each other and aim at Pony Club teams.
She said: “I am just getting to know him and using this year as a transition year while I still have my pony.”
Kinross-based Jenny Drysdale, who was third with her horse Caprice, reflected: “She is a typical chestnut mare, she fits every stereotype in the book. She tried her heart out for me today and didn’t put a foot wrong.
“I have hunted her with Fife Foxhounds this winter and it has really helped make her more bold.”
In the 1m class, Hannah Lane and Zenzero II pipped Lucinda Crawford and The Rain Dancer into second place by just 0.02 seconds.
Hannah, who is from Callander, is trained by Kirsty Matheson and has had Zenzero for two years.
“He tried really hard. I liked the course, but it was very twisty and it was really hard to remember where I was going next,” she said. This combination is hoping to move up to Novice later this year.
Lucinda and her lovely 14hh coloured pony The Rain Dancer finished only fractionally behind.
She has had the 15-year-old for three years and last year they were winners at the Pony Club Championships in the Novice Show jumping team competition. They were also WHP Champions at Blair Castle Horse Trials and BE90 Scottish Champions.
Lucinda commented: “This is his first time out since October last year. He is a real powerhouse and a very cheery, cheeky personality. He follows me about at home like a pet and I don’t need a head collar for him.
“We will be selling him at the end of the summer as I am getting a bit big for him.
“He is a fabulous jumper and the arena events are great for sharpening up his jumping. He has only had two show jumps down in 18 events.”
Olivia Morison and Flagmount were third. Olivia is based with Louisa Milne Home and is hoping to do U18s this year.
Olivia said: “He went really well.The course gave me a lot of confidence. I love doing the arena events. Flagmount is consistent at BE100, but needs to become more consistent at Novice jumping height.”
In the 90cm class Laura Grieve rode her and her boyfriend Wills Oakden’s Enzo Van De Nethe. This 17hh son of Colman was bought as a four-year-old through Rebecca Dudley last September.
Laura reflected: “I started riding him in mid January as I wanted something to play with.
“He has really filled out, but has a lot more growing to do, so we will be careful as to how much we do with him this year.
“I really love him. We came with no expectations and he was great.
“I am hoping to keep the ride as long as possible until Wills steals him back. I love the Gleneagles arena, and the course was a great education for them.”
Second spot went to Rebecca Duncan and Henfryn Gwawr, who also finished on a double clear.
In third, Wills Oakden rode Stephanie O’Neil’s Ball Breaker.
Stephanie explained: “He is five years old, but was only broken in October last year.
“He is really powerful and he can be cheeky and strong for me at times, so Wills rides him for me occasionally to get him under the thumb a bit more. I am going to event him this year.”
Results
80cm: 1 Nicola Johnston, Blairfield Dolce; 2 Morgan Nisbet, Tia; 3 India Pemberton Piggott, Major Blue.
90cm: 1 Laura Grieve, Enzo Van de Nethe; 2 Rebecca Duncan, Henfryn Gwawr; 3 Wills Oakden, Ball Breaker.
1m: 1 Hannah Lane, Zenzero II; 2 Lucinda Crawford, The Rain Dancer; 3 Olivia Morrison, Flagmount.
Novice: 1 Lucinda Craford, Vattrick; 2 Stephanie O’Neil, Beek Fee; 3 Jenny Drysdale, Caprice.
Intermediate: 1 Grace Moran, Rusty; 2 Wills Oakden, Alfie; 3 Stephanie O’Neil, Beek Fee.