Current Liz Fox JC champion Maddie Anstruther will return to this year’s Royal Highland Show in a bid to defend her title.
Maddie, who is a pupil at St Leonards School, in St Andrews, picked up two tickets to the Highland at the first junior show to offer qualifiers at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre.
This year, she will take her 148cm pony Treasas Girl into the Liz Fox after finishing double clear in second position at SNEC behind eventual class winners Cameron Rogan and Aquenna and ahead of another Fife combination in third Emma Crawford and Silver Boy.
Treasas Girl, a relatively low-mileage 10-year-old mare, adds another string to Maddie’s bow on the junior showjump circuit, in support of her prolific pony Galway Jetsetter, with which she was crowned the Liz Fox winner for last year.
The 15-year-old Galway Jetsetter, known as Snoopy at home, will also return to the Highland this year, this time to contest the 138cm championship final.
Snoopy had similarly qualified for the championship last year but, with the Liz Fox a priority, Maddie opted not to compete.
This year, as Maddie’s last within this height bracket, they have been concentrating on reaching the 138cm Hickstead Premier recently nailing their goal of RIHS qualification at Southview, in Cheshire.
Taking the win from the 138cm Royal Highland qualifier at SNEC, Maddie said she benefits hugely from the coaching she receives from Lisa and Gary Hood. Lisa trains Maddie, warming her up for each competition, while Gary plays an invaluable role walking the courses with her and identifying the best jump-off routes.
“We were drawn about half-way through the jump off field at Oatridge, so we had to go in for the win,” explained Maddie, 13.
“Snoopy is really careful but he very much likes to be given his neck.
“The jump-off really suited us both, with several tight turns to concentrate on.”
Making it a 138cm Fife one-two-three, Bell Baxter High School pupil Fraser Reed occupied second and third places and now heads to the Highland with Light And Lively and Mr JK respectively.
The ponies, which are both Hickstead qualified, are stabled at Edenside, Guardbridge, where Fraser trains with Raymond and Alistair Gatherum.
Defying his 23 years, Lively has been with the Reed family for the last 10 months, notching up numerous placings and winners in the interim time period.
Emulating her mother Lisa’s success from Gleneagles only two days previously, 14-year-old Alana Hood took to the top of the podium for the 1m open class.
Her winner was Trevoulter Brenins Treasure, a 14h2 eight-year- old which she has had since the turn of the year.
“He can be a fiery type of pony with the tendency to be a little spooky, so Alana is taking her time to forge a partnership with him,” said Lisa.
SNEC results
Senior amateur.
75cm open: 1 Ailsa Hamilton, Steffi; 2 Kirstie Boyd, Elle Clover; 3 Hilary Chalmers, Joy. 85cm national amateur qualifier: 1 Nicola Taylor, Mr Springtime; 2 Katie Mcgregor, Saracen IV; 3 Charlotte Mills, Ferryman D. British novice: 1 Caroline Paxton, Antonio VP; 2 Lea Brash, Montys Bay; 3 Julie Smith, Sea Venture RN. 95cm national amateur qualifier: 1 Alan Gilbert, Craigloch Ferdinand; 2 Ellie Black, U2 Ds; 3 Nicki McRobbie, Caloosahatchee River. 1m open: 1 Joanna Neilson, Browne Boy; 2 Eva Sheppard, Karabah; 3 Katrina Frew, A Touch Off Blue II. 1m05 national amateur qualifier: 1 Olivia Morison, Flagmount; 2 Louisa Milne Home, Harry DV; 3 Ashleigh Stein, Bamako Belle. 1m10 national amateur qualifier: 1 Leah Johnston, Bellaghy Conqueror; 2 Victoria Nelson, Silver Turf.
Pony show (inc Royal Highland qualifiers). Pony British novice: 1 Bronny Wilson, Ruby Tuesday XIII; 2 David Fotheringham, Classicolous Royal Secret; 3 Duncan Mcfadyen, Mileage For Milo. 80cm open: 1 Charlotte Hamilton, Bee Bop A Lula; 2 Charlotte Hamilton, You’ve Been Tangoed II. Stepping Stones 128/138cm handicap: 1 (equal) Kailee Benson and Bronheulog April; Alexander Mclean and Woodburys Harlequin; Bronny Wilson and Ruby Tuesday XIII; Kirstyn Beattie and Misty Meg; Hannah Farm and Kingsland Fergal; Kailee Benson and Kildea Hero; Katy Mcfadyen and Bounty II; Abbie Letham and Swannieston Bell Of The Ball; Rachel Leavey and BC’s Lightning Strike; Cameron
Bain and Claggan Dawn; Lucy Bainbridge Craig and Sarim Mr Scoot. Pony discovery: 1 Stuart Muirhead, Katy Manor; 2 Alexander Mclean, Red Flamenco; 3 Sula Callender, Aurielway Minstrel. 90cm open: 1 Alexander Mclean, Claggan La Jolie; 2 Matthew Farm, The Mighty Quinn; 3 Shaunie Greig, My Apache Warrior Boy. Pony newcomers: 1 Ellie O’Donnell, Colourville Viva Las Vegas; 2 Sula Callender, Aurielway Minstrel; 3 Alana Hood, Miami Sandyman. 1m open: 1 Alana Hood, Trevoulter Brenins Treasure; 2 Rebecca Bowden, Crag Storm; 3 Nicole Lockhead Anderson, Just Dolce. Liz Fox JD/JC Royal Highland qualifier: 1 Cameron Rogan, Aquenna; 2 Maddie Anstruther, Treasas Girl; 3 Emma Crawford, Silver Boy. 128cm Royal Highland qualifier: 1 Alexander Mclean, Tatty Desire; 2 Alexander Mclean, Madonna; 3 Shaunie Greig, My Apache Warrior Boy. 138cm Royal Highland qualifier: 1 Maddie Anstruther, Galway Jetsetter; 2 Fraser Reed, Light And Lively; 3 Fraser Reed, Mr JK. 148cm Royal Highland qualifier: 1 Cameron Rogan, Ag Dynamo; 2 Rory Aird, Unorthodox Blue.