A packed schedule of British Showjumping has kept the Scottish National Equestrian Centre busy throughout January.
With Hickstead qualifiers kicking off the year at the centre, more recently it has been the turn of the amateurs and juniors to take to the main arena.
Last weekend the focus returned senior competition, with a two-day offering from British Novice up to Foxhunter and 1m20 open level competition.
Affiliating her mare Shannondale Somax for the first time prior to the weekend reaped dividends for Fife rider Katherine Lindsay, from Balcarres, near Colinsburgh.
Gathering a raft of first placings across both days of competition, Shannondale Somax known as Bear at home quickly earned a total of £85.
The Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan-sired mare joined Katherine’s string of event horses a little more than a year ago, having previously been produced and ridden by Perthshire event and show rider Rose Macpherson.
Now seven-years-old, she progressed to novice level eventing last season, finishing clear cross country in the open novice under-18 section at Borders event Floors Castle.
With Katherine currently away at boarding school, she credited both Sarah Sewell and Ruth Elliot for hacking and schooling Bear in order to keep her kicking over whilst she is away.
“I was really proud at how well she did as she has not been out and about for a while,” said Katherine.
“This year I am hoping to do some Junior Regional Novice classes and hopefully reach one-star international level with her by the end of the year.”
Over the course of the weekend, Katherine and Bear topped both the British Novice and Discovery classes on Saturday and also took a Discovery win on the Sunday.
Adding more rosettes to her weekend haul, Katherine also took a second in Sunday’s British Novice with new horse Don Quidam, a recent purchase from Stephanie O’Neil who herself had bought him from Holland.
“I think she has a really good eye for horses and she had been really supportive with letting me have him,” said Katherine, referring to the five-year-old gelding.
“I’m very hopeful that he will be a very special horse for the future,” she added.
Don is now based with Sarah and James Oakden, at Dunbog, who have helped with Katherine’s competitive progression now for the last three seasons.
Similarly pushing herself to fit as much groundwork in over the winter period ahead of the 2014 event season and achieving a win in Saturday’s 1m05 open in the process was young rider Alysa Spittle, from Cupar.
Alysa, who is in her last year at Bell Baxter High School and who faces an exam-filled year, has owned the rising seven-year-old Rodney Clover since he was just four.
The Spittles sourced the son of Cloneen Clover from event horse and pony producer Pam Ashworth, in Thirsk, and they now also base him at Dunbog with the Oakdens.
Since making their British Eventing debut at Kirriemuir Horse Trials in 2012, finishing seventh, they progressed to Novice BE last season and are now part of the under-18 squad which trained recently with David Gatherer and Olivia Wilmot at Ingliston EC.
“We’ve had flatwork training recently with Les Smith also, which I really enjoyed, and I’m now trying to fit as much dressage and British Showjumping in as possible before our season kick-starts at Oasby,” explained Alysa.
The aim from there, she said, is to build towards contesting their first international one-star at Houghton, in May.
“Rodney has a new character this year,” added Alysa. “He has really grown up and found himself and is now much more confident and strong.”
Achieving the win from the same class the following day was self-employed accountant Lesley Paton, from Aberdour.
Lesley, for whom riding is a hobby, currently has three horses including her 1m05 open winner Quin Kannan and trains with the Balcormo Stud’s Sandra Low Mitchell.
Her winner Quinny, a 12-year-old black Warmblood sired by the renowned Kannan, is currently knocking on the door of Grade B.
“He generally jumps at 1m20 level, but he is just back from an eight-week holiday,” explained Lesley, who added she was also restricted by a tight timescale thanks to being “up to her eyes” in tax returns.
“He is a beautiful person inside and out, although he can be very strong he loves to jump,” said Lesley.
Last year, Lesley and Quinny achieved a personal best result of seventh overall in the National Amateur 1m15 final at Aintree.
Having qualified for the 2013 Royal Highland, Lesley said she hopes this is an achievement she can repeat this coming year.
“My friend says Quinny always jumps with a smile on his face so as long as he’s happy doing what he does, that’s my priority.”
Results
BS Senior SNEC
Saturday
British novice: 1 Katherine Lindsay, Shannondale Somax; 2 Suzanne Lumgair, Soviet Star; 3 Craig Hamilton, Quimoon Gx. Discovery: 1 Katherine Lindsay, Shannondale Somax;
2 Mark Turnbull, Cincinnati II; 3 Craig Hamilton, Zimone II. 1m05 open: 1 Alysa Spittle, Rodney Clover; 2 Suzanne Lumgair, Bally Revenge; 3 Roslyn Fyfe, Felicity H. Newcomers: 1 Emily Ryder, Zippo III; 2 Ellen Cameron, Hanleen Crown Jewels; 3 Emily Galbraith, Solisco. 1m15: 1 Denise Gilmour, Bentley M; 2 Emily Galbraith, Strictly Private; 3 Susan Deasy, Woliena BB. Foxhunter/1m20 open: 1 Jemma Kirk, Qualoub De Safray; 2 Jemma Kirk, Quincy 126; 3 Leo Lorimer, Speer.
Sunday
British novice: 1 Iona Drummond, Starfield Diva; 2 Katherine Lindsay, Don Quidam; 3 Emma Pilkington, Phantens Bucks Fiz. Discovery: 1 Katherine Lindsay, Shannondale Somax; 2 David Harland, Galino V/H Wilderhof; 3 Craig Hamilton, Dunamic Too. 1m05 open: 1 Lesley Paton, Quin Kannan; 2 James Brogan, Glenard Courage; 3 Stephanie Babes, Corgary Atoz. Newcomers: 1 Abbie Carruthers, Wayauwega; 2 Emma Pilkington, Born To Fly; 3 Shannon Kelly, Hi Miss Coliene M. 1m15 open: 1 Laura Templeton, Vurelise; 2 Rachel Payne, Zonieke II; 3 David Harland, Fauber. Foxhunter/1m20 open: 1 Ailsa Black, Clincy Z; 2 Graham Babes, Touch of Aldatus; 3 Jemma Kirk, Quelisto.