The BHS Scotland and Knockhill Horsepower championship final and open hunter trials brought with it a little razzmatazz when it drove into town.
Staged for the first time in its history at Auchlishie, outside Kirriemuir, organisers succeeded in making the event just that little bit more special, creating a carnival atmosphere of commentary and loudspeaker entertainment for each competitor as they reached the cross country finish line.
Helene Mauchlen, Scottish development officer for the British Horse Society, said: “The aim of the series is to encourage and improve grassroots cross country riding and incentivise people to train and experience cross country in safe situations using accredited courses and we also wanted a final that was different.
“So while we had a top course, experienced officials and all safety needs taken care of, we also gave prizes to all finishers our horsepower car stickers and created a championship feel and celebratory atmosphere by introducing music to the proceedings,” she said.
Kick-starting the morning with a win in the open 1m10 class, jumped around much of Kirrie’s novice cross country, was Aberdeen rider Jen Burnett. After being uncertain whether she would be able to ride at all, thanks to a niggling injury, Jen led the way in what proved to be a red letter day for the Burnett family.
Jen won the open with her Welsh section D cross trotter gelding, Balhagarty Harvest Gold, ahead of her eldest son Chris, who, fresh from passing his Pony Club B test at the venue the previous afternoon, finished third on Zakarius.
Later in the afternoon, Jen’s younger son Luke also stood top of the podium for the junior intermediate qualifier class.
“It was all quite a task, as I have done something to my hip which meant I have had to walk aided by a stick,” conceded Jen.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to ride at all until I was actually on-board Harvey, but luckily it was just getting on and off that proved the hardest bit.
“Plan B had been to get Chris to take both horses round,” she added.
Although Harvey put in a “typical” stop at the first practice jump, Jen said it was then plain sailing.
“He was brilliant after that. I usually struggle with the time as his breeding hasn’t afforded him great ground cover, but we came home inside the time.”
Jen said she “thoroughly enjoyed” the course.
“I particularly liked coming down the hill from the drop to a good solid fence with a related distance, which was a welcome change from the usual parallel,” she said.
Jen said Harvey, now turned 11, is perhaps at last starting to grow up. “He is a bit of a daftie, but he’s my daftie!” she added.
She bought the gelding six years ago, unbacked, at auction, but after taking him through the grades to BE novice level, their success saw them move out of novice points so they have had a quiet few recent seasons.
“I need more time to take him further, but supporting my two boys with their tetrathlon has become a priority.”
When not competing at tet, both Chris and Luke enjoy cross country and eventing too.
Luke, who was working at Fountain Equestrian the day before the BHS competition, travelled south independently from his mother and brother.
The 14-year-old rode Ballinamore Blackie or Bill at home to the junior intermediate win. At just 14.1hh, no one wishes Bill would grow with Luke more than Luke himself.
They came to Auchlishie having represented Scottish tetrathlon in South Wales during the summer for the junior championships.
Luke, a member of Bennachie Pony Club and NERC, is trained by Becky Stephen, who has helped him to start to crack dressage, whilst Andrew Hamilton and David Harland have helped with his SJ.
In the championship finals, not content with just the one win, Chloe MacPhee and her pony Midnight won first the pairs final, alongside partners Niamn Murray and Jigsaw V, before topping the junior novice final.
Meanwhile, Gemma Christie and Reggie won the adult intermediate final, whilst the junior section of the same course saw a tie for first, with Rachel Sheer and Addicus Storm and Rachel Gordon on Blue sharing the plaudits.
Rebecca Bryson and Ronan took the adult novice championship win.
“We have had great feedback from the event,” said Helene. “We hope next year will be even better still.
“We have a plan to encourage competitors to practice even more and we will be introducing a style element to the competition also.”
Following a series of unfortunate events, from a blowout en-route to a kick to a pony after they arrived,the Gillanders brothers could have been forgiven for thinking the gods were against them atAuchlishie.
Due to compete together in the pairs championship, Hamish, 16, and Ruaridh, 14, were forced to move their entry out of the final and into the qualifier class after Ruaridh’s pony suffered a kick from another horse.
Their delayed arrival meant their father Shaun had missed his class and as a result his ride, Glenbrooke Sleeps Tonight, was “going spare”.
Riding in just their fourth and second cross country competitions respectively, the boys ended the class in style, with a win side by side.
The Kinross High School pupils, who are both members of the Over Dalkeith Pony Club Member Centre, have a passion for polocrosse.
Their pairs victory saw Hamish pilot his grey 14.2hh pony Silver Exchange, which is now 17, whilst Ruaridh nipped on to Garry Ferguson’s eight-year-old grey, Glenbrooke Sleeps Tonight, for the first time.
Whilst both boys enjoy their jumping and are relatively new to cross country, they credit the sport of polocrosse for developing their allround riding skills.