Following no less than three false starts the Brechin Castle Equestrian Halloween Arena Event finally went ahead as planned.
After being dogged by poor weather not only on the original date in mid-October, but twice more thereafter, organiser Val Blewitt was rewarded for her perseverance when the competition was blessed with glorious sunshine.
The event for all ages also offered a fun special un-mounted competition, where young witches and wizards cast their ponies to one side and cantered round the poles on broomsticks.
The competition ascended with the height of the jumps, with standout performances from Zoe Florence and her pony Ralph, which gained a double of wins early on, and from mounted games enthusiast Lauren McLean riding Ru,
who also took two wins.
In the 60cm class, Montrose-based NHS staff member Charlene Bell took the win with her horse Balgaharty Glitter, also known as Cody.
Charlene had owned the now 13-year-old mare since she was a yearling, and although she broke her at the age of three, she took some time-out from riding, putting Cody in foal.
Championship success in the showring as a hunter broodmare followed, and as a result she was sold to the Westdrums Stud for breeding.
“I finally managed to buy her back from them at the start of the year when I got back into riding,” explained Charlene. “And within only a few weeks under saddle again, we went to our first dressage and finished second.
“She’s since been placed at jump cross and all three cross country competitions that we’ve done this year and she won at team showjumping,” added Charlene, who hopes to continue their cross country success with the aim of eventing.
Also from Montrose, social work team manager Lyndsey Foreman took advantage of the competition on the doorstep of Brechin Castle Livery, where she keeps her horse Jasper.
Lyndsey and the eight-year-old Irish TB warmed up with a third in the 70cm class, before scooping the win in the 80.
Jasper, a son of Pilsudski, was bred out of the mare Little Dreamer with the intention of a career on the racetrack.
After being cast aside for a lack of pace, Jasper passed through several hands before reaching the auction ring of Thainstone Market in December 2011, allowing him to find his way to Lyndsey, who has owned him since the turn of 2012.
“Jasper hadn’t really done much when I got him, so we tried a little of everything,” explained Lindsey.
“I discovered he loves jumping and he has been regularly placed in jump cross and showjumping at Brechin Castle.”
As members of Stonehaven Riding Club, they progressed to win two winter showjumping leagues, representing their club at the team showjumping contests at both the Cabin and Loanhead.
“We started competing in cross country this year and Jasper has been placed in four out of the five hunter trials that we entered including at Craigie in May and September, at Strathearn and at Kinnaird,” she added.
With their competitive season now at a close, Lyndsey said she intends to polish up their dressage performance over the coming months with a view to making a BE80 debut at BE next year.
Results
Poles: 1 Maisy Duncan, Caramel; 2 Ellie Coutts, Itch; 3 Lucy Craighead, Princess.
30cm: 1 Zoe Florence, Ralph; 2 Maisy Duncan, Caramel.
40cm: 1 Zoe Florence, Ralph.
60cm: 1 Charlene Bell, Cody; 2 Rosie Edwards, Ricky; 3 Kirsten Edwards, Soldier.
70cm: 1 Debbie Donkin, Stan; 2 Georgie Noonan, Gem; 3 Lindsey Foreman, Jasper.
80cm: 1 Lindsey Foreman, Jasper; 2 Georgie Noonan, Gem; 3 Debbie McCallum, Spice.
90cm: 1 Lauren McLean, Ru; 2 Debbie McCullum, Spice; 3 Morven McLean, Macaroni.
1m: 1 Lauren McLean, Ru.