There was a dry but misty start for Fife Riding Club’s winter dressage league, with more than 40 riders forward to contest the first intro to elementary classes.
Marie Graham and Helen Gordon adjudicated for the day, with a fund-raising refreshment stand supplied by Susannah Hutchinson for Prince Fluffy Kareem (PFK), a charity which rescues working horses in Egypt.
The intro class saw a number of new combinations taking part in their first dressage tests.
The final line-up brought a win for FRC member Rhona Beda and her young horse Lia, while Karen McPhee and Azola Mighty Mission took second.
In the first of the prelim classes the win went to FRC regular Joy Clark riding the unusually coloured thoroughbred youngster Angrove Arctic Roll. Four-year-old Rolly is owned by Mary McLaughlin, who bought the gelding just three months ago.
He was bred at the Angrove Stud, in Great Ayton, Yorkshire, out of the advanced endurance mare Angrove Dance Girl and was sired by Ricco, a son of Captain Maverick.
Retrained racehorse Daisy’s Girl, ridden by Emer Owens, took second place in this hotly-contested class.
With coloured horses to the fore, the second of the prelim classes was topped by another coloured thoroughbred making its debut in the dressage arena.
This was Join the Dots, owned by Lady Kate Robertson and ridden by Liam McGurnaghan, who won the class from Kim Wilson and Fronarth Rio in second.
The highest mark of the day as one of only two riders to break the 70% barrier, was awarded to the winner of the first of the novice tests, Charlotte Gowing.
Charlotte, who lives in Leslie, is studying for an HNC in applied sciences at Perth College but works part-time for Nick Alexander riding out racehorses at Kinneston.
Her winner, which scored 72%, was her family’s home-bred eight-year-old mare Rainbow Quest.
Charlotte normally events the mare, and this year they competed at the Pony Club Championships representing the Fife Hunt PC, contesting the intermediate dressage and eventing competitions.
“I love her to bits and I’m really pleased with how she has matured,” said Charlotte, who was delighted with her dressage mark, particularly in the face of stiff competition.
Alwyn McLain and Master at Arms finished a close second on 71%.
The unrestricted novice class had a bumper 13 entries.
Ultimately, FRC member Kate Howitt took the win, before also progressingto take the elementary win.
She rode her affiliated eventer Bordeaux Paris to take the novice from Kinross-based rider Liz Campbell riding Urabian.
Kate and Paris have previously finished first at Floors Castle and third at Brechin, both at BE100 level.
Liz and Urabian, meanwhile, compete regularly in affiliated dressage and are great supporters of FRC’s dressage leagues, proving to be a partnership truly growing in confidence.
Fife Riding Club have four further dressage league competitions this winter, with the next scheduled for the club field on the December 29.
In addition to red rosettes, class winners will receive a chocolate selection box to celebrate the close of the year.
These competitions are open to members and non-members of Fife Riding Club and are held on the club’s all-weather arenas outside Glenrothes.
Results
Intro A: 1 Rhona Beda, Lia, 63.91; 2 Karen McPhee, Azola Mighty Mission, 61.47; 3 Deborah Gowing, Twinks, 60.43.
Prelim 1: 1 Joy Clark, Angrove Arctic Roll, 61.58; 2 Emer Owens, Daisy’s Girl, 60.53; 3 Valeria Schiavetta-Horne, Lemkje fane’ster, 60.53.
Prelim 7: 1 Liam McGurnaghan, Join the Dots, 62.5; 2 Kim Wilson, Fronarth Rio, 61.5; 3 Shirley Mackay, Leo, 60.
Novice 21: 1 Charlotte Gowing, Rainbow Quest, 72; 2 Alwyn McLain, Master at Arms, 71; 3 Joy Clark, Penhalogen Stardust, 68.5.
Novice 28: 1 Kate Howitt, Bordeaux Paris, 63.75; 2 Liz Campbell, Urabian, 62.5; 3 Liz Veitch, Rikki Mae, 62.08.
Elementary 42: 1 Kate Howitt, Bordeaux Paris, 62.81; 2 Mandy Law, Innes, 56.25; 3 Liz Campbell, Urabian, 54.0.