Scotland’s eventing season drew to a close for 2014 in perfect conditions at Wee Burgie.
Full-time event rider Daniel Scott dominated the leaderboard in the novice class with red and blue rosettes for each of the two horses he took to the northern competition.
Daniel, who events from his base at Stirling and credits his flatwork training to Eric McKechnie, did the onetwo on Casmo Z and Zen Roundthorn respectively.
“I’ve genuinely fallen off Casmo more times than any other horse that I’ve sat on,” said Daniel.
“He’s got such a cheeky wee personality, but he’s come on so brilliantly throughout this year.”
He co-owns the six-year-old son of Casmir Z with John White and they made a steady progression through 2014 by beginning with five or six runs at BE100 level.
“I originally got him in to sell, but he’s such a character I’m not sure I want to part with him,” said Daniel.
Once they got the measure of each other with a third place in the BE100 at Eden Valley, they made the step up to Novice finishing second at Hendersyde and first at both Hutton and then Wee Burgie on their last three outings, each with dressage scores in the low 20s.
Daniel said the Wee Burgie track posed its fair share of questions.
“It was a nice big and bold course. I always enjoy riding around Burgie. I always feel the horses come away from it having benefited from a good education, and obviously the hilly nature of the track means they need that bit extra in terms of fitness.”
He said Casmo coped really well with the test, standing him in good stead for the six-year-old championships at Osberton.
His second-placed horse, Zen Roundthorn a 10-year-old by Quattro has had a much quieter season, and is now offered for sale as the perfect horse for a rider looking to progress up the levels or for a younger rider to compete at JRN.
Collecting points and top-four places on all of his last four runs, Daniel said: “He’s a lovely little horse, and he really gave me the most brilliantly fun ride around the track at Burgie.”
Meanwhile, at the lower levels, the first of the regional finals granting top riders with passage to the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championship final at Badminton 2015 was topped at BE100 level by Aberdeenshire rider Caitlin Padfield.
Remarkably, Caitlin has qualified for Badminton for the last three years.
This will be her first chance to compete on Badminton’s hallowed turf over the BE100 course, courtesy of her former BE90 finalist Ridinghill Reward.
“I can’t believe we have done it again,” she said.
Caitlin travelled directly to Burgie from the dressage national championships, where she was competing with another of her horses, Sid.
“Randy was so chilled in his attitude and turned out a consistent, extremely accurate and regular test to go straight into the lead with a 29 dressage,” she said.
“I was also very pleased with how I rode in the showjumping for a level and consistent clear, as it is his weakest phase.”
Caitlin said she has been putting Randy through his paces with plenty of grid work with Sue Hendry, and his showjumping has improved “immensely”.
Progressing to the cross country, Caitlin said: “It was great to see such a different, big and technical course at the last event of the season at Burgie.
“Randy flew out of the start box and I just knew we were coming home clear.
“He switched on to cruise control and galloped all the way round. It was probably his best ever round of cross country.”
Caitlin now intends to make the move up to Novice level BE.
Second in the BE100RF and also bound for Badminton was Broughty Ferry rider Jane Reid and her consistent gelding Greyford Boy.
“He’s in great fettle,” said Jane of the Connemara, which won at Burgie at this level last year and this season picked up a win at Dalkeith and second at Scotsburn.
Also adept at working hunter, their last competitive outing to Blair Castle saw them collect a second place in the Stewarts Building Services/BHS Scotland championship.
“I’ve taken him out cubbing for the last few weeks as a reward and to cheer him up so he was certainly firing on all cylinders at Burgie.”
Taking the final qualifying position for BE100 was Kirstin Bamford, from Humbie, riding Coosh.
Meanwhile, the BE90 regional final saw two competitors gain their Badminton tickets.
Split by just 1.5 penalties, both Amanda Waugh and Fan Daby Angus (25.5) and Catriona Meikle with Who’s Vision (27), completed on unblemished dressage scores to take the top two qualifying placings.
Results
BE100 open A: 1 Pauline Richardson, Rascalion, 33,0,0,0=33; 2 Naidene Urquhart, Trew Chipara, 34.5,0,0,0=34.5; 3 Stephanie Robson, Bacon Butty, 32,5,0,0=37. BE100 open B: 1 Harriet Baird, Persian Coin, 25.5,0,0,0=25.5; 2 Debra Rutherford, Sunnytimes, 26.5,0,0,0=26.5; 3 Fiona Malcolm, Thebestof Three, 29.5,0,0,0=29.5. BE100RF C: 1 Caitlin Padfield, Ridinghill Reward, 29,0,0,0=29; 2 Jane Reid, Greyford Boy, 32.5,0,0,0=32.5; 3 Kirstin Bamford, Coosh, 33.5,0,0,0=33.5. Novice D: 1 Daniel Scott, Casmo Z, 25,4,0,8.4=37.4; 2 Daniel Scott, Zen Roundthorn, 30,0,0,8.0=38; 3 Claire Smith, Denzel SB, 24.5,8,0,6.4=38.9. BE90 E: 1 Rebecca Ferguson, Arleys Charlies Angel, 24,11,0,0=35; 2 (equal) Fraces Sutherland, Art Investor and Lucinda Crawford, Cairnside Ambition, 36,0,0,0=36. BE90RF E1: 1 Amanda Waugh, Fan Daby Angus, 25.5,0,0,0=25.5; 2 Catriona Meikle, Whos Vision, 27,0,0,0=27; 3 Lia Graham, Lickeen Ryan, 23.5,4,0,0=27.5. BE90 F: 1 Eilidh Herd, 30,0,0,0=30; 2 Claire Smith, Brittas Vriend, 30.5,0,0,3.2=33.7; 3 Harriet Baird, Stainmore Cotton Socks, 34,0,0,0.4=34.4. BE80 G: 1 Ashley Armstrong, Joes Boy, 34,0,0,0=34; 2 Amanda Hodson, Anthony III, 38,0,0,0=38; 3 Shona Wallace, Chellagh, 34.5,0,0,4.4=38.9. BE80 H: 1 Catriona Boxall, Glengowla Neco, 36.5,0,0,0=36.5; 2 Gemma Nicoll, Currency Flight, 44,0,0,0=44; 3 Liam Tedcastle, Misty Magic, 46,0,0,0=46.