As promised Hendersyde Horse trials produced some very exciting sport last weekend with some local success stories written on the Kelso course.
Karen Carson and Finding Nico produced an outstanding dressage test and double clear to win the Belhaven BE 90 Scottish Championships, while local rider Tiffany Mactaggart topped the day by galloping off with the Central Carpets BE100 Scottish Championships with her aptly named gelding Highly Delighted.
Tiffany, 20, lives and works with her parents on their farm at Bonchester Bridge while Highly Delighted, called Peter at home, was bred by Tiffany’s show jumping coach Susie Gibson and was named by Tiffany after one of Susie’s favourite sayings. The gelding, 6, is a rising star, he was placed 6th in the Burghley Young Horse competition and in this, his first year of eventing has already had three wins and went double clear at his first Novice level event.
Tiffany would like to follow in her family footsteps and event professionally, her father was a top amateur jockey and her grandparents trained race horses.
James Sommerville picked up first place in the Borders Children’s Charity BE Intermediate Novice Scottish Championships on his bay mare Fellside Fancy Free, the class was decided after a nail-biting show jumping round with the top six riders all finishing within four points of each other, Sonya Cunningham and Dryfe Royal Cavalier were in the lead but an unlucky pole down saw her drop to fourth place.
Local riders also carried off the top prizes in the other classes, 14 year old Lucinda Crawford, from Melrose, had a field day, winning the Malcolm Group BE 100 on chestnut gelding Vattrick, picking up second place in the George Anderson and Sons BE under 18 Open Novice on Turbo Toy and also winning the Charlotte Agnew training bursary for BE novice under 18. She was also placed eighth on Cairnside Ambition in the BE 100 under 18 section.
Lucinda is a member of the GB under 18 development squad and has been training in Leicester in preparation to go to Ireland for the Millstreet International, they are also looking to compete at Weston Park at the end of the year.
Katie Anderson from Selkirk was awarded the Chatlotte Agnew Bursary for the BE 100 under 18 awarded to the top scorers after five competitions in the season.
Charlotte now has her own yard near Cirencester and competed her homebred gelding Out of Africa Two at Badminton this year.
Ancrum’s Anna Galbraith and My Slaney Lass picked up second place in the BE100 section G.
As always Hendersyde provided a wealth of competition over old turf, the David Evans designed courses proved interesting and ask some stiff questions of horse and rider, but positive riding and a smooth rhythm were the keys to success.
The Horse Trials not only provide a top class showcase for Scottish Eventing, but also raise much needed funds for local charities. Livy Agnew and her team have raised over £44,000 over the years and the Borders Children’s Charity were the recipient this year. All the results from the day can be found on www.britisheventing.com