THE Borders-based South of Scotland Select junior vaulting team have had a brilliant start to 2013.
The first selection trial was held in March near Glasgow. This was the team’s first outing on new horse Ardblae Dickie Snow, lunged by Rebecca Hewit, and they put on a superb show to win clearly.
They then travelled out to Saumur, France for their first international outing. A strong set of compulsories, followed by two rounds of freestyle gave them a first-place finish, once again on board Ardblae Dickie Snow.
The next weekend the team moved onto Belgium for a second selection trial. A freak accident put Ardblae Dickie Snow out of the competition but Ziggourney, lunged by Helen Rogerson, had travelled out as the reserve horse.
She proved a superb replacement and the team finished in second place by 0.007 points.
Squad: Stacey Macpherson, Shannon Purves, Sophie Aitchison, Charlie Lochhead, Emma Counsell and Izzy Kyle. Reserve: Sam Kyle.