Cold weather – but hot jumping

With some riders warming up outside it was rather chilly at Muirmill EC, but a fresh course designer in the shape of Peter Gillespie and the addition of some bigger classes spiced the schedule up.

The winter amateur qualifier was the main draw but attracted only eight starters. From these, two jumped clear over Peter’s technical course to go head to head.

Lea Brash was first to have a go riding her father, Stan’s Bon Ami. Having returned home to Peebles two years ago following an injury, this horse has been out enjoying his jumping again with Lea who will be one of the true amateurs working Monday to friday as a chartered accountant. Their round was efficient and careful recording that vital zero score.

The challenger was Isabel Lyndsay who has only had the ride on her Irish-bred mare, Cruise On Tina, for a matter of weeks. This former ride of Liam and Cora Sharkey’s has already finished third at Scope in the under 16s with Isabel so they will be ones to keep an eye on as their partnership goes.

A rub at the second fence meant they had to settle for runner-up position this time but they still earned their qualifying ticket, allowing Lea to pick up her red rosette and pass to the finals.

Of no financial benefit and at the riders request, Muirmill laid on two 1.3m opens which were well received by those who attended but what a shame they weren’t better supported.

Graham Babes has recently returned from international shows, Dunkerque and St Lo, where his team of Eccosse, Candela Van Het Slagerhof Z and Boucheron were all jumping well, the latter winning a 2* in St Lo. Produced by Sandra Low Mitchell but bred by the Babes family, the nine-year-old Eccosse made light work of Peter’s 1.3m track returning the only double clear to take the top award.

Anther to have jumped abroad this year has been Declan Irvine and it showed when he won the following day’s 1.3m open on the ever consistent Keeford Carousel.

Ingliston Country Club offered two days and an evening’s jumping over that cold weekend. Douglas Duffin won on two Scottish-bred horses, Pyjama Jack the HOYS finalist and fresh winning a foxhunter/1.2m, and Moonface JX, another useful jumper bred by the late Jane Maxwell also scored in a 1.2m.

Julie McLelland was flying to secure a win in a quick 1.15m on her usual mount, Coppers Dream, but also finished third on new mount, Ranee, in another 1.15m behind Greg Taylor, on Jim Wilmer’s Ballyhane Etto and Natalie Devlin on her WA qualified Coulters Candy.

Travelling up from South Moor, in Co Durham, Anneli Larsson had a weekend full of excitement, but to top it all off she won a discovery and was placed in almost every class with her team of three.

Miss Southburn Piccalilli bred by Anneli, by her own stallion Gibside Mr Chips, a seven-year-old mare was first and fourth in a discovery and a 1.05m. Miss Southburn Sarsaparilla, another home-bred was third in a British novice and the 18-year-old ex-racehorse, I’m A Bird, won a fast 1m open.

LEADING awards

Ingliston seniors

British Novice – 1, Starsky Prince, K Allison; 2, Lacara, L Stewart; 3, Jazz Time, J Rawsthorn. Discovery – 1, Miss Southburn Piccalilli, A Larsson; 2, Easter Joy, N Wannop; 3, Bosdu, S Harrison. Newcomers – , Dali, S Laird; 2, Wadermus, L Dun; 3, Valencia, H Pedrosa. Foxhunter-1, Accorde, J Thomson; 2, Zidane, L Hutt; 3, Portphillip Queen, V Hewson. 90cm – 1, Starfield Diva, I Drummond; 2, JJ’s Clio, L Hill; 3, Remy Martin, S Drummond. British Novice – 1, Eden Fourth Edition, N Wannop; 2, Goldie, N Brown; 3, Hinkelien, S Ramsoy. Discovery – 1, Scherzinger FB, L Hood; 2, Lacara; 3, Easy Money Z, L McCabe. 1m ppen – 1, Casino Royale, C Short; 2, Hold Up Princess, I Drummond; 3, La Varratto, E Corns. 1.05m open – 1, Java Scatlot, J Hickman; 2, Valencia; 3, CES Seaamanchip. Newcomers – 1, Dukes Of Hazzard, E Crawford; 2, Valencia; 3, Kengarth Mika, L Stronach. 1.15m open – 1, Coppers Dream, J McClelland; 2, Dgeorge, G Fergusson; 3, Woliena BB, S Deasy. Foxhunter – 1, Moonface JX, D Duffin; 2, Her L’Amour, D Duffin; 3, Up To Date Showgirl, K Hamilton. British Novice – 1, Goldie; 2, Hanleen Chunky Monkey, S Gemmel; 3, Miss Southburn Sasparilla, A Larsson. 90cm open – 1, La Varratto; 2, Hollambys Ally D, E Bayliss Hollamby; 3, Artiest D, H Hiram. Discovery – 1, Lacara; 2, Goldie; 3, Atlantic Vital Spark, H Ritchie. 1m open – 1, Im A Bird, A Larsson; 2, La Varratto. 1.05m open – 1, Accorde, K Sawyers; 2, Gina Gold, H Davies; 3, Lenamore Luxembourg, S Girvan. Newcomers – 1, Gubeon Annie, J Taylor; 2, Life Of Reilly, K Connor Baillie; 3, Endara, J Rawsthorn. 1.1m open – 1, Vurelise, C Templeton; 2, Coulters Candy, N Devlin; 3, Cadillac, R Nichol. 1.15m open – 1, Ballyhane Etto, G Taylor; 2, Coulters Candy; 3, Ranee, J McLelland. Foxhunter – 1, Pyjama Jack, D Duffin; 2, Her L’Amour; 3, Conquib, H Davies.

SNEC

70cm – 1, Tilly, L Forrest; 2, Multicolour Mischief, I McLeish; 3, Hanessa Scais, N Ironside. 85cm Nat Am – 1, Tullycars Peek A Boo, M Cowan; 2, Copper V, A Blackwood; 3, WKD Cosmopoitan, L Forrest. 95cm Nat Am – 1, Valasay, S Trenchard; 2, Silver Lining, D Owen; 3, Electra, L Lane. 1m open – 1, Broadstone Athena, B Starky; 2, Harwood Eclipze, A Robertson; 3, Sahara Blue, A Meikle. 1.05m Nat Am – 1, Fogas Adare, K McGregor; 2, DL Fernando, M Arnott; 3, Hanleen O Tess, A White. 1.1m Nat Am – 1, Fogas Adare; 2, Corrigeen Realt Rua, I Dorsie; 3, Escada, J Storrie.