THE conclusion of the Rowallan/ The Scottish Farmer winter dressage league series saw record entries across all sections, and two 14-hour marathon days.

Highest score of the weekend was achieved by the prelim champion Phillipa Aitken from Ayrshire with First Impression, scoring 73.16%. The nine-year-old gelding bought four years ago to work in the family's Fergushill Riding Stables.

"We quickly decided that he would do something else first and has done some 15hh show hunter classes and dressage," explained Phillipa. More usually seen in mountain and moorland ridden classes Phillipa has a two-year-old Welsh section D which will be broken next year. "I think we'll probably affiliate after today," added Phillipa.

Runner up was 15-year-old Courtney Steel from Brechin with Zivolda with 71.67%. Owned by the family since the mare was five, Courtney has been riding the Fleming-sired mare for six-months. The previous weekend they were selected as part of the Scottish Byrds squad and receives training from Mary Mcfarlane and Shonagh Steven.

Gail Morrison and Fortunatus were third.

Rebecca Stephen travelled from Aberdeen to win the medium championship under Mary Hope and Amanda Fergusson with Fortria Express.

Rebecca has owned the 10-year-old chestnut mare by Fulton for seven years, brining her on through the eventing grades and is now eventing at two-star level. Last year the pair completed Hopetoun CIC**.

"She's fabulous, a typical chestnut mare and has her quirks but I love her to bits," said Rebecca, who won the prelim warmup class with Shona and Don McBean's Bright Beginnings.

"It produced a confident test and a pleasing picture to judge," said judge Amanda Fergusson.

Gillian Parker was reserve with Zaphira, an eight-year-old Dutch-bred mare by Sandro Hit that Gillian has owned for one year. Last year they were sixth at the summer regionals and will work at advanced medium classes for experience.

"She's still quite green for medium and her half passes are not quite there yet in competition although they are good at home," explained Gillian.

Freelance instructor Debbie Rodwell and Gairloch Bay were third. The 12-year-old gelding has 12 BE points and heads to Eden Valley next month.

Richard Johnston Smith rode Joyce Coull's Caspian V to win the elementary class with 71.91%. Richard has been riding the 18-year-old for three years and originally started jumping the black gelding to add variety, then moved to dressage.

"He started medium level dressage at the end of last year," explained Richard, a freelance instructor from Dalkeith. "He was fifth in the medium and I'm really chuffed with him. He's a fun ride, good fun and tries hard."

"All the horses were working comfortably at that level," said judge Amanda Fergusson. "The winner produced an active and engaged test, it was accurately ridden and the rider rode for marks."

Shuna Mardon from Insch, Aberdeen, was runner up with Dornroschen, a nine-year-old mare, which she purchased last year from Gloucestershire.

"She came up to Hopetoun and I tried her for 40 minutes and then she went back to her owner. I collected her at Blair last year, when she came up with a rider who was competing," explained Shuna. "She's a lovely mare and really tries, I really enjoyed the competition today, everyone was so friendly and it was a great achievement to qualify for the final."

Wendy Raeside and Rock Star were third. The nine-year-old by Royal Diamond is aiming for summer regional qualification.

Local rider Katie Watson and In Too Deep won the novice final, scoring 69.68% from judges Mary Hope and Ros Kirkman.

Katie (17) had the previous day won the BE 90 jump training class at Rowallan, and are aiming for Kirriemuir BE next month having won at Scone, Burgie and Hopetoun last season.

"I was pleased with his extended walk, and its thanks to my trainer Olivia Wilmot for her heldp," said Katie, who is aiming for a novice at the end of the year.

Susan Little travelled from Dumfries to be runner up with Bonito II, a 10-year-old Belgian warmblood, bred for showjumping and purchased from Fiona Burgoyne, and trained by Sarah Clark.

"He can be sharp and tries too hard but he's never let me down," said Susan. "I thought he went well today, and we did our first elementary today and scored 65.78% so I was very pleased."

Castle Douglas instructor Isla Foley and Vearlie were third.

LEADINGawards:

Prelim 18 (Judges: L Love and S Morton) – 1, First Impression, P Aitken, 73.16; 2, Zivolda, C Steel, 71.67; 3, Fortunatus, G Morrison, 69.79; 4, Danny Boy II, J Duncan, 69.38; 5, MFS Caliana, E Murray, 68.54; 6, Barrdene Paris Lace, K Aird, 68.54. Novice 37 (Judges: M Hope and R Kirkman) – 1, In Too Deep, K Watson, 69.68; 2, Bonito II, S Little, 69.68; 3, Vearlie, I Foley, 68.87; 4, Elton, A Noble, 67.74; 5, Kilworth Full Moon, K McMillan, 67.74; 6, Danny Boy II, 67.58. Elem 53 (Judge: A Fergusson and H Carstairs) – 1, Caspian V, R Johnston Smith, 71.91; 2, Dornroschen, S Mardon, 70.88; 3, Rock Star, W Raeside; 4, Artic Jazz, K Tullie; 5, Pic O'day, E Muirhead, 68.09; 6, Razzamachas, S Campbell, 67.94. Medium 35 (Judge: M Hope and A Fergusson) – 1, Fortria Express, R Stepehn, 68.53; 2, Zaphira, G Parker, 66.62; 3, Gairloch Bay, D Rodwell, 66.32; 4, Pic O'day, 65; 6, Santa's Ghost, S McNeill, 64.12.