CLEA PHILIPPS and Lead the Way stamped their authority on the advanced class at Eglinton horse trials with their third win in a row, at the 52nd running of the event, and also lifted the Polly Philipps memorial trophy at the same time.

Lying in 14th place after dressage they moved up into equal third place after showjumping clear. Kenny Rendall’s course caught out many riders, especially the final line. The 12-year-old gelding by Supreme Leader made the cross country course around Barskimming Estate look easy, cruising around the course to record the quickest time and even though the advanced class was run in the worst of the afternoon’s rain the course rode well.

“He did Badminton this year and since then I’ve just been showjumping him, I was a little bit rusty in the dressage but he jumped perfectly out there,” explained Clea.

“I think he knows the way round now,” she laughed. “The ground was very good and it rode well – they’d put a lot of effort into the course and there was a good covering of grass.”

Their next outing is the advanced at Aston le-Walls next weekend with the British Open at Gatcombe and Burghley on the cards.

Runner up on the same dressage score as Clea, but slightly slower across country, was visiting Irish rider Joseph Murphy and Electric Cruise who were making their first visit to Eglinton. By Cruising the nine-year-old Electric Cruise was eighth at Bramaham CIC*** last month.

Rachel Lupton (23) was third with her own The Chenko Artist. The nine-year-old chestnut gelding is on the BEF equine pathway scheme and they next contest the under 25 advanced class at Aston le-Walls. Rachel runs a training and equine rehabiltation yard in North Yorkshire.

Best Scottish rider was Wills Oakden with Jo Brown, in sixth place – their two showjumping poles costing them third place. Owned by Will’s aunt Francis Hay-Smith, Jo Brown has long been part of the family, giving Wills a great introduction to eventing.

“He’s a super jumping horse and I’ve had so much fun with him – he took me to the pony club championships when I was 14 and he’s a family treasure. He made the course feel easy today – just like a pre-novice course,” added Wills, who also won the BE100 class with Dunbog Aurora the following day.

In the open intermediate Sarra Mayberry had a pleasing win with Hownam Law, owned jointly with Rhona Elliot who bred the Accondy-sire gelding 10 years ago.

“He’s been very naughty for the last 12 months and this was his last chance or he’d be looking for another career,” explained Sarra, from Thornhill in Stirlingshire.

“I broke my collar bone last year and he realised I was weak down one side and started taking advantage, he’s just been mucking about – he’s been great at home but misbehaving at competitions. He went well today and took all the direct routes, he’s bold and it rode nicely. I thought the ground walked firm on Thursday but the rain helped today and the ground was good out on the course,” added Sarra.

Sarra’s other horse, Moores Stream, was eighth in the same section and now heads to Aston le-Walls for its first advanced run, with Hownam Law likely to go to the OI at Central Scotland next month.

Runner up was last year’s winner, Emily Galbraith from Jedburgh with Timing, who were recent CCI** winners at Burgie.

Lying first after dressage, their one showjumping error proved costly, relegating them down to second and even with a fast cross country over the undulating ground, the steep inclines and declines around the estate make it difficult to make the time at Eglinton. Emily’s great aunt Miss Heather Galbraith has been the organiser of the Eglinton horse trials since it started 52 years ago.

“I’ve had him four years but he progressed up the grades very quickly and went to advanced in his first season,” said Emily, who will be hoping the 10-year-old will match her other ride Crown Alliance which won the best rider under 25 at Badminton this year and has been entered for Burghley.

In the intermediate it was Shropshire rider Hannah Bate’s rare double clear with Matin D’Avril that secured them in a win in section C. With the rain now torrential at this point just four showjumping clears were recorded.

Caroline Powell with Thornfield Jones roled an expensive showjumping pole for second place. Thornfield Jone is owned by Jane and Alan Bell – who also own Caroline’s other ride Boston Two Tip, which goes to Germany to contest Aachen the following week. With two intermediate wins under his belt at Central Scotland and Aske this season Caroline is hopeful for the nine-year-old.

“He went well but some of the distances need to be opened up on the cross country course. I’ve had him for a year, he was ridden by Eric Smiley. He’ll go to Hartpury 2** next month, next year he’ll be a stunning horse and I’ve got some really lovely horses to ride this year,” added Caroline, who was also eighth in the advanced with Miss Tilly.

Isabella Innes Kerr was a clear winner of the JRN class with Match Point, finishing on a dressage score of 25.5.

Also finishing on their dressage score were both novice winners, Stranraer dairy farmer Andrew Drummond with Indian River in section F and Jonathan Lough with Trevor in section E.

Three BE100 classes were held, with wins enjoyed by Helen Waterhouse and Kilpatrick Conndis, Alice Spence and Here’s Herbie and Wills Oakden who returned a clean sheet to finish on his dressage score, while in the BE90 classes it was Jennifer Smail and Storytime and Katie Paskin, more usually seen in the dressage area, with North By Northwest that emerged victorious.

LEADINGawards:

Hillhouse Quarry advanced – 1, Leda the Way, C Phillips, 36.1,0,10,0=46.1; 2, Electric Cruise, J Murphy, 36.1,0,12,0=48.1; 3, The Chenko Artist, R Lupton, 36.4,0,15.2,0=51.6. Ian Gordon Commercials open intermediate – 1, Hownam Law, S Mayberry, 30,0,2.4,0=32.4; 2, Timing, E Galbraith, 27.3,4,2.8,0=34.1; 3, Spring Fantasia, J Atkinson, 34.1,0,6.8,0=40.9. Ian Gordon Commercials intermediate – 1, Matin D’Avril, H Bate, 30.9,0,9.6,0=40.5; 2, Thornfield Jones, C Powell, 36.4,4,4,0=44.4; 3, Cherry Law, N Roncoroni, 42.3,4,2.4,0=48.7. KNIS JRN – 1, Match Point, I Innes Kerr, 25.5,0,0,0=25.5; 2, Dwina De Cavron, D Scott, 30,0,2.8,0=32.8; 3, Ladys Slipper, R Offer, 38.5,0,0,0=38.5. gooape.co.uk novice (sec A) – 1, Trevor, J Lough, 34.5,0,0,0=34.5; 2, Sergeant Kiki, P Laidlaw, 27.5,4,6.8,0=38.3; 3, Glengarry II, A Gilbert, 35,4,0,0=39. CKD Galbraith novice B – 1, Indian River, A Drummond, 31,0,0,0=31; 2, Stonedge, N Roncoroni, 30.5,4,1.6,0=36.1; 3, Victory Blues, O Wilmott, 33,4,0.4,0=37.4. BE100 (sec G) – 1, Kilpatrick Condios, H Waterhouse, 25.5,0,0,0=25.5; 2, Kincather Tomas, R Barr, 33,0,0.4,0=33.4; 3, Port Wine, A Stewart, 33.5,0,0.8,0=34.3. (sec H) – 1, Here’s Herbie, A Spence, 34,0,0,0=34; 2, Rhinefield Boy, D Wilson, 35.5,0,2.4,0=37.9; 3, Tank Too, R Whiteford, 35,0,4,0=39. (sec I) – 1, Dunbog Aurora, W Oakden, 31.5,0,0,0=31.5; 2, Autumn Sunrise, D Scott, 33.5,0,2,0=35.5; 3, Surprise Package II, C Anderson, 37,0,0,0=37. BE90 (sec J) – 1, Storytime, J Smail, 30,0,0,0=30; 2, Touchdown Boris, E Gray, 36,0,0,0=36; 3, Attitude, S McLellan, 32,4,0.4,0=36.4. (sec K) – 1, North By Northwest, K Paskins, 21.5,16,0,0=37.5; 2, Borris Jem, A Drummond, 37.5,8,0,0=45.5; 3, Jupiter II, A Broad, 40,0,8.4,0=48.4.