CLEA PHILLIPPS, once again, dominated the advanced class at the 51st Eglinton horse trials with Lead The Way when posting the best dressage and despite being stopped across country for over one hour was unfazed to record the fastest round, winning with five penalties in hand.

Winners last year at Eglinton, the course held at the picturesque Barskimming Estate near Mauchline in Ayrshire is one of Clea’s favourite events and one she always hopes to win, however this year hasn’t gone to plan with both Clea and husband Vere injured.

“Vere broke his neck in February and I’d been riding 20 horses a day and didn’t have much time to ride Lead The Way,” said Clea.

“He’s hardly done anything this year - and with Vere being injured I couldn’t get to Badminton. I went to Chatsworth and was lying fourth after dressage then it was rained off, then I got kicked at Doncaster sales and broke my elbow so I missed Bramham. I did a showjumping class last week but until then I’ve not been riding much.”

Lead The Way, an 11-year-old TB by Supreme Leader has been produced by Clea since his novice years, being placed at Eglinton in the novice and intermediate class.

Their 28.9 dressage penalties put them in the lead from Matthew Wright who was visiting Eglinton in between competing at Barbury International in Wiltshire. Both riders showjumped clear but with Eglinton’s undulating course then time is always tricky to achieve.

Just as Clea was setting off across country and approaching the second fence which is alongside the penultimate fence Craig Anderson suffered a crashing fall from Timmy Tiptoes. The horse was winded and lay on top of Craig for at least five minutes before getting to its feet and walking away. Craig was not so lucky being treated at the scene by paramedics and was eventually taken to hospital with a broken leg. Three horses were out on the course when this accident happened and the course was stopped for over one hour while Craig was treated.

“I was stopped at fence eight, a big parallel, he’s an experienced horse now and once I got the signal to start cantered a few circles and then set off,” said Clea.

“He gave me a fabulous ride again and the course rode fantastic, they tried really hard to get the ground just right - it was like a carpet,” enthused Clea.

“It’s a pretty demanding course here, with the big drop, bounce into water and the second last fence.

“I always set out to do well here and I really like the Viking Ship which is presented to the rider closest to the optimum time and not only did I want to win but I also wanted the ship back on my mantlepiece,” laughed Clea.

Last year they won Eglinton and were sixth at Burghley, next month they head to the British open at Gatcombe and then Burghley.

“He’s the only horse I have - Vere sells the rest. I’ve had some good horses but he is a wonderful horse,” concluded Clea who also won the Polly Phillips memorial trophy.

Runner up was Matthew Wright with Caunton Welldone who brought five horses from his Nottingham base. His trip was worthwhile also filling fifth and sixth places in the advanced class and in the open intermediate was first and fourth.

This was Caunton Welldone, a 13-year-old mare owned by John Pearce, first run at advanced level having won open intermediates at Central Scotland and Hexham this year.

“She won the CCI** at Necarne last year and she’ll next go to Aston le-Walls,” said Matthew who was making his first visit to Eglinton.

Third and runner up in the Polly Phillips memorial trophy was Sian Wynne Morris with Just Appeal.

“He was ninth at Bramham last month and will go to Burghley, this was a good practice run for us with big bold fences,” said Sian, who lives in north Wales.

Matthew dominated the open intermediate section to win aboard Few Dollars More. They added eight time penalties to their dressage mark which was leading after the first phase with Gary Parsonage and Fernhill O Deaa both jumping double clear. This was the pair’s first competition run as the grey gelding had until Hexham been ridden by owner Rachel Coney.

“His flatwork is well established and is well schooled. He jumped around easily today,” added Matthew who having done dressage at Barbury on Thursday was flying back to the event that evening.

In second place was Jedburgh rider Emily Galbraith and Timing, just 0.6 penalties behind Matthew. Emily’s great aunt is Miss Heather Galbraith who has organised this event for the past 51 years.

“I’ve had him three years but he has progressed up the grades very quickly and went to advanced level in one season. I did Burgie CCI** but decided to downgrade him to the OI to give him a confidence run and I’m really glad - he just grew in confidence as he went round,” said Emily.

“He’ll go to the advanced at Auchinleck and then Blair,” added Emily.

Last year they were part of the Great Britain young riders squad at the European Championships in Germany, being placed 11th individually.

Victoria Walker and the former racehorse Latch Lifter recorded the quickest cross-country round to win the intermediate class.

Jamie Atkinson brought a lorry load of horses from North Yorkshire, filling second, third and fourth places with Cruise Warrior, Spring Fantasia and Dark Dancer and the following day winning novice section F with Celtic Fortune.

Sara Duddgeon and Turbo Toy continued their good run of success to win Friday’s novice class. Originally ridden by her brother Edward last season in intro classes, Sara started riding the bay gelding in August. This year they were third in the JRN class at Floors before winning at Oatridge.

“The sun was low at the steps so I couldn’t see properly but it felt easy although its quite a tough course,” said Sara. “I’m aiming for Blair CCI* and hopefully the Scottish JRN team at Weston Park.”

It’s been 28 years since Liz Dun last competed at Eglinton but on her first visit back she was rewarded with a novice win riding West Country Harry Potter.

Purchased as a three-year-old Harry Potter was a Burghley young event horse finalist as a five-year-old.

“He did his first event at Hendersyde last August and hasn’t been rushed. It was really nice to ride a cross-country that was really free flowing - it’s demanding but rides really nicely and the ground was good too,” added Liz.

LEADINGawards:

Hillhouse Quarry Group Ltd advanced - 1, Lead the Way, C Phillipps, 28.9,0,5.6,0=34.5; 2, Caunton Welldone, M Wright, 30.7,0,8.8,0=39.5; 3, Just Appeal, S Wynne Morris, 34.6,0,10.4,0=45. Ian Gordon Commercials OI - 1, Few Dollars More, M Wright, 25.5,0,3.2,0=34.1; 3, Timing, E galbraith, 30.9,0,3.2,0=34.1; 3, Fernhill O Dea, G Parsonage, 25.5,0,9.6,0=35.1. Ian Gordon Commercials intermediate - 1, Latch Lifter, V Walker, 30.9,0,1.6,032.5; 2, Cruise Warrior, J Atkinson, 31.4,0,6,0=37.4; 3, Spring Fantasia, J Atkinson, 33.2,0,8.4,0=41.6. Novice A - 1, Turbo Toy, S Dudgeon, 32,0,1.2,0=33.2; 2, Gairloch bay, D Rodwell, 33.5,0,1.5,0=35.1; 3, Ryals Ballinzar, R Middleton, 35.5,0,0,0=35.5. Sec B - 1, West Country Harry Potter, L Dun, 27,0,1.6,0=28.6; 2, G West Goldrush, M Lynch, 31,0,0,0=31; 3, Countdown II, A Gilbert, 31.5,0,0,0=31.5. Sec C - 1, Celtic Fortune, J Atkinson, 27,0,0.4,0=27.4; 2, Monahee, F Hamilton, 29,0,0,0=29; 3, Sporting Uno, S Mayberrry, 28.5,0,1.2,0=29.7. BE 100 G - 1, Beethoven Du Beaumont, C Wait, 30,4,0,0=34; 2, Erica, M Pearson, 35,0,0,0=35; 3, Just A Punt, A Brown, 33,0,2.8,0=35.8. Sec H - 1, Mallow King, S Houlden, 29,0,2.4,0=31.4; 2, Copper Berry, M watson, 29.5,0,0.4,0=29.9; 3, Greengairs Foxtrot, K Latimer, 28.5,4,0,0=32.5. BE 90 - 1, Kitevale Serendipity, A Mathieson, 28,0,2.4,0=30.4; 2, Slaneys Last, S Kidd, 33,0,0,0=33; 3, The Chocolatier, W Stewart, 33.5,0,0,0=33.5. Sec K - 1, Cobblers Dream, G Sleight, 30,0,0,0=30; 2, North By Northwest, K Paskins, 27.5,4,2,0=33.5; 3, Crackenthorpe Nightingale, S Chappelhow, 30,4,0,0=34.