The Scottish eventing season kicked off in fine style at Kirriemuir Horse Trials.

Despite the recent weather conditions, the ground was near perfect and the Helyer family had done a lot of work to ensure the event ran smoothly.

Rebecca Stephen started off the year in fine style by winning a novice section with her own Fulton-sired Fortria Express. This made it three novice wins in a row after coming top at Burgie and Strathallan last year.

Rebecca reflected: “I was really pleased as the first run of the year is always a bit of a shot in the dark, so she came out well. The course was lovely and the ground was fabulous considering the weather we have had.”

Rebecca will now take her intermediate and is aiming to contest the CIC* at Burgie and the CCI* at Blair.

Debbie Rodwell filled second spot with Gairloch Bay ahead of Robert Wilson and Diamond Swap in third.

The other novice section was won by last year’s winners, Stephanie O’Neil and Just By Chance V.

Stephanie commented: “Kirriemuir has been a very lucky course for me, as last season I won the novice BE event and I also qualified for the Pony Club open eventing championships here on Just By Chance. We then went on to win the championships in Derbyshire so I am quite familiar with the course.”

Stephanie is trained by Diana Zadja and is heading to do the JRN at Scone before the 1* at Burgie and then Blair. Jennifer Mathews and Boomtown Beanie took second place with Freya Petrie and Red Sky Rebel in third.

In BE 100 section D Catherine Moulton and her eight-year-old Weltmyer II mare Collina VH Kastanjehof had their best result to date by winning ahead of Kathleen McArthur and Zion II.

In section E, Bruce Edward put Emily Ryder and Mr Tumnus into second spot with his Valco II. This combination won the BE100 at Scone last season. Both these combinations are heading to the grassroots championships at Badminton next week.

In section E Elisabeth Leslie rode Lisa Andersons’s Athlone David to a convincing win. Elisabeth took over the ride when Lisa broke her leg earlier this year.

Elisabeth commented: “He was brilliant, it was our first event together and he tried really hard. He is a big horse so I had to cut a few corners to make the time but I am so pleased. Lisa was so proud of him and her parents had come down to see him run so it was great.”

BE90 section A was won by a delighted Rebecca Chalmers and her home-bred Permanent Wave. The combination are aiming to do some BE100’s and the regional final in the autumn.

Section B was led by Tricia Hynd and Alexis Litton’s Bill. This combination also won last time out at Strathallan last season. Tricia and the Utrillo Van De Heffinck sired nine-year-old are aiming to compete at novice later in the season.

Section C was won by Skibo Castle yard manager, Amanda Waugh Harkness, and her talented Heartbreaker-sired Handtoheart. Runner up was Daniel Scott and Dr Gerry Beattie’s Fame Van Thianus.

LEADINGawards:

Sec A BE90 – 1, Permanent Wave, R Chalmers, 34.5,0,0,0,0=34.5; 2, Leatyne, S Martin, 35,0,0,0,0=35; 3, Leflers, C Taylor, 36.5,0,0,0,0=36.5. B – 1, Bill, T Hynd, 25.5,4,0,0,0=29.5; 2, Vrouwke II, H Baird, 28,4,0,0,0=32; 3, Tomahawk II, S Hendry, 33,0,0,0,0=33. C – 1, Handtoheart, A Waugh Harkness, 26,0,0,0,0=26; 2, Fame Van Thiunas, D Scott, 27.5,4,0,0,0=31.5; 3, Blairmore Oscar, HDrummond-Moray, 33.5,0,0,0,0=33.5. BE100 D – 1, Collina VH Kastanjehof, C Moulton, 37.5,0,0,0,0.4=37.9; 2, Zion II, K McArthur, 35,4,0,0,0=39; 3, Ard Ri, A Johnston, 35.5,4,0,0,0=39.5. E – 1, Valco II, B Edward, 32.5,0,0,0,0=32.5; 2, Mr Tumnus, E Ryder, 34,0,0,0,0=34; 3, Lady, J Oakden, 35,0,0,0,4=39. F – 1. Athlone David, E Leslie, 28,0,0,0,0=28; 2, Time Warp, R Gunn, 34.5,0,0,0,0=34.5; 3, Variant, V Smith, 31.5,4,0,0,0=35.5. Novice G – 1, Fortria Express, R Stephen, 24.3,8,0,0,0=32.3; 2, Gairloch Bay, D Rodwell, 27.6,4,0,0,1.6=33.2; 3, Diamond Swap, Ro Wilson, 28.6,0,0,0,10=38.6. H – 1, Just By Chance V, S O’Neil, 42.9,0,0,0,0=42.9; 2, Boomtown Beanie, J Mathews, 33.3,4,0,0,5.6=42.9; 3, Red Sky Rebel, F Petrie, 35.2,8,0,0,0=43.2.