Local rider Mandy McConechy headed the intermediate section at Auchinleck horse trials, where over 500 horses competed over the two days.

Riding her own G West Goldrush, the 12-year-old gelding by Dauntless Prince, she posted the fastest cross country time to win and it was a pleasing first intermediate placing for Mandy, who lives in Ayr. It was a popular win too, as Mandy’s mum, Vivienne, organises the cross country fence judges for the Ayrshire BE events.

“He was awesome – just a machine today,” said Mandy. “He loves the cross country and finds everything else boring. I went first across country and it suited him – he was just perfect and had no problems,” said Mandy.

Last season, an injury at the start of the year meant the pair only did three events, but they were double clear at Blair Castle in the CCI* finishing 14th and this year at Scone were 13th in the CIC**.

“He’s next going to Tattersalls CCI** as well as my other horse Queens Brigade,” said Mandy, who is helped with flatwork by Auchinleck organiser, Aly Boswell and Aileen Craig, for showjumping.

“He’s now qualified for the intermediate championships and I’d like to go there,” added Mandy. “The course rode really well and they’ve done a fantastic job.”

Winning the second intermediate section was German medical student Anna Warnecke riding Lauras Ghareeb. The nine-year-old was bought as a four-year-old out of Ireland.

“He was very spooky as a baby which is why is why it’s taken a long time to get to this stage. I’m really excited about him, he does a nice test and is a very careful jumped,” explained Anna, who is based at the Yorkshire Riding Centre during the summer and studies medicine at home in Hanover during the winter.

“I love the courses up here. The first time I rode her, I was second in the advanced. The fences are very big with wide ditches which makes you ride positively and teaches the horses to go forward and be bold,” said Anna.

“I’m aiming for Houghton and possibly Blair CCI** in August, although he’s only done four intermediates,” added Anna.

In the advanced section, young rider, Laura Grace Johnson (20), from Cheshire, with the smallest horse in the class, won convincingly. Ellas Drum, at 15hh, made nothing of the course, posting the fastest time and making the final water complex look easy. By Carnaval Drum, the 11-year-old mare has been ridden by Laura Grace all her career and they next head to the under 25 championships at Bramham. “The course suited her and she flew round,” said Laura Grace.

Runner up Jamie Atkinson, with Look Forward, was double clear for second, and third was Piggy French, from Leicestershire, who brought four horses with her. She was rewarded with an advanced third with Paris, a OI third with WHI Toopper W and fourth with Jakata. “It was a good run before Chatsworth next weekend, and Paris will head to Bramham,” she said.

Scots took the next three spots with Louisa Milne-Home and King Eider double clear for fourth, two penalties ahead of Ian Stark and Looks Similar fifth and David Gatherer sixth with Rockhill Kashmir.

In the open intermediate Andrew Heffernan capitalised on his leading dressage mark to win with Gill Shea’s Showtime. “He’s going to Chatsworth CIC*** then Bramham,” said Andrew.

Just 0.2 penalties behind was Caroline Powell with Camilla Neil Martin’s Mrs Tilly. A new ride this year while Camilla works in Edinburgh, Caroline and Mrs Tilly were sixth in the intermediate at Central Scotland on their first outing.

“She’s a real machine, a really nice horse to ride and it was nice to be back at Auchinleck,” said Caroline.

“Camilla has done a lot work on her at two-star level and hopefully she’ll head to a three-star, maybe Blair, at the end of the year,” added Caroline.

Organiser, Aly Boswell, said: “I’m pleased with the weekend, the course rode well with good ground coverage and there were many new people who have never been at Auchinleck before. The second water in the intermediate and advanced section has been here for some years but I saw some uncomfortable rides through it and this will be changed – instead of the step out there will be a new ramp with possibly a skinny fence afterwards.”

LEADINGawards:

Int (sec A) – 1, G West Goldrush, M McConechy, 33.2,0,1.2,0=34.4; 2, Lochranus, D Scott, 28.6,4,6.4,0=39; 3, Jibau D’Omonville, K Heslop, 31.4,0,7.6,0=39. (sec B) – 1, Lauras Ghareeb, A Warnecke, 27.7,0,10.8,0=38.5; 2, Calador, JG Johnson, 35,0,6,0=41; 3, Pebbly Aga Khan, J Adams, 31.8,0,6,0=41.4. OI – 1, Showtime, A Heffernan, 24.1,4,4,0=32.1; 2, Mrs Tilly, C Powell, 32.3,0,0,0=32.3; 3, DHI Topper, P French, 30.5,0,4.4,0=34.9. Hillhouse Quaryy advamnced – 1, Elaas Drum, LG Johnson, 35,0,10.8,0=45.8; 2, Look Forward, J Atkinson, 35.4,0,12.4,0=47.8; 3, Paris, P French, 26.1,4,20,0=50.1. Weston Taverns novice (sec E) – 1, Livingstone II, L Svennerstal, 27,0,0,0=27; 2, Alexander V, L Svennerstal, 28,0,3.6,0=31.6; 3, Bollingbroke, B Hobday, 34,0,0,0=34. Belhaven Brewery novice (sec F) – 1, Project Vilmar, B Hobday, 27,0,0,0=27; 2, Duninaround, A Johnston, 34.5,0,0,0=34.5; 3, Stonedge, N Roncoroni, 31,4,3.6,0=38.6. BE100 (sec G) – 1, Ballinasillogue Cavalier, L Lyons, 30,0,0,0=30; 2, Artic Soul, N Roncoroni, 32,0,0.4,0=32.4; 3, Dhi Mighty Dwight, H woodhead, 28.5,0,4,0=32.5. Sec H – 1, Chester XIII, C Ellen, 30.5,0,0,0=30.5; 2, Snazzy Abby, W Murray, 34.5,0,0,0=34.5; 3, Kincather Tomas, R Barr, 34.5,0,1.2,0=35.7. Sec J – 1, Well Designed, J Straker, 27,0,0,0=27; 2, Erica, M Pearson, 28,0,0,0=28; 3, River Chorus, J Cartner, 30,4,0,0=34. Sec K – 1, Dekoras, I Steele, 29.5,4,0,0=33.5; 2, Mr Rochester, N Suckle, 34.5,0,0,0=34.5; 3, Clever Coin, C Taylor, 32,6,0,0=38. Sec L – 1, Otto II, A Weir, 28.5,0,0,0=28.5; 2, Into The Blue II, G Turnbull, 30.5,4,0,0=34.5; 3, Bellindene Norman, S Findlayson, 31,4,0,0=35. Sec M – 1, Liatos Valentino, E Moyes, 28,4,0,0=32; 2, Upsekee de Leau, L Higgins, 32.5,4,0,0=36.5; 3, Strachbell Sergeant Bilko, A West, 33,4,0,0=37.