Brechin Castle hosted its annual BE horse trials a week later this year, having swapped dates with Central Scotland.

The show jumping course caused a number of problems throughout the sections with a related distance to a double away from the gate the main difficulty. The cross country rode well with problems spread out across the track. Once again, the undulating land and terraced gardens gave a lovely backdrop.

In the open novice section, Daniel Scott rode John White’s Lochrannus to win with almost two show jumps in hand. John bought the talented Graf Grannus-sired eight-year-old from Jack McGeoch in 2007 and handed over the ride to Daniel last year.

Runner up was the open novice winner at Scone, Sara Dudgeon and her Turbo Toy. Sarra Mayberry filled third spot with Sporting Uno.

Wills Oakden made the step up to novice a successful one with David Kenwright’s Greystone Midnight Melody winning at her first attempt. He rode the seven-year-old’s father, Greystone Pathfinder, for several seasons with a double in 2009.

Mr Oakden commented: “It is great that the Kenwrights have a home-bred horse that is doing so well. They are great owners for me, so I am more excited for them than anything!

“It was a fair novice for her first attempt, but she stepped up well. There are still a few things to work on in her dressage and show jumping so she will be very exciting when they all fall into place.

“The course here is really educational as there is a lot going on for them to look at. It is twisty with a lot of turns so getting the time is very hard.”

Wills will continue to do more novices and is hoping for a 1* run later in the year.”

In section F, Michelle Chalmers rode her own Donnerhall Princess to take the class. Michelle and the Dolany-sired eight-year-old also won the novice section at Aswanley last year and are now heading to the novice regional final at Floors.

Skibo Castle-based Amanda Waugh Harkness is having a great season so far with the Heartbreaker-sired Handtoheart. Having won the BE90 at Kirriemuir, the pair were having their first run at BE100.

Amanda commented: “He was brilliant. He is still a bit inexperienced and I was a bit worried about the time as there are a few steep hills, but he coped really well. The cross country was really inviting and asked a few questions.

“The show jumping course was very cleverly built as it didn’t just need walked, you had to think about it. The fences were positioned really well and made you really pay attention to how you rode.”

Tricia Hynd continued her successful season with Alexis Litton’s Bill to win section B. Tricia reflected: “He went really well. He cruised round the cross country. I am really pleased for his owner Alexis. I am having so much fun with him!”

Rebecca Laing had a best result to date with the Jackson’s Drift-sired Just Jackson, winning section C. Runner up for the second time in two weeks was Lee Wright with the nine-year-old Balmyre Santa Express.

BE 90 sections were won by Alice Jaggard and Schindles and Cobblers Dream and Gillian Sleight.

LEADINGawards:

BE100 A – 1, Handtoheart, A Waugh-Harkness, 29.5,0,0,0,6.8=36.3; 2, Balmore II, G Burns, 35.5,0,0,0,3.6=39.1; 3, Howick So So, S Terris-Weir, 34,4,0,0,3.2=41.2. Sec B – 1, Bill, T Hynd, 32,0,0,0,5.6=37.6; 2, Pops Rising Star, L Worth, 35,4,0,0,0=39; 3, Longfield Di Marco, D Gatherer, 34,4,0,0,1.6=39.6. BE100 C – 1, Just Jackson, R Laing, 36.5,0,0,0,2.8=39.3; 2, Balmyre Santa Express, L Wright, 33,0,0,0,6.4=39.4; 3, Bonhard Alexander, L Craigie, 38.5,0,0,0,1.2=39.7. BE90 D – 1, Schindles, A Jaggard, 29,0,0,0,0=29; 2, Western Glan, L Grieve, 26.5,4,0,0,0=30.5; 3, Into The Blue II, G Turnbull, 32,0,0,0,0=32. Sec H – 1, Cobblers Dream, G Sleight, 23.5,0,0,0,0=23.5; 2, Strachbell Sergeant Bilko, A West, 23.5,0,0,0,0.4=23.9; 3, Tomahawk II, S Hendry, 27.5,0,0,0,0=27.5. Novice E – 1, Greystone Midnight Melody, W Oakden, 31,0,0,0,10=41; 2, Athens Aberdare, R Pindar, 38.6,4,0,0,0.4=43; 3, King Cotton Gold, S Cunningham, 37.1,0,0,0,8=45.1. Sec F – 1, Donnerhall Princess, M Chalmers, 30.5,0,0,0,9.2=39.7; 2, Boomtown Beanie, J Mathews, 34.3,4,0,0,6.8=45.1; 3, Polar Circle, D Tait, 36.7,0,0,0,11.6=48.3. ON – 1, Lochrannus, D Scott, 27.6,0,0,0,2.8=30.4; 2, Turbo Toy, S Dudgeon, 30.5,0,0,0,6.8=37.3; 3, Sporting Uno, S Mayberry 34.8,0,0,0,4.4=39.2.