WITH THE recent weather conditions and cancellation of Auchinleck for the third year in succession, there was a lot of speculation as to whether or not Strathallan would run.

However, the hard working team there and the removal of a loop in the novice and the water complex for all classes meant the event ran smoothly.

Kenny Randall built a nice show jumping track, which caused major problems. In particular, a ghost hiding under fence 4 (unseen to the human eye) spooked a large number of horses. As always, the cross country ran really well and the team worked hard to keep the ground in good condition.

The intermediate novice class was won by John White’s classy seven-year-old Lochrannus. This son of Graff Grannus was bought from Jack McGeoch, in 2007. John handed over the ride to young rider, Daniel Scott, in February.

Despite a sticky start, the combination has gone from strength to strength with a win at Hexham earlier this season. Daniel reflected: “He was brilliant! We have just clicked. He had a little break after Burgie and this is his first run since then as Auchinleck was cancelled.

”He has never done an Intermediate test before, so I am thrilled with him. I like the course but it is a track that you can’t take for granted as there are a few questions that will catch you out. Strathallan is my local event and it has a great atmosphere due to the way everything is laid out.”

The pair have been asked to guinea pig the 2* dressage at Blair and are hoping to be selected for the JRN squad later this year.

In the novice section, Liz Dun rode her talented Westcountry Harry Potter for his second win in a row. Liz commented: “I thought that the ground held up really well considering the amount of rain the night before and the course jumped well. This was only his third novice so I am delighted.”

The combination will now head novice at Scone, and next spring will be aiming for the novice regionals and then intermediate.

In section F, Rebecca Stephen had an amazing 21.4 dressage which meant that even with three show jumps down, she still won the section ahead of Irish rider June Burgess and Griffindore II.

Rebecca and the Fulton-sired eight-year-old are preparing to head to the Pony Club Championships at Draycott House where they have qualified for the open horse trials.

“She was a good girl! We had some problems with the trailer so arrived with 15 minutes before the dressage - I clearly need to do that more often! She was fab cross country, it is her niche.

“The course is lovely and the ground stood up surprisingly well. It is a straightforward course and really allows the horses to open up and allows them to gallop. She is not normally a spooky horse but there was something about the show jumping she didn’t like,” said Rebecca. The combination are aiming at Burgie 1* next year.

The Lycetts six-year-old class was won by June Burgess and Obos Apollo. The OBOS Quality-sired gelding has 10 points which included a third place in the novice at Central Scotland. Runner-up was the in-form partnership of Suzanne Lumgair and Eugenia Chapman Campbell’s Be With Me.

The final novice section was won by Antonia Green and her Java Tiger-sired Mountain Tiger.

In BE100 section A, Will Murray rode Gavin Drummond’s Litchfield Jack to win ahead of India Nickel and Venture Muppet. This was the seven-year-old by Cameos Reflection’s first attempt at this level having been ridden by Gavin at BE90 level earlier in the season.

Section B was won by Lisbeth Morrison and her own King of the Cats. Lisbeth and the consistent Duntarvie Catalan-sired nine-year-old won at Central Scotland ealier this season at BE 90 level.

She commented: “I was so pleased with him, especially in the show jumping, as it’s his weakest phase. The cross country is a lovely track at Strathallan, he really took me round it. I’m just continuing eventing him this year, and we are going to the Pony Club Championships in a couple of weeks to do the intermediate eventing.”

Section C was won by Rose MacPherson and her own Crusing sired Cronkil Crusin.

Section D went to Wills Oakden and Miranda Nunnely’s Ghareeb-sired Randolphs Leap, while the Lycett five-year-old class was won by Nicky Roncoroni and Stonedge ahead of Louisa Milne Home on Elton John and in third showjumper Andrew Hamilton on Zion II.

The four-year-old class was won by Lucy Spence and her Colin Diamond-sired Briary Hill, while BE90 sections were won by Tricia Hynd riding Bill, Chandaem Pippaley ridden by Holly Wybergh and Rebecca Chalmers and Permanent Wave.

The training classes were won by Freedom VI ridden by Wendy McGrandles and Bellindene Norman II ridden by Sarah Finlayson.

LEADINGawards:

E100 A - 1, Lichfield Jack, W Murray, 31,4,0,1=36; 2, Venture Muppet, I Nickel, 34.5,4,0,0=38.5; 3, Althone David, L Anderson, 32.5,4,0,4=40.5. Lycett 5yo - 1, Stonedge, N Roncoroni, 37,0,0,0=37; 2, Elton John, L Milne Home, 33.5,4,0,0.8=38.3; 3, Zion II, A Hamilton, 36,4,0,0=40. B - 1, King Of The Cats, 27.5,0,0,3.2=30.7; 2, Balhagarty Harvest Gold, J Burnett, 35.5,0,0,0.4=35.9; 3, Tigger Valley Gold, W Oakden, 36,0,0,0.4=36.4. C - 1, Cronkil Cruisin, R MacPherson, 30.5,0,0,0=30.5; 2, More Mischief, A MacIver, 23,4,0,4=31; 3, Warchant, A Sutherland, 27.5,0,0,3.6=31.1. D - 1, Randolphs Leap, W Oakden, 37,0,0,0=37; 2, Chevignon, C Geddes, 33,0,0,7.2=40.2; 3, Greystone Midnight Melody, A George, 37,4,0,0=41. Nov E - 1, Westcountry Harry Potter, L Dun, 39.1,0,0,0=39.1; 2, Hughie II, F Reid, 39.5,4,0,0=43.5; 3, Flexitime, H McLaren, 37.6,4,0,5.6=47.2. Lycetts 6yo - 1, Obos Apollo, J Burgess, 38.6,0,0,1.2=39.8; 2, Be With Me, S Lumgair, 31,8,0,2.8=41.8; 3, Night Porter, N Roncoroni, 32.4,4,0,7.6=44. F - 1, Fortria Express, R Stephen, 21.4,12,0,0.8=34.2; 2, Griffindore II, J Burgess, 32.4,4,0,0=36.4; 3, Marble Maybe, D Ritchie, 35.2,0,0,4.4=39.6. G - 1, Mountain Tiger, A Green, 31.4,4,0,0=35.4; 2, My Man Friday, N Roncoroni, 28.6,4,0,4=36.6; 3, Turbo Toy, S Dudgeon, 28.6,4,0,4.4=37. IN - 1, Lochrannus, D Scott, 29.1,0,0,0=29.1; 2, Monster Impact, R Wilson, 35.5,4,0,0=39.5; 3, Collective Effort, E Leslie, 32.7,8,0,1.2=41.9. BE 80 (T) L - 1, Freedom VI, W McGrandles, 31.5,4,0,0,0=35.5; 2, Borthwick Amber, M Parrott, 38.5,0,0,0,0=38.5; 3, Hit The Road Jack, L Miller, 33.5,0,2,0,3.6=39.1. M - 1, Bellindene Norman II, S Finlayson, 26.5,0,0,0,0=26.5; 2, Mr Tumnus, J Ryder, 39,0,0,0,1.2=40.2; 3, Lord Bengal, K McConnochie, 40.5,0,0,0,0=40.5. 4yo - 1, Briary Hill, L Spence, 40.5,0,0,0,0=40.5; 2, Watts Burn, N Roncoroni, 38,4,0,0,0=42; 3, Tanguy, R Bartlett, 40,8,0,0,0=48. BE90. I. 1, Bill, T Hynd, 29.5,0,0,0,0=29.5; 2, Uniek II, C Smith, 32.5,0,0,0,0=32.5; 3, Pitmedden Spice Free, A West, 34,0,0,0,0=34. J - 1, Chandaem Pippaley, H Wybergh, 27,0,0,0,0=27; 2, Montague II, A Johnston, 29.5,0,0,0,0=29.5; 3, Pitmedden Havra, A West, 30,0,0,0,0=30. K - 1, Permanent Wave, R Chalmers, 35,0,0,0,5.2=40.2; 2, Nagero Ricochet, D Hawkins, 41,0,0,0,0=41; 3, Miss Arch, P McKenzie, 42.5,0,0,0,0=42.5.