The team at Central Scotland Horse Trials were tested to the maximum at this year’s event with the awful weather playing havoc with the ground on the second day in particular.

The cross country courses caused a reasonable number of penalties with the sticky ground resulting in a fair number of time faults. Colin Hexley’s show jumping track created a lot of problems over the two days with faults occuring all over the track.

Mark Kyle is making Central Scotland his own in the CIC** sections having won the last three classes. This time it was Ronnie Bartlett’s quality Ghaareb sired Coolio that made it a double from last year with a show jump in hand over Mathew Wright and Caunton Welldone.

In third spot was Ruth Edge and Oscar Knight. Ruth commented: “Oscar was great. I have not had him long and this was our first really competitive run. He did a good test and was nice to ride. He always tries his best. Unfortunately I went cross country in the down pour as did most of the CIC** section!

“He was really keen even in the mud and I was pleased with his fitness. The cross country track was decent and asked a few questions. It was a real test of stamina, but it rode really well and encouraged an attacking style.”

The OI was won by Mathew Wright and Park Pilot. This combination won the CCI** at Tattersalls last year and were second in the advanced at Burnham Market last month.

Caroline Powell won the Intermediate section on the nine-year-old Thornfield Jones ahead of Robert Wilson and his own Monster Impact. Caroline reflected: “He was really good. He came to me through Eric Smiley to be sold and he hasn’t left! He is a really nice horse to work with, so it was good to keep him. I have some homework to do with him, but he is progressing really nicely. It was such a shame about the weather, but you can’t control these things! The team did a really good job to keep it running.”

The OI under 21 was won by the narrowest of margin by Gaby Cooke and the Mark Twain-sired Northcroft Frontier ahead of Harriet Baird and her consistent Persian Coin.

Sara Dudgeon and her 10-year-old Turbo Toy won the open novice section ahead of Emma Mould and her Burgie 1* winner Gunstone Wallstreet. Sara commented: “I had a fantastic day! He felt on top form all day and really loved the cross country. The layout changed this year and I think it worked well. I had great fun attacking the cross country course!” Sara, who is trained by Les Smith is now heading intermediate at Auchinleck with the 1* at Burgie in mind.

James Adams won two novice sections, the first with Sienna Myson-Davies’ Varisienne. The eight-year-old by Voltaire won the open BE100 at Lincoln last time out. In second spot was Amy Young and Angela Curry’s Nicely Dun II. James will now aim Varisienne at the 1* at Houghton.

The second win for James came with Ramscove Ltd’s six-year-old Kiltealy Brief, ahead of Ben Hobday and Project Vilmar. This is the first season for this combination as Sally Swiers rode the Kiltealy Spring-sired gelding in age classes last year. James reflected: “He was stepping up to this level. He ran novice at Lincoln for the first time and it was a bit muddy so I went for a confidence run. However today I thought a bit more about the time and he felt really comfortable. He is a scopey horse and a fantasitc mover.” James is hoping to do the six-year-old classes culminating at Lion D’Angers in the autumn.

The JRN was won by Yorkshire-based Fran Reeve with Rosemary Search’s The Bees Knees V. Fran commented: “We have had a brilliant weekend. We have never been to Scone before and it is a lovely event – the setting is beautiful. The cross country was a long course, but it rode really well despite the weather conditions.”

Ruth Edge won BE 100 section E with Ann and Hugh Lawson’s home-bred Accondy stallion Mister Maccondy. Ruth said: “He was fabulous! It was his first event and he didn’t put a foot wrong. He did a relaxed test, good clear show jumping and he had a few time penalties cross country but I knew he had a fair lead so I didn’t want to push him.

“He gave me a fabulous ride and to win was a bonus! They made some great changes to the course, which rode really well.” Ruth is aiming the five-year-old at stallion gradings next year and will do a few more BE100s this season.

Elisabeth Leslie continued her winning form with Lisa Anderson’s Althone David taking section F ahead of Vrouwke II and Harriet Baird. In section G Fiona Malcolm rode her own Glenvilla Mai to add nothing to her dressage and win ahead of Lee Wright and Claire King’s Balmyre Santa Express. Emily Galbraith won the open section with the experienced Timing, while Mary Pearson won the junior section with Erika.

BE 90 winners were Gillian Edward and Carrera VT Winkenshof, Sarah Finlayson and Bellindene Norman, Alison Brewis and Miss Daffy Duck and Lucy Craigie and Margarets Choice. The BE90 open was won by Laura Smith and BB Fern.

LEADINGawards:

BE100 – E – 1, Mister Maccondy, R Edge, 18.5,0,0,0,6=24.5; 2, Deniro, I Clark, 28.5,0,0,0,0=28.5; 3, Bally Mhor, K Conway, 27.5,4,0,0,0=31.5. F – 1, Athlone David, E Leslie, 29.5,0,0,0,1.2=30.7; 2, Vrouwke II, H Baird, 28.5,4,0,0,0=32.5; 3, Through the Mill, J Atkinson, 30.5,4,0,0,0=34.5. G – 1, Glenvilla Mai, F Malcolm, 34.5,0,0,0,0=34.5; 2, Balmyre Santa Express, L Wright, 35,0,0,0,0=35; 3, Rebel Stone, C Watson, 35.5,0,0,0,0=35.5. BE100 open – 1, Timing, E Galbraith, 27,0,0,0,0=27; 2, Frozen North C Ridley, 32.5,0,0,0,0.4=32.9; 3, K McClaren, L Ritchie-Bland, 33,0,0,0,0=33. BE100JR H – 1, Erica, M Pearson, 36,0,0,0,0=36; 2, Tansy V, L Harley, 36.5,0,0,0,3.2=39.7; 3, The Life Of Riley, S Barnes, 36.5,4,0,0,0=40.5. BE90 A – 1, Carrera VT Winkenshof, G Edward, 27.5,8,0,0,0=35.5; 2, Off Piste, S Auld, 33,4,0,0,0=37; 3, Daragon, J White, 34.5,0,0,0,2.8=37.3. B – 1, Bellindene Norman, S Finlayson, 36,0,0,0,0=36; 2, Amazing Merlin, Z Rymer, 31,4,0,0,3.2=38.2; 3, Anique Rico, C Burnett, 38.5,0,0,0,0=38.5. C – 1, Miss Daffy Duck, A Brewis, 32,0,0,0,0=32; 2, Duncrahill Zodiac, Ju Craig, 30.5,4,0,0,0=34.5; 3, Steelsa First, L Watson, 36,0,0,0,0=36. D – 1, Margarets Choice, Lucy Craigie, 29.5,0,0,0,0=29.5; 2, Pipers Dream, M Chalmers, 30,0,0,0,0=30; 3, Dark Druid, V Simpson, 25,8,0,0,0=33. BE90Open. 1, BB Fern, L Smith, 32,4,0,0,0=36; 2, Swanky Stalone, D Ritchie, 32,4,0,0,7.6=43.6; 3, Sibling Supreme, L Galleitch, 34.5,4,0,20,110=168.5. JRN – 1, The Bees Knees V, F Reeve, 29,0,0,0,7.2=36.2; 2, Family Affaer, B Stephenson, 33,0,0,0,6.8=39.8; 3, Captain Jack III, K Williamson, 40,0,0,0,1.6=41.6. Novice N – 1, Varisienne, J Adams, 28.5,0,0,0,4.8=33.3; 2, Nicely Dun II, A Young, 36,0,0,0,2.4=38.4; 3, Alexander IV, L Svennerstal, 27,0,0,0,15.6=42.6. K – 1, Kiltealy Brief, J Adams, 29,0,0,0,5.6=34.6; 2, Project Vilmar, B Hobday, 30,0,0,0,5.2=35.2; 3, Fortria Express, R Stephen, 30,4,0,0,6.4=40.4. ON – 1, Turbo Toy, S Dudgeon, 28.5,4,0,0,3.6=36.1; 2, Gunstone Wallstreet, E Mould, 29,0,0,07.6=36.6; 3, Tullibards Romeo, J Lawson, 31.5,0,0,0,6=37.5. CIC** – 1, Coolio, M Kyle, 46.9,0,0,0,1.6=48.5; 2, Caunton Welldone, M Wright, 47.2,0,0,0,5.2=52.4; 3, Oscar Knight, R Edge, 43.9,0,0,0,9.2=53.1. Int. 1, Thornfield Jones, C Powell, 32.7,4,0,0,12.4=49.1; 2, Monster Impact, R Wilson, 34.1,4,0,0,13.2=51.3; 3, Whirl Wind, Mathew Wright, 32.3,0,0,0,19.2=51.5. OI – 1, Park Pilot, M Wright, 27.7,0,0,0,8=35.7; 2, High Learchild, C Anderson, 36.4,8,0,0,13.2=56.7; 3, Trig Point, N Roncoroni, 32.7,4,5,0,23.6=65.3. OI U21 – 1, Northcroft Frontier, G Cooke, 34.1,4,0,0,14=52.1; 2, Persian Coin, H Baird, 37.3,0,0,0,15.2=52.5; 3, Merikano, W Oakden, 37.3,0,0,0,22=59.3.