Trophy double as Caithness riders gain most points in Scottish championships
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Caithness Riding Club members pulled out all the stops at this month’s Scottish championships, coming home with two trophies after winning the most points overall.
This year the club joined forces with Orkney to make up as many teams as they could for a variety of disciplines, including dressage, showjumping, style jumping and horse trials.
The Scottish Riding Club Championships were held at Auchlishie Eventing, Kirriemuir, on September 9/10.
“Our riders are a credit to the club and have done us proud, winning two trophies for the most points overall for both seniors and juniors,” club chairperson Jean Gunn said.
“We had some amazing results – we are lucky to have such a wealth of talented horses and riders in the county. It was also great to team up with some members of Orkney Riding Club.
“Age was no barrier for our mixed teams, ranging from 10 years old to over 60.”
A total of 18 horses made the trip, 13 from Caithness and five from Orkney, along with 11 Caithness riders – six seniors and five juniors – and four riders from Orkney.
On the first day of the competition the prelim dressage team came second, comprising Liam Mackenzie on both Vogue and Wee Vintage Abbie (Stroma), Lynne Sutherland and Drumcrave Laddie (Dan) and Alysha Holmes with Drumroe Rory. Individually Liam came third and fourth in the Prelim 14 section.
Erin Hewitson and Whaupshill Touche (Che) won the Novice 27 class with 71.07 per cent.
Second prize went to the style jumping team, consisting of two juniors in the 75cm section – Erica Pottinger riding Microchip (BB) and Aimee Holmes on Abermenai Annie – and two seniors in the 85cm, Maureen Coghill with Scotshaven Barrogill (Ghillie) and Lauren Oag and Candy Reign (Mya). Individually Lauren picked up second place and Maureen third in the 85cm section and Erica a third in the 75cm.
The 70cm showjumping team – Erica, Lynne, Aimee and Cal Flyn from Orkney – came third. Erica, the youngest rider in the contingent, was also third individually.
In the 80cm class, the Caithness/Orkney team claimed second place – Maureen, Liam on both horses again, and Vicki Cursiter, from Orkney, on Norski. Liam and Stroma were the class winners.
Second place in the 90cm section went to the team comprising Alysha with Rory, Emma Coghill and her new horse Quality’s Dynamite (Milo), Lauren on Boleybawn Sara and Jean Gunn with Diamond Gypsy Jo. Lauren was placed fourth and Jean fifth.
The 100cm class was won by a mixed Caithness/Orkney and Buchan team, with Lauren and Mya winning the class and Erin coming fourth.
It was a game of two halves on the Sunday, the horse trials day, with the riders either excelling or horses having an off day.
The Caithness team won the 90cm class – Emma, Alysha, Lauren and Caitlin Flavell, riding Ovidstown Wondergirl. Lauren and Mya were first in their section, with Alysha fifth and Emma second in the other arena and Caitlin eighth.
Erin won her section in the 100cm and Davina Johnston and Orla (a member of both Orkney and Caithness) came fifth in the other arena.
Liam and Vogue won their section in the 80cm, while Lynne was fourth in her arena in the 70cm and Cal was eighth in the other 70cm section.
