Blair Castle International Horse Trials

There were lots of Caithness competitors and spectators at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials. Conditions were like last year, rain and plenty of mud, with lorries and trailers getting pulled into the car parks.

One of the highlights for the Caithness contingent was watching Halkirk's Debbie Bowes and Mr Orange (above) competing in the CCI* three day event for the very first time. Many of the opponents were Olympic riders. The cross country fences were huge and yet they made it round with only one refusal at the second water jump. The dressage proved to be a tough test and I left before their show jumping round on Sunday afternoon.

Most of the classes could only be entered if horse and rider had won an event at a qualifying show during the summer, so the Caithness riders were competing against the best in the country.

Some of the successes that I heard were; Alistair Matheson and Dunedin Magnus were champions on Thursday. Emma Coghill won her Working Hunter class. James Munro and O'Brogain won a class. Ashley Miller (Anderson) and Tomi gained a 3rd. Lynn Sutherland won a 3rd. Jessica Florence won a very credible 5th riding Jillian Gunn's Megland Royal Pretence and Jillian got a 5th in the in-hand with Eddiston May-bee.