Gleneagles Equestrian Championships
The 2014 Kilgraston Scottish Schools Equestrian Championships were held at Gleneagles at the weekend, attracting over 100 competitors who contested the twentieth anniversary of the competition.
Twenty schools from all over Scotland converged on Gleneagles - from Kelso High and Morebattle Primary in the Borders to Robert Gordon’s in Aberdeen and Wellington School from Ayr.
Entrants fielded either team or individual entries to contest the three age groups of 12 and under, 14 and under and 15 and over. Each section is split into combined training, dressage and show jumping with both individual and team places to compete for.
The day started with the youngest riders in the 12 and under age group. It was a clean sweep for the Glasgow Academy riders in the team competition who won all three phases (Combined Training, Dressage and Show Jumping). Coming a close second was Kilgraston who squeezed Ardvreck into third place by just one point. In the team jumping Ardvreck reversed these placings to finish second in the team jumping. Kilgraston’s A team of Bernadette McElhinney, Jemima Cross, Millie Wilson and Anna Smallwood took third place.
Kilgraston School’s 14 and under team of Grace Reilly (pictured), Heather Halley, Zoe Niven and Daisy Foniciello were delighted to celebrate the twentieth running of the event with a win in both the Combined Training and Dressage sections.
Individually Zoe Niven and Grace Reilly were third in their arenas for both Combined Training and Dressage. Strathallan A were runners-up in the team competition for these sections, with Robert Gordon’s in third for CT. Strathallan B took the third place slot in the Dressage.
Show Jumping was especially dramatic with many riders falling foul of fence three, the planks. Robert Gordon’s had a fantastic team score of just four faults to secure the team win, with Kilgraston’s Zoe Niven posting the fastest time of the day to take the individual Show Jumping title.
In the senior (15 and over) section it was George Heriot’s who came to the fore in both Combined Training and Show Jumping with Strathallan taking the Dressage phase.
Kim Seaton, Kilgraston’s Equestrian Manager, said: “Once again I was delighted to welcome so many competitors from around the country. As always the show continued to be held in a warm and friendly atmosphere and attract a high standard across all sections. I’d like to thank all of the participating schools for coming and also our sponsors Knight Frank for their continued support.”
Many thanks to Adrian Sinclair (www.sinclairphotography.co.uk) for his beautiful photos of the day - more are available to view and buy via the website.
