The Cabin Equestrian Centre, Inverurie, rounded off 2013 by hosting a British Showjumping event and party.
“Entries were excellent over the three days, with the show proving a hit with local riders keen to banish those post turkey blues,” said Tracey Jane Stewart, of The Cabin.
Finishing 2013 in style, Banchory-based Chloe Sangster had a super show, notching up first placings in the newcomers and foxhunter classes on her 10-year-old gelding Kilminchy Firecracker, known at home as Nigel.
They continued their winning way the following day with another first in the newcomers and a second in the foxhunter.
Chloe has only had the Condios-sired gelding for 18 months, having purchased him from James Scullion.
“He jumped fantastically well over the weekend – trying his heart out as usual,” said Chloe, adding that her game plan for 2014 is to qualify him for the Royal Highland Show’s amateur 1m 20 class and the grade C, as well as progressing to jump some 1m 30 tracks.
Another Banchory rider in the spotlight was 20-year-old Rebecca Maher – daughter of top showjumper Mark Maher – who clinched the second day’s foxhunter class on her scopey bay mare Sara Letha, sired by Burgraff.
She had taken second place in the previous day’s foxhunter to Chloe and Nigel.
Rebecca was all the more delighted with the wins as her mare has not been competing much lately.
“She feels fantastic,” she said.
In their last two shows, the pair has notched up three wins out of four classes – which Rebecca hopes will pave the way to jump larger courses and aim for young rider classes.
Headlining the placings from the closing day of the show was 17-year-old Jessica Diack on her 12-year-old Irish Draught cross, Irish Mist IV.
Jessica and Gerry romped to pole position in both the British novice and discovery.
“He felt really good with great rhythm, which made the fences and turns easy for him,” said Jessica, who actually saw Gerry for the first time at the centre before purchasing him.
She credited Andrew Hamilton and Calum McDonald for getting them to where they are now – having completed the last season in British eventing to BE90 level.
Jules Colburn, from Aberdeen, also jumped to victory in several classes over the three days on her coloured Skye IV.
They warmed up with a second place in the 95cm open before taking a win in the newcomers class on the opening day of the show, before progressing to add the 95cm open on the second day to their tally of ribbons.
Jules originally purchased the six-year-old New Forest cross as a “very small and hairy three-year-old” with her children in mind.
“But when starting her, she just took to jumping with no effort at all and shot up in height to 14.3hh,” she said.
Jules said it is thanks to The Cabin that she has developed a bug for jumping. “We started out going most Wednesday nights to the unaffiliated evening and, that summer, Skye and I jumped our way to 1m. I was totally inspired.”
After taking a membership out with BS in the winter of 2012, the pair quickly jumped their way to four regional finals.
“Skye has the most impressive record,” Jules said. “I have more than 85 red rosettes and we’ve been lucky to be placed first in nearly every entry we have done over the past two years.”
Skye has also proved herself an invaluable family pony. “My five-year-old daughter regularly rides her at shows, gymkhanas and simply for fun,” said Jules.
“I am fully aware a horse like Skye comes along once in a life time, so I intend to keep having fun and just see where it takes us.”
First day:
80cm unaff: 1 Mel Murphy, Avondster; 2 Fiona Quennell, Bally Malloy Kinvara; 3 Mel Raffan, Dawn.
British novice: 1 Jodie Paterson, Avondster; 2 Kirsty Richardson, Suzie Q; 3 Katie Moore, Ballyrussell PA.
Discovery: 1 K. Moore, Ballyrussell PA; 2 Carolyn Andrews, Ricardo Queen Bee; 3 Paige Aitken, Rozel Bay.
95cm open: 1 Shannon Kelly, Hi Miss Colene M; 2 Jules Coburn, Skye IV; 3 Kimberley McCombie, Condor III.
Newcomers/1m10: 1 J. Coburn, Skye IV; 2 C. Andrews, Peniki; 3 S. Kelly, Hi Miss Colene M.
Second day:
80cm unaff: 1 Mel Murphy, Avondster; 2 C. Andrews, Bally Malloy Kinvara; 3 Lyn Worth, Pops Rising Star.
British novice: 1 Jodie Paterson, Avondster; 2 Lorna Ride, Alberto; 3 Victoria Reid, Rock Dantzer.
Discovery: 1 Sammy Wisman, The Devil Wears Prada; 2 Sue Hendry, Tomahawk; 3 Amy Clark, La Saphir.
95cm open: 1 Emma Murray, Clonbrock Misty; 2 Sue Hendry, Tomahawk; 3 S. Kelly, Hi Voltaire.
Newcomers/1m10: 1 Chloe Sangster, Kilminchy Firecracker; 2 C. Andrews. Peniki; 3 Jodie Maher, Destiny VIII.
Foxhunter/1m20: 1 Chloe Sangster, Kilminchy Firecracker; 2 Rebecca Maher, Sara Letha; 3 Gemma McIntosh, WSF Oslo.
Third day:
80cm unaff: 1 Fiona Quennell, Ballymalloy Kinvara; 2 Martine Riches, Delupicor; 3 Mel Raffan, Dawn.
British novice: 1 Jessica Diack, Irish Mist IV; 2 Fiona Quennell, Ballymalloy Kinvara.
Discovery: 1 Jessica Diack, Irish Mist IV; 2 Fiona Quennell, Apache Flash; 3 Amy Clark, La Saphir.
95cm open: 1 Jules Coburn, Skye IV; 2 Harriet Ross, Casper Z; 3 Emma Murray, Clonbrock Misty.
Newcomers/1m10: 1 Chloe Sangster, Kilminchy Firecracker; 2 Lesley Ross, Pereusa; 3 Harriet Ross, BF Adelaide.
Foxhunter/1m20: 1 Rebecca Maher, Sara Letha; 2 Chloe Sangster, Kilminchy Firecracker; 3 Nicole Webster, Caesar VIII.