Northern showjumper Lucy Guild accounted for both inaugural showjumping classes at the recent Gillespie Macandrew Hopetoun House Horse trials.
The four-day competition attracted some of Britain’s top riders and with the new showjumping classes taking place on the West Lawn with Hopetoun House as stunning backdrop the riders were delighted with the opportunity to compete for some good prize money.
Miss Guild’s first win came in the speed trial with Hugana Van’t Heike, a seven-year-old mare half owned with Fiona Good from Aberdeen.
Fresh from fifth place in the Grade C final at the Royal Highland Show, the Contender x Concorde mare was drawn first over the 1.35m class and Miss Guild set a time that couldn’t be beaten to lift the class.
“She’s naturally quick and careful and I was delighted to win, it’s her first time in a 1.35m class,” said Miss Guild. “I think a lot of her, she’s definitely one for the future and I’d like to aim for Horse of the Year Show newcomers qualifiers.”
In the grand prix, 18 came forward for the £550 first prize and jumped over a 1.35m course built by Colin Hexley and again it was 22-year-old Lucy with her international showjumper Titi D’Oase that showed a clear pair of heels using the advantage of final draw to win.
This came only six days after finishing runner up at the Royal Highland Show Grand Prix and winning the Young Masters class.
“Titi is a superstar, he always tries his heart out for me,” added Ms Guild, who was part of the Great Britain young riders team at the European Championships in 2011, winning team bronze and being placed fourth individually.
Returning home to Fraserburgh afterwards, Ms Guild is now competing at the British Masters in Cheshire with Titi D’Oase before returning to Aberdeenshire to contest the North-east Championships as part of the 10-day ‘Sunshine Tour’ showjumping competition at the Cabin EC, Inverurie.
She will then return to work with her father in his business in Forfar before heading to Ireland for the Millstreet International in August.
Great Britain eventing team stalwart Nicola Wilson headed two eventing classes, including the CIC3* with her Olympic ride Opposition Buzz and the CIC2* with new ride Kiltealy Brief.
The influential cross country had only 16 finishers from a starting entry of 25. Izzy Taylor (KBIS Briarlands Matilda) had a 0.7 pen lead over Nicola with Opposition Buzz going into the final cross country phase.
Only Joseph Murphy managed to finish under the time and he moved up eight places into eventual second spot.
Nicola and Opposition Buzz cruised round and added only two time penalties to win after Miss Taylor was eliminated half-way round the course.
Opposition Buzz was retired from four-star competition in April, having represented GB at Olympic, European and World Championship level; and this season has won at Chatsworth, second at Weston Park and Burgham and fourth at Tattersalls CIC3*.
“He is a sheer joy to ride cross-country,” said Mrs Wilson. “He’s twice won the Scottish Open Championships at Blair Castle and he’ll be aimed there as he loves Blair.”
Runner up Joseph Murphy and Electric Cruise already have Ireland team selection for the World Equestrian Games and were double clear at the London Olympics and eighth at Pau last year.
It was a quality entry as Zara Phillips was sixth with High Kingdom.
Mrs Wilson also won the Scottish Intermediate CIC2* title, when finishing on her dressage score with Kiltealy Brief.
“I felt the track suited him, he kept a lovely rhythm and didn’t feel like he was rushing,” said Mrs Wilson of the 10-year-old gelding by Kiltealy Spring.