The 2024 Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials has begun, with the Inverness Paving British Eventing Scottish Grassroots Championships concluding yesterday (22 August).
Having finished third here in last year’s BE90 Scottish Grassroot Championships, Ben Fairbrother and Upper Limit came into the BE100 off the back of three wins including the regional qualifying final at Hopetoun at the beginning of this month and the BE90 Badminton Grassroots title in May.
The pair knocked an early pole but had enough in the bank to mean it didn’t matter as they convincingly took their spot at the top of the podium.
Second placed Sharon Christie Thom with Molton Crown finished just ahead of third place Frankie Cromarty and Ickle Wickle.
Posting a 31.5 dressage score followed by a double clear, Fife’s Joanna Heaton and Pure Imagination took the BE90 Scottish Grassroot Championships. Having earned their ticket to the championships at Hopetoun in early August, Joanna and Pure Imagination have not finished outside the top 10 in any of their 2024 events.
Second place went to Pebbles Walker and Tino II with third being claimed by Erin Hewitson and Whaupshill Touche.
Thursday also saw the commencement of Blair’s six FEI classes with dressage beginning at 8.30am.
The overnight leaders are:
- 4*L – Piggy March (GBR) with Mrs Alison Swinburn, John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Future News
- 4*S – Tom McEwen (GBR) with Mr Fred and Mrs Penny Barker’s MHS Brown Jack
- 3*L – Piggy March (GBR) with Mrs Susie Wood’s Cooley Goodwood
- 2*L – Hazel Towers (GBR) with the rider’s own Torpex
- 1*L Section E – Jasmine Grace Black (GBR) with the rider’s own Blowell Superstition
- 1* L Section F – Annie Broad (NZL) with Dr Linda McSwiggan’s Chieftain of the White Legs
Images by Hannah Cole
