Ayrshire Post

Showjumper Anneliese is one to watch

- Lochlin Highet

Anneliese Aitken, 15, from near Coylton has been selected to compete in Lamrechtsh­ausen, Austria, representi­ng Great Britain in this year’s Pony Nations Cup.

She is one of only six 14- 16yr- olds from the UK to have been selected.

Anneliese ( below) will be riding her mother’s 10- yearold Grey Mare, Dun the Business III. For the past two years Anneliese has represente­d Great Britain in the Children on Horses teams in both Belgium and in The Netherland­s.

She helped her team bring home a third place in Belgium last year as well as gaining some individual placings at each show on her horses Zorland and Walk the Line.

As well as winning the Children on Horses Grand Prix last year, Anneliese and Walk the Line won the prestigiou­s Under 16 championsh­ip at the Scope Festival, Oswestry.

Anneliese said: “I’m delighted to have this opportunit­y again, to be part of a team is so special, there’s an amazing camaraderi­e amongst us.”

“British Showjumpin­g has been a huge part of my life for the past eight years and I can’t thank the selectors enough for taking me.

“I’ve produced this lovely mare over the past three years and I’m incredibly proud of how well she’s taken everything in her stride, nothing fazes her, infact sometimes she has too much fun in the warm up bucking and kicking! I’m very excited about her future.”

Anneliese helps to run the family’s private yard whilst riding a variety of different horses and bringing on youngsters for the future and breeding thoroughbr­ed horses for racing. The yard was set up by her grandfathe­r, William Johnstone, from Ayr Racecourse.

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 ??  ?? On the jumps Anneliese Aitken
On the jumps Anneliese Aitken

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