Riders and horses excel at Balgowan derby
The Arran Riding Club recently hosted their annual jumping derby following their successful teen training day. The jumping derby, hosted by Jen McNeish and family, started with half an hour of clear rounds over cross poles, which was gratefully taken advantage of by some of the younger riders, and riders of young horses who were looking for a bit of experience over less intimidating obstacles.
Riders had a choice of two heights, 60cm or 90cm. Each rider has a chance to go for a clear round – with no knock downs and no stops – followed by a speed round which is timed. Then follows the pick-a-fence round, where each jump is worth different points and riders choose which jumps to tackle and in which order for the most points within the time limit. This provided much hilarity with most of the spectators enjoying shouting out suggestions of fences to jump. Finally, those who still had any energy entered the ‘chase me charlie’ where one jump goes up and up, and failures are eliminated until the triumphant winner is left with the highest jump.
Eight horses and riders competed over the 60cm course, with seven tackling the 90cm version. Daisy McNamara and her own Kizzy were 60cm champions and Kirsty Morrison was reserve champion on Rosie Wilkinson’s pony Milo. Isla Yuill and her own Velvet were champions at 90cms and Eilidh McNeil and Diane Lewis’ Corrie were reserve champions.