Paddy proves a sure bet at Foresterseat

Glenfarg-based cross country venue Foresterseat set the stage for a new Eventers Challenge competition last weekend.

The alternative format gave riders an opportunity to navigate eight showjump fences on grass before heading out on to a timed cross country.

Across the popular novice section, two riders were tied in pole position.

Charlotte Crisp, riding Grey Dancer and Rachel Fagan on board Warchant took equal spoils for the class win.

“This was just our first competition together and Warrior’s first outing following a long break,” said Rachel, who travelled to the competition from Perth and who is piloting the 16-year-old Irish-bred gelding for his owner Catherine Patterson.

Indeed, Warchant has not competed cross country since the 2011 British Eventing season, when he and Catherine gained top 10 finishes in the BE90 at Brechin and Scone.

“I’m hoping to event him during the summer alongside my own young horse Billy. He was definitely happy to be back out competing.”

Similarly back from some time off, this time for post-operation recovery, were seasoned eventing partnership Erica Double and Sheans Paddy, who won the intermediate height contest.

The partnership are by no means newcomers to Foresterseat, having previously won at the venue this time two years ago during the Fife

Foxhounds’ spring hunter trials competition.

“This has to be one of my favourite courses,” said Erica.

“It is the perfect course to train around and I’m really excited now for the rest of the season.”

Erica, who works full-time as a radiographer for NHS Tayside, at Ninewells, has owned the nine-year-old Irish Sports Horse for the last four-anda-half years.

She is now looking forwards to getting back out on to the British Eventing circuit in time for July’s Kirriemuir fixture, with an end goal of stepping up to novice before the close of the season.

“The Eventers Challenge was a great opportunity to mix showjumping on grass with cross country,” Erica added.

“It was a great outing and Paddy and I are raring to go now.

“I’d also like to say a massive well done, on behalf of us all, to organiser Sue Cheape, who completed the event as her first competition in preparation for her Wobbleberry Challenge later this year.”

The Wobbleberry Challenge is an initiative run by riders in memory of event competitor Hannah Francis, who lost her battle with bone cancer last year.

Inspired riders are being encouraged to contest a BE80 competition before the autumn, whilst raising funds for the Willberry Wonder Pony charity.

The challenge has raised more than £165,000 to date for Willberry.

Picture: Jim Crichton Joint winners of the 75cms Eventers Challenge at Foresterseat were Rachel Fagan and Warchant.