Top two fly the flag for Australia

Aussie riders lead the way as competition at Blair Castle concludes

The final day at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials saw a real battle for honours in the ERM event riders masters series where the top two places went to Australian riders.

The £16,000 first prize went to Shane Rose riding the 12-year-old gelding Virgil who rose two places after one of the fastest cross-country rounds.

The series sees the riders going across country in reverse order and, as expected, the optimum time proved the most influential factor in the final cross-country phase.

Shane has been based with fellow Aussie Sam Griffiths while he has been in the UK and will shortly head home.

“The ERM is the greatest competition in the world and I’d love to come back here and be part of it in the future,” said Shane.

“Virgil has been super all weekend – he did the best dressage test he’s ever done and he’s always been good across country, but we certainly don’t have ground and hills like this at home!”

Second-placed Christopher Burton said: “Shane and I walked the course together earlier. We got to the top of the hill and I said to him ‘that’s a bit different to Sydney, isn’t it?’”

He and Graf Liberty completed the track in the fastest time of the day, adding just 0.8 time penalties to complete on 47.7.

Gemma Tattersall and Pamero 4’s fourth place was enough to secure Gemma the overall 2017 ERM series title and much sought after £30,000 leading rider prize ahead of the final leg at Blenheim.

Scotland was victorious in the CCI* when Emily Parker rode David Mactaggart’s Highly Delighted to win.

Lying fifth after dressage, they moved up to second after the cross-country phase behind Brazilian rider Carlos Parro, but when he had a pole on the final day victory was handed to Emily.

The former double young rider European champion is based with Stephanie Robson in Selkirk.

The Scottish open CIC3* title went to Harriet Wright with Ngong Hills. Glasgow rider Olivia Wilmot rode Cool Dancer into third place, just 10 weeks after giving birth to her second son.

The CCI3* title went to Hazel Towers with Simply Smart.

A full turnout of 22 horses came forward for the ridden Clydesdale final where the championship title went to Westbank Jessie J, ridden by Kirsty Aird.

Owned by Jock Wilike, from Netherton Equestrian, Perth, the well-schooled mare has already booked a ticket to the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) after qualifying for the heavy horse championship after winning at Suffolk.

The five-year-old by Muirton Sabre was initially pulled top and stayed there after giving ride judge Richard Telford a peach of a ride.

Conformation judge Tom Tennant agreeing, saying she was a good example of the breed, with clean limbs and nice silky hair.

Reserve champion was last year’s winner, Peggyslea Andy, ridden by Ailsa Noble.

The six-year-old has also qualified for the HOYS after winning at the Royal Highland Show.