The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Organiser prepares for classic event
Showground plays host to the Horse of the Year Show qualifiers this year
This year’s Fife Show will play host to the Horse of the Year Show qualifiers for the first time. We caught up with organiser Sandra Low Mitchell to find out more.
Sandra Low Mitchell of Balcormo Stud has been attending the Fife Show since she was in her pram, “I have been involved with the showjumping section for a lot of years now, I can’t remember exactly how many,” she laughs.
Her long-standing relationship with the show and with equestrianism is in the genes, as she points out.
“The Low Mitchell family have been very involved in the equestrian world in many areas for many years. My parents moved to Fife from the Peebles area in 1967 and in 1970 they bought Balcormo Farm. They started a stud farm as well as running the infamous three days showjumping shows which are remembered as ‘the best shows ever’.”
The family ran these shows for many years before turning their attention to horse breeding and then the running of the showjumping at Blair Castle Horse Trials. The family still breeds and produces horses at Balcormo and Sandra is now also involved in coaching.
“With my family having been heavily involved in organising and promoting showjumping in Scotland it was no surprise the tradition passed on to me.
“I will be looking forward to riding at the show again this year but will probably wait until the last two classes as it’s hard to try to keep things running smoothly – especially when there are important qualifiers – and concentrate on doing a good job on my own horse.”
This year, the Fife Show will welcome the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers for the first time.
Sandra says: “It is for the Grade C horses, which are the ones climbing the ladder, and the winners hopefully have the potential to go on to reach higher levels. The first three in the line-up gain direct qualification to the Horse of the Year Show which is held at the NEC in Birmingham in October. It is the show all showjumpers want to qualify for on the national circuit throughout Great Britain.”
Sandra believes this high-profile event, along with the NFU Mutual Grand Prix, should provide some top quality showjumping for spectators.
“It should also give an opportunity for the younger and less experienced riders, along with those who perhaps do not ride but are genuine horse enthusiasts, to see top level competition on their doorstep.
“Watching the horses perform in the flesh has that extra element of reality and also being run on grass commands more rider skills than on the popular all weather surfaces which are more and more common nowadays.”
Unfortunately, the addition of the qualifier has meant that some of the smaller competitions have had to be sidelined this year but Sandra hopes that those who will miss out on competing will come along to spectate and enjoy the high level of competition.
The 2018 Fife Show will also include two qualifiers for the Royal Highland Show.
Sandra has many happy memories of the Fife Show over the years from Balcormo Mains, where the main arena was an oval shape.
“It was surrounded by cars and spectators which created a huge atmosphere. We used to have a twofence challenge and I remember winning it one year when the upright jump was sitting at six foot high.
“The current ring has great character being on a bit of a slope and commands good skill from the course builder – Mr Nigel Jess who is flown in from Northern Ireland – and riders, who will include a number from further afield this year who will be chasing the qualifying places for both HOYS and the RHS.
“The showjumping usually has a good audience – predominantly horsey people but there is a good day’s sport there available to anyone who wanders on up to the top of the showground to spectate.”