The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
McLaren’s trial of ability
Kintore rider Katie McLaren hopes to take the first step towards qualifying for next year’s Badminton Horse Trials this weekend.
The 19-year-old and her horse Vistimar (J’Lo) won the British Eventing 100 at Aswanley at Huntly on September 2 with a dressage score of 24.5 followed by a clear show jumping and crosscountry.
The win capped a fine year for McLaren in the BE 100 where she has had several top three finishes around Scotland and hopes to build on her win with another strong showing in Forres this weekend as she tries to secure her place in the big event in May next year.
She said: “It’s been a pretty successful year with regular top 10 placings and this weekend I am competing in Forres in a qualifier for BE100 Mitsubishi Motors Cup to hopefully qualify for the Badminton Horse Trials.
“Next year I plan to challenge myself further and move up to BE Novice level.”
McLaren, a second year media student at Robert Gordon University, is third in the BE Scotland Points Series leaderboard for 2017 and the Bennachie Pony Club member has recently returned from the National Pony Club championships at Cholmondeley Caste in Cheshire, where she achieved reserve champion in the PC 100 eventing and runner-up in the eventing bursary.
She puts her success down to her partnership with Vistimar and to the coaching she received from her coaches and the pony club.
She said: “The Pony Club championships was a fantastic week spent with lots of good friends.
“I really enjoy the cross country stage of eventing as it is great fun and challenging as I am always coming across different jumps.”
“It’s been a pretty successful year with regular top 10 placings”