A gypsy cob achieved a brace of novice silver wins at Rockrose.
Hazel Gunnyeon rode her mother Janet Croft’s eight-year-old 14.1hh black mare Lady II to a personal best score of 74.52%.
A logistical location challenge means that Hazel only rides her at competitions as she lives around 100 miles away. Hazel explained that her mother trains Lady and enjoys hacking out, while she competes the mare.
“Mum bought her two years ago and she was very green with her schooling. She’s as a cool as a cucumber and bombproof; very reliable with perfect manners and lovely to be around,” explained Hazel, a PE teacher at Aberdeen Grammar School.
Hazel also competes her own Welsh cob, Bryncendyl Samuel, who was second at the recent Rockrose Area Festival at elementary.
“Lady qualified for the Area Festival quite easily, so I’ve been concentrating on training recently with Eilidh Grant.
“She was just fantastic at Rockrose — forward and light on the contact so it allowed me to ride accurate tests,” added Hazel, who is riding Lady at the forthcoming Cabin EC Area Festival next month.
Colin Hamilton has notched up several elementary wins in recent weeks, achieving plus-70% at Fountain and Rockrose with Sabella MKM (by Spielberg).
After breaking her ankle in February and missing the winter regionals, Karen Ritchie posted a prelim silver win with Rock On Ruby at West Kype.
The nine-year-old Lancelot mare evented to BE100 level with Karen’s daughter Katie before Karen took over a year ago when Katie gave up riding.