Hosts lead by example at schools championships

Home win: Kilgraston dominate contest at Highfield

The annual Scottish Schools Equestrian Championships, hosted by Kilgraston and sponsored by Knight Frank, was attended by almost 150 competitors from 19 schools.

The competition this year relocated to Highfield Equestrian Centre at Howe, providing dressage, showjumping and combined training (CT) classes across three age groups.

Hosts Kilgraston led by example, with the Kilgraston 1 team (Jemima Cross, Tess Wylie, Emma Leslie and Kyla Grieve) winning the CT in the 12 years and under class, while second place was taken by Morebattle Primary, with Ardvreck battling into third.

In the individual dressage sections, Jemima Cross (Kilgraston) prevailed to win section A, while Emma Leslie (also Kilgraston) topped section B. Adding to her prize haul, Jemima also progressed to win the individual CT title.

Stepping up to the competition for school pupils 14 and under, the Kilgraston competitors triumphed again – with Zoe Niven, Bernadette McElhinney and Anna Smallwood taking first place and the trophy for the overall CT contest.

The second place for CT was awarded to Glasgow Academy, with Kelso High School in third.

Bernadette McElhinney (Kilgraston) also won her section of the dressage, with Anna Smallwood (Kilgraston) second and Zoe Niven (Kilgraston) third.

The senior battle, open to those 15 years and over, was strongly contended with a very challenging showjumping course. Here, the Jenny Storer cup for best individual round was awarded to Sarah Cheape from Kilgraston.

The senior CT class went to Strathallan, with Bell Baxter High School in second and Strathallan’s B team in third.

Team dressage was won by George Heriot’s and the team SJ by the A team from Strathallan.