The cross country course that overlooks the Firth of Forth at Hopetoun
Scotland is very much in the focus this year with the 2015 Longines FEI Nations cup taking place at Blair Castle in September but there is another event on this weekend which top eventers have crossed the border for.
The Gillespie Macandrew Hopetoun International Horse Trials held its first international competition in 2011 and is set against the stunning backdrop of Scotland's finest stately home on the banks of the Forth.
With the challenging cross-country course running around the Deer Park and into the garden and show jumping taking place on the West Lawn, adjacent to the Georgian mansion, it comes as no surprise that one former competitor christened this event the "Badminton of the North."
Capt. Mark Phillips is once again designing the two and three star cross country courses while Stuart Buntine is responsible for the CIC3* course – you can check out all of the fences on the CIC3* course by clicking here
The courses provide stunning views across the Forth and Stuart, Event Director at Hopetoun and owner of Bede Events which manages many events in the UK, decided to show off the views during a course walk with a difference yesterday. A past competitor, Stuart hosted a mounted course walk, offering priceless advice on the best way to successfully ride each fence whilst, most importantly, having a lot of fun
Last week a nesting swan caused a bit of a flap for Stuart when the graceful creature was sitting on her nest right in the middle of the cross-country course and, with her signets long overdue, she showing no signs of moving. The expectant mum was sitting on the causeway separating the two gullet ponds at the top of the Deer Park and the plan was for the competitors to gallop across the causeway.
“When we designed the course we were sure her eggs would have hatched by now and she would be back on the Gullet Ponds with her brood in tow” said Stuart “We have no choice now but to divert the course about 400m up around the Gullet Pond to avoid disturbing the swan. We cannot wait any longer as it takes time to make the necessary alterations to the course. “
The competitors include Zara Phillips, Mark Todd (on his first visit to Hopetoun), Piggy French, Oliver Townend, Lucinda Fredericks (on her Headley Britannia babies) and China’s Alex Hua Tian riding Harbour Pilot C who is currently leading the CIC3* after dressage and show jumping on a score of 43.10. Alex, who went so well recently at Rockingham on Don Geniro, is at Hopetoun hoping to achieve individual qualification for Rio 2016
Having won the CIC2* at Rockingham on Don Geniro, Alex Hua Tian is chasing Olympic qualification at Hopetoun
“Harbour Pilot C did a really super test” says Alex “It was my first in the 30’s on him (scoring 39) but in the show jumping, the phase he is normally the most reliable in, we had one down which was completely my fault”
This gives Alex only 0.7 penalties in hand before Saturday’s cross country - a ‘really lovely course’ which is ‘big enough with interesting water complexes’. Make sure you watch the live streaming to see how he goes! (See link below)
Currently in the lead after Friday’s competition are;
CCI1* Polly Stockton riding Stanhopes Mr McCoy
CCI2*Ros Canter riding Cekatinka
CIC3*Alex Hua Tian riding Harbour Pilot C
CIC1* Clare Chamberlayne riding Sandro IX
CIC2* Giovanni Ugolotti riding Cooley Eclipse
Follow all the action from Hopetoun via Live Scoring here and Live Streaming here
