Scottish Regional: Hamilton and Grant dominate

Jo Hamilton dominated the recent Scottish Regional Championships at the Rowallan Activity Centre (3 - 4 August) with a hat trick of wins on two six-year-olds, both sired by Negro.

She headed the Stretch & Flex Elementary Open and Dressage Deluxe Medium Open with Corpachin (pictured). Jo also gained the highest score of the regionals in the elementary with 73.79% on “Colin”, whom she owns with Lady Hope.

Jo has had much success in young horse classes with this British-bred gelding and will be vying for another national title, having won the novice open national championships last year.

“We’ve had a breakthrough by moving up to medium level as the challenge focuses his mind. He was the most relaxed he’s ever been, which meant I could ask for more expression in the trot work,” she said.

Jo, who trains with Carl Hester, also headed the Dodson & Horrell Novice Open with Cantos. Jo was given the ride last year by Carl and his new owner since the spring, Judith Douglas Miller, has allowed Jo to continue competing him.

“I’ve really come up trumps. Both horses are such genuine characters and try their hearts out,” said Jo, who will be competing at the Nationals on three horses as she has also qualified Vivaldi at prix st georges level. “It was lovely to have him already qualified as you never know what will happen at the regionals. The novice class was particularly hot and there was no clear favourite, so it matters how you perform on the day.”

Hot on Jo’s heels in both the elementary and medium classes was Hannah Guild (25) riding Corienta, her athletic six-year-old KWPN mare by Santano.

Eilidh Grant had some reparation for her tough decision to withdraw her ride Comanche Crumble from the Young Rider European Dressage Championships last month and concentrate on qualifying for next month’s Nationals.

“Crumble”, a 17-year-old British-bred mare by Cassander owned by Eilidh’s mum Lorraine, had been suffering from a suspected pollen allergy, but was on great form here to win both the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges and Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I.

In the Visualise Sportswear Preliminary, Jennifer Wisdom rode the Welsh cob Pentrefelin Serena to take the class with an impressive score of nearly 72%. Jennifer (16) from Carluke, has been riding the six-year-old Welsh section D mare by Pentrefelin Sorento out of Knavestock Seren for two years.