Scottish joy for Tapner

9:51am Wednesday 27th August 2008

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Highworth's Aussie international Paul Tapner made his long trip up to Scotland worthwhile, when he finished sixth in the CIC Three Star one day event at Thirlestane Castle in the Borders.

The event, which incorporates the Scottish Open Championship, attracted a quality field that included World Champion Zara Phillips and was won by rising British star Oliver Townend.

Tapner finished in a fine sixth place on his new ride Kilfinnie II, who did not make quite the start he was aiming for in dressage.

"I was pleased with our mark but not the test," Tapner admitted.

"The judges liked the good bits and obviously didn't feel, as I did, that the bad bits were that bad."

Tapner was also disappointed with two show jumps down but not many were going clear in the wet and slippy conditions and this made little difference to the result in the end.

"Kilfinnie is a real cross country specialist and loves to gallop, which makes him easier to ride in this phase," Tapner commented.

"The ground was better than in the show jumping - it was deep and holding but not slippery - although it did affect your ability to make the time."

The pair came home clear with 15.2 time penalties - only one horse broke the tenpenalty barrier in the entire competition - to take sixth.

Tapner was also fifth in an intermediate section on the six-year-old stallion Wickstead Didgerido and 8th on his advanced ride Giacometti. "I'm now looking forward to going to Highclere Horse Trials near Newbury on Bank Holiday Monday, where Ihave four or five advanced horses entered," Tapner added.

"Then I have Burghley, Blenheim, Necarne in Ireland, Le Lion in France and Bokeleo in Holland to compete at, with the Gatcombe two star international squeezed in between."

n Westbury's Janet Border scored a popular home win at Bath Riding Club's recent Two Phase competition, held on the Club field at Claverton Down, on the edge of Bath.

The competition mixed cross country and show-jumping and Border, a Bath Riding Club team regular, headed her class by a clear two seconds on her 14.2hh bay mare Maria.

"She's 17 now but doesn't know it," said Border.

"She loves her cross country but can get quite excited, so it was a quite a surprise that she went clear over the show jumping course that came afterwards.

"The cross country course was excellent, with a good mix of fences."

Fellow Bath rider Erika Neininger scored the club's second win in Class three, where she was the only rider to keep a clean score sheet on Justin Credible.

Emily Kingman was second, clocking a very quick time but picking up ten penalties, a place she also filled in Class two.

Other Bath riders to go well were Holt 15-year-old Jess Forey, third on her young horse Molly, and Chippenham's Natalie Walker, who also earned a third on Jack.

The club's dressage competition, also due to take place this month, has had to be cancelled, another victim of the persistent rain that has made August seem far from a summer month.

n Swindon Riding Club's Toni Beasley had cause to celebrate at the National Side Saddle Show, held at Addington Manor near Buckingham.

Beasley, from Idstone near Wanborough, and her welsh-part bred horse Mannington had a brilliant weekend, winning three classes in total.

The victories included a win in the prestigious Historical Costume class, where she portrayed the mistress of Henry VIII, as The Other Boleyn Girl, Mary.

"Mary was sister to the unfortunate Anne Boleyn, and allegedly had two children by the much married monarch," explained Swindon club committee member Wesley Morrissey.

"The class was judged on historical authenticity so Toni went to great lengths in researching the costume, right down to the underwear.

"Apparently knickers were not about in those days, so the judges were particularly impressed by Toni's attention to detail!"

Beasley's richly jewelled silk taffeta dress was accompanied by several petticoats, cloth stockings, embroidered shoes and stunning Tudor jewellery, finished off with a hat bearing the typical Tudor Rose.

She went on to win the Part-Bred Mountain and Moorland and the Small Hunter classes with Mannington in the traditional hunting habit, worn by ladies riding aside in days gone by.

Beasley, originally from Wales, was absolutely buzzing with her success and said: "I can't believe it, three firsts at the nationals."

n This year the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and The British Horse Society (BHS) launched an international campaign to raise awareness of Strangles, an equine plague and the most commonly diagnosed infectious disease in horses around the world. Launched by HRH The Princess Royal, and with a target of £250,000, the campaign has proven to be hugely successful already, with money raised so far being used to develop a diagnostic screening test.

This test was launched in March 2008 and is perfect for screening horses and ponies prior to movement, sales or competition.

However, despite its success, further funds are still desperately needed to allow scientists to develop a vaccine, to rid the equine world of the disease altogether. One way to help the campaign is to buy the Passion for Horses 2009 calendar.

This beautiful year planner features exclusive artwork by renowned equine photographer Marie Bushill, including shots of the Household Cavalry, The Princess Royal and two turf legends, jockey Lester Piggott riding Desert Orchid.

The calendar costs £9.99 plus £1.50 and all proceeds will go directly to the Breaking the Strangles Hold. Call 01638 555648.