OLYMPIAN TO COMPETE AT BLAIR CASTLE HORSE TRIALS

Bronze medalist in the GB Olympic eventing team in Hong Kong, William Fox-Pitt will arrive at Blair Castle this week hoping to equal last year's success when he won two sections.

Just back from recording the second fastest round on a tight Olympic track, William rides three horses in the one star, Bartley Mill, Carofin Flyer and Bay Tokay and one in the two star, Cool Mountain.

Blair Castle International Horse Trials kicks off on Thursday and Friday with dressage, all the cross country for over 200 competitors in three sections takes place on Saturday with the final showjumping phase on Sunday 24th August.

A quality international field includes riders from eight nations including USA, New Zealand and Australia. Duarte Seabra from Portugal is making the journey with three horses, two in the three star and one in the one star.

Veteran competitor and TV presenter Lucinda Green returns this year with Cry Freedom in the three star, where the partnership were ninth last year.

Another rider familiar with the course at Blair is Nicola Wilson, who was a team gold medalist and individual silver in the European Young Rider Eventing Championships held at Blair last year. She has horses in all three sections. Fellow GB team member Nicola Malcolm from Renfrewshire brings back her grey team horse, McFly for the three star and a youngster for the one star.

Several local riders will be pitting their skills against the professionals and none more so than Laura Grieve who hails from Aberfeldy and rides The Irish Waffle in the one star. Her ride from last year, Just Morse competes in the two star with Fife rider, Wills Oakden.

Perthshire boy, Will Murray rides Gavin Drummond's homebred grey mare, Forever Mhor and Queens Brigade, while Grace MacRae based near Kinross competes on Porthill Rusty Nail. Lisa Hood from Fife rides C Optimistic and Sarra Mayberry from Stirling has Hownam Law in the two star, she came third with this horse in the one star last year, and Moores Stream in the one star.

Well over 40,000 visitors are expected to the Blair Castle event this year where they can enjoy the thrills of three day eventing alongside showing and showjumping classes, a spectacular Country Fair supported by Bruadar and shopping in the vast tented village.

Teams from Scrapheap Challenge will also be there on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August competing against Presenter Dick Strawbridge's team in challenges to toss the caber and Atlas stones and golf putting.


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