Abernethy rider Kirstie wins Scottish endurance championship

Jul 4 2008 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SCOTLAND’S new endurance champion is a 13.3hh pony, the only finisher in the two-day 160k Scottish Championship class run by the Tayside branch of the Scottish Endurance Riding Club at Perth Racecourse.

It was a firm victory on home turf for Perthshire rider Kirstie Graham on her 14-year-old Arab/Welsh mare Arabelle.

Kirstie, who lives in Abernethy, said: “Bella is tiny, but tough. She looks like a dainty show pony but appearances can be deceptive as she has beaten horses to the line in a racing finish.”

Kirstie and Arabelle completed at an average speed of 11.4kph to claim the Scottish Championship Trophy for 2008.

The racecourse proved an appropriate setting for the four-horse dash to the line in the 80k endurance ride.

Grampian rider Katie Keith pipped them to the post in her first endurance ride at 13.7kph on her 10- year-old Arab gelding Jakhiri, with Tayside rider Susan Thomson on Bilbo Baggins having to settle for second place. All seven entrants completed the tough, but fair, course.

Other classes held over the two day event included pleasure rides for non-competitive riders.