Students take the spoils

Two riders juggling riding with university clinch significant wins in Scotland

- ELLIE HUGHES

Hopetoun (1), West Lothian

FIRST-YEAR pharmacology student Lewis McLean, 21, took the open intermediate (OI) honours with his mother, Una McLean’s, 12-year-old gelding, Lissyegan Mikie Lou (Mikie).

The pair scored a personal best dressage mark of 24.3, which they followed with a double clear.

Lockdowns plus a significant house move meant that horses took a back seat last year, but the pair have made up for it so far this season with three top-10 placings before Hopetoun, including a sixth in the under-21 OI at Belsay last time out.

“Mikie was rather thrown in at the deep end going to Belsay as his first intermediate of the season as the cross-country was really challenging,” said Lewis. “I felt Hopetoun was a fairer track at the level and he cruised around it.”

Lewis divides his time between his home in East Ayrshire and university in Glasgow. He is also passionate about teaching and has a range of clients on his books, from complete beginners to more seasoned competitors.

“Life’s pretty busy, but it keeps me on my toes,” he smiled.

Wills Oakden was on flying form in the sole intermediate, scoring a one-two with Jennifer Johnston-Harman’s Jumble, and his wife Stephanie’s Cooley Amigo.

The two novice winners turned in the only cross-country clears inside the time.

Daniel Scott and Harlequin Jubilee headed section I, while Jodie Caig and Hespo climbed to the top in section J.