26/05/2026
Dumfriesshire Hunt Pony Club once again showed why we are the epitome of Community;
The club works tirelessly to provide support, friendship and lifelong skills for our young people — with learning to ride sometimes feeling like the “added extra” on top of everything else they gain.
Last weekend’s Raehills Area 19 Foundation
Eventing Competition is the jewel in their crown 👑. More than 100 horses and riders took to the stunning Annandale Estate, flying across the crosscountry, showing off their finesse in dressage, and tackling the showjumping with style. It’s a huge undertaking to deliver an event of this scale, but the incredible army of volunteers rose to the challenge, as they always do. 🥰
With our youngest competitor just five years old, the club was brilliantly represented by 20 riders — nine of whom earned podium finishes, with many more achieving personal goals along the way.
We had Georgia Nairn on Murrah Hall Midnight Maelstorm taking 2nd 🥈 place in the Open 100 class.
Chloe Johnstone on Lo**ta Du Hututu topped 🥇 the 90 Open Senior section along side Arya Gregory on Fire Heart Flash winning 🥇 in the 90 Open Junior section.
Tilly Jardine gave Kilkern Sailor some fantastic learning miles on the clock in the 80 open. Then coming 2nd 🥈 in the 70 Open Junior on her more familiar ride Bedwellty Bess after a beautiful SJ round.
Anna Carruthers, competing in her first Open 70 class, determined as ever gave it her all, although Dorney Dennis the Menace was not making it easy living up to his name.
Nicholas Laidlaw had a great spin round on Kellis Shadow, gaining 3rd 🥉 in the 60open Junior his pony feeling more like a 4 year old than 24!
We then moved on to the Pony Club classes;
Cree Mcgarva on Rushfield Solway Bay gained 2nd 🥈 in her 70+ section.
Noi Dempster on Goldie now wants to be an eventer like her big sister Zurie having completed her first PC70 course. Kayleigh Nairn has only been together with Silvertown Lady for six weeks and they made a great start to a fantastic new partnership.
Quinn Collins on Atina Rosina and Ailsa Young on Feltham Just for Fun had great encouraging rounds both gaining 5th in their sections and qualifying for Auchlishie.
Zoe Stankiewicz on Kitoom Annie had a fantastic day with a double clear, she said ‘I felt like I was flying’ 🪽going round the XC, gaining 4th place in her section and a qualifying ticket
Freya McLatchie had a fantastic competition gaining 2nd 🥈 ending on her dressage score, with a double clear in the PC 70 as well as her team picking up second ‘The Dumfriesshire Dartmoors’ ; Freya, Ailsa, Zoe and Kayleigh.
Callum Dick on Master Mac topped 🥇 our PC70 section winning his section with a double clear and an amazing dressage score of 27.6, also qualifying for Auchlishie.
In the PC60 Harper Henderson had a lovely dressage and SJ round on new ride Limekiln River Dance.
Pippa Aitken on Buttons gained 5th place in the PC40 with great help from fellow member Harper encouraging her along. Noxxi Dempster our youngest member on the day was 3rd 🥉 in the PC40 on Leo finishing with the statement ‘I absolutely loved that’! 😊
Our final competitor of the day was Mollie Sloan on Balfour Hawkeye, who despite having a very cheeky pony had an excellent day with smiles all round! 😊
🎟️ We are thrilled to see six members — Cree McGarva, Freya McLatchie, Callum Dick, Ailsa Young, Zoe Stankiewicz and Quinn Collins — qualify for the Regional Championships at Auchlishie this August. 🎟️
A special highlight was the debut of our brand new club tent, funded by the Crossdykes Community Fund, along with a new storage container. Both additions will make organising and running events smoother and more efficient for years to come.
Thanks also to Action Replay Photography Ltd for supporting the event and capturing these riders’ memories for years to come.
Many thanks as ever to all Coaches, Judges, Stewards, Fence judges, Helpers, Pole Pickers, Painters, Stone pickers, Competitors, Ponies, Parents, Guardians and Sponsors - it just wouldn’t run without you!!
