Vikki qualifies for top showjumping event

Jun 24 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

AN Allanton teenager has qualified for one of Scotland’s top showjumping events.

Vikki McMillan will take on some of the best riders in the country on Sunday at the Royal Highland Show in Ingliston.

The 13-year-old got her new pony, Twice As Nice III, earlier this year.

Since then, the duo have enjoyed great success, culminating in qualification for two events at the show.

The Royal Highland Show has increasingly become one of the main events in the jumping calendar, with the British Show Jumping Association keeping a close eye on all riders who compete, both young and old.

The action begins on Friday before professionals riders compete in the Grand Prix class on Saturday afternoon for a prize fund of £15,000.

Sunday will then see Vikki and the best of Scotland’s young talent showcase their skills.

The Calderhead High School pupil began her career at Lanark and Upperward Pony club and two years ago started competing at BSA competitions with her first jump pony, Toffee.

Her mother said: “Really it was when Vikki was a wee tot she became interested. She would be asked to be taken down to the Clydeside riding school because she wanted to ride a pony.

“But that got too expensive so we got her a pony - Gill - before we then got Toffee from the pony club.”

She said: “I wish she was into dancing but showjumping has just come naturally to her.”

Vikki and new pony Twice As Nice III immediately hit it off at their first event together in May when they won a competition at Greenlands Equestrian Centre, Carlisle, jumping over fences one metre, five centimetres in height.

Since this success, Vikki, who is trained by family friends Patrick and Samantha Williams, has been jumping fences of one metre 15 cms in height.

This enabled her to successfully qualify at Rowallan Activity Centre in two different classes for the Royal Highland Show event.

“It is such a big achievement for Vikki just to even qualify for the RHS,” Elizabeth said.

“She was thrown into the deep end, jumping a metre 10 and a metre 15, as well as having to jump a clear round of 13 fences to secure her entry.

“Vikki is up against people who were born on the saddle, people who know nothing else but jumping on a pony.

“The fact that she has got there is just fantastic.”

She added: “Thanks must go to Patrick and Samantha as they look after her very well.

“We don’t know what we would have done without them.”

The courses that riders will have to negotiate at Ingilston are designed by top course builders Jon Doney, Mark McGowan and Kelvin Bywater, who have designed courses all over the world.

Elizabeth added: “Vikki really can’t wait for it and we’ll all be there cheering her on.”