Stunning Scottish double for Khan
alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com
Royal Highland, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
NATIVE classes at the 200th Royal Highland Show were dominated by one young rider, who took home three Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers on three different ponies before lifting two overall championships.
Eighteen-year-old Aliya Khan was the ultimate juggler, commencing her bumper run on Friday and not slowing down for a moment until the show closed.
Aliya was first of the mountain and moorland (M&M) open working hunter contenders to jump with Leah Cassell’s worker qualifier debutante, Pumphill Rasputin. The 14-year-old Dartmoor gelding, a HOYS finalist as a junior, open and first ridden with Leah’s sister Hollie Mcgauley, triumphed over a flowing Graham Barclay track, which attracted so many entries that competitors were jumping well into the night.
“Jumping first is hard as you can’t see anyone else’s mistakes, ” said Aliya.
“Hollie’s legs are just too long for him now, ” said Leah. “She does everything with him at home and Aliya comes to work him; we’re like family.”
Rasputin only commenced his jumping career last August.
“He jumped a mega round and he rose to the occasion in the championship, ” added Leah.
Saturday’s show hunter pony classes provided another victory, as 15-year-old Hollie reigned on the family’s 153cm show hunter pony, Master Jack, before clinching section reserve behind the Karl Morris-produced 122cm
