Inverness school pupil to represent Scotland at British Show jumping National Championships at Chester
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KIRKHILL show jumper Emilia Allison has been called up to the Scotland squad to compete at the National Show Jumping Championships next week.
The 14-year-old will be competing against top riders from across Great Britain at the championships at Bolesworth near Chester.
The Charleston Academy pupil will compete in individual classes on Monday and in team competitions, starting on August 10.
Allison, who trains at the Black Isle Academy and Broomhill Equestrian Centre in Fortrose, was ranked top in Scotland in a number of showjumping categories.
While looking forward to taking on top showjumpers from across the country, her main aim is to gain experience competing at the top level.
“I just want to enjoy the experience of taking part at the National Showjumping Championships,” she said.
“I hope that I can achieve some success at the event, but I am not aiming to win.
“Just to have qualified to compete at the national championship is good enough for me.
“It is probably my biggest accomplishment to date.”
Allison was selected for the Scotland team due to her success riding with her horse Arabella the Third, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood Cross Welsh horse measuring 14:1 hands high.
Despite describing her as hyper at times, Allison says she has developed a good relationship with the horse since first riding her last year.
“She is quite spicy and can be quite fast but I don’t mind that,” she said.
“She can be a bit hyper, but I can control her.”
Allison first got involved in horse riding when she was five and during those nine years, has enjoyed success in the sport.
She has been involved in winning teams in the British Showjumping League in the last two years and qualified for the winter finals last year.
