Collett clinches top Scottish title

LAURA COLLETT has won one of Scotland's top international events on a horse she had sat on for the first time just two weeks earlier.

The 19-year-old from Lower Swell, winner of Pony and Junior European three-day event titles, led from the start in the Burgie International CCI** on the little bay Kachemire Le Beau.

"I've taken on the ride while his usual jockey Libby Soley is concentrating on her studies," said Collett.

"He did a fabulous dressage test at Burgie and then jumped a double clear, which was very pleasing."

Collett and Kachemire Le Beau added just four cross-country time penalties to their dressage score to win by 13 marks, with 2008 Olympic reserve rider Nicola Wilson in second.

"I set off a bit slow cross country, as I'd only done one other event with Kachemire Le Beau and only sat on him six times altogether," said Collett.

"By the end of the course we had really got it together and he gave me such a good ride. It's a 16-hour drive to Burgie but well worth it."

Soley won team gold with the horse at the 2008 Junior Europeans and he will now do his first Advanced section with Collett at Aston-le-Walls, with the pair chasing a place on the Young Rider European GB squad.

Collet's 2006 Junior European champion Fernhill Sox is currently out of action, after sustaining an injury at home, and her four-star ride Hunters legend is also taking a break, with foot problems.

Collett said: "I hope to take Rayef to the British Open Championship at Gatcombe next month and my own horse, Vancouver, will be doing the Hartpury three-day event at one-star level."