First Scottish BE Novice?

[Noodlejaffa]

Just planning the next part of the year's competing and wondered if anyone had any suggestions for a good first Novice in Scotland?

Had been toying with Auchinleck as I love the course over there. Any ideas?

 

[Scottish_Miss]

I think Hopeton is a lovely course! Some prefer Scone but there was something I could never take to about the course, not sure what but you know when you dont get a good feeling about some courses...
Anyway hopeton is lovely and great views as well...

Let us know what you decide

 

[MagicMelon]

I personally thought the 1 day novice at (big) Burgie, which was my first, is the easiest Ive done so far. Maybe they'll have beefed it up this year, I dont know. Scone was ok, although we didnt have a good day at their first event last wkend! About 3 of the fences were rather technical.

Haven't done Hopeton or Auchinleck so cant comment on those! Failing that, Aswanley was a nice novice last year although there seemed to be a LOT of ditches but that isnt til the end of the year!

 

[gracemacrae]

Have not jumped round the novice at Hopetoun but what I have seen of it looks very straightforward. Auchinleck is also a lovely first novice and my horse did that as his first in 2005. Don't think it has changed much since then. We went from Auchinleck to Strathallan that year and I thought Strathallan was a bit tougher then Auchinleck. Having said that the fences at Strathallan were big but not technical and rode really well. Ground however is usually better at Auchinleck then Strathallan! Would not recommend Scone as a great first novice as I think although it rides very well it is quite tough! Hope this helps!