A Silver Celebration at Hopetoun – Reflecting on the 25th Running of the Hopetoun Horse Driving Trials

The 2026 Hopetoun Horse Driving Trials will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most special events in our history. Marking the 25th running of the event, this year’s competition was a milestone occasion and one we were determined to celebrate in style.

For me personally, it was also a huge undertaking. Alongside my husband, Mark Dougan, we had the privilege of co-organising this landmark event. We set out to make it a fantastic event as one of the biggest and most ambitious Hopetoun Horse Driving Trials to date, bringing with it both excitement and responsibility.

From the outset, our goal was simple: we wanted everyone who came to Hopetoun to leave with a smile on their face. Looking back on an incredible week of competition, camaraderie and celebration, I believe we achieved exactly that.

Eight Days to Build a National Venue

While the competition itself takes place over just four days, the preparation begins many months in advance. Throughout the year we worked hard to improve every aspect of the event, enhancing obstacles, upgrading the main arena, strengthening sponsorship opportunities and increasing the quality of prizes on offer.

Eight days before the event began, our dedicated team arrived onsite to start transforming a green field into a bustling national-standard horse driving venue.

The scale of work involved is immense. Water infrastructure had to be installed, power distributed across the site, marquees erected, arenas marked out and prepared, obstacles decorated, and kilometres of course carefully designed and flagged. Every detail mattered.

Our incredible ‘A Team’ worked tirelessly from dawn until dusk to make it happen. Like any large event, there were challenges along the way. A delay in getting a telehandler onsite slowed progress initially, but when it finally arrived there was a collective sigh of relief as we were able to tackle the larger jobs and really bring the venue together.

A special mention must go to Claire Cameron, our camp cook, who arrived alongside the build team and managed to keep more than 25 hungry workers fed, watered and smiling throughout the week. Preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea breaks every day is no small task, and Claire’s contribution is one we are so incredibly grateful for.

As the days passed, it was incredibly rewarding to watch the site come alive. Obstacles were transformed with colourful decorations, the courses took shape, and every final detail was checked and rechecked. Before we knew it, competitors were arriving through the gates and the 25th Hopetoun Horse Driving Trials was underway.

Thursday: The Competition Begins

Thursday marked the official start of the event with the Riding for the Disabled Association Driving Competition, which also served as a National Championship Qualifier.

We were delighted to welcome four wonderful drivers who produced beautiful performances throughout the day.

One of the standout moments for us was watching the very first competitor drive through our brand-new Main Arena ‘H’ Archway. The archway had been beautifully decorated by the A Team using stunning fresh flowers kindly provided by Yours Truly Flowers in Lanark. Mhairi and her team created spectacular arrangements that received compliments throughout the weekend and helped create a wonderful first impression for competitors and spectators alike.

Thursday also saw the arrival of our sponsored event vehicles from A.F. Noble & Sons in Penicuik. Their generous support provided four fantastic vehicles which enabled officials to travel efficiently around the venue throughout the event.

As evening arrived, the serious competition briefly gave way to some light-hearted fun with the inaugural Hopetoun Bike and Scooter Challenge.

Competitors tackled the cones course in pairs, racing against the clock in pursuit of the title of Hopetoun Challenge Champions. There were some enthusiastic performances, including determined efforts from POJ Joyce Simpson and CD Alwyn Morrison, but it was Theo and Paul Charnley who ultimately claimed victory and became our first-ever champions.

The evening concluded with welcome drinks served from the tailgate of the impressive GWM POER pickup, kindly sponsored by A.F. Noble & Sons. It was the perfect way to kick off the weekend and gave everyone the opportunity to relax, socialise and enjoy the atmosphere before the main competition got underway.

Meanwhile, competitors not taking part in the RDA competition spent the day walking the marathon obstacles and making their final preparations.

Friday: Dressage Day

Friday belonged to the dressage phase.

Competitors turned out immaculately as they entered the arena to perform their tests before our judges. Blessed with beautiful weather, the arena looked magnificent and provided a fitting stage for the precision, elegance and partnership that define carriage driving dressage.

Our commentators, Angie Pickford and Patti Atkinson, did a fantastic job keeping spectators informed throughout the day, explaining the action and ensuring everyone could follow the competition.

The main arena itself looked particularly special thanks to the efforts of Janet Pilling, Angie Pickford and members of the A Team, whose decorative touches helped create a truly memorable setting for the competition.

As the day drew to a close, competitors, sponsors and officials gathered for a drinks reception and the Dressage Prize Giving.

The atmosphere was electric as sponsors presented rosettes to the day’s winners while guests enjoyed drinks and nibbles. The reception, generously sponsored by Janet Pilling and Owen Pilling, provided a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate the first phase of competition.

With marathon day looming, however, most competitors wisely opted for an early night.

Saturday: Marathon Magic

Saturday’s marathon phase is often regarded as the highlight of any driving event, and this year was no exception.

Once again, the weather was on our side as bright sunshine greeted competitors and spectators alike.

At 10.00am, the first competitor set off onto the course and excitement immediately began to build. Watching the first turnout approach the opening obstacle after months of planning and preparation was an incredibly proud moment.

The obstacles had been carefully decorated by myself alongside a talented team of volunteers, and seeing competitors tackle them at speed was a reward for all the hard work that had gone into their creation.

Around the course, our dedicated stewards took up their positions to ensure the competition ran smoothly and that competitors were supported throughout the day.

One of the greatest successes of the weekend was that every competitor completed the marathon safely, something that gave us enormous satisfaction as an OC.

Our sponsors and donors enjoyed excellent views of the action from the VIP Tent overlooking the spectacular Paddockhall Holiday Homes Pond water obstacle. The atmosphere around the obstacle throughout the day was fantastic, with spectators gathering to watch competitors navigate one of the most exciting challenges on the course.

A special mention must go to our headline sponsors, Ruth and John Martin of Paddockhall Holiday Homes and Halspan Limited. Their support played a significant role in making the event possible, and we are enormously grateful for their contribution to the success of this year’s trials.

Saturday Night: The Hopetoun Hoedown

As the sun set on marathon day, attention turned from competition to celebration.

Competitors, officials and volunteers swapped driving attire for cowboy hats and western shirts as the Hopetoun Hoedown got underway.

The evening began with a delicious hog roast prepared by Sara Clinghan and Claire Cameron, followed by the Marathon Prize Giving.

Then came the main event.

With music and entertainment provided by Squeeze and Tease, the dance floor quickly filled and the atmosphere was simply incredible. Party games, laughter and dancing carried on well into the early hours, creating what many attendees described as one of the best Hopetoun parties ever.

It was the perfect way to celebrate our silver milestone.

Sunday: The Final Challenge

Despite a few sore heads on Sunday morning, competitors were up early and back to work, walking the cones course and preparing for the final phase of competition.

The week had flown by.

As competitors entered the arena for the final time, there was a real sense of anticipation. The challenging cones course, designed by Alwyn Morrison, provided a fitting conclusion to a fantastic weekend of sport.

One by one, competitors tackled the course with determination and skill, cheered on by spectators and fellow drivers.

As organisers, Mark and I had the privilege of presenting competitors with their beautiful rosettes and championship sashes, expertly produced by DeeBee’s Rosettes.

One of the most memorable moments of the entire weekend came at the very end of the competition, when we were able to ride around the arena with the final two competitors of the day. It was a fitting and emotional conclusion to an unforgettable event.

Looking Ahead

We decided to go big for the 25th running of the Hopetoun Horse Driving Trials and the response exceeded all expectations.

The success of the event was not down to any one person. It was the result of an extraordinary collective effort from volunteers, officials, sponsors, donors, stewards, course builders, our vet and farrier teams, caterers, commentators and countless others working behind the scenes. Every single person played a part in making this event special.

The feedback we have received since the event has been overwhelmingly positive and makes all the hard work worthwhile.

As organisers, Mark and I are incredibly proud of what was achieved, but we are even more grateful to the amazing community that came together to make it happen.

To everyone who supported the 25th running of the Hopetoun Horse Driving Trials, thank you.

We will be back next year with another fantastic event, and we hope to welcome even more competitors, volunteers and supporters to Scotland for what we believe is one of the finest horse driving events on the national calendar.