MORTON ON SWALE international rider Nicola Tweddle made the trip up to Perthshire worthwhile with an impressive performance at the Central Scotland one-day event at Scone Palace.

The competition got the 2005 British Eventing season under way in Scotland and the 28-year-old was contesting the top open intermediate section.

Entrants in this had the best of the very mixed weather and made the most of a sunny day on Saturday.

Tweddle took both first and second spots on the bay gelding Endeavour II and the mare Don't Underestimate, at eight one of the youngest competitors in the section.

"It's a long trip for me, but it was well worth it and I made the return journey with a smile on my face," said Nicola, who will be competing at the world-famous Badminton three-day event this weekend on her top ride Skiver.

"Don't Underestimate is only eight and went really well - she would have won but for one show jump down close to home.

"The cross-country course was really nice and it was just a little wet in one or two places."

Tweddle also finished second in a novice section on the six-year-old The Bees Knees V.

The chestnut mare is home-bred by owner Pammy Search and is a half sister to Opposition Buzz, who finished sixth at the British Novice Championships at Gatcombe with Nicola last season.

"Bees Knees has done two pre-novice events and Central Scotland was her third novice competition," Nicola added.

"She's been placed in all but one and is a talented mare. Now I'm off to Badminton with Skiver - it's a huge challenge and you keep your fingers crossed that everything will go OK."

Skiver has enjoyed a good run-up to the event, finishing tenth at the Burnham Market CIC*** World Cup qualifier in Norfolk on his last outing.

The 15.2hh bay is now 13 and has performed well on his two previous Badminton appearances, finishing 27th in 2003 and in a fine 20th place last year, when three show jumps down cost him a top 12 finish.

The novice section at Central Scotland was won by Thirsk-based Carole Dennis, riding Saxon Cross for owner Emma Barr-Young.

The pair, at only their third competition together, led from the opening dressage phase after a superb test and added just 1.2 cross-country time penalties to that score.

Dennis also finished ninth and 11th in the open intermediate section on Goulton Storm, ninth at Blair Castle CCI*** in 2004, and Crosby, who was 18th at Bramham three-day event last year.