Two young Scottish ladies travelled south last weekend to steal a pair of RIHS qualifying tickets at South View Equestrian, in Cheshire.

Barkeldy Equestrian’s Kelly Connor is scooping up tickets this winter, with two now qualified for the winter novice final by winning their classes outright. Firstly, it was Lyndsay Jeffries’ Cool Flo which took the qualifier at Alnwick Ford, then at the weekend it was her own Feeling which raced to victory in a busy class.

Bought from fellow competitor, Scott Linford, as a four-year-old, this mare was sharp and sensitive as a youngster but full marks to Kelly for her patient training over the last few years – the results are starting to show. Not only were they double clear but also just under 0.2s quicker than the nearest rival with just 0.4 of a second splitting the top four.

Sitting in second was talented young rider, Alana Hood. Successful was the Scottish-bred Scherzinger FB, a 15.2hh, seven-year-old mare bred at Keith Nielson’s Fyingbuck Stud. Bought as a two-year-old, she has got all her double clears for newcomers and has only started foxhunters.

Gemma Kennedy travelled down with Kelly to jump her own Glorialudine into fifth in this class and also a double clear in a newcomers.

Kelly only just missed out on top spot in the final class the winter 1.35m when her nippy little chestnut mare, Bailande Van De Kapel, finished runner up to Alec Trickett’s One Two Watch.

Sandy McLean made his presence felt with some wins on board the fast chestnut, Zandeur Clover.

Nearer home, the RHS qualifiers saw Ingliston Country Club hosting another three. Gillian Anderson came top in the RHS 1.2m qualifier on her consistent JJs Prince Chaccomo. This Scottish-bred gelding has been in the Highland ring as a worker and placed in the foxhunter final, so he’s one to watch.

Slotting into second and only just returned to the ring after having her second child, Claire Leitch (nee McNaughton) showed no signs of being rusty to pick up the blue ticket on Warhol Wulfselection, a horse she originally produced but had been ‘stolen’ by little brother, Sandy McLean, for a while.

Douglas Duffin had a good show riding from novice upwards. He continues to produce Fiona Burgoyne’s home-bred Hero Singapore, which headed a British novice while the more experienced Her L’Amour accounted for a 1.2m but it was Gordon Baillie’s flashy Moonface JX which headed the B+C qualifier.

The jump-off was fast and furious with some crucial turns over Robert Canney’s testing track. Douglas’ white-faced chestnut was economical enough to stay in front of a determined effort from Greg Taylor’s Wilmer team’s Ballyhane Etto.

Declan Irvine was in the money with Keeford Carousel, but also won the final class of the show the Young Masters 1.3m on Mystic Independence.

In the smaller classes, East Kilbride’s Jodie Cairns’ gelding, Gigolo, is catching the eye. The pair currently lead the unaffiliated league at West Kype, but showed they are capable under rules when winning a 90cm and being placed throughout.

In the juniors, a few headed off to Alnwick Ford to tackle Highland Show qualifiers. Will Stewart won an early ticket on board his HYS finalist, Billibob, but was also seen picking up a 138cm ticket on Loughtcutra Lad.

At Blue Ridge, Will Stewart maintained his form to top a 128/138cm handicap on Soxs Pocket Rocket.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson dominated the final classes, with four wins, two on the grey Killack Kiing, one on Beech Comber and a newcomers with Little Star.

LEADINGawards

Ingliston

British Novice – 1, Millfield Cloe, B Thompson; 2, Mefisto De Litrange Cxxxxi, S Henderson; 3, Varena, D Cox. Discovery-1, Hero Singapore, D Duffin 2, Roll Back Time, V Walker; 3, Master Quality, C Harrison. Newcomers – 1, Marata, K Diamond; 2, CES Silver Chip, J Neilson; 3, Halvador, M Irving. 1.1m open – 1, Zimperia, J Thompson; 2, Divanov, H Millar; 3, Creevagh Carisma, V Gibson. Foxhunter – 1, Keeford Carousel, D Irvine; 2, HHS Dramarko, D Irvine; 3, Ashton Dakota, M Turnbull. British Novice – 1, Topenga Di Chico Z, N Brown; 2, Jupiters Orbit, D Brown; 3, Top Gear, N McKee. 90cm – 1, Gigolo, J Cairns; 2, Paradox, L Rice; 3, Chippendale Vivaldi, S Thom. Discovery – 1, Emily Little, S Low-Mitchell; 2, Flintstone Pebbles, A Stewart; 3, Hi Ho, S Low-Mitchell. 1m – 1, Heartthrob, S Pitt; 2, Zimperia, A Milne; 3, Gigolo. Newcomers – 1, Hayco G, M Irving; 2, Jakardo VD Hertogen, D Harland; 3, My Hallo Jessie, N Devlin. 1.1m – 1, Robin II, L Hutt; 2, Rebelsa R, C Harrison; 3, Miss Rollo, A Lohoar. 1.15m open – 1, Beseeka Red Hot Chilli Pepper, M Turnbull; 2, Wyona, L Hutt; 3, Coulters Candy, N Devlin. RHS 1.2m – 1, JJ’s Prince Chaccomo, G Anderson; 2, Warhol Wulfselection Z, C Leitch; 3, Cruise On Tina, I Lindsay. RHS B+C – 1, Moonface JX, D Duffin; 2, Ballyhane Etto, G Taylor; 3, Idem Dito VD Hemelse Breedte, S Lohoar. British Novice – 1, China Factor, N Zoi; 2, Topenga Di Chico Z; 3, Varenia. Discovery – 1, Roll Back Time; 2, Hero Singapore; 3, Millfield Cloe. 1m open – 1, Valentines Praline, K Aird; 2, Gigolo; 3, Zimperia. Newcomers – 1, Acorde, K Sawyers; 2, Dorana, R Pindar; 3, Rebelsa R. 1.15m Open-1, Divanov; 2, Dunbog Gypsy Rose, M Pringle; 3, Derby Rouge, S Price. Foxhunter – 1, Her L’Amour, D Duffin; 2, Zenus Flight, J Thompson; 3, Pindar’s Wings, R Pindar. 1.3m – , Mystic Independence, D Irvine; 2, Fan II, D Duffin; 3, Moonface JX.

Morris

Club 70cm – 1, Duke, B Floyd; 2, Sierra, S Blair; 3, Trust Me, M Grier. 80cm – 1, Trust Me; 2, Sierra; 3, Inspector Gadget, R Chassels. 85cm Nat Am – 1, WKD Cosmopolitan, L Forrest; 2, Last Dance Lilly, J Allen; 3, Cyrena Du Carel, L Forrest, 95cm Nat Am – 1, Moll Mor, E Jamieson; 2, Wkd Cosmopolitan; 3, Topenga Di Chico Z, N Brown. 1m open – 1, Dassett Cooley Designed, E Jamison; 2, Electra VII, L Lane; 3, Gigolo, J Cairns.1.05m – 1, Coppers Dream, J McClelland; 2, Starfield Diva, I Drummond; 3, Emiliano, E Geddes. 1.1m Nat Am – 1, Dali V, S Laird; 2, Coulters Candy, N Devlin; 3, Tiffany III, R Clark. 1.15m members’ cup – 1, Coulters Candy; 2, Ranee II, J McClelland; 3, Extreem Van De Neerheide, L Urquhart.

Blue Ridge

70cm – 1, Woodpark Pippa, P Ashe; 2, Toffee Tornado, L Black; 3, Clydagh Aladdin, C McDade. British Novice/80cm – 1, Tynebank Royal Jubilee, R Stormonth; 2, Ardfry Sherpa, J Stewart; 3, Clydagh Aladdin.Stepping Stones 128/138cm handicap – 1, Top Gun, S Roper; 2, Tatty Desire, J Hendry; 3, Miss Daisy D, J Stewart. Discovery/90cm – 1, Chapelmill Choirboy B Wilson; 2, Apache Joe, K Woods Young; 3, Tandragee Lad, A Wallace. Newcomers/1m – 1, Little Star, N Lockhead Anderson; 2, Clailu Saffron, J Ross; 3, Wots Up Dot, M Morris. 128/138cm handicap – 1, Soxs Pocket Rocket, W Stewart; 2, Bylands Music Man, J Hendry; 3, Styx Evo, S Roper. Foxhunter/1.1m – 1, Killack King, N Lockhead Anderson; 2, Knix Unique Amethyst, E Woods; 3, Little Star. 1.15m members’ cup – 1, Killack King; 2, Still Got Me, C Templeton; 3, Beech Comber, N Lockhead Anderson.148cm restricted – 1, Beech Comber; 2, Dun The Business, A Aitken.