AT THE Scottish Sports Horse three-year-old loose jumping championship at SNEC, Oatridge, there were 20 horses and nine ponies entered.

The judges, Steven Barnes and Thomas Vance, had a busy evening's work. "We were pleasantly surprised with the quality put in front of us. The standard of turnout was high, with some excellent pedigrees on show," they said.

Showing excellent technique over the fences, the winning horse was Ere-Am-I, a 16.1hh chestnut gelding, owned by Matthew MacFarlane.

Bred at Balcormo Stud, by Calvaro Z and out of Can But Try, a three-quarter sister to Hopes Are High. Bred along the same lines as Hopes Are High, by Flagmount Diamond, Can But Try has bred four other colts sired by Calvaro Z, which jumped at the Sydeny Olympics with John Whitaker.

Matthew picked Ere-Am-I out of the field as a foal, spotting his potential early on, and achieveing top marks from the Dutch graders at the foal grading. Matthew is now concentrating on his dressage career – having spent three years training with Pammy Hutton.

Second place went to Ecolyn, a16hh bay KWPN filly by Zavall, bred by the VDL Stud, and owned by George Babes. With two other very nice three-year-olds entered on the night, George was asked what kind of price he'd put on his young stock. "They're not for sale!," he replied. "I'm building up a good string of horses for my son Graham to move on to."

In third place was Erdento, a 16.2hh KWPN bay colt by Cardento VDL, out of a Burggraaf mare. Erdento is owned, bred and prepared by Ben Wentick, from the Scotland AI Service.

The winning pony was Kelly Connor's home-bred bay gelding, Extra Time, is out of jumping mare Ullastrade whose sire was Quite Easy.

Second place went to Hugh Paterson's home-bred gelding, Miami Ballyhoo, by Hugh's young stallion Miami Hulabalou, a son of Balougran; and third to Hill Farm Lir, the perlino colt bred by Mrs Gabrielle Doherty in Ireland, and now currently standing at Balcormo Stud.