HEAVY showers greeted competitors at the first of the outdoor show circuit at Kilmaurs last Saturday.

It was a one-two for the Nicoll show team in the show ponies when they produced the champion and reserve. Katelin McCartney rode Abbas Blue Rainbow to head the 148cm class before being Evelyn Aitken's choice for the tri-colour. The nine-year-old chestnut gelding was second at the BSPS Winter Championships just two weeks earlier as well as reserve supreme at theBlue Riband BSPS Summer Championships.

Reserve came from the same class, Sophie Bannister with Hinwood Two Tyme, a seven-year-old mare. The previous day they were reserve champion in the Arab class at the North of England Show.

In the intermediate championship Zoe Nicoll rode Fyrefly to win. Already with RIHS qualification under their belt in the riding horse class, it was open intermediate champion at the BSPS Winter Championships this season, and last year was fourth at HOYS with Zoe's sister Kimberly.

Reserve was Kirsty Aird riding Joyce McCluskey's Barrdene Paris Lace. Later in the day the mare went one better to stand show hunter pony champion when ridden by Lauren Bain. The six-year-old mare was placed in The Scottish Farmer/ Rowallan winter dressage series this year and will also be aimed at riding horse classes.

The mini championship was judged in one of the heaviest downpours of the day and full marks to the competitors for coming forward. The champion was Erin Macregor's lead rein pony Cosford Valenta, a six-year-old mare by Stanley Grange Cocktail. Reserve was the second placed lead rein Cherrytop Imperial Star, ridden by Bella Waugh.

Harris Ritchie achieved a double when standing working hunter pony champion with Pebbly Acapello and horse champion with Valesca May. Pebbly Acapello, a six-year-old by Gareeb, was clear at the BE Eden Valley and will be ridden by Harris when representing Scotland at the forthcoming pony club tetrathlon competition at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Valesca May is another six-year-old, this time by Valesco, a Selle Francais grade A stallion, and will be aimed at tetrathlon and eventing this season.

Runner up in the working hunter ponies was Jessica Tinson with the consistent Pebbly Grey Fox, a 10-year-old grey gelding. This is their third season together, last year they qualified for HOYS and were part of the winning Scotland working hunter team at the BSPS Championships. They have also qualified for this year's JC final at the Royal Highland Show.

Horse reserve was Mugs Montgomerie with her heavyweight hunter Otis. Champion here last year, they also qualified for the amateur hunters at the RIHS and hunt with the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.

Mini working hunter pony champion was Holly MacMillan with Hengwys Cymro, this was their first championship having been reserve at the BSPS Winter and Spring Shows.

Reserve was Hayden Hodgson with Middleside Brandy, later in the day the pair were reserve in the show hunter ponies.

Jo Ann Simpson's Lady in Red was the coloured champion. Winner of both the ridden and in-hand classes, the traditional mare is a big winner and past HOYS finalist. Last season she was reserve supreme at the Grand Slam, champion at Stewarton, and first in-hand at the Highland Show.

Reserve was Lauren Jarvis with the non-native in-hand and ridden winner, Mosscombe Columbine, a seven-year-old mare by Harroway Mr Harlequin and out of Moscombe Little Madam.

Mountain and moorland classes were well supported, champion was Charlie Cousens' consistent Welsh section A Brierdene Llewellyn, ridden by Emily Scott.

Reserve was the Fell stallion Hesket Willow, ridden by Kimberly Nicoll. A past HOYS and Olympia finalist, the 16-year-old has now moved to working hunter classes and was champion at the Area 1B show at Greenlands.

LEADINGawarsd

Thyme, S Bannister. Mini champion – Cosford Valetia, E MacGregor. Reserve – Cherrytop Imperial Star, B Waugh. Mixed height ISRT – 1, Fyrefly, K Nicoll; 2, Barrdene Paris Lace, K Aird; 3, Westmore Destiny, A McArthur. Mixed height novice – 1, Small-land Accolade, C Waugh; 2, Craiglea Fantastic, L Bain. 148cm – 1, Abbas Blue Rainbow; 2, Hinwood Two Thyme; 3, Holtess Paparazzi, H Graham. 138cm – 1, Craiglea Fantastic. 128cm – 1, Small-land Accolade; 2, Hightopps Enchantment, L Bainbridge Craig. Family pony – 1, Breeze, A Shillstone. LR – 1, Cosford Valetia; 2, Cherrytop Imperial Star. FR – 1, Nantcol Sublime, J Bainbridge Carig; 2, Drawmore Sweet Millie, O Cousens.

Mountain and moorland (Judge: Mrs J Doherty). Champion – Brierdene Llewellyn, C Cousens. Reserve – Hesket Willow, K Nicoll. Small – 1, Llanarth Gerald, C Parker; 2, Landswood Diamond Dawn, N Dobie; 3, Llanarw Betsan, H Grant. Large – 1, Hesket Willow; 2, Dabernon Omen, S Bannister; 3, Fairfield Beeleaf, K Aird. FR – 1, Raemoir Pereugnan, L Bainbridge Craig; 2, Llanarw Betsan; 3, Lippens Mascot, O Cousens. LR – 1, Brierdene Llewellyn; 2, Abbeywells Queen Adelaide, E McGregor.

Coloureds (Judge; Miss V Harvie). Champion – Lady In Red, J Simpson. Reserve – Mosscombe Columbine, L Jarvis. Non-native in-hand – 1, Mosscombe Columbine; 2, Bobby Dazzler, L Bell; 3, Glenfyne Phantom, J Shaw. Trad in-hand – 1, Lady in Red; 2, The Highwayman, R Latchford; 3, Adhoc AC/DC, J and A Singleton. Non native ridden – 1, Mosscombe Columbine; 2, Colourville Viva Las Vegas, E O'Donnell; 3, Bobby Dazzler. Trad ridden – 1, Lady in Red; 2, Lady of the Dawn, S Thom; 3, Brady, K Gilmore.

Horses (Judge: Miss L Sheridan). Champion – Valesca May, H Ritchie. Reserve – Otis, M Montgomerie. Working hunter – 1, Valesca May; 2, Marlton Jessica, J Coltart; 3, Grett Van De Neerheide, B McColl. Riding horse – 1, Levant, S Burkhill; 2, Westmore Destiny; 3, Fishy Affair, T Cowan. LW hunetr – 1, Dark Moon, J Garland; 2, Rythym n' Blues, K Ogilvie; 3, Burnbank Millenium, J Shaw. MW/HW – 1, Otis; 2, Lamorna Storm, S Thom; 3, Noble Credit Crunch, S Cloy. Riding club – 1, Marlton Jessica.

Show hunter ponies (Judge; Miss V Harvie). Champion – Barrdene Paris Lace. Reserve – Middleside Brandy, H Hodgson. Int champion – Fyrefly. Reserve – Barrdene Paris Lace. Mixed height nov – 1, Pebbly Peacemaker, D Grant; 2, Caledonian Princess, R Sherry; 3, Nenthorn Cream Cracker, C Dun. ISHT – 1, Westmore Destiny. LR – 1, Littlebrairs Horatio, E Scott; 2, Bronheulog Charmer, E Outram. 153cm – 1, Barrdene Paris Lace; 2, Now or Never, R Bendall; 3, Caledonian Princess. 143cm – 1, Bryncadant Rory; 2, Pebbly Peacemaker; 3, Auchterflow Mondeo, K McKellar.122cm – 1, Middleside Brandy.

Working hunter ponies (Judge: Mrs E Steele). Champion – Pebbly Acapello, H Ritchie. Reserve – Pebbly Grey Fox, J Tinson. Mini champion – Hengwys Cymro, H MacMillan. Reserve – Middleside Brandy. Mixed height novice/ Int – 1, Kildron Lancer, S Gemmell; 2, Sea Grey, H Veitch; 3, Rocheebly Yorkshire Pride, E Bell. Int – 1, Pebbly Acapello. 153cm – 1, Kalidescope Colito, K Ritchie; 2, Rocheebly Yorkshire Pride. 143cm – 1, Pebbly Grey Fox; 2, E O'Donnell. Cradle stakes – 1, Hengwys Cymro; 2, Middleside Brandy.

M&M WHP (Judge: R Robertson). Novice – Landswood Diplomat Dawn, N Dobie; 2, Middleside Brandy; 3, Fronarth Rio, S Findlayson. Open – 1, Fairfield Beeleaf; 2, Bryncadant Rory, N Dobie; 3, Hengwys Cymro.