By Susan Cook

LAST weekend was a busy one for some with the choice of a few shows, but also the annual BS Awards ball held at Airth Castle, on the Friday.

Despite the normal fun, entertainment and late evening, quite a few managed to recover enough to compete that weekend with senior shows on offer at Ingliston Country Club, Bishopton, and at The Cabin EC, Inverurie.

There were a few new faces at Ingliston, including Irish rider, now based down south, Nicola Gibson, who brought her two Irish-bred horses, Lismakeera Sambuca and Creevagh Carisma, up to win a discovery and feature in novice classes up to newcomers.

Carlisle’s Helena Pedrosa also crossed the Border, finding this venue once again to her liking with her own Valencia winning a class and the super speedy Abadan heading two, including a strong foxhunter.

Angela Eardley is another who doesn’t like to hang about and has now visited Scotland quite a few times. Riding her own Jesta Van De Noordhoek and Forella she was seen winning some money in the smaller opens.

Now based at home, just outside Lemahagow, Cameron Rogan is working away building up a team. It was Lorna Rice’s Wouwski that gave him a win in a 1.15m, whilst his own Love Handel keeps him up to speed in the bigger opens.

It is good to see Margaret Taggart back out having fun on her recent purchase, Custinov. Better known for her partnerships with her ‘T’ horses, Ice T, T’Darco and Earl T Grey, which she jumped up to 1.3m classes some years ago before a break and is now finding her way again with her Ustinov/Wellington 10-year-old gelding which stood at the head of the 1m open.

Stephen Lohoar, Gizmo and Jordan Thompson, Eclips claimed a class each on one of their last outings before they head off onto the sunshine tour in Portugal for six weeks.

Despite the long run home quite a few keen competitors manage to make the ball near Stirling then head back in time to compete at The Cabin the following day.

Here the chance to jump some smaller classes in the day meant that the locals can bring their young horses out for a look around.

Vikki Wight divides her time between her horses and working offshore and has a lovely team of horses at the moment.

Her ever faithful Don Adelheide Z featured in the 1.3m opens jumping double clears whilst her five-year-old Camillo De Nyze Z, which has been super consistent for Declan Irvine, returned home to jump a double clear and collect some money in a discovery.

In the early classes, Vikki was seen on her flashy chestnut four-year-old gelding Zambesi ,starting him out round the 70cm to gain some valuable mileage.

But Yolanda Geddie won the 70cm on her home-bred five- year-old attractive coloured mare, Bishopton Gee Gee, but was also seen in bigger classes with Ranee and Zicher, although she had to be content with two seconds this time.

Fraserburgh’s Jessica Thomson has found the transition to horses easy, having taken on the ride of Hero II from Kelsey Smith at the end of last year. Now comfortable popping round the 1.3m tracks, they won a 1.1m, a 1.2m as well as a few placings over the weekend and should be a partnership to watch as they grow together.

Another young lady still in ponies but being seen in the senior ranks is Nicole Lockhead Anderson, who also shows no fear of moving onto horses and she headed a newcomer and a foxhunter on the nine-year-old AES mare Topwood Tandarra, a daughter of CS Online.

Nicole was also in the money on PJ William’s normal ride, Kaliki, although the seniors will not have to panic too much just yet as she has a string of useful 148cm ponies that take up a lot of her time.

Event rider, Wills Oakden, is talented in the jumping arena too and at this show scored the fastest of just four double clears round Di Beaumont’s 1.3m track on his Balou Du Rouet son, Ball Breaker.

Also handy eventing, this pair won four of their seven starts last year moving up to intermediate with a win at Richmond and some winter jumping getting their fitness levels up for the coming season.

Local rider, Sally Coull, is another to have bought her latest ride from Richard Duncan and Declan Irvine.

Locarna is proving handy in the novice classes as she works her way up the grades, with Sally collecting her double clears and featuring in quite a few line ups.

Onto Muirmill and some busy novice classes. Young rider, Lucy Rennie, is just off ponies and enjoying a partnership with two of Jim Wilmer’s horses.

The 16-year-old Uschi is enjoying being back out having had a few years off and has been joined by the former James Smith ride, Parkhill Legacy, providing Lucy with some fun and a few wins. She warmed up with a win at the Morris mid-week show before heading a 90cm here with Ushci then in the money with Parkhill Legacy.

Lindsay Jeffrey isn’t seen out so often these days but when she is she’s always there or thereabouts, especially with her chestnut mare, Cyrena Du Carel, which accounted for a 1.15m members’ cup ahead of Lucy Stewart, who enjoyed some mid-week Horse Scotland training with seven-year-old Cancun.

Mauchline-based eventer Euan Hammersley came out to show the jumpers how to do it taking the final class of the day, the foxhunter with the only double clear on his own nine-year-old bay gelding The Don.

LEADING awards

Ingliston. BritNov – 1, Starsky Prince, K Allison; 2, Darko Dancer, M Pringle; 3, Goldie, N Brown. Discovery – 1, Creevagh Catisma, V Gibson; 2, Darko Dancer; 3, Lismakeera Sambusa, V Gibson. 1.1m open – 1, Abadan, H-L Pedrosa; 2, Wouwski, C Rogan; 3, Clarity S, M Brown. BritNov – 1, Drop Anchor, A Quinn; 2, Grey Victory, S Gemmell; 3, Prince Van De Waterhouve, S Kelly. 90cm – 1, Copper V, A Blackwood; 2, Bellini, S Gemmell. Discovery – 1, Hormon, L McNeill; 2, Tokyo, L McLean; 3, India, L McLean. 1m open – 1, Jesta Van De Noordhoek, A Eardley; 2, Copper V; 3, Forella TS, A Eardley. 1.05m open – 1, Valencia, H-L Pedrosa; 2, Lismakeera Sambucca; 3, Middlebank Cento, C Pearson. Newcomer 1.1m – 1, Findus Van De Bucxtale, S Harrison; 2, Gold Fever, L Montgomerie; 3, Creevagh Carisma. 1.15m open – 1, Wouwski; 2, Elanka, G Taylor; 3, Don’t Say Goodbye, M Pringle. Foxhunter – 1, Abadan; 2, Love Handel, C Rogan; 3, Warhol Wulfselection Z, C Leitch. BritNov – 1, Goldie; 2, Knockaround, A Malcolm; 3, Furisto Cavalier, A Malcolm. 90cm – 1, Verona XX, H Rankine 2, Dieudonne, L Coia. Discovery – 1, Hormon; 2, Allie B, A Cowan; 3, Knockaround. 1m open – 1, Custinov, M Taggart; 2, Starfield Diva, I Drummond; 3, Valentinos Surprise, L Henderson. 1.05m open – 1, WKD Fortunate Lady, H Rankine; 2, Dali V, S Laird; 3, Lismakeera Sambucca. Newcomers – 1, Gizmo, S Lohoar; 2, Erdento, J Thompson; 3, Casienna, J Smith. 1.1m – 1, Dark Weather, L McAngus; 2, Killiney, C Geddes. 1.15m – 1, Big Spender, S Laird; 2, Cancun, L Stewart; 3, Miss Rollo, L Guild. Foxhunter – 1, Eclips, J Thompson; 2, Cadence Dreamer, V Hewson; 3, Drumconnick Verdi, A Craig.

The Cabin. Club 70cm – 1, Bishopton Gee Gee, Y Geddie; 2, Little Xanthos, R Evans; 3, Inshallah, V Wight. 80cm – 1, Tomahawk, S Hendry; 2, Offaly Rummy, E Cheyne; 3, Zhara Song, K Reid. BritNov – 1, Captain Rodger, J Burnett; 2, MNM GII, L Blacklaws; 3, Beijing, S Currie. 90cm – 1, Tomahawk; 2, Locarna, S Coull. Discovery – 1, MNM GII; 2, Camilo De Nyze, V Wight; 3, Bengarys Luipillia, L Bedawi. 1m open – 1, Zurial, E Charlish; 2, Clone Temptress, K Donald; 3, El Siera, R Sinclair. Newcomers – 1, Topwood Tandarra, N Lockhead Anderson; 2, Hero, J Thomson; 3, Wainthropp, E Murray. Foxhunter/1.2m – 1, Topwood Tandarra; 2, Hero; 3, Bernadette Lady H, D Irvine. 1.1m open – 1, Ball Breaker, W Oakden; 2, Fendiela, D Irvine; 3, Don Adelheide Z, V Wight. 70cm – 1, Billy, A Stuart; 2, Gems Alabama, R Barclay; 3, Society Sovereign, L Paddon. Pony 70cm – 1, Miss Rosie D, S Roper; 2, Becky, L Townsend. 80cm – 1, Grand Illusion, A Field; 2, Coco Bean, G Kynock; 3, Glen, C Morrison. BritNov – 1, Beijing; 2, George A, C Padfield; 3, Moonlight Dancer, N McDonald. 90cm – 1, Chelijana Z, J O’Neill; 2, Turbok, R McRonald; 3, Estoril, L O’Neill. Discovery – 1, Chapel Down, C Padfield; 2, Estoril; 3, Martin II, S Murray. 1m open – 1, Chelijana Z; 2, Condor, S Currie; 3, Zurial. Newcomers – 1, Hero II; 2, Bright Eyes T, H Millar; 3, All Saint, J Fox. Foxhunter/1.2m – 1, Hero; 2, Bishoptons Ranee, Y Geddie; 3, Felicio, H Miller. 1.3m open – 1, Cameron Poe, A Bell; 2, Bishoptons Zicher, Y Geddie; 3, Kaliki, N Lockhead Anderson.

Muirmill. 80cm – 1, Calvaros Ace, A Wilmer; 2, Nicely Done II. British Novie – 1, Liscarrow Rebel; 2, Brittas Lux Up, R Irvine; 3, Hootcha Boy, J Pedley. 90cm – 1, Uschi, L Rennie; 2, Parkhill Legacy, L Rennie and Carina V, A McTaggart. 1m Open – 1, Gunnar S, T Smith; 2, Parkhill Legacy; 3, Best Of Three. Discovery – 1, Carina; 2, Incontention, C Pearson; 3, Giraldo, T Nicholson. Newcomers – 1, Elle Clover, K Boyd; 2, Cordoba, T Nicholson; 3, Clarity S, M Brown. 1.15m members’ cup – 1, Cyrena Du Carel, L Jeffrey; 2, Falad; 3, Cancun, L Stewart. Foxhunter – 1, The Don, E Hammersley; 2, Cancun; 3, Conto Forlani, C Pearson.