By Susan Cook

ANOTHER new year and some new combinations came to the fore at Morris EC’s 148cm junior Premier held over two days, offering qualifiers for prestigious finals at venues such as Hickstead and the British Masters.

Riders travelled from all around Britain to contest these classes although it was good to see Scots more than hold their own, with over half the red rosettes staying in this country.

One young man to excel was Fife-based Fraser Reed, who headed the first day’s JA Classic qualifier.

Talented Fraser has been seen out and about on horses recently proving he is going to be a serious challenger in senior classes when he moves off ponies this year.

Twenty-four came forward to tackle the track for the JA Classic qualifier with just four finding it to their liking then just two clearing the now substantial jump-off fences to go through to the third and final round.

With three qualifying places both riders knew they had done enough.

Shaunie Greig was first to go with the relatively novice pony Casino Royale. Runner-up in the Scottish Branch Central championship a few weeks ago this pony seems to relish the bigger fences making them look easy to record yet another clear.

Fraser came next knowing exactly what he had to do on his ride of a year, Quilitymaes.

Tackling Raf Suarez’s interesting jump off track accurately he steered this interestingly bred mare, a daughter of the Oldenburg stallion Quilot Z, round to finish over a second in front.

Bobbie Heath rubbed one out in round two with Air Flow but slotted into third and a qualifying place.

On day two in the equivalent class Fraser was to qualify a second ride, the Irish-bred Kilcloghan DG Clover added four faults for knocking the second fence in the first jump-off but this was good enough to finish third giving him a two chances at the final.

Only two made it through to the third round this time and once again Raf Suarez held no punches building big and square but keeping the riders thinking from start to finish.

The victor this time was the new combination of Tahnia Jordan Jones on Tania Andrews AKM Beechcomber.

Bred in Ireland out of an ISH mother and by an American TB stallion Bertil as he is known at home was chosen by Maia Andrews when she tried him in Ireland over a year ago. With very little mileage under their belts Maia travelled to Morris last year to claim the winter JC Championship on him.

With Maia out of ponies the ride has been passed to Tahnia and with trainer Eleni Murphy working hard in the background this new partnership kept their cool to produce a faultless clear round in this JA Classic Qualifier.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson was the only other challenger on Cappagh Supreme but the first fence stopped their challenge leaving them in second but also qualifying.

Winner of three classes at the Southview 148cm Premier, Nicole was in form with her Irish-bred Pochantas, by the ISH sire Castleforbes Noe, outpacing 33 others to lay claim to a second Blue Chip Sparkle JC/JA handicap this season.

Another new combination stood at the head of the line in the Winter JC championship.

One year ago Miami Moonbeam won the same class with Nikole Kershaw on board but after a second place in the foxhunter at HOYS in October the ride was passed to Newbury based rider Anoushka Mauree.

Trained at home by Jess Dimmock but helped at the show by Eleni Murphy, this partnership looks one to keep an eye on as they produced the fastest double clear from seven forward to the jump-off to earn themselves a ticket to the final.

A Scottish-bred pony, it was good to see his 80-year-old breeder, Hugh Paterson, travel from Wigtownshire to watch this nine-year-old, which he broke, started and always tipped for the top.

Also qualifying in second place was Cleo Loizzo on her own Banner Girl, a pony she has produced herself since its discovery days.

Three qualified from the first day’s Winter JC in which an initial 37 combinations were reduced to 10 in the final timed round.

Six produced treble clears leaving the clock to decide.

Last in, Madison Jamison on the eight-year-old Sweepstake had already qualified when finishing second at South View so had nothing to lose flying round over two seconds faster than Elizabeth Baker on Okehurst Colour Code.

Third-placed Uncanny was previously ridden by Robert Murphy, who handed the reins to Libby Hounslow after HOYS last year.

This pair has been getting to know each other in 1.1m and foxhunter classes with this one of their biggest tests so far. Their treble clear saw them in a qualifying place.

One young man on fire was Sandy McLean who claimed five classes as well as plenty of placings over two days.

The novice stallion, Kippure Lancelot, has only recently been with him, yet won two newcomers and a Blue Chip place.

Midnight Minuet stood above him in a foxhunter then travelling companions Mountmary Enda collected Blue chip tickets with a second in the Sparkle JC/JA Handicap and a win in the UK Coral championship.

The Connemara, Tobar King, won a restricted 148cm whilst Castle Hill Clover was only just beaten on time in a BS Special by Harry Wood on the former Cameron Rogan ride, Landlord.

Sixteen started in a JC/JA handicap in which young Charley Hamilton emerged the winner some 6s faster than anyone else on her winning machine Novella.

LEADING awards:

Morris 148cm Premier 2017. Newcomers – 1, Kippure Lancelot, S McLean; 2, Latinka TJ Van Overis, E Baker; 3, Charlies Lite, A Aitken. 1m Open – 1, Apache Joe, K Woods-Young; 2, Kildea Hero, I Campbell; 3, Katies Grey, O Gillespie. Blue Chip Sparkle JC/JC – 1, Pochantas, N Lockhead Anderson; 2, Mountmary Enda, S McLean; 3, Lynncot Fancy Pants, D Holmes. JA Classic – 1, Quilitymaes, F Reed; 2, Casino Royale, S Greig; 3, Air Flow, B Heath. Winter JC – 1, Sweepstake, M Jamison; 2, Okehurst Colour Code, E Baker; 3, Uncanny, L Hounslow. Foxhunter – 1, Midnight Minuet, S McLean; 2, Kippure Lancelot; 3, Ammanvalley Santino, H Barker. B 148cm special – 1, Landlord, H Wood; 2, Castle Hill Clover, S McLean; 3, Ammanvalley Santino. Newcomers – 1, Kippure Lancelot; 2, Braveheart Warrior, J Ross; 3, Going Platinum, C Miller. JC/JA handicap – 1, Novella, C Hamilton; 2, Dun The Business, A Aitken; 3, Gortahork Maeve, L Mayvers. Winter JC – 1, Miami Moonbeam, A Mauree; 2, Banner Girl, C Loizzo; 3, Jumper, T Jordan Jones. JA Classic – 1, AKM Beechcomer, T Jordan Jones; 2, Cappagh Supreme, N Lockhead Anderson; 3, Kilcloghan DG Clover, F Reed. 148cm restricted open – 1, Tobar King, S McLean; 2, Pochantas; 3, Red Flamenco, S McLean. UK Coral championship – 1, Mountmary Enda; 2, Bridge Woodie, C Waisman; 3, Kippure Lancelot.