While some jetted off to warmer climates on the ‘sunshine tour’ in Vilamoura, the tougher ones stayed at home and battled storms, snow and all sorts of weather to compete.

The Aberdeen crew are a tough bunch but they have a friendly indoor arena at The Cabin, Inverurie, to go to which always offers a range of classes for the babies up to the open horses.

Three days' jumping saw the usual suspects in the line ups, including Jennifer O’Neill on the super speedy grey mare Chelijana Z. Now 15, this daughter of Chellano Z was imprted by Jack McGeoch as a five-year-old before joining Robyn Duns then Sarah Gibb and finding her way to Jennifer.

A consistent winner, she's in a niche with Jennifer and this pairing now stand third in the Bronze League for Scotland adding more points that weekend with two wins in the 90cm opens.

Stuart Muirhead celebrated his 18th birthday on the second day of the show wining a 1m open but then going on to win the 1.1m the following day on his ever reliable Merllyns Mondena, a former Bronze League semi-finalist.

Holly Miller scored a double on her own Early Girl to go into the lead in a newcomers, but it was Fiona Burgoyne’s Harov I that had everyone talking. Not overly big, this grey five-year-old gelding, by Zacharov, was brought out as a stallion last year by Declan Irvine but with Holly they headed to their first show with a double clear and a discovery win. With plenty of scope they made it look easy and are worth keeping an eye on.

Lucy Ann James is getting her jumping up to speed for the oncoming event season with her own 13-year-old Luidam son, Zadat. The liver chestnut gelding stood in the line-up of the 90cm before heading the 1m open.

Local riders, Carolyn Andrews (Firado) and Vikki Wight (Don Adelheide Z) claimed a 1.2m apiece, leaving the 1.3m classes to fall to Sarah Gibb who rode the only two double clears on the Saturday to win on Wot Not and second on Tweeduizend M, leaving Amiee Bell to finish the quickest of three double clears on Sunday.

Onto SNEC and another busy show was filled from morning to evening.

Robbie McArthur, riding a few for Harry Aird, steered the eight-year-old DG Can E Fly round to win his second British novice at only his third show, following a win at Highfield.

Former Scottish rugby player and retired farmer, Andrew Blackwood is currently at the top of the Bronze League on his diminutive mare Copper V. Formerly with Laura Halil, he took over the ride at the end of 2015 and has hardly been out the awards since. They flew round the 90cm open to see off the challenge from Rachael Aitken on C’est La Vie VH Hulsterbos.

Rachael took the next class, the 95cm open, on Harleys Revenge. This eight-year-old has been with her for three years and is fourth in the Bronze League.

LEADING awards

Club 70cm – 1, Betty, E Bain; 2, Daniki MZS, K Davidson; 3, Rosnakil Joseph, R Penny. Club 80cm – 1, Bishoptons Gee Gee, Y Geddie; 2, Frits De Artevelde, L Thomson; 3, Fulmercross Fluer, P Rawling. British novice – 1, Chiricahua, E Bain; 2, FH Betty, E Bain; 3, Quintessa, S Morrison. 90cm open – 1, Chellijana Z, J O’Neill; 2, Maltrikers Diamond, S Slater. Discovery – 1, Harov I, H Miller. 1m open – 1, Merllyns Mondena, S Muirhead. Newcomers – 1, Early Girl, H Miller; 2 All Saint, J Fox; 3, Firado, C Andrews. Foxhunter/1.2m – 1, Firado; 2, Celtic, V Davidson. National 1.3m – 1, Wotnot, S Gibb. Club 70cm – 1, Offaly Rummy, E Cheyne; 2, Fahrenheit, L Murray; 3, Rosnakil Joseph. Club 70cm – 1, Bobby, G Bruce; 2, Finn, J Milne. Club 80cm – 1, Tomahawk, S Hendry; 2, Grand Illusion, A Field; 3, Billy, A Stuart. Club Pony 80cm – 1, Bobby; 2, Finn. British Novice – 1, Mr RM, E McClelland; 2, Silver Shamrock, S Elder; 3, Moonlight Dancer, N McDonald. 90cms-1, Chelijana Z; 2, Tomahawk; 3, Zadat, L James. Discovery – 1, Mr Rm; 2, Martin, S Murray; 3, Dorana, R Pindar. 1m Open – 1, Zadat. Newcomers/1.1m – 1, Merllyns Mondena; 2, Wainthrop, E Murray; 3, BF Adelaide, E McIntosh. Foxhunter/1.2m – 1, Don Adelheide Z, V Wight; 2, Wainthrop. National 1.3m – 1, Cameron Poe, A Bell.

SNEC Club 70cm – 1, Cobblers Dream, G Sleight; 2, Jack Daniels, J McGregor; 3, George, A Gatherum. 85cm Nat Am – 1, Dartell of Milluchen, S Robb; 2, Traigheanach Twilight, R Collins; 3, Valdiron, S Scrimgeour. British novice – 1, DG Can E Fly, R McArthur; 2, Seamus, S Margerison; 3, Up To Date Z, H Barclay. 90cm open – 1, Copper V, A Blackwood; 2, C’est La Vie VH Hulsterbos, R Aitken; 3, Valdiron. 95cm open – 1, Harleys Revenge, R Aitken; 2, Mr Cochise, K Holt; 3, Carina, A McTaggart. Discovery – 1, Ugolino JX, C Hamilton; 2, Robin II, L Hutt; 3, Unbelievable Alchemy, C Buckle. 1m open – 1, Enjoy, E Ryder; 2, Gold Du Sud, N McArthur; 3, Parkhill Legacy, L Rennie. 1.05m Nat Am – 1, U2 DS, E Black; 2, Gunar S, T Smith; 3, Bon Ami V, R Ball. Newcomers/1.1m open – 1, Zara Zing, A Black; 2, Cavaliers Kingdom, R Williamson; 3, Floris, S Binnie.