THREE shows ran the same weekend giving riders plenty of choice of venue and level of competition.

Tillyoch, near Peterculter, hosted some Highland Show qualifiers over two days jumping in their fabulous outdoor arena.

The weather was cold but otherwise good, the rain stayed off for the most part allowing some good competition from the much-appreciated smaller classes were some nice young horses were seen learning the ropes to the open qualifiers.

One young man on fire was Glenboig-based Declan Irvine who claimed two RHS tickets.

Loyal owner Kirk Ritchie’s Shanemullagh Lady was the outright winner of the Amateur qualifier for the London Spring Show but disappointingly this show has now been cancelled. The 10-year-old VDL Douglas-sired Shanemullagh Lady and Declan gained some compensation when they headed the RHS Amateur class here ensuring an appearance at the finals in June. This big, Irish-bred mare shows a nifty turn of hoof to score a quick double clear leaving Vikki Wight delighted with her second place on her own Don Adelheie Z.

A true amateur Vikki works offshore fitting her horses in when home. Having produced this nine-year-old by Dutch Capitol since his five-year-old days, they have worked their way up the grades jumping double clear in 1.30ms now.

Declan then swapped onto Angie Main’s Horatio Van Ter Hulst is by Con Air and only joined Declan and Richard Duncan at their RD Sport Horses base in January this year. Already placed in some 1.30ms and described as a ‘seriously scopey’ one they showed plenty of ability when staying ahead of Vicki Davidson and Celtic to claim a ticket for the Power and Performance RHS final.

Aberdeen’s Fiona Good is having a frustrating run of third places with her super consistent little British Bred Fantom by Carron Nichol’s Mr Visto. Third one again in the Power and Performance they made up for it by finishing second and therefore qualifying in the RHS Foxhunter.

In this class they couldn’t quite catch the time set by the in-form Holly Miller on board her own super Felicio who also has the Foxhunter regionals to look forward to this year.

A ticket for the Young Masters final also fell into Holly’s grasp this time thanks to Gary Charlish’s HHS Dramarko.

Their double clear ended slightly slower than Katrina Frew riding her own Elo who managed to shave the time down further and take the red rosette plus qualifying ticket.

It was good to see this class filled with young riders with Aimee Bell, Cameron Poe, Nicole Lockhead Anderson, Kaliki and Sarah Gibb with Wot Not all in the minor placings.

Dan Ockenden will be gearing up for the forthcoming event season but he showed his love for show jumping is still there winning two classes on the little grey mare Amiro H who only just stands at the 15.2 mark.

Veteran rider Pamela Seivwright from Dundee headed an open class with her reliable 16-year-old Ullrich who she has had for six years.

Her grey 10-year-old Calibre H had scored a double earlier the same day when warming up with a win in the 80cms before returning home with the fastest double clear in the British Novice.

Highfield of Howe ran the last qualifying show of their winter series with just the final in April to look forward to. Classes were again well filled as riders tried to record the necessary double clears to add to their points totals.

David Harland took time out to steer the reliable Fauber round to score a double starting with a determined round in the 1.20m which saw him hold off the challenge from young Fraser Reed on Amadora JX.

Carrying on into the popular 1.25m section he again proved too quick for the rest of the field this time leaving Laura Hutt, Wyona and Sandra Low Mitchell on Eccosse in his wake.

This was a good end to a long day for David who was seen winning the British Novice at the start of the day on the Darata-sired five-year-old Sarata at only its fourth affiliated show.

Edenside’s Alistair Gatherum was in top form in the final class of the day when he rode his HOYS Grade C finalist Hitarco Versoe to stand at the top of the line in the 1.30m ahead of Kirsty Aird.

Kirsty was recently awarded Scottish Equestrian’s Rider of the Year 2016 and starts 2017 with a good string of jumpers and show horses.

Her ride here was Jumping Mac Flash whom she credited with giving her experience around some of Britain’s biggest tracks.

Alistair added to his prize fund in third stepping up with Gabor.

Lesley Paton was back in the saddle after months off, riding her own Quinn Kannan, and she proved she’s not as rusty as she thought when scorching round to head a 90cms Open.

Cupar’s Henrietta Forrest had fun with the Ard Ohio/First Consul 16-year-old, with Ard Pharaoh seen warming up with a third place in the 90cms before going on to win the following 1m open.

Ayrshire-based Jim Wilmer has found yet another jockey – Sam Scrimgeour who made her presence felt at SNEC’s recent amateur show when she flew round the 70cms Open on Jim’s homebred little mare Firefly. A daughter of Sir Shutterfly then added win number two in the following 85cms when she partnered the former James Smith ride, Valdiron to victory leaving Jim’s daughter Amanda, collecting the blue rosette on the yard favourite Calvaros Ace.

Auchterarder’s Samantha Binnie is rapidly collecting her double clears for the Amateur second rounds standing third, in the 1.05m Open and first in the 1.10m which should propel her up the bronze league standings from her current 19th.

Moira Williams loves the red rosettes taking another home on the 12-year-old Ankaras. Almost unstoppable in classes up to 1.15m, recently they left no inch on the course when winning a fast 1.05m Open.

LEADING awards:

Highfield Of Howe – Club 70cms – 1, Roger, P Steven; 2, Mimosa, R Bannan; 3, Bedazzled, P Steven. Club 80cms –1, Strathallan Firefly, C Valentine; 2, Hooray Henry, S Feather; 3, JJ’s More Pleasure De Rouet, S Park. British Novice –1, Sarata 3, D Harland; 2, Luna, A Gatherum; 3, Doublestrike, J Chapman. 90cms Open – 1, Quinn Kannan, L Paton; 2, Hawthorn Fight Path, K Brook; 3, Ard Pharoah, H Forrest. Discovery – 1, Quimoon JX, R Kane; 2, Quite Easy, S Feather; 3, GI Joe, K McPherson. 1m Open – 1, Ard Pharoah; 2, Corrigeen Realt Rua, I Aitken. 1.05m Open – 1, Brunette, G Robertson; 2, Emily Little, S Low-Mitchell; 3, Dynamic, C Hamilton. Newcomers/1.10m Open – 1, Penny Blue, L Yeoman; 2, Csiko, S Low-Mitchell; 3, Oxmountain Cruz, D Edward. Foxhunter/1.20m – 1, Fauber, D Harland; 2, Amadora JX, f Reed; 3, Harry DV, L Milne Home. 1.25m Open-1, Fauber; 2, Wyona, L Hutt; 3, Eccosse, S Low Mitchell. 1.30m Open – 1, Hitarco Versoe, A Gatherum; 2, Jumping Mac Flash, K Aird; 3, Gabor, A Gatherum.

Tillyoch – Club 80cms – 1, Calibre H, P Seivwright; 2, Hero Singapore, D Irvine; 3, Bishoptons Ge Gee, Y Geddie. British Novice – 1, Calibre H; 2, Hero Singapore; 3, Lady Bumble, L Montrose. 90cms Open-1, Ullrich XI, P Seivwright. Discovery – 1, Amiro H, D Ockenden; 2, Harov I, H Miller; 3, Fearless JB, H Miller. 1.05m Open –1, Amiro H; 2, Hardy, D Ockenden; 3, Extra Time, K Connor Baillie. Newcomers/1.10m Open – 1, Shanemullagh Lady, D Irvine; 2, Madame Butterfly, D Ockenden; 3, Cyrano Will Reign, H Dodds. RHS Foxhunter – 1, Felicio, H Miller; 2, Fantom, F Good; 3, Wainthropp, E Murray. 1.30m/Young Masters – 1, Elo, K Frew; 2, HHS Dramarko, H Miller; 3, Cameron Poe, A Bell. Club 80cms – 1, Currency Flight, G Nichol; 2, Edlas Grey, M Dodds; 3, Silken Curl, S Forsythe. British Novice – 1, Tino Twister, M Canney; 2, Hero Singapore; 3, Lady Bumble. 90cms – 1, Une Fille, L Wiseman. Discovery-1, Harov; 2, d London Rose, R Maher; 3, Hero Singapore. 1.05m Open – 1, Fearless JB; 2, Zadat, L James; 3, Mandelay Bay, R Maher. Newcomers/1.10m Open – 1, Mandalay, R Leavey; 2, Hearne Lass, E Plant; 3, Calreise, L Templeton. RHS Amateur – 1, Shanemullagh Lady; 2, Don Adelheide Z, V Wight; 3, Amadora JX. Power &Performance RHS – 1, Horatio Van Ter Hulst, D Irvine; 2, Celtic, V Davidson; 3, Fantom.

SNEC – 70cms – 1, Firefly, S Scrimgeour; 2, Blairfield Dolce, N Johnston; 3, American Valentine, L Brand. 85cms – 1, Valdiron, S Scrimgeour; 2, Calvaros Ace, A Wilmer; 3, Seamus, S Margerison. 95cms Nat Am – 1, Flair VI, S Laird; 2, Valasay, S Trenchard; 3, Harleys Revenge, R Aitken. 1m Open – 1, Drop Anchor, A Quinn; 2, Start Up Esteban, A Gray; 3, D’George, G Stevenson. 1.05m Nat Am – 1, Ankaras, M Williams; 2, Checkbook Charlie, S Cruikshank; 3, Floris, S Binnie. 1.10m Nat Am – 1, Floris; 2, Electro Van De Vallei, A Jacinto; 3, Hanleen O Tess, A White.