Showjumping by Susan Cook

Beating the forecast snow and bad weather a few juniors headed off south to tackle some winter and Royal Highland show qualifiers last weekend with success all round.

Absolutely over the moon was the Morris family who had to sit out the Scottish 148cm premier due to being snowed in but managed to set off to Arena Uk where their RS Capello exceeded all expectations to qualify for the Winter JA Final.

Produced by Megan RS Capello came to the family as an ‘unruly hooligan’ but with lots of hard work and plenty of glimpses of his talent they persevered with the results now rewarding their efforts.

Interestingly bred by the horse stallion Ashwey Calisto (Cevin Z/Concorde/Pachat) out of a Connemara x Welsh mother this 148cms chestnut gelding collected his winter JC qualification at South View just a few weeks ago but this was their first shot at a winter JA.

Looking confident round the bigger fences they made the third and final round where a couple of fences got in their way but only 5 had it made it through to this third round from 31 starters so this was an achievement in itself with only two remaining clear all the way.

It was a very happy truck heading back home to Lauder that night.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson was clear all the way with Epee Nazar in the winter JC to secure their ticket to the final.

Another one to be interestingly bred Epee Nazar is by the Warmblood stallion Touche Fouquet out of a TB mother by Alhijaz/Petong.

Speed should not be an issue with this pair but in this class leaving the fences standing was crucial to them earning their qualification after just missing out at Morris, South View and Addington.

Nicole was also seen earning some prize money in the Newcomers sections with Nightgirl Van Het Sonnishof Z whom she was competing for the first time. They jumped double clear in all four classes to secure a quick qualification for the regional finals later in the season.

At Richmond EC Royal Highland Show junior qualifiers were on offer with 5 tickets heading home to Scotland.

Fergal Holohan continues the run of form which saw him win a Winter 128cms recently with his top ride Harri Potter collecting his first RHS ticket of the season in second place.

It was a clean sweep for Scotland in the 138cms section.

Dumfries based Madelaine Archibald has been having lots of fun on the 18year old Mitchel Troy Welsh Express since she took over the ride from sister Phillipa in December. Already with a winter 138cms first round victory under their belt and quite a few double clears Madelaine posted a fast 36.46 to see off the challenge from Galston based Aimee Mason on Marshways Perfect Puzzle.

This was 12year old Aimee’s second ever attempt at a qualifier following on from Alnwick Ford a coupe of weeks earlier so she too was over the moon to pick up her ticket for fourth place with her super little blue and white gelding Marshways Perfect Puzzle.

It only seems a few months ago that mother Helen McCornick was covering her eyes scared to watch as Ruby McCornick tackled a couple of RHS 128cms qualifiers on the super grey Shadows Lady but now she is jumping the 138cms sections. It didn’t quite go to plan for Ruby with Kiltormer Curragh whom she has only been riding since December but their first round clear at only their second attempt at this class saw her earn her first ever Highland show ticket and with a few months left to go until the final they will be more than ready.

Another Wigtownshire based rider claimed the final Scottish ticket in the Liz Fox JC/JD qualifier. Carla Campbell finished with one pole on the floor in the jump off of this class with he own Candy Twist to sit second overall.

Back at home and the senior Highland show qualifiers continue. Alistair Gatherum was rewarded for his long day at Howe which started with a win in the 80cms with Edenside Untouchable but ended with another win in the RHS Novice qualifier on his own Edenside Elvis.

By Elvis Van Der Putte out of a Lys De Darmen mare this rising 6year old gelding is proving to be more than useful having won at venues around the country such as Northcote and Arena UK where he won the 5year old championship beating over 100 other horses.

Also qualified for the RIHS Winter Novice for this year coming it was no surprise to see him stand at the top of the line here under Alistair who owns and runs his busy Edeside stables just outside St Andrews.

Jodie Crawford and CES Contender have been unlucky just to take one pole in each of their two previous attempts but making sure they stayed clear all the way this time they slotted into second to collect their qualifying rosette.

Onto SNEC and yet another qualifier, like Howe run at the end of a busy show leaving only the diehards out and about to contest it.

This time it was the turn of Ailsa Black to post the quickest time over what many considered to be a very technical track for a novice qualifier.

Ailsa’s Scottish bred grey Zara Zing a daughter of Zurich out of a mare by the late Dutch Falco and bred in Dumfriesshire by Louise McTurk was the winner by some 5 seconds ahead of Douglas Edward on Oxmountain Cruz.

Travelling from Perth Douglas is more commonly seen out eventing completing a couple of CIC ** with this 8year old son of Russel.

Isabel Lindsay has had a super start in senior classes with the addition of the Cruise On mare Cruise On Tina whom she has been riding for 6months.

Already with British SJ Winter Amateur qualification in the bag hey then collected a RHS Classic Amateur ticket with a decisive win over an up to height 1.20m first round with some jump off fences standing around the 1.25m mark.

Silver League semi-finalist Emma Pilkington came close with her own Scottish Bred Born To Fly to settle for second place and collect the only other ticket on offer.

Other multiple winners were Lauren Forrest who seems unstoppable with her two Cyrena Du Carel and WKD Cosmopolitan who went home with reds from both SNEC and Howe; Andrew Blackwood who is back in form with his super little liver chestnut Copper V with two wins at each venue; Rachel Aitken in the money at both shows with Harleys Revenge and Megan Cowan never far away with these three currently fighting it out for the top places in the Bronze league.

LEADINGawards:

Highfield at Howe Results BS

Club senior 70cm – 1, Damiens Clover Delight, R McKenna; 2, The Grey Goose, R Clark; 3, Edenside Beauty, R Clarke. Club junior 70cm – 1, Miss Dolly Mixture, H Muir; 2, Fantastic Mr Fox, J Leavey; 3, Valenties Prlaine, S Henderson. Club senior 80cm – 1, Saucy Polly, H Laird; 2, Harry, J McGregor; 3, Damiens Clover Eighteen, R McKenna. Club junior 80cm – 1, Valentines Praline; 2, Saronagh Bly, T McDaid; 2, Flash XI, A Nilsson; 3, Edenside Rosie, J Leavey. 85cm Nat Am – 1, Pieter, M Cowan; 2, WKD Cosmopolitan, L Forrest; 3, Jack The Lad, A Gardner. British Novice/90cm – 1, Copper V, A Blackwood; 2, Ally D, A Gardner; 3, Cyrena Du Carel, L Forrest. 95cm Nat Am – 1, Copper V; 2, Jack The Lad; 3, Pieter. Discovery/1m-1, Harleys Revenge, R Aitken; 2, Paris XV, T Getty; 3, CE Rocklands Cherry, K Brown. 1.05m Nat Am – 1, Brunette, H Pele; 2, Typhoon, K McPherson; 3, Floris DV, S Binnie. 1.10m Nat Am – 1, CCS Robin, H Pele; 2, Carddento Symphony, C Mills. Club senior 80cm – 1, Edenside Untouchable, A Gatherum; 2, I Love D’Pagan, C Uter; 3, Laighlans Divach Falls, A Gatherum. British Novice – 1, Hey Casper, L Huntley; 2, Handsome Poet, J Reid; 3, Ikyora, A Gatherum. 90cm – 1, JJs Pollyanna, L Timmins; 2, C Zorinna, H Muir. Discovery-1, Victoria Graffin, L Carracher; 2, Jay Silverheels, J Reid; 3, Aubury, G Neilson. 1m open – 1, Harleys Revenge; 2, Jack The Lad; 3, CES Seaamanchip, F Hunt. 1.05m – 1, Sarata 3, D Harland; 2, Floris DV; 3, Miss Rollo, A Lohoar. Newcomers-1, Baltimore, C Hamilton; 2, Robin I, L Hutt; 3, Eily Little, S Low-Mitchell. 1.1m open – 1, Mandalay, R Leavey; 2, Mira IV, J Crawford; 3, Oslo Du Pre Fleuri, D Ker Ramsay. Foxhunter/1.2m – 1, Wyona, L Hutt; 2, G-Star, A Gatherum; 3, Perrotta JX, H Aird. RHS Novice Qualifier-1, Edenside Elvis, A Gatherum; 2, CES Wicked Contender, J Crawford; 3, Zenas Flight, J Thompson.

SNEC

Club senior 70cm – 1, Cooleeney Lone Star, S Gardner; 2, Freddie, H Young; 3, Ficolino, L McCourt. 85cm Nat Am – 1, Copper V, A Blckwood; 2, Laighlands Of Divach Falls, A Gatherum; 3, Amadeus XXXIII, B Meenan. British Novice – 1, Topenga Di Chico Z, N Brown; 2, Madame Shutterfly, R Aitken 3, Max Who, R Fraser. 90cm open – 1, Cyrena Du Carel, L Forrest; 2, Broomhill Freddie, F Hunt; 3, O Ploths Royal Ruby, G Wheelans. 95cm Nat Am – 1, WKD Cosmopolitan, L Forrest; 2, Cyrena Du Carl; 3, Braidlaw Star, I McLeish. Discovey/1m – 1, WKD Cosmmopolitan; 2, Gabor, K Mirrey; 3, Max A Million, J Cook. 1.05m Nat Am – 1, Harleys Revenge, R Aitken; 2, Escada, J Storrie; 3, Elektra, N Brogan. Newcomers/1.1m – 1, Assandra, K Deakin; 2, Baquito II, D Irvine; 3, Carina Connor, E Crawford. 1.15m Members Cup – 1, Sunsolde, K deakin; 2, Coulters Candy, N Devlin; 3, Don Adelheide Z, V Wight. British Novice – 1, Loughehoe Henry, T Nicholson; 2, Quinar Du Buisson Z, R Willaimson; 3, Arcadia Bouncer, C Ryce. 90cm – 1, Castle Lyn, L Hill; 2, WKD Cosmopolitan; 3, Cyrena du Carel. Discovery – 1, Quinar Du Buisson Z; 2, Lougheho Henry; 3, Hongkong, S Linford. 1m open – 1, Cyrena Du Carel; 2, WKD Cosmopolitan; 3, Reve D, S Deasy. 1.05m open – 1, Bowman G, D Woods; 2, Hattrick Magic, S Malory; 3, Ziegfeld Cavalier, P Herbert. Newcomers – 1, Cruella De Revel, C Rogan; 2, Moonlight Van De Kortweg, J Crawford; 3, Emily Little, S Low-Mitchell. 1.1m open – 1, Mira IV, J Crawford; 2, Brunette, H Pele; 3, Corina X, M Turnbull. RHS Classic qualifier – 1, Cruise On Tina, I Lindsay; 2, Born To Fly, E Pilkington; 3, Sunsolde, K Deakin. Foxhunter/1.2m – 1, Beseeka Red Hot Chill Pepper, M Turnbull; 2, Havall, A Barr; 3, Dukes Of Hazzard, E Crawford. RHS Novice qualifier – 1, Zara Zing, A Black; 2, Oxmountain Cruz, D Edward; 3, Dukes Of Hazzard.