The weather may have taken a turn for the worse with snow, rain and freezing temperatures but the first of the Royal Highland Show qualifiers brought competitors out in force in the hope of qualifying for the finals in June.

The Scottish National Equestrian Centre, Broxburn, was the first to host some qualifiers with four classes running over two days.

Riding out of Brookfield stud, Coatbridge, Declan Irvine was the first to collect his RHS ticket thanks to the super Diamant De Semilly son, Destine To Be. Described as ‘very exciting’ by Declan and Richard Duncan, this seven-year-old impressed in Olivia Nova as a five-year-old and was subsequently sold to Amanda Derbyshire, with Declan being lucky enough to keep the ride until he’s ready to head out to the US.

Now jumping 1.3m classes comfortably and having competed around the country last year, this pair will be aiming for age classes and Foxhunter second rounds but their fast jump-off at SNEC saw them beat 10 other double clears, from 33 starters.

Just 0.03s behind was Sandy McLean, who has a very strong team of horses to play with just now. His ride this time was Beth Ion’s little chestnut, Quickly’s Quality Z, which was only tackling her third Foxhunter class having been with Sandy since the turn of the year.

He had just returned from an incredible show at Addington where he was in the top three in almost every class entered, including a second in the Grand Prix with Gino F and three firsts in 1.3m Opens with Captain Sharkey.

Kirkton Equestrian was represented by Douglas Duffin, who slotted into third with Jenny Herries' attractive mare, Cliftons Adelaide and Jordan Thompson, collecting the final ticket with Kiana II.

Sandy McLean will have a busy Royal Highland if these first two qualifiers are anything to go by. Adding a B+C ticket to his Foxhunter one was Linda Billington’s Non Such Z, an 11-year-old by Non Stop. This qualified for the Winter B+C when runner up at South View and led a 1.4m at Addington before coming home to scorch round this B+C 2s clear of everyone else.

The next three places finished within less than a second of each other, with Fergal Holohan just finding the edge on Kan Annie; Amy Morris next with Let’s Hope; and Kelly Connor fast and clear in fourth with Glamour Boy.

Glamour Boy went on to win the 1.3m Open/Young Masters qualifier but with Kelly being over 25 and second-placed David Harland, on Chincoreve, also being ineligible, the Young Masters tickets passed down the line to Amy Morris in third with Let’s Hope and Fergal Holohan again in fifth, with Killossery Kameo.

The RHS Classic Qualifier has a new sponsor in Ruby’s Boutique, with this class one of the most popular each year. Forty-one started, 21 went clear and the resulting jump-off was fast and furious.

Charley Hamilton had already been in form at South View, Northcote and Tillyoch, with Horatio Van Ter Hulst, so it was no surprise to see them stand at the top of the line this time almost two seconds clear of the rest.

Alistair Gray has been busy building up his breaking and schooling business based at his family farm just outside Biggar. Having some more experienced horses to compete on behalf of owners such as Jim Wilmer and Michael Whitaker, means he’s also regularly seen in the ring, this time with his own useful winner, Elvis IV, ensuring him a RHS appearance for a second place.

Poppy Deakin, on Qlicious, slotted into third but as a member of a junior team last year, she will not be eligible for the final so the ticket passed down the line to Elspeth Jamieson, on King Louie, who finished just behind Poppy and Charley Hamilton on her other ride, Kung Fu VanT Heike.

James Smith continues his run of incredible form, having finished at Vilamoura and moved onto the Andalucia Sunshine Tour. His most successful ride is Laura and John Renwick’s home-bred son of Beluga, Arkuga who has now won approximately £50,000 in prize money this year, with their biggest and most recent win in the 4* Grand Prix where his time of 40.33s only just sneaked into the lead ahead of Karl Robbins on G Camille HBF in 40.34s.

Graham Babes was unlucky to roll a pole in the Grand Prix jump off at South View for fifth place with Monks I Am Casall, but his home-bred Diamant De Semilly/Royal Feu mare, Bambi VII, not only won the Winter six-year-old qualifier but was second in a strong Winter Novice qualifier.

The junior premier shows are nearly over for the season but some Scottish juniors have still been travelling south of the Border to compete.

Only eight-years-old at the time, Owen Leitch – nephew of Sandy McLean – is improving all the time with plenty of first tickets in the 11 and under classes with the versatile Bronheulog Ruby at Morris, Arena UK and South View, but it was onboard Wishfields Piggy Bank that Owen scorched two 128cm Handicap Specials, one at South View and one at Onley, for his best wins to date.

At Arena UK’s 148cm Premier, Dumfries-shire’s Eleanor Archibald’s fourth place on LCS Peachy Beachy in the Winter JC/JD qualifier over a tough track which saw only Hollie Gerken on Ballycarrow Mirahs Sparrow jump clear in all three rounds – good enough to see them through to Hickstead finals.

Lucy Capper had already qualified through to the Winter 138cm finals but is still being placed well on Playboy Van De Zoetewei, slotting into third at Arena UK adding more mileage to their fairly recent partnership. She also had Rathcoona James through for the finals finishing fifth at Arena UK.

Lexie Lane was seen winning a Graham Heath 128/138cm Handicap with Riot Del Pegulil, then second in a BS 128/138cm handicap with Chapelmill Choirboy, whilst Rebekka Sutherland rode Triple Treat to an eighth in a Springboard and brought Myshall Duncan back out after a break.

Back on home soil, the Netherton Equestrian Centre, just outside Perth, is a popular new venue with competitors. The juniors had a busy day there recently with top 148cm riders, Aimee Paxton and Millie Lawson, filling all six places in the Foxhunter/1.1m.

Aimee had Santa Rosa, the HOYS superstar Las Vegas and Kengarth Sally Ann, to enjoy again this year, with Millie bringing on including some new rides, Djarfur, Vagebond Van Duyversputten, Orchids Femke and Kosmos Van Orchids, to name a few.

In the Jim Wilmer camp, daughter Cara brought home the reds having struck up a good partnership with the home-bred mare, Khaleesi. They were winning at SNEC and Muirmill recently, with Cara successfully dividing her time between horses and ponies.

Lucy Barclay headed both the 1.2m and the 1.3m Opens at Tillyoch with the ever faithful Hugana Van T Heike, but watch out for her eye-catching novice, MFS Opportunity Bella, which is only just starting out but looks to have plenty of ability.