History was made at this year’s Horse of the Year Show when a young lady from Fife retained her ‘Pony Show Jumper of the Year’ title – the first person to record two consecutive wins in 51 years.

Nine from an initial 24 starters made it through to the jump off with the talented teenager, Shaunie Greig, the only rider to have two through.

Drawn earlier with Destavalars Misty, Shaunie tried an ambitious turn to the final line but it didn’t quite pay off resulting in two poles on the floor – albeit in a very quick time, which would see them settle for seventh.

A winner at home and abroad this year, including the Bolesworth International Grand Prix and being a member of the third-placed Great Britain team in the Pony Nations Cup, at Sentower Park, alongside team mate, Nicole Lockhead Anderson, on Gangnam Style, Casino Royale was her next and favourite ride.

Taking the same tight turn to the final fences and bravely kicking to the last, Shaunie who trains with Ron Brady knew this pony would give his all and he answered all her questions to stop the clock three seconds faster than her nearest rival, earning them the trophy, sash, rug and that fabulous gallop though the spotlight.

Vicki Selby rode a brilliant first round for just one pole on the floor on her own Bay Friend to finish just outside the awards.

Shaunie also collected 10 place in the newcomers final with her Hickstead Winter JC champion, Teagan Arla Rose, with the fastest four fault round.

Another young lady on flying form was Ayr’s Lucy Stewart. Her ride, Cancun, is another to maintain fabulous form all year winning both his warm up and his Silver League qualifier at Bishop Burton to book a ticket to this final.

Fourteen came forward for this class, but just two remained clear all the way with Lucy putting her head down and galloping flat out to that final fence to stay 0.5s clear of her nearest rival to become another to enjoy that victory gallop around the NECC.

What a rollercoaster of emotions Lucy Rennie must have had on her trip to HOYS. In the second round qualifiers she finished just outside the qualifying places, came home disappointed only to receive a letter just a few weeks before the final to say she had qualified after all.

Lucy, who also lives just outside Ayr at her mother’s Dalemzie Equestrian, may have been 3s slower in the jump-off but her clear was good enough to see her finish as Bronze League runner up on Parkhill Legacy that she rides for Jim Wilmer.

Winner of this final was Natasha Hewitt riding a Scottish-bred horse, JJ’s Impressive. This 11-year old gelding was bred by John Jamieson, by Stryker, who stood at the then Ingliston House Stud and out of Linda Jamieson’s good mare, Wish For A Chance. Standing fifth in this class, with just one unlucky pole on the floor, was Meghan Ballantyne on Cookie Du Reve.

Chloe Templeton has had an amazing final year on ponies with her superstar, Still Got Me. Bred by Morag Crocket, this fabulous gelding had qualified for three finals but a bit overawed they had a pole or two in the previous classes before contesting the pony foxhunter championship. The second fastest time but a pole on the floor in the jump-off saw them finish a respectable fifth.

Megan Morris, another to have produced her pony from the beginning, had four faults in the newcomers with RS Capello before jumping clear and four to slot into sixth, rounding off a good year for this pair.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson had one fence on the floor with Epee Nazar to miss out on the awards.

The 128cm final saw a huge daunting track with an imposing double early on in the course catching a lot out.

Finishing the best of the Scots were Madelaine Archibald – whose round on My Little Sweetheart made the track look easier than it was and didn’t deserve one down – and Fergal Holohan, who collected five faults after a good round on his little grey, Harri Potter.

Few Scottish seniors qualified this year, though Rosie Pindar made her debut in the foxhunter final. A light rub at one fence saw the pole fall in an otherwise faultless round on the Scottish-bred Hanleen Beatrice, but with this experience under their belts this partnership will be one to watch in the near future.

On home soil, the calendar has been so full at times that shows have clashed and events cancelled, but the Scottish Horse of the Year was once again held at Morris EC and was praised for its generous prizes, rugs, trophies and great atmosphere throughout.

A parade of those qualified for HOYS is always popular, but the puissance held in the evening is always a crowd pleaser. Popping the huge red wall clear in the final round, Craig Hamilton took the win on board Ron Brady’s good servant, Viellefond.

Going head-to-head with Jonathan Dixon on the Morris Equestrian-owned Amoa, Craig and Viellefond left the bricks intact to watch Amoa tip the top block and crown them Scottish Puissance Champion 2018.

Jonathan has struck up a good partnership with Morris’ London Times, with this seven-year-old mare by London winning two newcomers classes at the following Morris show, securing her place in the regional finals next year.

Sandy McLean is now based with Jonathan at his yard in Cargo, just outside Carlisle, and made a good job riding the novice horses for Jonathan’s QC Sport Horses yard.

The amateur championships held at Aintree, in November, is a show many aim for and gaining qualification through the second rounds is much sought after.

Stuart Muirhead booked three tickets at The Cabin EC when his ever-reliable chestnut mare, Merlynns Mondena, was fastest home in the 95cm qualifier but then on-board Ellen Charlish’s Harelferg Dramatiker he not only finished runner up to himself in the 95cm but went on to win the 1.1m making sure he has a busy week when he heads south.

Persia Bhatia finished her eventing season with a third at Dalkeith in the under 18s before she headed to Ian Stark’s equestrian centre in the Borders to claim two second round tickets. Her 148cm Molly XIII was double clear to head the 85cm but two poles falling in the jump-off in the 1.05m meant she had to settle for runner-up spot behind Alistair White on Hanleen O Tess.

Alistair has been jumping consistent rounds on this lovely 10-year-old mare, by Otis out of a Cruising mare, and will head to Aintree with partner, Angela Wiltshire.

From Rafford, in Morayshire, Aileen Ferrari hit form on day one of The Cabin EC’s October show, winning both the discovery and the newcomers with Storm Ahead Ted, before returning the following day to take the Joshua Joes UK discovery championship qualifier, which sees them through to the Blue Chip finals, at Hartpury, next season.

Also qualifying for this venue in the Haygain Haysteamers diamond chip qualifier were Estelle Bain on Chiricahua, who won the class outright beating Jen Burnett on Money Train and Charlotte Mills, with Fifi Latina, with these three the only double clears.

Another rider in form is Michelle Warnock, who is making a tidy job of Denise Sharpe’s home-bred six-year-old mare, Harlinneke. They gained all their discovery double clears for next year, winning a couple along the way and are now happily jumping newcomers in their first full year of competition.

Iona Drummond will be aiming for Aintree again this year and has been seen winning some fast classes with her super speedy mare, Starfield Diva.

And Dawn Shaw, who runs her own Windyedge Equestrian as well as looking after son Leo, still manages time to fit in some shows and make them winning ones with her own Bandito, which took home the red rosettes in 1.1m classes at Muirmill and SNEC.

Jodie Maher has a good team of horses just now and was seen standing first and second in a 1.3m at The Cabin with Gavanta above stable mate, the seven-year-old Chellthago Z-sired Grace Unlimited, which was having a first run round this height of class.

Lucy Guild looks to have an up and coming star in the shape of the Scottish-bred Irresistible Bella MFS, bred at the MFS Stud, in Banff. Already jumping foxhunters, she was second in a combined foxhunter/1.2m to Lucy’s other successful mount, Hugana Vant Heike, recently.

Bellfield stables, in Coalburn, Lanarkshire, is the home of the Williams family, who brought Kaliki out to win a 1.3m at SNEC but also have the impressive novice Cowboy Balou, now in newcomers. Not the easiest of horses to start, he is going sweetly and looks to have a great future under jockey, PJ Williams.