As winter draws in the amateur riders head off south to contest the finals at Aintree, the juniors have been to one home pony show and now along with the rest of the seniors await the premier and winter classic shows to start, the first being at Morris in a few weeks’ time.

At the English Home Pony held at South View it was no surprise that the Scottish 148cms team should come home with gold medals when it sported some of the best 148cms ponies and riders currently in the country.

Shaunie Greig once again topped the bill with her outstanding performance on her superstar reigning Leading Show Jumper of the Year Casino Royale who executed some very exciting turns to claim the final Grand Prix.

Shaunie’s other ride Lisa Holmes’ Granouche also came out tops in the 148cms Special which added to her gold medal made for a very successful show setting her up for her following trip to Lyon where she collected two seconds with Casino Royale in a 1.25 and a 1.35.

Back at home her mother Julie was seen taking up the reins on Hero II to jump round a track or two to keep him ready for Shaunie’s return.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson was also part of the winning team with her super Gangnam Style at what will be her last junior Home Pony. What a fabulous season this pair has had with wins at home and abroad and medals for her country.Runner up in the 148cms Special and in a 1.25 plus recording a double clear in the teams Nicole then returned closer to home to take three trophies at the Scottish Branch show held at SNEC starting with the 1m Open on Killack King followed by the Scottish Indoor JC title on Epee Nazar then rounding off her day with the JA Indoor Champion title this time on board King Mac.

In the winning 148cms team was Chloe Templeton who also finishes her final year in juniors soon with her home produced superstar Still Got Me, Megan Morris on her HOYS Finalist and still relatively novice RS Capello who should be one to watch as he gains more mileage at top level, Vicki Selby on the consistent Bay Friend and Kailee Benson standing as reserve also in her last year with Appache Brave.

Madelaine Archibald ended her season at the top of the 128cms gold league, jumped treble clear for third place in the grand prix at South View and has now gained qualification to jump at Olympia next month all on board the palomino My Little Sweetheart.

Two members of the same family represented Scotland in the 138cms teams, Emma and Ruby McCornick both carried the Scottish badge on their jackets before heading home to pick up more prizes at SNEC.

Emma will now pass on the ride of Ravensdale Rossi to Ruby who finished runner up in the 138cms Indoor Championship with her Highland show runner up Kiltormer Curragh while she goes on to partner her new Irish purchase Castletown Lady Ricardo who stormed home to secure the 1.10m Open Championship at only their fifth show together.

The Trophy show at SNEC is always a popular one and well run with super prizes for every class. Will Stewart dominated the 128cms Indoor Championship on Billibob to add this title to the outdoor equivalent he won at The Cabin back in April with Sox Pocket Rocket.

Some last minute second round qualifiers have been on offer around the country with riders travelling some distances to make it to Muirmill to contest the 85cms and 1.05m second rounds.

Seven made it through to the jump off of the 85cms where it was Isla Stewart’s turn to take the red ticket with Bruntons Rising Star some four seconds faster than Melissa Cairns on Gwemfthan Flash and Alison Clinton on Zillah.

Only one stayed clear all the way in the 1.05m section booking a sole ticket to Aintree and that was Katherine McKellar on RJM Lucky Lad.

The 95cms and 1.10m qualifiers were held at Blue Ridge where three double clears were recorded in the former in which Laura Huntley came home fastest on her own Hey Caspar. Close behind were Pamela Guthrie on Copine Van De Neerheide and Kerry Brown with Crinstone.

Lucy Stewart wins every weekend with the very fast Cancun and this time recorded the only double clear to take the 1.10m section ahead of Georgia Campbell on Hope IV with four faults and Becky Starky on Broadstone Athena with eight.

Lucy and Cancun went on to stand Scottish Branch 1.20m Open Champion on SNEC the following weekend.

Graham Babes continues to dominate abroad winning a 1.35m seven-year old grand prix with Glencoe who then found the Young Riders championship at SNEC to his liking to win Graham yet another trophy, rug and annual title.

Graham then swapped onto the home bred Eccosse who is by Berlin out of the good mare Stacey jumped, Aventurine to stand Scottish Gentleman’s champion.

Lucy Guild was sporting a fabulous tan having just returned from a holiday abroad but showed she’s not gone rusty by flying round the Ladies championship with her ever nippy Hugana VanT Heike, a winner at The Cabin recently.

Kelly Connor slotted into second place in this class for about the sixth time in a row this time with Ben Wentink’s stallion George SCAIS a son of Vittorio out of an Amelusiena mare.

The Cabin EC shows have been busy throughout the season with the indoor shows no exception. Local rider, producer and dealer Alan Spalding has another nice one in the shape of the six-year-old Advocator CS by Randi out of a Lux mare who took two Newcomers classes over the show.

Declan Irvine headed three classes with Keeford Carousel, Fendiela and Zandeur Clover from his RD Sporthorses base near Coatbridge.

Chloe McPhee had a super weekend when her own Aurea Corazon stood at the top of the line in a British Novice but also in the Horsequest UK qualifier then picked up a second in a Discovery to round it off.

Charley Hamilton is being seen more and more in senior classes these days and chose to ride her former pony Novella to win the Star Championship Qualifier with a very speedy round.

James Smith has returned from a trip to Vilamoura where he earned some wins on board Oliver’s Diamond, The Black Flyer and For Ever but also had his top ride Twix De La Rouche back in action. He comes home for some local shows before he and others head back out to the sunshine again.

Taking some time out from her father Adrian’s The Sign Co business, Victoria Hewson has been in the sunshine for nearly two months with her own Lancelot seven-year-old mare Zenas Flight. This pair started off with a win or two in 1.20m classes before stepping up to 1.30s where they’ve recorded clears and some minor placings but also gained valuable experience and will be a partnership to watch as they continue to progress.

At a very busy Morris EC QC Sporthorses owner and rider Jonathan Dixon was on form winning four classes including two with London Times, one with Esunja and one with Eagles Costalot.

It was good to see Dan Ockenden back out and about after being plagued by injury this year. Partnering the Kannan sired mare Mirannan he hit form heading two Newcomers classes whilst north of England’s Holly Johnson flew round to record three wins on her super grade A mare Lux Jazzy.