Scottish show jumping is bursting into spring with the circuit looking very healthy.

Highland Show qualifiers are at the top of riders’ agendas, but also attractive is the newly created Scottish Champions Tour offering qualifiers, a points league and many fabulous prizes at their final plus more shows are now offering age sections which will help the producers, and, of course, it will not be long until the second round qualifiers start.

Heading home from warmer climes, Stephen Lohoar had been in Vilamoura taking advantage of six weeks of jumping in the sun with a team of horses and some university students who stable with him at his base, Drumcarrow, just outside St Andrews.

Taking four horses, Stephen was seen in the money in the 1.4m classes with Delius F, contesting 1.3-1.35 with Dino and in 1.3s with Clancy Wiggum.

Having started a breeding programme with brother Angus a few years ago, their own home-bred Jakarta LSH is just one of a handful of promising youngsters they have, with this one recording a triple clear in the five-year-old final.

American students Nena Atkinson on G Nienke, Bianca Morena on Miss Rolo and Grace Gressett riding Don Karlos, enjoyed Stephen’s coaching throughout, picked up placings in the 1.1m and 1.2m classes.

Stephen has now turned around and is heading to Sentower with a fresh team to compete.

Another to have a breeding programme in place with some cracking foals on the ground this year, and some lovely youngsters growing up, Mischa Irving looks set to have some replacements at the ready.

Mischa’s top team headed to Kronenberg and Opglabeek where they all jumped consistently with home-bred Marcus impressing, including a good second place in international company, whilst travelling companions Hayco G, Gideon, and Halvador, all looked very much at home over the larger tracks.

Returning home Mischa then picked up the first of her Highland Show tickets when Hayco G headed a Classic qualifier at Muirmill.

Shaunie Grieg flew the flag for Great Britain also in Opglabeek when she and Casino Royale competed as part of Team LeMieux in the pony Nations Cup. A clear and four was equal best score with team mate, Claudia Moore, and good enough to secure them the silver medal this time just pipped by France.

Shaunie also earned some extra pennies being placed with Granouche throughout.

James Smith headed to Lier in the middle of March then on to Cagnes Sur Mer and finally Valencia in search of bigger classes and prize money.

His team consists of Twix De La Roque which has been contesting the 1.45/1.5m sections, Simply Splendid, For Ever and Just Max in the 1.35/1.4s and the lovely, HB Delmar in the Young Horse classes.

They’ve all had top six placings with the Scottish bred HBF Delmar recording a win in a 1.35m Table A.

The Cabin, Inverurie; Muirmill, near Symington; and Howe just outside Giffordtown, in Fife, all boast fabulous outdoor facilities which have already been utilised this year much to the relief of the riders who seem to have spent most of the past few years jumping indoors.

Howe Country Centre has undergone massive improvements and refurbishment over the past year and is certainly becoming a favourite with all, not just the show jumpers.

Blue Ridge, near Falkirk, is also on the up and offered a RHS Classic qualifier, in which Aileen Craig stormed round to lay claim to her ticket on board Sophie Maolry’s lovely grey, Hattrick Magic.

Chasing her home was Natalie Devlin on Coulters Candy. Natalie recently finished third in the silver league points with this mare.

In the final class of the day, the 1.3m incorporating a Young Masters qualifier, Declan Irvine took a qualifying ticket for his win on Dior Van Overis Z.

Emma Crawford will also head to the Highland, second this time with Ferragamo L, whilst Mark Turnbull came back out with his top ride Cartouch to slot into third.

The following Blue Ridge show saw two more qualifiers on offer and this time it was the turn of the in-form Lucy Stewart to capture both.

Her super speedy and very consistent Cancun wins every weekend, so it was no surprise to see him at the top of the line in the Young Masters.

Jordan Thompson claimed his ticket on a relatively new ride CES Wicked Contender, a former ride of Jodie Crawford.

The Airth Castle Qualifier ticket went to Lucy’s other ride Glow DK, but it was Amelia Milne who slotted into second this time on Kung Fu Vant Heike.

At Morris Equestrian’s senior show Graham Babes came out to steal some hotly contested tickets after his wonderful spell abroad.

His form continued when Glencoe jumped easily the quickest double clear to head the RHS B+C qualifier with show jumper turned eventer Dan Ockenden runner-up on Mirannan.

Graham had earlier taken the RHS Novice qualifier with his top seven-year-old Ma Fluer JS, this time relegating Douglas Duffin on Linares BG to the blue rosette.

Alex McHattie can never be caught against the clock on her own Rhodantes Rowanberry which absolutely flew round the 1.30/young masters for her ticket, leaving Mark Turnbull this time on the lovely grey, Ashton Dakota, in second.

QC Sport Horses’ Jonathan Dixon had a fabulous show, winning loads of classes with his team of horses, but it was his rider Sandy McLean who won the Airth Castle qualifier on board the flashy chestnut, Coalition.

Terry Heath chased Sandy home on his own fifteen-year-old Eurocommerce Zonnekoning to take yet another ticket south of the border.

In the junior sections, Mya Roxburgh Ciara has been on fire so far, taking every single 148cm qualifier there has been!

At SNEC, Mya took a win on Chivaz where she left Shaunie Greig and Casino Royale to pick up the blue ticket for a change, and Abi Leadbetter on Sean to collect the yellow.

Thirty-two started in the Liz Fox JC/JD here with Daisy Scott Watson finding the quickest route home in the jump off on her 24-year-old Jacaranda Prince, just four hundredths of a second quicker than Drew Ross on Kengarth Sally Anne, and a further six hundredths from Amy Morris on her home-produced RS Cassini.

The 128cm qualifier saw Savannah Roper take the win on Amners Hot Spring, and with Riverview Sandy already qualified, Millie Lawson took her third-placed Dakota through, giving her two chances at the finals.

Onto the 138cm and it was the turn of Paige Wright to stand at the top on Rochevalley Red Baron, qualifying at their first attempt. Codie McGowan slotted into second with her Hickstead-bound Oakhurst In The Spotlight.

Sligo Spot Com has already won four 148cm qualifiers for Mya Roxburgh Caira, so her ticket should have passed down the line at SNEC, but second-placed Claudia Harding had also qualified Wheres My Colour the previous day, and with no other first round clears it meant no new faces through to the final in this one.

The Lanarkshire Area junior show held at West Kype is always one to mark in the calendar with good classes and excellent prizes throughout, thanks to generous sponsors for every class.

Travelling from Barrow In Furness, defending champion Sophie Wicks took the first of the qualifiers with her own Camizion in the 128cm section.

Savannah Roper already has Amners Hot Springs through, so his ticket passed to Savannah’s other ride Styx Evo in third.

Sophie Cobban scorched round the 138cm section taking the win on board Lennon Prince, but also finishing second with Optimus Prime, leaving Will Stewart on Queen of Sots third with these three already qualified at previous shows.

In the 148cm, Mya once again steered Sligo Spot Com into the lead but it was Shaunie Greig who took second this time with Granouche.

Charlie Rogan on AG Dynamo and Sophie Wicks on Zodianne Van De Doevenbree decided not to jump off what was considered one of the strongest tracks so far, but both qualified due to their first round clears.

Shaunie is making sure she has a few through again to the Highland by also qualifying her Hickstead winner Teagan Arla Rose for the JC/JCD.

Madelaine Archibald is getting to grips with her latest ride Bingo Bon to produce a super double clear for second, leaving Beth Purves on Spitfire Jack qualifying in third.