Muirmill EC ran a four-day spectacular offering some fabulous classes including two carrying places for HOYS. Despite the inclement weather this show was well received, their extended outdoor arena rode really well even after some downpours and all the riders appreciated the chance to jump some bigger tracks.

Paul Barker regularly travels to Scotland heading off home with a wallet-full of Scottish notes and this time was no exception.

Taking first and second in the 1.40m open with Happy Boy and Dalton W was just a bit extra pocket money to add to several other wins he had over the weekend with these two and Lux Fabulous but it was the stallion Green Grass who took home two HOYS tickets.

Paul jumped Green Grass’s dam Amira in the Foxhunter finals in 2007 having qualified her at Champions of Scotland and now this entire son of Luidam will also compete in the finals thanks to a fast win here.

Douglas Duffin had set an early target with Linares BG only to watch as Aileen Craig proceeded to shave another second off his time.

Aileen had only just taken back the ride on Hong Kong when partner Trevor Nicholson was injured so it was all a bit of a surprise for her to find herself on board then chasing the time in the third round.

Turning back to the planks Hong Kong who was bought from fellow competitor Scott Linford around a year ago almost paused but kicked on by Aileen he took the fence on hesitating on another turn later on to possibly lose the fractions of a second that Paul used to his advantage.

The difference was only six tenths of a second but it was enough to see Paul take the win and Aileen delighted to qualify in second, with Douglas taking the worst position ever, just outside the qualifying places.

Green Grass, which is also through to the Winter Grade Finals, had also taken a HOYS ticket the previous day when a confident round in the Talent Seekers saw them finish a second and a half in arrears of Ailsa Black on the Scottish bred Zara Zing.

Having recently won a 1.40 at Alnwick Ford this pair stayed on form winning this Scottish qualifier for the second year in a row.

Also going through were Annabel Shields on Capriole and Charley Hamilton having a fabulous time with Johnny Aird’s Amadora JX who will also contest RHS finals this weekend.

Two double clears emerged in the Scottish South West Open championship where it was the turn of Emma Crawford to take the spoils returning a super jump off over some strong fences on board her own home produced Ferragamo L.

Following hot on her heels was Louisa Milne Home who still combines an eventing career along side her BS classes this time on her RHS B+C qualified Harry DV.

Shaunie Greig has been having a quieter year by her standards but represented her country in Weirden scoring a very confident double clear to hep secure a gold medal for Britain’s team LeMieux.

Shaunie has also made sure she will return to Birmingham when she steered the lovely nine-year-old Teagan Arla Rose into second place at South View to pick up her Newcomers ticket to add to the Foxhunter one she gained at Arena UK a few weeks earlier.

One young lady on amazing form this year is Mya Roxburgh Caira who is currently standing at the top of the pony performance points heading to the finals at the Highland show.

Maintaining this form to Keysoe in Bedfordshire Mya jumped the Pony Showjumper to qualify on Chivas having just one pole down in the jump off in a class that saw a third of the starters eliminated or retired.

Also winning at Keysoe was Ayrshire’s Fergal Holohan who had had a good warm up at South View where he jumped four days with just one pole on the floor but just not quite fast enough.

Upping the pace Fergal headed a 1.10 and finished second in a 1.15 on his own Highlandy Rebel.

Fergal came home to jump well on the grass at Newilns show where Lochend Prince earned his ticket to the RHS 128cs finals.

A few juniors headed to South View finishing in the money. Emma McCornick from Kirkinner near Newton Stewart has really formed a partnership with her Irish purchase Castletown Lady Ricardo.

They added some more Foxhunter double clears to their tally taking a first and a second then topped it off by coming home and jumping the only clear in the Liz Fox JC/JD qualifier at Newmilns show.

This pair are now at the top of the JC/JD points heading to the final.

Little sister Ruby will also travel to the Highland with her 2018 runner up Kiltormer Curragh who picked up a red rosette at Harrogate in a 138cms class recently.

Katie Woods Young picked up a first, third and sixth with her super consistent Apache Joe in 1.05 and 1.10 sections and Megan Morris took a 1.15m with Norbert.

Jenna Ross claimed a Foxhunter with Little Star then came home to qualify for the JC/JD finals at Tillyoch giving Jenna two rides in the final alongside Rhona Henderson’s homebred Guenlole Jazzy Lady by the stallion Ben Nevis.

Other juniors through to the RHS finals are Michael McColm who takes Greenbarrow Desert Rose through in the 128cms from Tillyoch, Charlie Rogan jumped an amazing round in the 148cms to qualify AG Dynamo from the same venue and Sophie Paxton on Chapelmill Choirboy headed the JC/JD section.

Aimie Mason already has a last attempt a the 138cms final on Marshways Perfect Puzzle before she completely moves onto 148s.

Encouraged to just ‘have a go’ by her father new ride Appache Brave exceeded all expectations when qualifying at their first attempt together and over the biggest track they had tackled so far.

Blue Ridge ran some second round qualifiers for the juniors held on their much improved outdoor surface.

Savannah Roper is through to the 128cms finals at the Highland and has been tackling some HOYS qualifiers but she dropped down a level with her own Amners Hot Springs to hold the lead in the British Novice second round giving her a ticket to the Nationals.

Amy Morris has been producing RS Cassini carefully for a year now. This seven-year-old 148cms is a daughter of her other ride RS Capello.

Not touching a pole all day they stood second in the British Novice qualifier then fourth in the Discovery second round with a treble clear.

In this class it was the turn of Kelso High School pupil Katy McFadyen on Hawkmoon Lady Luck a pony she shares with brother Rory for the schools classes, to take the red rosette.

Lucy Watson was delighted to finish second on her ride of six months Millparks Goldie leaving Jenna Ross with Guenlole Jazzy Lady third.

Lochmaben’s Drew Ross claimed the Central Championship here with the only double clear over course designer Shaun Sands up to height track on Kengarth Sally Ann to lift the championship sash, trophy and title.

In the senior ranks it was a good day for Bellfield Stables talented riders Nicky and PJ Williams when they set off to different shows each winning their classes and qualifying.

Nicky headed off to Central and West Fife to steer Elo III round to win the 1.30 Young Masters and join his other ride Hero in the finals whilst PJ set off to Newmilns with Master Calvaro to win the equivalent class there making for a happy Williams household that evening.

Kinross based Leo Lorimer was the quickest home in Central and West Fife’s Airth Castle qualifier securing his place in the final chased home by Aberdeen’s Kayleigh Spalding on her super gelding Dolous.

Alex Barr was the sole Scottish representative in the HOYS Grade C qualifier at Bramham where he finished a respectable seventh place with the scopey Enzo.

Alex also attended Northcote equestrian show to ride Ferrara Durona into third in a 1.40m and Havall into eighth in the seven-year-olds.

Mark Turnbull rode a super round in the 1.40m Grand Prix to record one of only two double clears and finish second on his own Cartouch then jump Ashton Dakota into fifth in another 1.40m.

Chapelton’s Michelle Warnock is getting a super tune out of Denise Sharpe’s young horses being runner up in a 1m challenge on Harlinneke.

Also in the money were Alistair Gatherum on Kyrusa and G-Star, Mischa Irving with Sir Marcus and Babestar KZ, James Smith with The Black Flyer, Declan Irvine with Dior Van Overis Z and Hanleen Beatrice and Iain Warnock on Idefix.

Jonathan Dixon and his team of QC Sport horses were on form at Morris EC’s three-day show where Jonathan took two of the 1.30m classes on offer with Florentine JL while stable jockey Sandy McLean does a good job sharing the rides steering Denise Sharpe’s Goemanen Musterd to win another.

Holly Johnston was on form throughout on several horses but it was Gogo Bantus who flew round to secure a 1.05m Bronze qualifier.

SNEC offered league qualifiers which saw Lucy Stewart in her usual flying style gallop Cancun to two victories in the 1.15m sections following on from a win at Morris EC.

Megan Cowan is another chasing points and seen winning at most venues riding Helza Poppin and Tullycars Peek A Boo to a one-two in the Scottish Champions Tour 95cms.

The latter then went on to win the Bronze qualifier at Morris.

Katherine McKellar rode her own RJM Lucky Lad to head the Summer Bronze League qualifier from Henny Cooper on Hillside President.

Third was Marion Brown on Abacus but Marion went on to win the 1.05m Bronze qualifier with her other homebred Clarity S.

At The Cabin EC Jodie Maher on Gavanta ad Charley Hamilton on Amadora JX fought it out in one 1.30m with Jodie coming out on top while Vicky Davidson stood at the top of the line the next day from Sandra Low Mitchell on Graham Babes’ Carlingford On The Rocks.