Heading north for 10 days of show jumping and a fun, friendly atmosphere, riders flocked to one of the most popular fixture in the show jumping calendar, The Cabin EC’s ‘Sunshine Tour’.

Owners Morgan and Fiona Quennell, along with an army of helpers, offered a full schedule of qualifiers, championships and novelty classes, with some decent prize money thanks to many generous sponsors.

Sumo wrestling plus a novelty ride and drive, where competitors ride bareback on an unknown mount then swap onto a pushbike, are just some of the extra-curricular events that make for some hilarious evenings.

Travelling from Chapelton, near Strathaven, Michelle Warnock was on fire in the two second round qualifiers on offer. Denise Sharpe purchased a brood mare, Tarlinneke, fom Alan Spalding which has bred both Harlinneke and Tiny Dancer, choosing Michelle to produce both.

Harlinneke produced a foal before joining Michelle in October, 2017, taking a few months to trust her new rider but has since been placed in almost everything they have tackled. The now seven-year-old, which is by Azzuro, was one of only two treble clears over Di Beaumont’s Discovery second round course to earn her ticket to the nationals,

Runner-up was Carla Ryce on another Scottish horse, JJs Whimsical Notion, which is by Gillian Anderson’s HOYS qualified ride, JJs Prince Chaccomo and out of JJs Pollyanna – yet another useful performer bred by John Jamieson.

Win number two for Michelle came in the British Novice second round courtesy of Harlinneke’s little sister, Tiny Dancer, out of the same dam but by Elton John TN. Now 16.3hh, Michelle only started her in December but they have already clocked up their double clears in British Novice, Discovery and Newcomers classes, with Michelle rating this mare really highly.

Four returned treble clears in this class. Michelle once again stood above Carla aboard JJs Whimsical Notion, Alana Hood stood third with a smooth, tidy round on the eight-year-old son of Livius(Secundus), leaving Garbrielle Purves, who had completed a BS Camp at Morris recently on the six-year-old Inferno HTR, impressing in this, their biggest test to date.

Picking up two tickets in the second rounds on Z Yazz and Devine Gift, Rosie Pindar has been out of action for part of the season with a broken collar bone but managed back in the saddle in time for the Royal Highland Show. Her Hanleen Beatrice was kept ticking over by Declan Irvine, so it took them no time to get back to form and jumping a super quick double clear to secure the North-east championship title.

Kayleigh Spalding had won an earlier 1.3m Open on her home-produced Tangelo son, Dolous, but had to settle for runner-up spot this time.

Alistair Gatherum ‘stole’ Hitarco Versoe back from Fraser Reed to record another double clear for third.

Sandra Low Mitchell has had the ride on Carlingfords On The Rocks since February, qualifying him for two finals at the Highland, gaining all his Foxhunter double clears and now standing in fourth place in the Scottish Silver League. Tackling their biggest track together at The Cabin, they returned an easy double clear for fourth, with Dan Ockenden on Moment In Life the only other clear all the way in fifth.

Sandra also laid claim to the final Scottish Championship qualifier class before the finals at the Scottish Extravaganza. Riding her Scottish veteran champion, Gabor – which she borrowed from Kirsten Mirrey – she managed to stay over a 1.5 seconds ahead of Natalie Devlin on Coulters Candy.

Grace Beattie was sitting in eight place in the Scottish Champions 95cm league before this show, but another win on Fleur De Grisson saw her add more valuable points, which has taken her into the finals in a stronger position.

Further a field, Graham Babes represented Great Britain as part of Team Naf Young Riders in Zuidwolde, Netherlands, but this time finished just outside the medals on Boucheron.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson has also settled into her new base near Melton Mowbray, where she is riding for Graham and Holly Smith, proving she is a more than able member of their team when riding the seven-year-old Manolito P to win in the main ring at Hickstead, before going onto win at Keysoe.

Kaliki has returned to Nicole from PJ Williams and has scored twice at Keysoe and once at Weston Lawns so far.

Stephen Lohoar is enjoying the ride on the 11-year-old Delius F. It didn’t quite go to plan for them in the Grand Prix at the Highland Show but the horse showed tons of scope and they have since recorded a clear in the 1.4m at the Great Yorkshire and look to be improving at every outing.

Anneliese Aitken has Frau Antje on the team now, which is giving her invaluable experience in the bigger classes at shows such as Northcote and Keysoe 2*.

Kirkcudbright’s James Smith was seen finishing second in a 1.4m at the Great Yorkshire on The Black Flyer before returning home to deputise for Holly Miller, who is currently side-lined through injury. Riding Felicio, James headed a 1.3m Open at SNEC.

At South View EC, Cheshire, Jodie Maher finished eighth in the Newcomers second round on her own Grace Unlimited, after just rubbing a pole in the second round.

Ailsa Black hit two poles in this round to finish 10th on Endyana EH Z, whilst Nicky Williams on Glamour Boy and Iain Warnock on Idefix both faulted in the first round.

Closer to home, Fintan Hunt was seen scoring a double with his consistent partner CES Seamanchip. They claimed a 95cm and a 1.05m at Howe EC.

Ron Brady has a team of young horses out and about currently under a few different stable jockeys. Mercedes McDonald, Laura Hutt and Fraser Sinclair join Craig Hamilton in producing some good youngsters such as Jumping Jillz, Apollo LX and Amaris LX.

Jim Wilmer also has a team of younger horses coming through under a few riders and is one of a few owners who regularly support the mid-week Muirmill shows. His home-breds – Khaleesi, out of that useful mare Killinney, and Khaldario, out of Moll Mhor – are just two that are giving him some fun in the baby classes, just now backed up by Quattro 27 and For Ever jumping bigger under Greg Taylor.

At Morris ‘ three-day show, Douglas Duffin was seen on his Andrew Hamilton Novice champion,Garthago, collecting another red rosette in a 1.3m Open.

Gillian Anderson won another of the 1.3ms on her own JJs Prince Chaccomo, whilst Sandy McLean won a third 1.3m riding QC Sport Horses’ Jonti.

Juniors are also busy at this time of the year heading off to the home pony shows, with the first one being held at Cavan EC,in Ireland. Surprisingly, not so many Scots headed over as in previous years, but those who did thoroughly enjoyed the Irish hospitality – although they found the Irish riders extremely hard to catch.

Jackson Stewart, on Billibob, and Peter Ashe, on Saltire Easter Parade, were seen jumping clears over the show to become half of a 128cm team.

Will Stewart, aboard Queen of Scots and Ruby McCornick, who was placed in a fast 1.15m with Kiltormer Curragh made up half a 138cm team to finish in silver medal position.

A silver medal was also earned by the completely Scottish debut team made up of Charlie Rogan on AG Dynamo, Ciara Miller on Spot The Okehurst, Fergal Holohan on Highlandy Rebel and Emma McCornick, who jumped several double clears over the show on top of Castletown Lady Ricardo.

Also placed throughout were Isla Campbell with Candy Twist and Murphy X and Charlie Rogan with Celton Casper.

Shaunie Greig jumped the faster of just two double clears at Muirmill EC to head the South-west Championship on Casino Royale by two seconds from Harradene Jade and Emma Woods.

Megan Morris was third with faults on the jump-off with Norbet, whilst Fergal Holohan rubbed a pole in the first round on Highlandy Rebel for fourth. Fergal was also seen recently partnering his mother, Fiona’s 17hh mare, Kan Annie, at Morris EC, in the senior ranks.

Emma was also second in the preceding Foxhunter when Shaunie once again blasted round on her reigning RHS JC champion, Teagan Arla Rose, which is now qualified for next year’s second rounds.