Next month will see a few Scottish riders head off to Birmingham to compete in their championship finals at the prestigious Horse of The Year show, held at the NEC.

Joining them will be Leo Lorimer who steered Candela 50 into a qualifying place in the Silver League finals at Bishop Burton College.

Travelling from his, and fiancé Shannon Kelly’s, LK Sporthorses base, near Kinross, Leo produced a treble clear in the regional final to secure a place at HOYS on this 11-year-old mare by Canturano which he has been riding for five years.

This pair were runner up in the summer silver league qualifier at SNEC a couple of months ago too.

A bit further away from home and Jemma Kirk, formerly from Bo’ness, now has her own yard in La Pins, France, where she campaigns a team of horses from novices upwards. This has been a relatively quiet year for Jemma, with a couple of horses off, and having tragically lost one to colic, so her victory in the grand prix in Brussels was all the more sweet.

Having won the 1.40m the previous day, Jemma was one of only two riders from 42 starters to jump clear in the final day’s grand prix on Quelisto. In the jump off, a pole fell for both, with her opponent Jan Vermeiren on Le Blue Diamond VT Ruytershof finishing just under two hundreds of a second in arrears, leaving Jemma to claim the title, plus the €8250 first prize.

Stephen Lohoar headed off from St Andrews to travel to Auvers, France, with three up and coming horses. Night and Day VanT Vlasmeer headed a young horse class on the first day. Clancy Wigum produced a double clear in the CSI1* for 10th place and Delius F impressed with just one pole down in a strong CSI2* Grand Prix.

A group of Scottish riders headed south to Hickstead in West Sussex to enjoy a few days at this fabulous venue.

John and Margo King had a good show, with Margo jumping double clear in the 1.20m amateur qualifiers to contest the final with her own Lenny B. A couple of poles stopped them from picking up a rosette but the experience of jumping in that world-famous ring would have made up for that.

Ron Brady had a few riders and horses from his yard taking part, with the talented Laura Hutt returning a classy jump off round in the 1.20m Open championship on Ron’s Baltimore Landzicht to stand in third place in the final line up.

Craig Hamilton and Fraser Sinclair were also seen producing some good rounds throughout the show.

Sandra Low Mitchell, also at Hickstead, jumped solid double clears in a 1.20 and a 1.30 with the seven-year-old Carlingford On The Rocks.

A trip to Wales and West for the Chepstow international saw Kelly Conner ride two double clears in 1.40m Classes on Ben Wentink’s increasingly impressive eight-year-old stallion, George XXX by Vittorio.

Kelly’s own little chestnut mare, Bailande Van De Kapel, is looking better than ever following on from time off after colic surgery jumping clear round a 1.40m A4 for fourth place.

Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex, near Rugby, was the venue of choice for Kayleigh Spalding where she and her home produced 11-year-old Doulous had a fabulous show consisting of four starts, finishing in the ribbons in each.

They headed both a 1.25m and a B+C being runner up in another B+C and a fourth in a 1.20 on the first day.

Kayleigh also picked up two reds with her smart four-year-old grey by Emmerton Hum Z, Genesis III.

Mark Turnbull has been flying round some 1.10m opens on Beseeka Red Hot Chilli Pepper winning at Howe, SNEC, and narrowly missing out at Muirmill, but it was his two rounds at Blair he will remember most. The home-bred Ashton Dakota, runner up at the Highland Show in the Young Masters enjoyed jumping off the grass to record two clears in a fast and exciting jump off to take the top prize at this prestigious event.

David Harland has a fabulous team of horses just now, but it was Geoff and Elspeth Adam’s Hes Our Harley which was crowned Grade C winner after a good jump off.

Back at home and The Cabin EC, Inverurie, was the place to go when their schedule contained four second round qualifiers.

It was no surprise to see some of the more consistent riders standing at the top of the line in some of these.

Defending champion Lucy Stewart’s horses were having a busy week having been training with Horse Scotland through the week, then travelling to The Cabin where they stood first and second in the 1.10m second round. Cancun carried the red, with Glow DK taking the blue on this occasion.

Following them home also double clear were Avril Johnstone on the Scottish-bred Ella Rosa MFS.

Megan Cowan currently at the top of the bronze league summer points on her other ride, Tullycars Peek A Boo, collected fourth, with Helza Poppin back after a short break. Not showing any signs of being ring rusty this pair went on to jump the fastest double clear in the following day’s 1.05m qualifier with Avril and Ella Rosa MFS again double clear for second.

Ben Fairbrother took his experienced ride Mr Money Puzzle eventing a few times over the summer, competing at BE100 level. A change of scenery and they jumped clear in an 85cms at Muirmill to win before heading north to scoot round the 85cms second round qualifying for Aintree

Following him home in this class, also clear all the way, were Scott Blair on That’s My Girl and Sue Stephenson on Diamond Flash.

What a season Alistair White has had with the super Hanleen O Tess. They are in fifth in the bronze league and have been extremely consistent in the amateur classes all year. Five stayed clear in his 95cms second round in which Alistair came out on top.

Owen Guest was next fastest with Buddaire then Jodie Maher with Bem Bi Bre, Kirsty Alexander on Hanleen Copycat and Lauren Forrest with Cyrena Du Carel.

It was good to see centre owner Fiona Quennel enjoying herself in an 80cms Club class winning with Bruno Marble. Amy Clark who recently won a 1.10m at Weston Lawns with La Saphir, winning a 1.05 and young Lewis Lawson who won a 138cms handicap on Mr JK recently riding in his first senior competition heading a 95cms on Colette MCZ.

John Beatson who was crowned leading rider at a previous Cabin show has maintained this form by winning a 1m at SNEC, then another, plus a 1.05m at Howe on his own handy Darata.

Nicky Williams is really enjoying the ride on Elo, making light work of a 1.30m a SNEC to drop James Smith into second, with Olivers Diamond, Felicio and The Movie Star, third and fourth respectively.

In the junior ranks the Gaw family were making their presence felt at Blue Ridge when after a long journey from their Newton Stewart home, Charlotte steered Coltstown Dun Cruiser round a 90cms open three seconds faster than her other ride Take a Chance, with sister Phoebe in sixth on Highfield Colour Bomb.

Charlotte then went on to become runner up in the Newcomers, behind Amy Morris on RS Cassini.

Emma Woods hasn't been far away all summer, returning yet another one-two in the junior Foxhunter on Harradene Jade and LJ Queen Mac.

Lucy Wilson tackled her first Foxhunter to slot into third behind Emma with Millparks Goldie recording a good double clear. Lucy has also been winning on her other ride Grennan Tilly One which won two British novices at Howe.