Quite a few riders have been lucky enough to head to warmer climes making for the sunshine in Vilamoura this month.

Douglas Duffin took a team of horses and riders from his base at Kirkton Equestrian just outside Eaglesham for the tour with good results all round.

Douglas had five horses to ride, CES Wicked Contender, For You, Fan, Quidam BZ and Linares BG with all improving as the show progressed gaining top six placings in classes from 1.20 to 1.50.

Jordan Thompson took Lanka returning double clears in the 1.35m classes.

Trained by Douglas dentist Hazel Hiram made her first trip abroad and a few classes in started returning clears in the 1.10m sections with her own Jalisco Royal.

Victoria Hewson has been jumping double clear with her mare, Zenas Flight in the 1.30m classes resulting in top ten placings whilst new ride Calanthe Slot has been double clear in the 1.20m.

Elmo Brown and The Black Flyer were the main earners for James Smith with the former finishing third in a 1.35 and the latter second in a 1.40m.

Nearer home and at a recent Morris Equestrian show Sandy McLean was seen in winning form on a few horses he rides for Jonathan Dixon’s QC Sporthorses yard near Carlisle.

Jazufortuna and Jack JL were just two that were in the money over the show but such is Sandy’s consistency and commitment he has now been selected to join the Step Up To Gold programme run by the BS in conjunction with Sport England and will see Sandy get further support and training with the aim of competing internationally at home and abroad in 2020.

Another young rider making her way into the senior ranks is Dunlop based Codie McGowan. Having waved goodbye to her 138cms partner Oakhurst In The Spotlight Codie has moved straight onto horses and has two nice bay mares coming through.

Ciska VD Spithoeve Z a five-year-old by Chellsini Z jumped well at Arena UK in the age classes before coming home and winning three classes at Muirmill and one at Morris EC.

Joining Ciska is the eleven-year-old Divanov who qualified through to the 95cms Grand Prix at Arena UK to just have a pole in the jump off but has since come home to win a 1.10m open for Codie at Morris.

Mark Turnbull is without his top horse Cartouch which is now sold to the Australian ride Rowan Willis and was seen jumping the 5* classes at Toronto recently.

A master at producing horses correctly Mark still has Ashton Dakota capable of the bigger classes, a handful of novices and the handy Beseeka Red Hot Chilli Pepper who scooted round a 1.15m at Howe to win.

The last second round amateur qualifiers for Aintree were held at Muirmill EC where Robyn Reilly came out tops in the 85cms on her ride of just a few months the former Logan Creighton ridden G Sofi.

Marion Brown has a super team of mostly homebred horses with Abacus winning the 95cms and Summer Solstice which is out of Marion’s former ride De Beers Destiny taking third split by Kate Reilly on Kabalou who were also second in the 85cms

Lucy Rennie produced the only double clear in the 1.10m second round to steer James Ramsay’s Ballylinan Black Beauty to a win with this mare only just being registered in this country having competed successfully eventing in Ireland before being imported by James to his home Westwood Livery just outside Ayr.

At Highfield of Howe Rachel Leavey won two classes, the 70cms and 80cms on board her nippy Bamalam A Dingdong, David Brown will head off to Aintree next with his won Americo which he jumps up to 1.30m on but on this occasion headed a 1.15m Members Cup and Laura Hutt is kept busy riding her own home-breds and some for Ron Brady with Robin II, a mare she bred and successfully events winning the 1.05 and Ronnie’s Dynamic taking a 1.20.

At Morris EC Lucy Stewart flew round to finish first and second in a 1.10 with Cancun and Glow but little sister Isla was just as delighted with her win in the 90cms.

Trained by Nadine Warwick at Bankside Equestrian Isla made light work of the jump off lifting the red rosette riding Con 3.

Rose Pindar hit form at The Cabin EC where she scored a one-two in a Foxhunter with No Snow On Me and Z Yazz. Her ever faithful Hanleen Beatrice came out to find the 1.30m Open to her liking too.

The Cabin’s owner Fiona Quennell rode her own coloured Apache Flash to win two of the 80cms classes on offer over the weekend.

Busy freelance instructor and rider Kelsey Smith took some time out to ride her own Classic Bettina to a win in a 1.05m at Muirmill also filling third with a new ride the very useful Grade A Domino.

The junior riders headed off to South View for the Home Pony where some good results were recorded.

Millie Lawson remained on top form after her HOYS victory starting by winning a winter 128cms then topping the show off with a galloping jump off to secure victory in the final day’s 128cms Grand Prix on Priestwood Hardy.

With serious competition from Tabitha Kyle on a few of her ponies Millie had to gallop fat out to take the win and the £150 first prize. Stable mate Tynebank Royal Jester picked up an Olympia ticket for the mini major and Noahs Girl was seen in the line ups of the 138cms sections. Millie then headed home to secure the 128cm championship at the Scottish Branch trophy show with big brother Lewis taking a trophy home for his win in the 138cm on Mr JK.

Eleanor Archibald was never far away in the 128cm classes with a third in the winters on Pondhead Dexter then just one pole on the floor in the third round of the Grand Prix on My Little Sweetheart dropping them to a very respectable sixth place then coming home to be third in the championship at SNEC.

Eleanor – who still has a couple more years in these classes – found out after South View that she had earned herself an invitation to the Mini Major and will also be heading to Olympia, in London, in December.

Amy Morris steered the exuberant Tobar King to win and be second in two Rising Stars qualifiers whilst also winning with her home-produced RS Cassini in a newcomers. Tobar King then just rubbed one out in the jump off of the final to drop to tenth but Anna Black and Miami Sandyman slotted into fifth ahead of Katie Woods Young who also returned a double clear on her ever consistent Apache Joe to collect seventh award.

Castle Douglas-based Eden McCullough borrowed Charlotte McDowall’s Miami Bubblegum, who has been a big winner on the unaffiliated circuit for her owner, to win and be placed in a few discoveries.

Jackson Stewart was seen being placed in the winters with Billibob whilst brother, Will wasn’t far away in 1m classes with Shamrock Bay and Claremont Lass.

Fergal Holohan is dividing his time between riding his mother Fiona’s 17hh mare, Kan Annie, in senior ranks and his junior commitments with Little Big Time being placed throughout in the 138cm.

The Scottish 128cm team consisting of Millie, Jackson, Eleanor and Savannah Roper managed to secure a silver medal behind England.

The 148cm Debutante team of Emma Woods, Harradene Jade, Drew Ross, Kengarth Sally Anne, Anna Black, Miami Sandyman and Phillia Archibald on Bay Friend ended up with a bronze medal each whilst the 148cm team of Amy Morris, Tobar King, Megan Morris, Norbet, Ciaia Miller on Spot the Okehurst and Emma McCornick on Castletown Lady Ricardo also took home a bronze.

Winner of the 148cm championship at HOYS, this event marked Emma McCornick’s first appearance in the 148cm teams. She came home to head the Scottish JC championship at the Trophy show held at SNEC. Fellow team member, Emma also stayed on form to head the 148cm championship at the same show.

Peter Ashe sold his ride, Saltre Easter Parade, but borrowed him back for the trophy show where they were crowned Pony Parent League winners.