Storms and extreme weather may have hit Scotland and a lucky few have headed off to warmer weather and better prize money, but the competition at home has been just as fierce.

Morris EC, SNEC and Highfield of Howe have all seen really busy classes, with jumping going on well into the evening and several riders have been winning at more than one venue, though a few headed south for a change of scenery bringing home some ribbons.

Margo and John King have been busy organising another year of the Scottish Champions Tour, a series of qualifying classes of between 90cm and 1.15m with finals in July but in between this they travelled to Aintree, where Margo was in the money in some 1.15m classes with Aldatos Choice.

Also at Aintree, Mark Turnbull had Elpaola and Lisanne Henderson’s Ashton Highness with the latter being placed in a Discovery before finishing runner up in a Newcomers and the former being placed in two out of three 1.3m classes.

Dan Ockenden steered Mirannan into second and Camelia into fourth two Foxhunters

Scott Coyle was placed fourth in a 1.15m with Eros SC and stablemate, Annaghmore Ardeo, was also third in one and ninth in a very busy Blue Chip qualifier.

Alex Barr had a team of horses with him including Imperial HBF jumping double clear in a Foxhunter, Haval in a 1.2m and Mandalay Bay eleventh in a strong 1.35m Open.

Also jumping double clears were Laura McCabe on Jilia Van De Bisschop, in Newcomers, Kelly Connors with George SCAIS in a 1.35m and Sandy McLean on various rides in many classes for boss Jonathan Dixon including Gino F and Amoa.

Headmaster, Lisanne Henderson, isn’t just an owner these days, she is also out competing and hit form recently when she won a 90cm at SNEC and at Morris on Elita.

Four generations travel to an event when Iona and daughter, Siobhan Drummond go competing. Great grandmother, Betty, goes along joined by latest member Siobhan’s daughter, Lola. A bit of family rivalry occurred at SNEC where Siobhan’s round on her home-produced Mr Jazzman was enough to see off Iona on Hold Up Princess in a fast 90cm Open.

The eventers are starting to appear out again as the gear towards their season, with Fiona Malcolm scoring on The Best Of Three in a 90cm at SNEC and the lovely grey mare Fortress Hill M2S, who only joined Fiona at the end of last year, winning a British Novice.

Harlequin Jubilee had a superb first season eventing winning their first BE90 and rounding the year off with a win in a BE100 has shown that she is just as good a show jumper when under Daniel Scott she recorded three out of three double clears in Newcomers at a recent Morris EC which included a win.

Daniel was also seen runner up in a Foxhunter on his CCI-L 3* horse Something Classical.

Wills Oakden won two Open Intermediates with AKD Cooley Lockdown last year and warmed up for this season with a win in a Foxhunter at SNEC.

Stranraer-based Claire Simpson, who when she’s not coaching others works for the family bakery business rode her own seven-year-old Honeylands Giselle to a win in a 90cm at Morris EC.

Declan Irvine has been collecting the prize money with Dawn Ritchie’s Galantina with wins and placings at Morris and SNEC.

Heading out to Highfield of Howe in the middle of Storm Dennis Alistair White was rewarded for his decision when Hanleen O’Tess won both the 1.05m and the 1.10m then Whiskey Girl was first and second in a 90cm and a 95cm.

Travelling further afield, a few Scots have headed abroad missing all the storms. Taking his chance to jet off again was Graham Babes, who headed to Oliva, in Spain, before travelling on to Valencia.

Graham didn’t escape the weather completely, when some torrential downpours stopped play but when he started again the results came rolling in.

Of the six horses on his team this time, Boucheron has hit early form, winning and coming second and third in the 1.4/1.45m sections, Glencoe has had several top six placings in 1.4m and the six-year-old, Monks I Am Casall, is on his first trip abroad, jumping double clears in the young horse classes to get in the awards.

James Smith had nine rides in Vilamoura, impressing on Laura Tinto’s latest stallion, the Zapatero son, Johnnie Walker VDL, as well as her home-bred HBF Delmar.

Elmo Brown, Simply Splendid, Harmonia and Felicio, have all had good placings, whilst the Lohoar family’s home-bred Kamalia LSH, a five-year-old by Kannan out of the super mare Rumalia, won a Table A 1.15m.

Stephen Lohoar left his St Andrews base with a huge team of people and horses, with five himself to ride including another home-bred, Kameron LSH, which was also equal first in the five-year-olds.

Onto the juniors and it isn’t long into their year that the first of the premier shows start. With a few riders moving up heights, or gaining new ponies, they have to get to know each other very quickly to attempt the qualifiers even though many of the finals are not until July.

At Morris EC’s Small Pony Premier, Eleanor Archibald jumped two of her ponies clear in the winter 128cm over a track that saw a lot of eliminations.

Pondhead Dexter rubbed two out in the second round for third but when My Little Sweetheart ended this round on the same score as Connie Mensley and Madonna, the decision was made to share the prize. Eleanor can now relax with both her ponies qualified for Hickstead.

Charlotte Gaw picked up a third at South View on Coltstown Dun Cruiser before heading to Morris where she added a red for a 90cm win and a blue for runner up behind Pebbles Walker on Peanut IV in a 128/138cm Handicap.

Storms did not deter anyone from the 148cm Premier where Anna Black earned her Winter JC ticket.

Having jumped into the third round of both qualifiers at South View but missing out on a top place it was just reward that she and the Scottish-bred Miami Sandyman should remain clear all the way on home turf to slot in behind Rachel Proudley on Robin Hood Lad to secure a trip to the Royal International in the summer.

Eden McCulloch and Miami Bubble Gum, from Castle Douglas, had recently won two classes at Alnwick Ford then didn’t have the best show at South View but came back to Morris to jump double clear and take home a second in a Newcomers.

Crista Lockhead Anderson, on Little Red Cloud, was consistently placed in the 1.1m and Ciara Miller on Spot The Oakhurst was also well placed in each 1.15m.

The Morris family is having to divide their time between senior and junior shows with Megan riding Lets Hope II at the senior shows in between studying for Highers and already having her newcomers, Foxhunters and a Blue Chip qualification.

Little sister, Amy, was seen winning a pony newcomers at the Premier, with RS Cassini and just missing out in a Winter JA when rolling a pole with Tobar King.

Cabin EC recently celebrated being crowned 'Equestrian Facility of the Year' at the Scottish Equestrian Awards, and Fiona Quennell was runner up in the Personality of the Year. There were no surprises from these awards for this popular centre and its owners who make everyone feel welcome.

Their most recent show was quieter than normal, probably due to the weather, but travelling north to compete Charlie Rogan had a first, second and third on AG Domingo, which included two Blue Chip tickets.

Then, AG Dynamo won all four of his classes for Charlie including a Blue Chip Sparkle JA Handicap.

Lewis Lawson took two wins and a third on the palomino Jimdone and also claimed a Blue Chip qualifying ticket only touching one pole all weekend.