After a few months of lockdown and no shows, you would expect the Scots to be a bit ring rusty but in fact enforced rest has made them hungrier than ever competing around the country and making their presence well and truly felt.

At Bolesworth, there was a family celebration when JJ's Sure To Fly stood in the winner's circle to receive his championship rug. Born and bred at JJ's Farm and Livery, just outside Lesmahagow, this unusual blue roan gelding was a late starter without a rider, but now paired with David Harland, he is showing his talent.

By JJ's Surefly out of JJ's Indiana, the breeding goes back generations ,with the horses originally produced by owner John Jamieson's daughter, Linda and grandson, Lloyd.

The family were full of praise for David, who is doing such a good job producing the horse making the 1.2m championship win look easy in good company then going on to qualify for the Newcomers final at Weston Lawns just days later.

Optician Ivor McLeish was a regular on the Scottish show jumping circuit but has to take a back seat when daughter, Jennifer, headed to Bolesworth with her latest ride, the 22-year-old Crag Storm.

Undaunted by the atmosphere, Jennifer rode one of few double clears to head the junior club 80cm then jumped the next three days with just one pole on the floor. A fabulous start to her career at just eight-years old.

Another great Scottish victory was had at Aintree when Alistair White galloped across the line on his own Hanleen O Tess to be crowned Bronze League champion.

Alistair and his partner, Angela Wiltshire, both work full time and are great supporters of the amateur classes aiming for the amateur and veteran finals every year, but this was one of the goals they had always set their sights on.

Bred in Scotland by Harry Aird, Hanleen O Tess rarely hits a pole and even when Alistair changed his mind to the last, she kept jumping, showing she is just as competitive. The TV interview, fabulous prizes and prize giving added even more to the win.

In an exciting competition it was good to see camaraderie amongst the Scots, with Alistair and Angela supporting and cheering on Katie McKellar, who had travelled from Irvine to compete with her own RJM Lucky Lad.

This pair had qualified at South View but are also very consistent on the home circuit. They gave chase in the Bronze League final to finish as delighted runners up.

Supported by Horse Scotland, Emma Crawford has hit tremendous form over the past few weeks. Gina Gold qualified for three finals at the Aintree equivalent of HOYS, whilst Dukes of Hazzard made it through to the Grade C final.

When Dukes of Hazzard just rubbed the last fence Cupar-based Emma was even more determined on Louise Davies' Gina Gold. From penultimate draw she kept coming forward to post the quickest time of all and be crowned the Speedibeet Grade C champion.

Just for good measure and to keep their dream show going this combination also jumped double clear in the Talent Seekers and the Foxhunter final picking up fourth each time with Emma claiming the time spent at home throughout lockdown actually benefitted this nine-year-old.

Another young rider on the Horse Scotland development squad also came home with a red. Aberdeen's Charley Hamilton has been travelling south of the border with good results on Innishannon Red Squirrel and Faluna.

The former won the British Novice second round at SNEC, then after a fast jump off was crowned British Novice champion at Aintree – yet another Scot to enjoy the special lap of honour and a winner's rug.

Claire Leitch qualified both of her horses for Aintree, where Warhol Wulfselection Z picked up a place in the warm up class. It didn't go quite to plan in the final then Claire wisely opted to wait another year with the novice Incredibola. She has had a busy season dividing her time between senior and junior shows, but the effort has paid off with son, Owen, finishing top of the Bronze League points with the super 128cm Tatty Desire.

Douglas Duffin has a useful string of horses riding out of Kirkton Equestrian, near Eaglesham. The gorgeous mare, Endyana EH Z, came from Ailsa Black and has been steadily moving up the classes showing endless scope. This nine-year-old, by Emerald, qualified for all three finals at Aintree, but Douglas opted to head to Vilamoura, in Portugal, instead.

Katie McArdle's Imperial RJ also qualified for the Talent Seekers and joined the rest of the team abroad.

Lucy Stewart will be looking forward to an uninterrupted run of shows after being sidelined last year with an injury then lockdown. She was winning as soon as the shows started back up. with Cancun almost unbeatable once again. They headed a Silver League semi-final before finishing third in the final whilst also collecting eighth with Glow DK.

Equine dentist, David Brown, has struck up a partnership with the bay gelding, Americo, which he bought from George Babes three years ago. They travelled to Kronenberg just before lockdown jumping double clear in some 1.2m classes at their first international show.

Their next serious outing was to be to Bolesworth, where they were placed in all their classes, finishing second in a senior championship then it was onto South View and a good double clear in a 1.3m.

Anna Black and the dun 12-year-old Miami Sandyman qualified for the Winter JC before lockdown but thankfully the finals went ahead at Hickstead, although one pole on the floor left them out of contention that time.

Heading onto South View this pairing then qualified for the Foxhunter final and jumped a superb first round at the finals just scoring four faults in the jump off for a creditable fifth place.

James Smith was seen in the money at Aintree with CMS Joyride finishing runner-up in the Newcomers final. Elmo Brown had an uncharacteristic four faults in the Grand Prix to slot into seventh.

Fergal Holohan collected a sixth in the pony Discovery finals with Prime Diva and eventer Louisa Milne Home missed out in the Talent Seekers but took home a sixth in a 1.25m

Sandy McLean has moved back into Scotland and is now based with Richard Duncan. He had been seen winning and getting placed north and south of the Border alongside Declan Irvine, who won a 1.3m at Arena UK with Hanleen Beatrice and a five-year-old final with Prince Malko.

Amy Morris steered the unorthodox, but talented Robe Silver Lady to win the junior Foxhunter second round at Muirmill, whilst Tobar King headed the pony show jumper. Big sister Megan produced two immaculate clears at Aintree to slot into seventh place in the Silver League championship on the lovely grey, Lets Hope.