Riders came home from abroad just in time for things to grind to a standstill as the country headed into yet another lockdown and new sets of restrictions.

Many show centres are now starting to feel the pressure due to the tier system, with reduced numbers and some cancelling altogether, given that only those within their local authority area can compete, which makes competitions non-viable.

Ayrshire's Anneliese Aitken, however managed to 'escape' and headed off to Opglabeek, Belgium, for a CSI1 and 2* show with Eagele Z, Frau Antje and Confident of Victory.

Horse Scotland squad member, Annaliese and Eagele Z jumped well throughout the show collecting a win in a 1.2m whilst Frau Antje contested the 1.25/1.3m sections with some good clears.

Barkeldy Equestrian's Kelly Connor left the Scotland to head to Warwickshire to compete at Onley Equestrian Centre in the Winter Classic. The eleven-year-old Lacara opened with a second place in a 1.1m, had a bit of a blip in a foxhunter then came back to record a strong third in the Winter Novice qualifier in strong company.

Lesley Paton's Explosive III, formerly ridden by Ryan Leavey, jumped some double clears in the 1.1m opens and Mandy Haig's home-bred Grand Kannan, which is out of Holly's good mare Parisienne, is really coming into himself this year finishing with a fabulous double clear in the B+C qualifier for third.

Blue Ridge, just outside Falkirk, has also managed to keep going. It combined juniors and seniors to keep numbers up, with classes being well enough filled each weekend.

Alistair White, reigning Bronze League champion and is currently at the top of it again with Hanleen O' Tess, which always seems to come home with a red ticket. At Blue Ridge, her stablemate Whiskey Girl also scooped a 90cm.

Rachel Williamson and her family took on Babbithill Livery yard, near Avonbridge, a couple of years ago, adding a fabulous indoor arena so there's no excuse for them not to keep fit through the winter months.

Catching a few BE events towards the end of the season, Antrim October ran at Intermediate at Burgham but came back to Blue Ridge to stand at the top of the line in the 1.1m Open then her mother Sarah's Tyson's Tiger took the discovery and Templepatrick A-Z won the 1.2m making it a profitable local day out.

At Howe EC, Julie Greig jumped a perfect double clear spurred on by her mother, Annie, to head a quiet but competitive 1.3m Open with Hero II. Formerly ridden by her daughter, Shaunie, then jumping well with Nicky Williams, Julie has had the ride back again since August but this was their first 1.3m together.

Having spent the past years driving Shaunie around, it was good to see Julie back in the saddle and enjoying competing again.

Aberdeen's Caitlin Padfield was another who managed to get some eventing done at the latter part of the season, with some top results including a win at Alnwick Ford at BE90 with George A.

Back at her local show jumping venue, The Cabin EC, she remained on form to pick up several red tickets.

The nine-year-old mare, Aragon House Liana, ran at Novice BE this season but dropped a level to win a 95cm BS. Quincy IV was her duel winner scooping up a 1.1m and a 1.05m.

Rebecca Fraser recently paired up with Sarah Hutt's ex-ride Cierania and together have yet to hit a pole. Two wins were theirs at Howe when they raced around an 85cm and 95cm.

The Lewis family, from Aberdeen, have had a stop-start season due to lockdown but managed to remain consistent at the shows they have been allowed to venture out to.

At Blue Ridge, both Millie and Lewis were in the money, with Lewis accounting for a Foxhunter with Toy Story and Millie two winter first rounds with Noah's Lady and a discovery with Telynau Leo.

Amy Morris and her family faced being snowed in again, but digging the snow out of their road end managed to make a few shows, with both Tobar King and Robe Silver Lady hitting form, as well as the novices RFS Starman and Silvers Bounty.

Three tenths of a second split Amy from second placed Emma McCornick, on Castletown Lady Ricardo, in the 1.1m while Crista Lockhead Anderson, on Little Red Cloud, had to settle for the blue ticket behind Tobar King in the 1.15m Members' Cup.

Travelling the long road from Newton Stewart, the Gaw family scored a one-two in the Newcomers/1m at Blue Ridge when Charlotte rode Take A Chance to beat sister, Phoebe, on her latest ride, Kiltormer Curragh, formerly ridden by Ruby McCornick.

One of the furthest travelled would be Lily Watchman coming from the north of England to Blue Ridge, where she was almost unbeatable over the whole show.

Painted Lady and Buttons Two took a class apiece but it was the evergreen 23-year-old Lady Sirocco which was on from at Arena UK recently where she won the 75cm Grand Prix but here scored a double winning a 138cm as well as an 80cm.