Following on from his phenomenal Highland Show success when he was crowned 'Leading Rider', James Smith stayed on top form to capture the British Masters Grand Prix at South View, Cheshire riding Graham Gillespie’s Balibu – beating some of Britain’s top riders in the process.

Graham has only recently bought some horses for James to ride and brought himself further back into the sport in which he himself used to be a successful rider.

This new partnership seems to be producing the goods, with James winning this major title with the Baloubet De Rouet son as well as qualifying another of Graham’s horses Flinstering for HOYS in the Talent Seekers the previous weekend.

Back on home soil and it was the turn of 19-year-old Graham Babes to secure yet another title to add to his list of achievements.

His ride, Boucheron, seems to like Muirmill having won the grand prix there a couple of months ago and both times over Peter Gillespie’s tracks.

This time it was the Scottish Branch South-west open championship that fell into his grasp after a determined jump off round from this young man who is part of the Horse Scotland Performance Squad.

Graham has had the now 11-year-old Boucheron since he was seven, producing him from young horse classes up to 1.5m whilst keeping busy working for the family business breaking, schooling and riding various types of horses and ponies at their Darwhillong Farm, which is just outside Kilmarnock.