A few riders headed off south to compete at the Scope Festival, which had moved from Stafford to the Park Hall showground at Oswestry, this year.

Despite some rain and mud, the show was well received by most providing a fabulous atmosphere, sparkling championships, music and lights and everything you would expect from a show of this calibre.

Crowned the under 16-year-old champion was a young lady from Ayrshire, Annaliese Aitken, riding her own Walk The Line.

Having had a busy season jumping Children On Horses classes, including a trip abroad with the teams then a Grand Prix win at Wales and West, Annaliese recorded a double clear some two seconds quicker than the rest to top the class and claim the title plus £400 prize money on her OBOS Quality eight-year-old mare.

Sandy McLean, Eclipse and Fraser Reed on Ukkie Sz were slightly in arrears for fifth and sixth places, respectively.

Graham Babes has been having the most amazing year and topped it off with a win in the five-year-old finals on the lovely dark bay mare, Ma Fluer, which is by the fashionable sire, Emerald VanT Ruytershof and out of a Cassini dam.

Clear each day at Addington, with just a pole in the final, they came out clear each day here finishing the show without touching a pole.

Her travelling companion in the float, Glencoe, which will be heading off to HOYS soon to contest the grade C and newcomers finals, went on to win his age class at Addington before coming to Oswestry to collect third this time, giving him a good warm up before 'the big event' in Birmingham.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson carried on from a spectacular British Nationals with another win on the amazing Gangnam Style. This time it was a 148cm championship that fell into her grasp, being chased home by fellow Scot, Shaunie Greig on Casino Royale.

Fraser Reed was seen finishing sixth with the pony that he was chosen to compete at Wierden, Belgium, just a few weeks earlier, Harry. This pair won a Big Tour class abroad before settling for sixth on this occasion

William Stewart was just unlucky in a 128cm championship, but still rode very well to collect a very creditable fifth place on Sox Pocket Rocket, ahead of his appearance at HOYS looking unfazed by the atmosphere.

Chloe Templeton was in the money with both her ponies. Still Got Me, produced by herself through the grades was four in the Elite five and six-year-old finals, whilst Rockmount Casper was third in the Adventurer final.

Lucy Stewart recorded a fast four faults with Cancun to drop to fourth in a strong under 23 final.

James Smith was in the money in the international classes, winning with Bolton Gate Ben, before collecting an eighth in the Grand Prix.

He then headed off to Belgium where he has been in the top three so far in Lier and Oplageek, with this horse plus Twix De La Roque and Balibu.

Nearer home, Declan Irvine maintained the form which had seen him qualify two for HOYS.

This time it was Mystic Independence which secured the Grand Prix in the main ring, beating a strong field over George Blackie’s course.

Another to stay at the top of the game this summer was Stephen Lohoar’s Gizmo.

Already through to HOYS in the grade C finals, they stayed clear and fast to win two foxhunters before lifting the Scottish grade C championship – becoming another rider to go home bedecked in rosettes, trophies and some good prize money.