Once again its that time of year when Highland Show qualifiers are included in the schedules and the number of entries goes up.

Ingliston Country Club and Morris EC both hosted three-day shows with a selection of qualifiers, with both attracting good numbers.

Kirkcudbright-based James Smith is back out after a winter break with his team and lost no time collecting as many RHS tickets as he could before he heads abroad.

His reigning gentleman’s champion, the homebred Just Max, a son of Berlin bred and owned by James’ grandfather, Charlie McKerlie, looked fresh and ready for action finding the B and C qualifier track to his liking at Ingliston, ahead of Kathleen Hamilton on Up To Date Showgirl and Dee Anderson on her own Queen Bee JX.

Kathleen had a fab day picking up two tickets on her Lord Pezi sired nine-year-old a HOYS Grade C finalist last year. Not only did she qualify for the B and C but another runner up place saw her qualify for her husband’s final, the Andrew Hamilton novice championship.

It was James who stood in front of her again but this time on his Nabab De Reve nine-year-old chestnut, At First D’Authuit.

Victoria Gibson travelled from her base in the south to jump her Irish-bred Creevagh Carisma into third spot.

Newcastle’s Kerstin Deakin is still on a high from a superb show at Liverpool, where her now 19-year-old Sunsolde won two classes. Second the first day at Ingliston behind multiple winner, Keeford Carousel and Declan Irvine, they won the final class of the show, the 1.3m incorporating the Young Masters qualifier giving them a shot at the finals in June.

Katrina Frew has also earned an early ticket with her own nine-year-old Elo II and reigning RHS Young Masters champion from 2017, Jordan Thompson, had to settle for third on Diablo F.

Katrina Frew was another to collect two tickets when at Morris EC a quick double clear in the RHS B and C put her second again with Elo II, this time behind James Smith on the Gillespie’s up and coming Flinstering.

Third was Aileen Craig who is back in the saddle and into winning ways following the recent birth of twins, this time on the stallion Drumconnick Verdi.

The Andrew Hamilton novice qualifier started more than 50 horses at Morris, with Carlisle’s Jonathan Dixon leading the way with the useful My Boy Z. Jonathan had a string of horses with him from his QC Sporthorses base in the village of Cargo, but this seven-year-old will be one to watch in the second rounds, with foxhunter double clears already in the bag.

Lesmahagow based trainer and producer Alex Barr slotted into third on his home produced Wietvot son Falco.

In the Young Masters at Morris, it was Mark Turnbull who stopped James Smith’s run of red rosettes when he took the class with his liver chestnut Cartouch dropping James and Flinstering down to second.

Other multiple winners were Fiona Malcolm on her own 10-year-old mare, The Best Of Three, with two wins in newcomers at Ingliston.

Cumbria’s Billy Davidson had a string of handy novices with him at Morris. Clarkes Logic, Elanka and Sammy G were all in the money but it was Ballinamona Hquinn which won a British Novice.

LEADING awards

Ingliston

British Novice – 1, Hilton, J Adam; 2, SGS Bejewel, J Adams; 3, Castleomer Imp, A Gardiner. Discovery – 1, Bambi, A Gray; 2, Colourful Lady, Z Stormonth; 3, Ugolino JX, C Hamilton. Newcomers – 1, The Best Of Three, F Malcolm; 2, Dorana, R Pindar;3, Divanov, H Miller. 1.1m open – 1, Dali IV, S Laird; 2, Shanemullagh Lady, D Irvine; 3, Jalisco, N Robertson. Foxhunter – 1, Keeford Carousel, D Irvine; 2, Sunsolde, K Deakin; 3, VIP Cooley, E Jamieson. British Novice – 1, Varenia, D Cox; 2, Ustino, D Duffin; 3, Zandeur Cover, S McLean. 90cm – 1, Gigolo, J Cairns. Discovery – 1, SGS Bejewel; 2, Ickle Wickle, E Hendry; 3, Once Upon A Time, A Mills. 1m open – 1, Starfield Diva, I Drumond; 2, Ruby Gold, H Aird; 3, Gigolo. Newcomers – 1, Mirannan, D Ockenden; 2, Watch Me VH Leysehof, L Forsythe; 3, Ma Fleur JS, G Babes. 1.1m open – 1, Shanemullagh Lady, D Irvine; 2, Femara San, W Hendry; 3, Grandioos, W Hendry. 1.15m open – 1, Coulters Candy, N Devlin; 2, Divanov; 3, Beseeka Red Hot Chilli Pepper, M Turnbull. RHS Andrew Hamilton qualifier – 1, At First D’Authuit, J Smith; 2, Up To Date Showgirl, K Hamilton; 3, Creevagh Charisma, V Gibson. RHS B and C – 1, Just Max, J Smith; 2, Up To Date Show Girl; 3, Queen Bee JX, D Anderson. British Nov – 1, Castlecomer Imp; 2, Hilton; 3, Jupiters Orbit, D Brown. 90cm – 1, Harleys Revenge, R Aitken; 2, Java Scatlot, J Hickman. Discovery – 1, A Midsummer Nights Dream, L Gardiner; 2, Grand Kannan, H Haig; 3, Hero Singapore, D Duffin. 1m Open-1, Harleys Revenge; 2, JJs Sure To Fly, N Williams; 3, Corina X, M Turnbull. Newcomers – 1, The Best Of Three; 2, Aredis Twiggy, B Thomson; 3, Once Upon A Time, A Mills. 1.1m – 1, Vurelise, C Templeton; 2, Gemalin VD Donkhoeve, S McLean; 3, Dorana. 1.15m open – 1, Beseeka Red Hot Chilli Pepper; 2, Dunbog Gypsy Rose, M Pringle; 3, Coulters Candy. Foxhunter – 1, Keeford Carousel; 2, Dunbog Gypsy Rose; 3, Calreise, L Templeton. 1.3m/RHS Young Masters – 1, Sunsolde; 2, Elo, K Frew; 3, Diablo F, J Thompson.

Morris EC

80cm open – 1, WKD Cosmopolitan, L Forrest; 2, Cyrena Du Carel, L Forrest; 3, Lux Jazzy, H Johnstone. British Nov – 1, Loughborough Henry T Nicholson; 2, Decazzio, G Maher; 3, Ilona VII, J Brookfield. 90cm – 1, Tullycars Peek A Boo, M Cowan; 2, Pieter, M Cowan; 3, WKD Cosmopolitan. Discovery – 1, Hero Singapore, D Duffin; 2, Huntcliffe Storm The Rocks, S Carman; 3, Bandrum E Sprite, C Hamilton. 1m – 1, Gunar S, A Craig; 2, Gidion, M Irving; 3, Robin II, L Hutt. Newcomer – 1, Duffy, L Milne Home;2, Halvador, M Irving; 3, Hobelia, H Hunter. 1.1m – 1, Gemalin VD Donkhoeve, D Irvine; 2, Dynamic II, C Hamilton; 3, Tiffany III, R Clark. Foxhunter – 1, G-Star, A Gatherum; 2, Harmonize, A Moorhouse; 3, Gubeon Annie, J Taylor. 1.2m – 1, Diamond Chip, A Moorhouse; 2, Ballyhane Etto, G Taylor; 3, Diablo F, D Duffin. 1.3m – 1, Diablo F; 2, Drumconnick Verdi, A Craig; 3, My Boy Z, J Dixon. 80cm – 1, Elanka, B Williamson; 2, Clarkes Logic, B Davidson; 3, Hurricane V, K Connor. British Nov – 1, Ballinamonapark Hquinn, B Davidson; 2, Minimiss, K Diamond; 3, Ferro Star, G Burns. 90cm – 1, Tullycars Peek A Boo; 2, Singapores Pride, G Taylor; 3, Cyrena Du Carel. Discovery – 1, London Times, J Fearley; 2, Inventor, S Henderson; 3, Boss Lux, G Burns. 1m – 1, Currabawn Cinderella, A Ion; 2, Cyrena Du Carel; 3, Gigolo, J Cairns. Newcomers – 1, CES Wicked Contender, J Crawford; 2, Endyana Eh Z, A Black; 3, Baltimore Landzicht C Hamilton. 1.1m open – 1, Diamond Chip; 2, Mark The Man, A Moorhouse; 3, Fauber, D Harland. RHS Andrew Hamilton – 1, My Boy Z; 2, Falco, A Barr ;3, Zenus Flight, J Thompson. 1.3m/Young Masters – 1, Cartouch III, M Turnbull; 2, Flinstering, J Smith; 3, Bailande Van De Kapel, K Connor. British Nov – 1, Pippa Du Perron, E Ryder; 2, Too Die For, J Smith; 3, Grand Kannan, D Irvine. 90cm – 1, Lux Jazzy; 2, Autumn Cruise, J Kennel. Discovery – 1, London Times; 2, Ballinamonapark Hquinn; 3, Sir Marcus, M Irving. 1m open – 1, Currabawn Cinderalla; 2, Sammy G, B Davidson; 3, Arorusa, B Davidson. Newcomers – 1, Aghamore, J Dixon; 2, Florentina JL, J Dixon; 3, HBF Detroit, M Turnbull. 1.1m – 1, Quattro 27, J Smith; 2, Gemalin VD Donkhoeve; 3, Woliena BB, S Deasy. Foxhunter – 1, Gogobantus, J Dixon; 2, Jugurtha Herism, S McLean; 3, Casiebba VI, J Smith. 1.2m – 1, Fan II, D Duffin; 2, Ashton Dakota, M Turnbull; 3, HHS Dramarko, D Irvine. RHS B and C – 1, Flinstering; 2, Elo; 3, Drumconnick Verdi.