This season seems to be one of the most exciting for Scottish show jumping, with good entries at all the show centres, a decent range of classes and, of course, the Royal Highland qualifiers keeping riders at home.

After two quiet seasons its great to see everyone back out and meaning business again, including Kirkcudbright’s James Smith, who is usually one to head abroad but this year has stayed closer to home.

Travelling south to the British SJ Spring Championships, he maintained his form with his own and Jim Wilmer’s very useful Prince Malko M, which impressed in the Winter seven-year-old classes, finishing second then eighth in the final. This preceded a fourth place in the Winter Grade C final over a massive track which this little gelding make look easy.

Returning home, they headed to a busy Morris three-day show to pick up qualifying tickets for both the RHS Novice qualifier and the B and C.

James also earned some prize money with the 11-year-old Mylord Carthago-sired Good Friends, which brought home a cool £1000 for third place in the Wimter National 1.35m Final. This horse will also contest the B+C RHS finals in the summer.

In her first year in seniors Amy Morris has lost no time beating her elders with both her top horses now qualified for the finals. Let's Hope and Up To Date Showgirl are already through to not only the Young Masters Final but also for the B and C and the Classic final. No stranger to winning at the Highland, this cool competitor will be one to watch at the finals.

The Young Masters final held in the main grass arena at the Highland is one of the most exciting finals of the season for the young riders and already looks set to be a super competition.

Sandy McLean now has three through, his own Aragon Des Dames which recently finished third in a strong Grand Prix at Morris, Gravin Tina JL and another for Jim Wilmer, Dee Dee Damour. The latter two are also through to the B and C final.

Emma Crawford has her two speedy mounts, Ferragamo and Dukes of Hazzard, qualified – with Ferragamo now joining Duke in the B and C final after qualifying at Morris.

Blue Ridge hosted a few qualifiers, with David Harland accounting for a B and C on board JJs Sure To Fly. Bred by the Jamieson family, it was good to see John, wife Margaret and grandson, Lloyd, out to watch this win.

Mark Turnbull, who is currently producing the lovely home-bred Ashton Mally Blue in the baby classes, lost time in the air with his ride, Hotline as this grey gave everything plenty of height to slot into second behind David to qualify.

Logan Creighton picked up his first ticket with Calini jumping well for third, whilst Jordan Thompson will be hoping his ride, fourth-placed Harvey XX, won't be sold before the finals.

Lucy Stewart will have the chance to defend her championship win of 2021 with Cancun, which has now qualified again following a runner up place at Morris behind delighted winner Julie Greig on her 15-year-old Grade A, Hawkswings. She also has her younger mount, Jortel La Vie, through for the Novice and B and C finals now with this big gelding impressing when wining his first attempt at a 1.3m at Morris, recently.

What a partnership Jenny Herries has created with Alex Brewster’s gorgeous chestnut mare, Cliftons Adelaide. Not only have they been successful in working hunter classes with a placing at last year’s HOYS, but they have been to Portugal this year where they finished in the money on several occasions show jumping up to 1.4m

Returning home and a trip to Highfield of Howe saw this seven-year-old win the B and C qualifier from Charlotte Geddes, who has only recently taken the reins of Tiny Dancer VI from Michelle Warnock.

Jenny had travelled to Vilamoura with Stephen Lohoar and team, with Stephen finishing third on this occasion with the home-bred Kameron LSH also qualifying, as did fourth placed Jodie Maher, on Grace Unlimited, which is also through to the Young Masters.

Currently competing and winning in Spain, Amy Oglivie made sure she qualified before she left steering her own Kardento SCAIS to win the RHS Novice qualifier at Highfield, giving two chances alongside a Classic final ticket.

Lea Brash slotted into second with Esco VD Bleukhoeve adding to their Classic ticket and Rachel Williamson collected third with the versatile Kill Bill JX, which finished double clear and fourth in the BE100 at Kirriemuir the following weekend. Rachel also has her super consistent Jaytana through to the Classic final.

Daniel Scott finished sixth in the Intermediate BE, at Oasby, on High Times V, which now has a Highland Show appearance booked with his fourth place behind Rachel.

Aileen Craig has two chances with Immer Gewissenhaft following wins in a very fast B and C at Morris, then the Novice qualifier at Blue Ridge. Ben Carruthers earned second in this class with Horgan De Pont De Jour, with Alistair Gray in third on Elvis IV.

Greg Taylor has another two through for Jim Wilmer, whose Carvalla and Wicked Vancouver both contest the Novice qualifier after picking up tickets at Blue Ridge and Morris.

Charley Hamilton maintained her form with wins in classes at most venues on a variety of horses. Loretta Blue MFS had her winter novice at Hickstead to look forward to but also finished runner-up at the British SJ Spring Championships in the winter six-year-old finals.

But it's with Horatio Van Ter Hulst that Charley has collected the most tickets so far, with three classes to look forward to – the Young Masters, the B and C and the Classic finals.

Graham Babes now has two through for the Young Masters final. Esunja and Monks I Am Casall, with the latter also through to the B and C final.

Chasing the amateur qualifiers and bronze league classes, Alistair White and partner Angela have been to the British SJ Spring Championships where they have been there or thereabouts on Hanleen O Tess and Whisky Girl. Alistair has since won a few more classes at home with O Tess and they now head to Wales for more qualifiers.

Natalie Devlin came home with a red rosette from South View with Coulters Candy in a 1.15m, while Declan Irvine was seen jumping some good rounds at Wales and The West, and Lindsay Jeffrey has been placed eventing, dressage and BS with her super dun mare, Inisbree Honey Bee. Dumfries and Galloway’s Jenna Stead went to Alnwick Ford, recently, and won the 1.3m open.

In the junior sections, the 128cm classes have been quite quiet, but jumping clears to qualify Zahra Taylor has impressed with Tempest Rose winning at Muirmill and Blue Ridge but already qualified at Howe.

Ayrshire’s Elliana Prentice has turned to show jumping from the show ring finishing runner up to Zahra at Muirmill on her own diminutive and home-produced CB It Takes Two. Only ten years old Elliana was having her first try at a qualifier but had won the previous 128/138 Springboard and heads to Aberdeen next to try to qualify.

Nicole Cairns was seen riding Gail Rogan’s fab little coloured Remote Controlled in the qualifiers but it was her own Llandin Sea Biscuit who picked up a ticket with a win at Highfield.

Lexi Lane was delighted to qualify her ride of just a few months Claughaun Casper at Blue Ridge at only her second attempt at this class.

Cumbria’s Abigail Wicks has taken over the ride on the 138cms Icaris W from sister Sophie to win a qualifier at Blue Ridge and one at Stainsby Grange. Icaris was runner up in the finals last year for Sophie who brings Korado along for the JC finals again this year.

Aimee Paxton won her qualifier ast Muirmill on Cassi De L’Abdinae but also has the 148cms final and Liz Fox to contest wither sister Sophie’s former ride Las Vegas as well as Santa Rose in the Liz Fox finals.

Anna Black has Miami Sandyman through to the 148cms but now has the exciting new ride for her, Moon Man through for the JC finals.

Madelaine Archibald was third behind Michael McColm on AG Dynamo and MHS Kansas and Marni McMyn at Lanarkshire Areas show at West Kype. Riding LCS Peachy Beachy she now has two finals to contest with this pony also going through for the JC Final.

Marni has all of her three ponies qualified, MHS Kansas, Eyre Diva Dior and Hoofprint Caleb giving her a busy Sunday at the show.

Millie Lawson topped the JC qualifier at Blue Ridge with Tyrone D giving her four ponies to contest two finals so far.

Beth Stewart collected two tickets in one fell swoop at Muirmill when she rode Charlies Pride and Rhona Henderson’s Guenlole Jazzy Lady into second and third in the JC.

Really starting to cement their partnership Lucy Capper and Rathcoona James have only been together a few months so their first round clear and win in the 138cms qualifier at the Lanarkshire Area show was well deserved.

Runner up this time was Millie Walker on Schierensees Cypress who had already qualified with a win at Highfield.