After a couple of years of uncertainty, 2022 saw showjumping return to normal with renewed enthusiasm from competitors and fresh horses ready to go do their job.

As we set foot into 2023, everything is looking promising, with Royal Highland Show qualifiers just around the corner, trips abroad planned, junior premiers already started, double clears being sought and amateur qualifiers ever popular.

Rounding off last year in style, Scotland witnessed our own Scott Brash take on the world’s best and win the World Cup at the London International Horse Show. Originally from Peebles, but now based in Horsham, Surrey, this was a very prestigious, local victory for him.

Thirty-seven of the top riders came forward, with just seven going against the clock. Drawn early Scott, riding his Tokyo Olympic ride, Hello Jefferson, looked steady over the first half of the track but then turned tight and let his mount run to the last to stay just six hundredths of a second ahead of the field earning himself just short of £37,000 and one of the loudest cheers from the home crowd.

After a relatively quiet year by Scott’s standards, this will be a welcome boost and hopefully a glimpse of things to come from this pair this year.

At the other end of the spectrum, competition in the 'mini major' was just as fierce with only a second splitting the top three.

Paired with Shane Breen was Lanark and Upperward PC member, Lexie Lane, on her super speedy Derrymore Lucky Lad. Already crowned Bronze League 128cm champions at the British Nationals earlier in the season, their lap of honour under the lights at the London International was a fabulous end to their career together.

Representing Eglington PC was Zahra Taylor, who finished seventh with Tempest Rose, but what an experience they had partnering the legendary John Whitaker. That will be a memory she will never forget.

Another young lady to have had a season that dreams are made of was Aimee Paxton. Under the watchful eye of trainer, David Harland and sat upon the super reigning HOYS Foxhunter champion, the 148cm stallion, Las Vegas, Aimee jumped double clear in the Mini Stakes only pipped at the post by a flying Tabitha Kyle, on Atomic Du Bary.

This 13-year-old stallion, by Berlin out of a Scottish-bred mare by Dutch Diamond, has won nearly £3000 this year alone since being handed to Aimee by big sister, Sophie, who produced him up through the novice ranks including two HOYS appearances.

What a shame the young riders' class was held so early on the first day of the show, when the atmosphere was a little quieter and the crowds a bit less.

This only detracted slightly from the buzz and certainly did not diminish the sense of achievement felt by 22-year-old Emma Crawford as she steered her super Dukes of Hazzard into third. Only three remained clear from start to finish, with Harry Charles, on Chavira, quickest followed by Leonie Aitkenhead, on Heart Third, in second.

Cupar-based Emma, a Horse Scotland Performance squad member, finished sixth in this class last year with her mother, Lynne’s 10-year-old Dukes of Hazzard and is still eligible for the next few years.

An uncharacteristic four faults dropped Sandy McLean and Gino F down to eighth, but what a spectacular end to the year they’ve had, winning Grand Prix around the country and catapulting themselves to the top of every league table they can.

Sandy is also in the lucky position of having a choice of rides he shares with Jonathan Dixon.

Winning the 1.2m Grand Prix at Morris' Hogmanay Show, Sandy rode Aimee Perratt’s Holden to this victory, despite having only jumped this eleven-year-old, by Namelus R, for the first time just the two days beforehand.

Jennifer Billington’s Non Such Z also looks to be a useful member of the team being placed then winning a quick 1.3m.

One young rider to have enjoyed a trip to Portugal and Spain at the end of last year was Carluke’s Maia Loia. Riding Hiro Della Rivabella and Call Me Cornet Z Maia collected quite a few red tickets in the 1.1m and 1.2m classes, making her first journey abroad a successful one.

Arriving home, she took Hiro Della Rivabella to Morris for the Mini Six Bar and clearing all the fences including the final upright at 1.55m they were crowned joint winners with Fiona Holohan, who stole back her own Kan Annie from son, Fergal, for the evening.

A regular visitor to Scotland, Annabel Shields, from Co Durham, was on winning form rounding her show off with a decisive jump off round in the 1.3m Grand Prix on Elgrando PS, finishing over a second ahead of Douglas Duffin, on Lissyegan Luise Royale, and Fergal Holohan, on Killossery Kameo.

Bringing her total winnings to £600 for just four classes on Elgrando PS, they also won the popular six-bar competition jumping 1.7m in the final round.

The 148cm Premier at Morris was quiet this year, probably due to the rising costs and the clash with shows down south, but it was disappointing to see the show not supported as it should have been.

The first day of the two-day show saw few clears, with just two starting in the Winter JA. Both Madison Seedhouse on Quaprice D’Astree and Emily Gulliver with Fleur De Nuit 8 had four faults in the first round but the following day these two jumped three rounds each clear to take the top tickets.

Saturday’s winter JC/JD qualifier resulted in three going clear over the first two rounds then deciding to split first place and miss the timed round. Sharing equal first were Marni McMyn, on Eye Dior Diva; Emily Irvine, on Runard Lass; and Charlotte Gaw, on Clonberne Leam Pondi, with each taking home a much-coveted RIHS ticket.

Making their drive across the Border worthwhile, two girls went the full distance in Sunday’s equivalent where it was the turn of Manchester rider, Amy Baxter, to produce three immaculate clears with Ballyboran ahead of Nottingham-based Jessica Rood, on Cherie Amour.

Michael McColm looks to have a good, new addition to his team in the form of the grey, Legend SCAIS, formerly produced by Nicky Williams. They started a partnership with some classy double clears but it was Tobar King who gave him an outright win in a JA Handicap from Beth Stewart, on Norbet.

Stepping out of juniors, Nina Dobson had her last competitive outing as a junior at the Morris post-Christmas show before heading to the Hogmanay senior show to win a 90cm open on In Tune.

Vet nurse, Jane Thompson, bought her Carnally Stephannie unseen out of Ireland, breaking and producing her herself, so was delighted with a win in a 1m at Morris, whilst Alicks Ramsay-Brown, who runs her own Equi-Hub business, travelled from Arbroath to take two wins at Highfield of Howe, a newcomers with Lunatic and a 1.05m on Jemairo.