With the weather on their side at Ayr Show, the ground near perfect and a varied schedule many claimed this was the best show yet.

The decision to run just one day and one ring may have been disappointing for the spectators and competitors but hopefully this will be expanded on for next year following this success.

Travelling from Cumbria Simon Buckley did what he came to do, collect a qualifying ticket on David Wicks’ mare Ciella in the RHS grade C.

This Belgian-bred eight-year-old was found in Jack McGeoch’s yard a year ago then due to work and family commitments was given to Simon to compete. Trevor Nicholson, Serial K and Laura Hutt, Ricco were both qualifiers in different sections at Strathallan the previous weekend finishing second and third here respectively.

Another to benefit from some travelling this year is Greg Taylor who performed well at the European viewing trials at Wales and West recently. His ride on this occasion, Denter, a son of Jus De Pomme made Robert Canney’s foxhunter track look easy when last to go in the jump off he thrashed the time set by Stacey Babes on her ever improving Irish bred Vector M2S.

Joining Greg at Wales and West and just missing out on a grand prix win there Graham Gillespie scored a double in the final two classes heading the 1.30m open on Undercover before flying round the 1.20m Derby track on his speedy mare Ara.

Scott Brash returned victorious from La Baule following his debut as part of Great Britain’s FEI Nations Cup Team. Riding his father Stan’s Interadel Z son Intertoy Z he may have collected eight faults in the first round but showed professionalism to conjure up a superb clear in the second round to help the team secure overall third place.

Douglas Duffin, Simon Buckley and Vicky Tulloch travelled to Balmoral Show to tackle the International classes.

Vicky, from County Durham fared the best winning the final class of the show the grand prix on her own super mare Soliegette.

Douglas picked up prize money on Julie McLelland’s Volcano when earning enough points in the top score to finish seventh and third with Julie’s Java Sange in an international jump off class.

At Central Scotland Show, held at the stunning setting of Strathallan Castle in Perthshire, many of the horses, and riders, found the surface and the gradient of the ring catch them out having spent a winter jumping on flat artificial surfaces but after a class most had upped their game and started to enjoy the near perfect conditions. Course designer George Blackie set the test for the main ring where three Highland Show qualifiers were on offer.

Collecting two tickets was Kirkcudbright’s James Smith. Douglas Duffin and James fought it out in the 1.25m star of the future qualifier with James first.Douglas did pick up qualification further down the line with Fiona Horne’s SSH stallion Clarius who had recently returned from a successful trip to Lummen, Belgium.

Sure to be the busiest rider on the Sunday of the Highland Show is Roger McCrae who now has four through to the finals of the foxhunter. Joining his other three rides was Hallmark Carnival the usual ride of owner Steffani Deans. With Steffani still sidelined with a shoulder injury Roger took over for this show to produce the fastest of four double clears from 27 starters.

Gael Coia put the foot to the floor on Billy McKechnie’s Quiberon D but a longer route saw them slower on the clock but to finish second. Sitting on the side lines birthday girl Sarah Hutt watched as her sister Laura steered her ride Ricco II, a Scottish-bred son of Cappuccino into the final qualifying slot.

Rounding off the show, the Strathallan grand prix was entertaining to watch as riders tackled three rounds starting at 1.30m and finishing around 1.45m.

Riding Julie McLelland’s Java Sange Douglas Duffin was the only rider from five in the final round to leave the fences standing taking the top place.

George Blackie is a busy man at the moment running the events at SNEC whilst course designing at other shows in between. His two-day show at Oatridge College’s centre was as usual these days well attended especially for the Highland Show foxhunter qualifier which attracted more than 30 entries.

The qualifying ticket went to a rider from south of the Border, Kelly Smith on her own Rianna. This 12-year-old mare has been with Kelly since her novice days and has moved up into the bigger classes within the last year with this their first attempt at the Highland Show finals.

Susan Deasy will no doubt be seen in the ring at the Highland with her useful long term partner Sea Lion but it was her beautifully turned out novice Wolienna BB, purchased from George Babes as a youngster, that produced a foot perfect round to settle into second place in the qualifier.

SNEC – British novice – 1, Ocean Swell, K Dunlop; 2, Mayfair IV, E Muir; 3, Conzaire, H Garter. Discovery – 1, STB McCoist, C Walker; 2, Miss Argentine, E Buchanan; 3, Felicia, D Greer. 1.05m open – 1, Vandora Weering, D Harland; 2, Tabloid M, K Spalding; 3, Only Oscar, M Murdoch. Newcomers – 1, Vyonetty, D Duffin; 2, Valencia, M-C Doyle; 3, Nux D’Amour, D Harland. RHS foxhunter – 1, Riana, K Smith; 2, Woliena BB, S Deasy; 3, Zwift Sow, J Scullion. 1.25m/star of the future – 1, Arthur Van De Helle, D Duffin; 2, Waterstone, S Brash; 3, Ara, G Gillespie. British novice – 1, Junior H, A Spalding; 2, Azzuro, K Spalding; 3, Hiawatha’s Pony, J Stephen. Discovery – 1, Coilte Nesroc, K Aird; 2, Freckleton Mayday, K Aird; 3, Mayfair IV. 1.05m open – 1, Tabloid M, K Spalding; 2, Quayside Castle Pablo, M McDonald; 3, Temple Piccolo, G Mitchell. Newcomers – 1, WSH Wrangler, M Williams; 2, Master Class, T Nicholson; 3, Kanndy Man, M Turnbull. Foxhuter/1.20m – 1, Victors Quest, M Williams; 2, Fa’Hills Little Missy, L Hutt; 3, Ricco II, L Hutt. 1.30m open – 1, Ursula XII, M Turnbull; 2, Urminka, M Baillie; 3, Ronneke, M Baillie.

Strathallan/Central Scotland – Early riser – 1, Perhaps B, L Babes; 2, Wirkeness, L Templeton; 3, Capopino, A Craig. Discovery/Scottish novice championship qualifier – 1, Orchid, K McArthur; 2, Bandrum Elite, C Hamilton; 3, Elona Van De Noorheide, L Urquhart. 1.05m open – 1, Ambushed, S Lohoar; 2, Uniek IV, F Burgoyne; 3, Magnifique, M Russell. Strathallan small grand prix – 1, Nethertown Kiss, C Hamilton; 2, Rania River Z, R McCrae; 3, Magnifique. RHS foxhunter – 1, Hallmark Carnival, R McCrae; 2, Quiberon D, G Coia; 3, Ricco II, L Hutt. 1.20m/Scottish small open qualifier – 1, Rough Diamond, L Cecchini; 2, Sea Lion, S Deasy; 3, Udo Limit, D Duffin. RHS grade C – 1, Cumina, J Smith; 2, Ursula XII, M Turnbull; 3, Udo Limit. 1.25m/star of future RHS – 1, Arthur Van De Helle, D Duffin; 2, Cumina; 3, Pieter, J Kirk. Strathallan grand prix – 1, Java Sange, D Duffin; 2, Ronneke, M Baillie; 3, Arthur Van De Helle.

Ayr – 1.15m open – 1, Cavalier Agostino, M McDonald; 2, Pompidou, C McNaughton; 3, Lupita, M Cadden. RHS foxhunter – 1, Denter, G Taylor; 2, Vector M2S, S Babes; 3=, Winday Q, J Smith & Orpheous, K Watson. RHS Grade C – 1, Ciella, S Buckley; 2, Serial K, T Nicholson; 3, Ricco, L Hutt.1.30m open – 1, Undercover 3, G Gillespie; 2, Classic Connection, A Barr; 3, Cumina, J Smith. 1.20m derby – 1, Ara, G Gillespie; 2, Tosca, J Kirk; 3, Pieter, J Kirk.