The Highland show qualifiers were competitive at Howe Country Centre’s recent three-day show where one of the youngest riders on the senior scene claimed another ticket for this year’s final.

Mark Turnbull (15) is still juggling his time between ponies and horses having the 148cms stallion Caradoc to compete as well as his family’s home-bred horses but it was the horses who produced the goods this weekend.

Rafael Suarez built a strong track for the RHS star of the future qualifier which starts at 1.25m but can finish around the 1.45m mark under the A10 ruling. Double clears were few and far between until the penultimate rider, Sandra Low-Mitchell and her own Turbo III.

This pair has been having a great start to 2010 finishing in the line ups in most classes and only just missing out in the British Open amateur qualifier at Ingliston. Not rushing, aiming for a clear Sandra produced just that to take the lead with only Mark left to challenge her result.

Riding his mother Mary’s nine-year-old mare, Ulurru, Mark bravely moved up a gear and took the tight routes to chop around two seconds off Sandra’s time and assure him of an another appearance at the Highland in June. By Concorde out of Nimmerdor/TB mare Ulurru is a Scottish Sport Horse first premium mare brought out by Mary and then handed to Mark and showing a lot of ability in the larger classes.

Stablemate Kanndy Man is also home-bred, being a half brother to another useful performer Jenny Herries’ Whisky Mac out of the same mare Sienna (Burgraaf), although this one is by the Voltaire/Nimmerdor son Kannan. Having trotted around some intro shows a few months ago this six-year-old gelding is growing up all the time on this occasion winning a newcomers with an easy double clear.

It was a one, two, three for the Muirhead yard when three riders from Ron Brady and Douglas Duffin’s base took all the qualifying positions in the RHS foxhunter section. Douglas, winner of four classes over the show, headed the trio on board Lisanne Henderson’s Sebastian’s Native. Lisanne was the former owner of Scott Brash’s ride Bon Ami and following his success returned to Brendon Stud where she spotted a small chestnut with a big jump.

By Sebastian, the gelding arrived at Lisanne’s looking smaller than she had realized and for a few days she doubted whether she should keep him. Watching him loose jump Lisanne decided he was worth the work and after some flatwork lessons and some time the now seven-year-old is really coming into his own. Given to Douglas for the bigger classes they had their first outing at Kingsbarn before tackling Howe and making this track look easy.

Karen Watson, based at and trained by Douglas, had to be content but was delighted with second place on her own Orpheous.

Craig Hamilton has a number of Ron Brady’s horses to choose from having already won two classes, Nethertown Kiss taking a 1.05m and the huge grey Silvertone Z, a newcomers before the Ahorn sired Viellefond, former ride of Dan Ockenden found all the distances to his liking to secure a third and final qualifying place.

The RHS Grade C was theirs for the taking but once again Sandra Low-Mitchell on Turbo gave cause for concern as did Blythe Brewster who is having a consistent run with her own Benefactor.

LEADINGawards:

British novice – 1, Mystic Pearl, N Sheard; 2, Athlone David, E Leslie; 3, Alexia, L Hutt. Discovery – 1, Unmoristiso, C Hamilton; 2, Wilco II, S Gibb; 3, Carnival Star, L McFadzean. 1.05m open – 1, Nethertown Kiss, C Hamilton; 2, Combestone Granada, C Cousar; 3, Voorjaarsfee, N Sheard. Newcomers – 1, Silverstone Z, C Hamilton; 2, Corroghoe Storm, S Low-Mitchell; 3, Talvados C, C McNaughton. Sculpture To Wear 1.15m – 1, Udo Limit, D Duffin; 2, Magnifique, M Russell; 3, Crailyn Clover Bay, L Hood. Foxhunter/1.20m open – 1, Cadavloro, S Laird; 2, Arthur Van De Helle, D Duffin. Tweeduizend M, S Gibb. 1.25m open – 1, Jacoline D, D Duffin; 2, Parisienne, H Haig; 3, Cameron Poe, J Robertson. British novice – 1, Western Glan, L Grieve; 2, Zahara Dark Mist, Z Guild; 3, Zenith JC, J Cross. Discovery – 1, Willoughby, P McNair; 2, Wilco; 3, Lady De Breve, G Marsh. 1.05m/1.10m Handicap – 1, Tinella, L Barclay; 2, Quayside Castle Pablo, M McDonald; 3, Talgraaf Hero, J Cross. 1.15m open – 1, Coppers Dream, J McClelland; 2, Warbantas, M McDonald; 3, Casano, M Williams. RHS foxhunter qualifier – 1, Sebastian’s Native, D Duffin; 2, Orpheous, K Watson; 3, Viellefond, C Hamilton. RHS grade C qualifier – 1, Warbantas; 2, Turbo II, S Low – Mitchell; 3, Benefactor, B Brewster. British novice – 1, Abiene, N McRobbie; 2, U2 V, J Gollnick; 3, Mystic Pearl. Discovery – 1, Zonieke, R Payne; 2, Karate Z, L Halil; 3, Wilco, S Gibb. Newcomers – 1, Kanndy Man, M Turnbull; 2, Caloosahatchee River, N McRobbie; 3, Palmalski, S Coull. Sculpture To Wear 1.15m – 1, Johnboy, L Clark; 2,Vesuvio, J Brogan; 3, Victors Quest, M Williams. RHS star of the future – 1, Ulurru, M Turnbull; 2, Turbo III; 3, Thomas III, L Hutt. 1.30m open – 1, Ronneke, D Duffin; 2, Soistara, S Low-Mitchell; 3, Java Sange, D Duffin.