Despite horrendous weather reports, blocked roads, blizzards and freezing conditions, quite a few riders made their way to Howe Country Centre for the Hogmanay show, where they were met with a warm friendly atmosphere for the four days of competition.

A fun, enjoyable show saw some good classes, even if the numbers were lower than expected and, with Rafael Suarez in charge of the tracks, no one got off lightly, even if there weren’t so many to compete against.

Douglas Duffin took home the majority of the prize money over the show, courtesy of Julie McClelland’s Java Sange. By Paladin Des Ifs out of a Rox De La Touche mare Java Sange, a former French age class finalist was found for Julie by Douglas who has now had the ride back a few months.

His most profitable victory over the show was the Howe Invitational Masters, run on Hogmanay.

Creating an atmosphere and drawing spectators back to the centre to try out the newly upgraded bar area the masters started six riders over a six-fence track which would be raised as each rider entered.

It wasn’t long before the bogey fence was spotted, a set of planks a short six strides from a triple bar. It didn’t even need to be raised much before it caught out the first couple. Kelly Conner, Breesy and Nicola Sheard, Just Call Me Max found the distance difficult and dropped out early on.

Holly Haig kept opting for the triple bar to be raised to suit Parisienne but this actually meant that the control to the planks became more critical. Jumping big over the triple bar, both Holly’s mount and Roger McCrae’s Belissimo ran on to hit the planks and share third place leaving Laura Hutt and Douglas to fight it out.

Drawn first, Laura jumped an immaculate round on Margaret Taggart’s T D’Arco but a huge jump over the triple bar saw them land running so taking a chance and opting to go one stride less they rubbed the top plank off and had to sit back and watch Douglas.

Keeping his cool, Douglas made the track look easy as he kept Java Sange to the job in hand, cruising the distance also on one stride less but still on control to land clear and the 2009 masters.

This was Java Sange’s third win of the weekend to add to stablemate, Volcano’s victory in the accumulator earlier in the day.

Roger McCrae hadn’t fancied his chances in the masters with Belissimo, which is just back from a few months holiday and started the week a bit ring rusty.

As the show progressed, Roger’s team of horses found their stride, with Alaska M claiming a couple of classes before they took home a decent amount of prize money on the final day.

New Year’s day was a little quiet possibly due to a few recovering from a fun Hogmanay party in the bar the night before but a few die hards turned up attracted by the classes on offer.

Roger, however, had a clear head to take the top prizes in the 1.10m grand prix with Alasaka M then the 1.20m with Belissimo.

The Blue Chip qualifier saw a victory for the successful working hunter, Freckleton Maximus. By Monte Carlo, this attractive bay won at HOYS in 2008 as a worker but his breeding gives him a useful jump, as proven this winter, with Kirsty Aird on board.

This time, under the guidance of Carly Brewster, he easily captured the qualifying ticket for the Blue Chip Championships, held later on this season.

LEADINGawards:

British novice – 1, Charles Gunnar, N Sheard; 2, Zanthago, S Farrel; 3, Tia Magenta, N Sheard. Discovery – 1, Kollateral Z, H Millar; 2, Gora II, K McArthur; 3, Zion, K McArthur. 1.05m open – 1, Nethertown Kiss, C Hamilton; 2, Freckleton Maximus, C Brewster; 3, Voorjaarsfee, N Sheard. Blue Chip Joint RFL Power championship – 1, Freckleton Maximus, C Brewster; 2, Bellina Van De Warande, S Wallace; 3, Why Me II, K Conner. 1.15m open – 1, Alaska M, R McCrae; 2, Molly Ashe, L Hutt; 3, Ujoni, H Haig. Foxhunter/1.20m – 1, Java Sange, D Duffin; 2, Parisienne, H Haig; 3, Wimbledon, R McCrae. 1.30m open – 1, Anna VHB, L Brash; 2, Java Sange; 3, Jacoline D, D Duffin. British Novice – 1, Elamo Scarvagh Lad, A Malcolm; 2, Wild Thyme, M Lam; 3, Keltic Connection, F Ritchie. 1.05/1.10m handicap – 1, Wirkeness, L Templeton; 2, Tee Pee, N Malcolm; 3, Coppers Dream, J McClelland. Newcomers – 1, Wietteke, L Graham; 2, Zo Dapper G, R Walker; 3, Wirkeness. 1.15m Sculpture To Wear – 1, Molly Ashe, L Hutt; 2, Voorjaarsfee; 3, Crailyn Clover Bay, L Hood. Foxhunter/1.20m open – 1, Wimbledon; 2, Urminka, M Baillie; 3, Caretino De Reve, L Guild. 1.30m open – 1, Java Sange; 2, Double Up 2, L Tinto; 3, T D’Arco, L Hutt. British novice – 1, Bandrum Elite, C Hamilton; 2, Tia Magenta, N Sheard; 3, Wild Thyme. Discovery – 1, Wirkeness; 2, Mr Stardust, L Perry; 3, Keltic Connection. Newcomers – 1, Thunder Star Revel, C Hamilton; 2, Wirkeness; 3, Wietteke. Foxhunter/1.20m open – 1, Alaska M; 2, Cantaro, S McKie; 3, Zigano, R Walker. Accumulator – 1, Volcano, D Duffin; 2, Patricia, N Sheard; 3, Double Up 2. Howe invitational masters – 1, Java Sange; 2, T D’Arco; 3 equal Parisienne & Belissimo, R McCrae. 1.10m Grand Prix – 1, Alaska M; 2, Nethertown Kiss; 3, Chilas, J Thomson. 1.20m grand prix – 1, Belissimo; 2, Fast Track, N Malcolm; 3, Jacoline D.