Kent-based Guy Williams made it two out of two when, following on from his win in the Winter A+B Grand Prix at Addington exactly a week beforehand, he travelled 500 miles north to do exactly the same at Ingliston EC’s first senior Premier show.

The Premier had been moved to this earlier date encouraging some of Britain’s best to travel. The Grand Prix was the culmination of four days of superb jumping and of the 36 forward many were in with a chance.

Course designer Peter Gillespie’s track at first glance did not look too difficult, but a couple of lines were to prove influential including a tried and tested trap of a triple bar on a five and a half stride distance to a double of uprights then onto the final line which required control and power when from a tall upright four strides lead to a double of oxers.

It was an interesting class to watch as the riders had to make up their minds how to make the distances with some attempts paying off whilst others fell foul of the traps.

When the last horse crossed the line, 17 had found the track to their liking and set about having a go in the timed round.

This jump off, like so many over the weekend, asked some serious questions and offered various alternatives from start to finish.

Angling the first fence, Nick Skelton took a brave inside line to the second fence but when this didn’t pay off he settled down to take Transmission round clear the rest of the way.

Paul Barker was next to go but opted to go around to the second fence. He pushed Temple Ryefield into the following double of upright survived a rub then set off at a gallop to an oxer jumping toward the crowd.

A gasp went up when Temple Ryefield landed and shot sideways through a gap so fast it caught the spectators by surprise. Another sharp turn after the wall and a run to the last upright saw Paul cheered over the finish line clear in 41.36.

Essex’s Graham Lovegrove already had one win under his belt thanks to Pandur in a 1.40m open but his time with Tin Tin wasn’t quite quick enough leaving him in eventual fifth place.

The spectators rallied behind Scotland’s number one Scott Brash as he cleared the first few fences on Bon Ami and looked to be quick enough. Looking for some precious fractions of a second Scott tried a tighter option to the wall but it didn’t pay off slowing them down slightly to finish with the fastest four faults and eighth place.

Geoff Billington had a go with Patricia Fraser’s Rosinus but although galloping the long way round left the fences up it didn’t please the clock which recorded a slower time of 42.88.

11th in, Guy Williams is well known for his effectiveness under pressure and especially in speed classes and partnering Torinto Van De Middlestede he is a serious danger.

A winner of almost £110,000 this year and having two Nations Cup appearances under his belt, this 13 year old Belgian Warmblood son of Remondo has only just returned from a winter break yet at this, only his second show back, he looked back to the form that has seen him become such a favourite with the public that he now has his own Facebook page and is ranked 5th in Britain.

A sharp, nippy gelding he was always moving forwards taking the same route as Paul but covering the ground quicker than the much bigger Temple Ryefield.

Jumping the last for fun Torinto shot over the finish line bucking and kicking back as his fast time (39.64) was read out.

Only three more riders could remain clear, Laura Kraut, Olmifon Das; Simon Buckley on Warrior Van Dingeshof; and Geoff this time on Uppercut finishing 7th, 6th and 3rd respectively.

The serious danger came from last in, Nick Skelton this time on his grey Carlo. It was all over quickly when trying the same ambitious turn he had on his first ride the stride and angle caught them out leaving Guy the clear and delighted winner.

“Let’s hope this form continues” said Guy, “This centre is fabulous, well worth the journey and I would not hesitate to return” he stated after he had collected his winner’s cheque.

Securing two classes, 16 year old reigning Junior European Champion Carian Scudamore was another with a long journey home as she set off for her base near Dyfed on Sunday evening.

Following on from her win in the Blue Chip B+C on Boy Major Van Het Lindenhof, Carian went against 23 other young riders in the World Class Development Programme Qualifier being one of just 5 to go against the clock.

Quickest home of the three double clears, Carian rode some superb turns this time on her lovely chestnut gelding Larino 0087.

Bought from Cumbria’s Nicky Jennings, this former Foxhunter Finalist has really clicked with Carian and made light work of the substantial fences.

Phillipa Dobby has only returned to the saddle for a couple of months following knee surgery steering Nirvana D’Oc into runner up position, leaving Scotland’s Mercedes McDonald with her own Ramzes in third.

Having already earned their ticket for the Winter B+C finals, Robert Bevis was relieved to gain Winter Grade C qualification so early in the Premier circuit thanks to a fast round on his own U-Kitty.

This class offered an entertaining jump off in which turning and jumping was the order of the day and those with control found the inside lines easy.

Kerry Brennan found a super shot to after the first turn then landing short after the penultimate upright angled inside to the last taking it on a flyer to set an early target that forced many a hand.

Robert had had a job containing U-Kitty in the first round as this keen mare took a hold so letting her have her own way in the jump off saw her cover the ground, yet remain careful, to drop an incredible two seconds off the time and take one of the two tickets on offer for the finals at the British Open in the spring.

It was good to see the Scottish riders hold their own amongst the company with several earning good places throughout the show. Scott Brash was the only one to take one of the major qualifying competitions, the Winter B+C thanks to Liz and Angus McTaggart’s homebred son of Silverstone Waterstone II.

Another just returned from a winter break, Waterstone has already earned Royal Highland Show Grade C qualification and now has a trip to the Royal International on the cards.

Another Cumbrian, Louise Alston watched from the sidelines as her mare, Canora, collected the second ticket on offer with Julie Andrews on board.

LEADINGawards:

1.10m Open%1, Pompidou, C McNaughton; 2, Roscoes Skip On, L Babes; 3, Woliena BB, S Deasy.Newcomers%1, Whitney, C Scudamore; 2, Zorro, K Brennan; 3, Zwift Sow, J Scullion. Foxhunter%1, Dartagnan De La Pomme, J Davenport; 2, Unique IV, M Arnott; 3, Verolinde, S Price. 1.20m Open%1, Power, C Smith; 2, Cha Cha Z, K Shore; 3, Coppy Right, A Vanessen.National 1.30m Open%1, Zegreanne Z, J Dixon; 2, Quinton, P Baarker; 3, Upperten, R Bevis. National 1.40m Open%1, Pandur, G Lovegrove; 2, Olmifon Das, L Kraut; 3, Rosinus, G Billington. Grade C/Foxhunter%1, Pardon, R Davenport; 2, Alsager, P Curtis; 3, Pepito D’Airsain, C Luyckx. Winter Grade C%1, U%Kitty, R Bevis; 2, Wellington M, K Brennan; 3, Sparco, P Dobby. National 1.30m Open%1, Ali, G Lovegrove; 2, Amadeus, P Barker; 3, Beaujolais, S Brash. 1.40m Open%1, Amadeus; 2, Transmission, N Skelton; 3, Intertoy Z, S Brash. 1.25m Winter Qualifier%1, Dottie Z, L Bevan; 2, Roscoes Skip On; 3, Good Lucky Girl, J Andrews. Winter B+C Qualifier%1, Waterstone II, S Brash; 2, Canora, J Andrews; 3, Upperten II. Accumulator With Joker%1, Sebastian, S Brash; 2, Upperten; 3, Arkida, R Maguire.World Class Development Programme Qualifier%1, Larino 0087, C Scudamore; 2, Nirvana D’Oc, P Dobby; 3, Ramzes, M McDonald. Gala Pairs Evening Relay%1, Pompidou; 2, Zorro V; 3, Whitney. Blue Chip Dynamic B+C%1, Boy Major Van Het Lindehof, C Scudamore; 2, Roscoes Promise To Be, E Froehlich; 3, T D’Arco, L Hutt. National 1.30m Open%1, Dottie Z; 2, Amira, P Barker; 3, Java Sange, D Duffin. Winter A+B Grand Prix%1, Torinto Van De Middlestede, G Williams; 2, Temple Ryefield, P Barker; 3, Uppercut II, G Billington.