Kirkcudbright’s James Smith has had a fabulous month – earning two qualifying tickets to the most prestigious final of the year at the Horse of the Year show, the senior Foxhunter Championship.

Riding Madison Jamison’s 10-year-old Zambesi-sired Holly since April, while Madison concentrates on her studies and other horses, James has been seen jumping the Highland Show Grand Prix and an area trial, but it was in the Foxhunter second round at Field House that they scored their best victory.

Having had a pole on the floor at the Scottish Extravaganza and Arena UK, it was third time lucky and no mistakes for this pair who took the win in a busy class to secure their appearance at Birmingham, in October.

James, who recently won the open championship on home turf at Dumfries Show with Ibantos, has been knocking on the door all season with Jim Wilmer’s and his own Prince Malko. This careful little horse has been highly successful in seven-year-old classes but being unlucky in the Foxhunter qualifiers until their double clear and fifth place in the Masters at the British Nationals put them also through for the final.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson continues to impress, finishing runner-up to Shane Breen, on Haya, in the Queen Elizabeth Cup at the Royal International, with Miss Aragona PS. Nicole then headed abroad to Valkenswaard where she won classes every day on a fantastic string of horses for owner, Tom Williams.

At Northcote Stud, Blackburn, it was almost a clean sweep for the Scots when they took four HOYS tickets home in the Silver League semi-final. Cheshire’s Holly Dunning, on Harthill Mexico, won the 36-starter class but slotting into second was the ever-speedy and former Silver League champion, Lucy Stewart with Cancun.

Third was recently married Leo Lorimer who runs the successful stud and training centre, LK Sporthorses, near Kinross, with wife, Shannon (nee Kelly) on Liu Jo VLS.

Lea Brash steered her own Truevela Blue into fourth with a pole on the floor in a quick time.

Delighted with fifth was Mischa Irving, who has plenty of experience of qualifying for HOYS but this was the first time with a home-bred and produced horse. Last year’s Winter Novice champion, I Sir Marcus, being out of the lovely mare, Casaretta Mischa, used to compete and is by Statinus.

In the Bronze League equivalent, it was the turn of Erin McGee to collect her ticket. Having won the qualifier back in May, Erin and Loughehoe Henry enjoyed some training with Mark McGowan, before heading to Northcote where a third place ensured them a HOYS appearance.

Jumping into a qualifying place in the Newcomers Masters at the British Nationals was Charlotte Geddes, on Kent HX. Busy teaching and riding freelance, Monkton-based Charlotte had just missed out at Arena UK with this Dutch-bred daughter of Big Star before remaining faultless in the Masters for sixth place and a golden ticket.

MFS Stud, near Banff, has been well represented this year by one of their youngsters, Loretta Blue MFS. Broken and produced by young rider, Charley Hamilton, this six-year-old daughter of Zirocco Blue jumped a classy double clear in the main ring at the Royal International to stand sixth in the line-up of the Winter Novice final.

Travelling onto the British National Championships, this mare then tackled her biggest test to date producing another triple clear over a 1.3m track to finish fourth in the Big Star Championship.

Up and coming talented rider, Charley, has also been having success with the rest of her string with wins all around the country, including a few classes at The Cabin with Faluna and Innishannon Red Squirrel, then Horatio Van Ter Hulst scoring in a big class at Turriff.

Juniors have also been on spectacular form, with a few more HOYS tickets to their name.

Aimee Paxton can do no wrong just now with the gorgeous grey Berlin-sired 148cm stallion, Las Vegas. They won with a first round clear the pony showjumper qualifier at the Scottish Home Pony to add this to a Foxhunter ticket. Then, at the British Nationals, they were placed in all four of their classes including a win in the Newcomers Masters. This partnership now has three finals to contest at Birmingham.

Aimee also has both her 138cm qualified with Chapelmill Choirboy qualifying at the Welsh Home Pony and Cassi De L’Abdenaie going through from the Scottish Home Pony at Morris EC. Cassi De L’Abdenaie then scorched round the pony Discovery final at the Nationals to take this title along with the rug and sash on offer.

Another young rider on amazing form is Fergal Holohan. Fitting the Scottish Home Pony, the Royal International, the Welsh Home pony and the British Nationals into the space of just a few weeks has kept everyone busy, but none more so than Fergal, who has won at each venue and qualified a handful of ponies for HOYS finals.

Fergal’s Hickstead visit saw him being crowned the Winter JC champion on board Little Flexible. An impressive win and the chance to enjoy a lap of honour in one of the most iconic arenas in the world, Fergal and Little Flexible are also through to the Newcomers, Foxhunter and pony showjumper finals.

The Coylton-based rider was also part of the gold medal-winning Scottish team at the Scottish Home Pony, at Morris, alongside team mates Millie Lawson, Marnie McMyn and Aimee Paxton, who scored the first Scottish victory in the class for many years.

Two 128cm riders now have their HOYS tickets. Nicole Cairns was second in her qualifier at Morris EC with Llanidan Sea Biscuit, whilst Rebecca Lawson, on Riverview Sandy, also qualified at Morris before heading to the Nationals to be runner up in the Silver League 128cm final.

Peter Ashe approached David Lawson to give him a hand in the 138cm HOYS qualifier and their tactics paid off when his novice seven-year-old pony, Sugar Ray, produced by Peter from the beginning, jumped amazingly to go treble clear, collect a golden ticket and be described as his pony of a lifetime.

He also had a good week at the Home Pony, heading the novice Grand Prix with Sooper Cooper at only their second show together.

Madelaine Archibald has been working away quietly with her novice, LCS Peachy Beachy, a seven-year-old by Beach Ball, which has just been a bit unlucky in the second rounds this summer. Competing in the Foxhunter Masters at the British Nationals, their sixth place was good enough to ensure that after all their hard work this year, they are through to the Foxhunter finals.

Ten-year-old Jennifer McLeish, from Penicuik, is on fire just now winning the 10 and under Grand Prix at the SHP, then scoring a fabulous win in the Stepping Stones 138cm Championship Final on her own Drumaclan Flight. They earned the chance to have a lap of honour at the British Nationals proudly wearing their rug and sash. This pair will now head to Scope then onto the English Home Pony where they hope to gain a place on the ten and under teams.

The Cabin EC held is popular summer sunshine tour offering two second round qualifiers for seniors. Samantha Wiseman jumped a treble clear on her seven-year-old Uptons Kordia to secure the win in the Discovery qualifier, with Brenna Miller, on Coyote Z, runner-up.

Brenna would not be too disappointed with her weekend when she’d travelled from Perth taking home her Discovery ticket but also smashing the British Novice second round, beating her nearest rival by 10 seconds.

Ashleigh Mackintosh was runner-up this time with Luna and David Harland third with Ultimo Valiente.

A busy trainer, David has been collecting good results with his Royal Highland Show five-year-old champion, Murchacko Quatro. The pair finished fifth in both the five-year-old championship and the British Novice finals at the British Nationals.

RHS Finalist Lexie Lane and Derrymore Lucky Lad also enjoyed a lap of honour at the Nationals when their two brilliant rounds saw them crowned the winner of the pony Bronze League 128cm final.

Michael McColm, who has been tackling the pony showjumper classes with Tobar King and will be one to watch next year headed to the Nationals where it was the turn of the speedy AG Dynamo to gave him the win in the National Pony 1.15m Members Cup Championship.

Also being seen doing well out and about were Zoe Nicoll on Ralph V, being placed at the Royal International in the 1m classes and just missing out in the workers; Graham Babes was second in the NCS Summer Grand Prix with Monks I Am Casall; Sandy McLean, on Gino F and Alistair Gatherum, on G-Star, being placed in the HOYS wildcard qualifiers; and Sophie Paxton winning with Ignigena Eickenrode.