WE mentioned Scotland’s Nicole Lockhead Anderson when she recorded her first point-to-point win on Longhouse Star at Rathcannon back in November and do so again now, as the former international show jumper was crowned champion lady rider when the 2025/2026 season concluded on Sunday.

At the second session of the Ormond Foxhounds’ two-day fixture in Ballingarry, Nicole had just the one ride and made it count, landing her 13th victory between the flags in the ladies’ open on Gerard Spain’s 1/1 favourite Routine Excellence. The 10-year-old Getaway gelding is trained by the rider’s boss Sam Curling, the season’s leading handler with a record-breaking 49 wins to his credit.

Twenty-four-year-old Lockhead Anderson, who has a background in showing, show jumped internationally from early 2016 (then on ponies) through to the summer of 2024 when she bowed out of the sport at Hickstead. She is now just solely involved in racing and hopes to pick up some rides on the track over the summer.