AFTER a quiet spell with many riders out of the country competing on the many sunshine tours and those left behind concentrating on breaking and producing young horses, momentum is gathering as centres are now coming outdoors which has tempted some competitors back on to the circuit.

Trevor Nicholson has been quietly ticking over in Scotland and the Ayrshire-based rider made a productive visit to Morris Equestrian Centre where he clinched tickets to the forthcoming Blue Chip and winter spring championships. Riding the ultra-consistent Irish bred Drumconnick Verdi, an eight-year-old stallion by Verdi, Nicholson clinched sixth place in the Dynamic B&C qualifier earning a ticket to the Blue Chip Championships to be held at Hartpury in April.

“It proved a fast-enough class, but we didn’t have to go too mad to claim a ticket,” said Nicholson.

The pair were again on form the next day where they secured another sixth spot in the winter grade C which earned qualification to the final at the new British Show jumping’s spring championships at Addington Manor next month.

“We already had our ticket in the bag for this final so a steady double clear was enough to keep us in the money,” added Nicholson.

The Sligo rider travelled seven horses to Muirmill last weekend which was the first outdoor show of the season for Nicholson.

Starting with some educational rounds for the young horses, Nicholson then clinched fourth and fifth places in the 1.10m riding Cordoba and Hatrick Magic.

“There were plenty of entries and as it was a two-phase competition, I didn’t rush too much. Magic belongs to a pupil of mine, but as she couldn’t make the show I had a nice ride round on him,” explained Nicholson, who went on to add another two runner-up places with Magic in the 1.0m, while Drumconnick Verdi took second in the 1.25m.

In addition, the five-year-old Hobelina jumped double clear in the Discovery.

Nicholson is now gearing up to next month’s Welsh Masters down at Chepstow and by the end of April, Nicholson and his partner Aileen Craig expect to have 19 horses ready to compete.

WATSON FORM CONTINUES

After a brilliant winning run at South View and Solihull, Northern Ireland native Mennell Watson and Whisper In The Win maintained their form at Addington Manor where they topped the 1.35m.

“He covers the ground well so just by keeping things neat and tidy kept us in the lead,” said Watson, who finished third with the Darius eight-year-old Domino II. Domino went on to finish second in Addington’s 1.25m.

Watson added to his Addington ribbon haul when the six-year-old Leonidas Red Rivers Pride, who is by Watson’s competing stallion Outcast, gained Foxhunter fifth and sixth places after jumping two immaculate double clears.

Watson is now gearing up to the popular Blue Chip Championships.

Tyrone Flanagan is also going great guns as he recently took a Discovery first and second at Rodbaston College in Staffordshire riding Giralda and Mister Lupicor.

Eoin Gallagher has sold his top ride Lord Luidam, but the Leicestershire-based rider had a fruitful last outing at Bishop Burton’s development classic show where the son of Luidam gained two places in the 1.30m and 1.40m classes.

Gallagher has since been concentrating on young horses and hopes to have a new purchase out soon.

Aoife O’Connor, who is based with William and Pippa Funnell at the Billy Stud, is another rider kept fully occupied with young horses and she has recently recorded places with Billy Du Montois and Billy Tennessee, both youngsters by Cevin Z.

Aoife Dooley, who is based with Dave and Sharon Quigley, reports being flat out in Shropshire.

With Quigley and stable jockey Paul Kennedy competing in Spain, Dooley is keeping the England-based horses ticking over and the Newry rider managed a quick visit to South View last weekend.

Riding the six-year-old Ever So Clever, Dooley produced a nice newcomer double clear.

“This is only my second show with him and he is a lovely horse who jumped well all through,” she said.