AS the winter indoor season gathers momentum, Co Down’s Suzanne Posnett travelled with six horses on a very productive visit to Morris EC in Scotland last weekend. Posnett was quickly off the mark with the Irish Sport Horse mare Karmijn who claimed victory in the 1.20m class on the opening day.

“It was a jump-off class that just got faster and faster, so I was well pleased to win,” she said.

Karmijn maintained her form the following day, the agile 23-year-old scoring a win in the 1.10m, while Posnett also featured in the prizes with the five-year-old Foesuela.

More ribbons came Posnett’s way courtesy of Zinniz Rounthorn who topped the 1.30m on the first night and the pair finished third in the 1.25m speed competition the following evening.

Posnett also picked up fourth place in the 1.15m open with Carole Hawthorn’s Bellevue Natalina, a nine-year-old mare, who was bred by Ruth Looney.

Sligo-born Trevor Nicholson, who is based in Ayrshire, also made the trip to Morris last weekend and he also picked up some good placings. Drumconnick Verdi a six-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion by Verdi was first off the mark, finishing fourth in the 1.25m.

LEVEL HEADED

“For such a young stallion, he is very level headed, adjustable and careful,” said Nicholson also took fifth place riding another stallion Amadeus VII.

Preceding the Morris fixture, Nicholson travelled south of the border to the Aintree premier show and notched up four Foxhunter double clears and a sixth place with Drumconnick Verdi. Nicholson also bagged a ticket to the Blue Chip Championships after Amadeus VII finished eighth in the Dynamic B&C qualifier. The Aintree premier show attracted mammoth entries and gaining a good 1.30m win was Richard Howley riding Chinook.

“I was originally only coming to train some pupils but thought I might as well put Chinook on the lorry. I’m glad I did now,” said Howley.

Another Irish-born rider, Keith Doyle, claimed the winter grade C qualifier recently at Crofton Manor riding Corcovada.

Doyle has been riding the Tangelo eight-year-old while regular jockey Robert Bevis has been competing abroad.

“He’s very scopey, careful and easy to ride and I’m in no hurry to give him back to Rob,” joked Doyle who clinched fourth place in the Crofton Grand Prix riding Harlequin Dunraven. This nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ard VDL Douglas out of a Harlequin Du Carel mare, came out of Gorsebridge as a four-year-old and previously evented prior to making a switch to show jumping.

“I think a lot of this one. He jumped very well at this level and seems ready to step up again,” added Doyle.