Northallerton-BASED show jumper Jessica Russell continued the good form she has been enjoying this winter at a competition staged at the Osbaldeston arena over the Lancashire border.

The 24-year-old was among the contenders in a Blue Chip Performance qualifier, for horses with winnings of £500 or less.

She was chasing one of eight tickets to the final, due be staged at the Blue Chip Championship in the West Midlands in April, on the 16hh grey horse Lord Brockett.

The six-year-old is owned and bred by Lynn Barker, at whose Northallerton yard Jessica is based, and she has been riding the horse since he was broken late as a five-year-old.

"There were 45 starters in the qualifier and 13 made the jump-off," Jessica explained.

"I had the advantage of being drawn last in what was an exciting class, and I kicked on to win. The horse is jumping really well at the moment - he's very scopey and a great prospect for the future."

Jessica has also been in good form so far this year, with a win at the Solihull Premier League Show on the chance ride Quattro.

She added: "I've also been trying to qualify Lord Brockett for the Grade C final at this summer's Royal International Horse Show.

"We've done two qualifiers so far, but have just been getting an unlucky four faults - we'll keep on trying though."

Lord Brockett has also qualified for the Newcomer regional finals, which can lead on to a place at the Horse of the Year Show-staged final.

Jessica will next take the horse to a show jumping competition at Stainsby Grange in Stockton, which offers two more Blue Chip qualifiers.

Jessica and Paul Barker were also on top form at a major show in Scotland.

The duo travelled north of the border to contest the Rowallan Senior Premier League Show in Ayrshire.

Jessica repeated the win she had enjoyed at Osbaldeston when she headed the Blue Chip Performance qualifier on Lord Brockett.

"I'd already qualified for the Performance final so felt I had nothing to lose at Rowallan," explained Jessica.

"I kicked on and turned tight and we won again - I'm looking forward to the final in April now."

Jessica also finished second in the step higher Blue Chip Dynamic qualifier on the 16.2hh bay stallion Temple Cenarcos Z, who held the lead until the very last rider, Mischa Irving, got home to win.

Barker, 25, made the line-up in the top class at the show, the £1,000-to-the-winner Winter A and B Grand Prix.

This attracted more than 40 quality entries, with ten making the timed jump-off.

"Paul got two horses into the jump-off - Sunboy, his ride of six years, and the eight-year-old Temple Ryefield," Jessica added.

"There were only three horses clear in the jump-off and both Paul's rides had four faults to finish fourth and eighth."

Barker also won a 1.25m Speed class on Temple Phoenix - like all the "Temple" horses owned by Essex breeder Jimmy Small - and had several other good placings.