Despite the frightening weather forecast, there was still a big turnout at Overa Farm's second round Trailblazers Dressage competition.

Competitors were grateful for the indoor warm-up and dressage arenas as the winds picked up and the snow started to fall outside. Sixty six out of the 69 competitors who had entered for the day turned up, despite warnings of severe weather and dangerous driving conditions.

In the first class, the walk and trot test, Marcus Purnell on his beautiful flea-bitten grey, Mr Frosty, stole the show with a score of 64.35pc. He impressed the judges yet again in class two, the Prelim 7, when he scored an even better score of 67.50pc

With the high intake of entries, the Prelim 14 class was split into senior and junior sections. The unusual, but equally stunning, appaloosa Careless Painter took the winner's podium in the senior section with rider Sam Smith. They wowed judges Pauline Synnott and Andrea, to score an exceptional dressage score of 85pc, a score that earned them a qualifying spot to the next round.

Sarah Palmer on A Touch of Frost couldn't catch the winning pair who finished a staggering 10pc ahead of the field, but ended on a very good score of 75.83pc. In the junior section the competition was just as respectable. Alice Walton, on Alanis Van Der Sar, won the class on a score of 81.67pc earning a qualifying position in the next round. Jekyll and Hyde clearly shone when in the hands of Abigail Boxall, taking home second position, not far behind the winners on a score of 75pc. In the Novice 20 Sharon Grindey took the honours with Jet Stream III, on a score of 71.20pc.

Carla Ridgeway went home a happy competitor after taking not only second but also third in the class, with her horses Rose and Bon Bonito.

On a winning streak, Alice Walton picked up another red rosette and yet another qualifying position in the Novice 24 with a superb dressage test that left them nearly 10pc ahead of their nearest rival, Siobhan Pryke.

The Elementary 44 was dominated by Siobhan Gilligan on Zweden, who took home a deserving first place to end a full day of high quality dressage.