The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland has announced the judges for its flagship agricultural show in 2015.
The task of placing around 5000 head of the country’s top cattle, sheep and horses will be in the hands of 36 judges from Scotland, 44 from England, eight from Wales, eight from Ireland and one from the Isle of Man.
There will be 31 light horse sections in 2015 nine of which are qualifiers for the Horse of the Year Show.
The Show Hunter Pony and Lead Rein of Show Hunter Type classes become the latest addition to the Highland Show’s HOYS offering.
All the classes will be judged by some of the most experienced and well-respected individuals in the equine industry, including past RHASS director Andrew Bowie, of Easter Balado House, Balado, who takes to the centre of the main arena to judge the HOYS Cuddy Breeder Supreme; Lady Claire Howick, of Howick Hall, Northumberland, who will award the sports horse rosettes; and Erik J MacKechnie, of Mill Lodge, Blair Drummond, who has the difficult responsibility for the placing the ridden Highland ponies.
For the first time, the ridden Highlands will have their own conformation judge. Pat Stirling, Galashiels, will join Erik in the centre of the ring.
Extending the pool of judging talent, the Highland Show also welcomes one international judge Wes Gordeyko, from Alberta, Canada who will place the Heavy Horse Turnouts.
Wes is an award winning Clydesdale breeder and has twice been the recipient of Best in Show at the Calgary Stampede.
The judging of the supreme entry from the heavy horse lines, a Royal Highland Show favourite, is in the safe hands of RHASS director and star of BBC’s Lambing Live, John Dykes, Mendick Lea, West Linton, who will award the Sanderson Trophy.
Walter Bedford, Chequer Farm, Escrick and Tom Fountain, Woodhouse, Derbyshire, will be judging the Clydesdales in-hand both great Shire men with equal enthusiasm for the Scotland’s native horse breed (male and female respectively).
The show will take place for 2015 between Thursday 18 and Sunday 21 June.
Judges:
St Johns Wells Trophy Mrs Sheila Brooks, Oaklands, Kelso. HOYS Cuddy Breeder Supreme Andrew Bowie, Easter Balado House, Balado. The Sanderson Trophy John Dykes, Mendick Lea, West Linton. Mountain & Moorland in-hand overall (Waxwing Trophy) Mr MA Northam, Avon Farm, Bristol, Somerset.
Heavy Horses
Clydesdales Males Walter Bedford, Chequer Hall Farm, Wheldrake Lane, Escrick. Females Tom Fountain, Woodhouse, Marston Montgomery, Derbyshire. Ridden Miss Eleanor Corkett, Folding Close, Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire. Young Handlers and Young Stockmen Mrs Yvonne Hanna, Ballymoney, Co Antrim.
Highland Ponies Males Mrs BM Halls, Bonnetts Cottage, Newmarket, Suffolk. Females Sandy Baird, Strelitz, Blairgowrie.
Shetland Ponies Miss Irene Spence, Suie Vale, Alford.
Heavy Horse Turnouts Wes Gordeyko, Alberta, Canada.
Harness, grooming and decoration TBC
Working native pony in harness TBC
Private DrivingShetland Pony, Highland Pony and Private Driving (HOYS Qualifier) Mark Broadbent, Higher Hill Farm, Taunton, Devon.
Light horses
Hunters Weights and Small (Conformation) (HOYS) Mr D Goldie, Culzean Cottage, Dalrymple. Weights and Small (Ride) (HOYS) Ms Sara Leatherbarrow, Becconsall Chapel House Farm, Ulness Whalton, Preston. Working Hunters (HOYS) and Novice Hunters (Ride) Mrs Jane Hunter, Broachrigg Farm, Rosewell. Novice Hunters (Conformation) Mrs Jenny Banks, Rowton Farmhouse, Hull. In-hand Mr D Goldie, Culzean Cottage, Dalrymple.
Riding Horses (HOYS) and Novice Riding Horses Ride Mrs Jenny Banks, Rowton Farm House, Hull, East Yorkshire. Conformation Stuart Hollings, Blue Slate Stables, Blackburn, Lancashire.
Sports Horse in-hand Lady Clare Howick, Howick Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland.
Side Saddle and Equitation Mr R Philpot, Pittern Hill House, Kineton, Warkwickshire.
Ladies Side Saddle Horse (HOYS) Miss M Traves, Heatherlands Market, Selby, Yorkshire.
Retraining of Racehorse Final Robin Sharp (ride) and Mrs Jenny Pitman OBE (conformation).
Highland Ponies under saddle Ride Erik J MacKechnie, Mill Lodge, Blair Drummond. Conformation Mrs Pat Stirling, South Blainslie, Galashiels.
Mountain and Moorland ponies under saddle (HOYS) Large Breeds (Conformation) Mr JC James, Sianwood Stud, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. Large Breeds (Ride) Mrs M A Bigley, Llanarth Stud, Quakers Farm, Hereford. Small Breeds (Conformation) Mrs Kathleen Scott, Bryndefaid Stud, Peterhead. Small Breeds (Ride) Miss Elizabeth Rennie, Lomondside Stud, Drymen. Lead Rein & First Ridden (HOYS) (Conformation) Mrs G Simpson, Woodcroft, Hope Valley, Derbyshire. Lead Rein & First Ridden (HOYS) (Ride) Mr MA Northam, Avon Farm, Bristol, Somerset.
Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Ponies (HOYS) Jumping Mrs H Prescott, Cousins Lane, Ormskirk, Lancashire. Conformation Mrs B McGrath, Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street.
Mountain and Moorland ponies in-hand Miss DJ Chadwick, The Hedges, Preston, Lancashire.
Welsh Mountain Ponies Section A John F Roberts (Nantlais), Pentregwenlais Road, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. Section B Mrs Jane Etheridge (Wheelers/Minsmere), Watermill Farm, Saxmundham, Suffolk. Section C and D Mr J T Kirk (Donys), Penmyarth Farm, Builth Wells, Powys.
Connemara Mrs Jane Holderness-Roddam, Church Farm, Chippenham, Wiltshire.
Eriskay Ponies Mrs Alison McLeod, Dalrawer Farm, Aberfeldy.
Donkeys Mrs Beryl Brooks, Norden Close, Rochdale Lancashire.
Riding Pony and Hunter Pony Breeding Mrs Shirley Crane, Fleetcroft, Preston.
Show Ponies Mrs F Cameron, Hillhead, Melrose.
Show Hunter Ponies (HOYS) Mrs Victoria Tennant, Craiglea Lodge, Mossblown.
HOYS Welsh/Arab part-bred ridden Performance Mrs G Simpson, Woodcroft, Hope Valley, Derbyshire. Ride Mr MA Northam, Avon Farm, Bristol, Somerset.
Working Hunter Ponies (HOYS) Jumping Mrs H Joyce Coltart, The Stables, Kilmaurs. Conformation Mrs Valerie Hodgett, Lower Small Hazels, Burnley, Lancashire.
Arabs Anglo Arabs and part-bred Arabs Under saddle Miss Joy Maclean, Almond Lodge, Broxburn. In-hand Peter Whitlow, Penkridge Lake Farm, Warrington, Cheshire.
Coloured horses and ponies
Under saddle (HOYS) Ride J Van Praagh, Faircote Stud Farm, Sussex. Conformation James Munro, Morven View, Wick.
In-hand Miss Nicola Taylor, Grange Lane, Preston, Lancashire.