If ever a Clydesdale bloodline suggested a foal might be destined for big things in the show ring it would be Collessie Jennifer’s.
Her dam Ormiston Mains Amber won the Royal Highland Show as a two-year-old in 2011, her grand dam Ormiston Mains Amelie won the Highland two times, in 2008 and 2010, and her great grand dam Ormiston Mains Sophie was the first of a trio to achieve the top Highland accolade back in 2000.
If having three generations of Cawdor-winning females preceding her wasn’t enough of a good thing her sire, Redcastle Brelee Majestic, lifted the Cawdor Cup in 2011 as supreme male at the National Stallion Show.
Last year he matched this overall championship win in Stirling and progressed to stand as male champion and supreme Clydesdale at the Royal Highland Show.
Unaware of the accomplishments that precede her, the fresh, light-footed April-born filly, owned and home-bred by Ronnie, Mike and Pete Black, of Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, recently began her foal season with a reserve at the Kilmarnock Foal Show and standing champion at Lanark.
Continuing the success she is garnering in her own right on Saturday, Jennifer rose through the ranks to take the top foal award and also the supreme horse trophy at the 98th running of the North of Fife Foal Show, held at Nisbetfield Farm, Letham.
“She’s a really nice type of filly,” said Robert Sibbald, of Thorn Farm, Dollar, who judged the Clydesdale entry in tandem with Malcolm McFadyen, of Kilarbie, Drumore, Campbeltown.
“She’s got a great action and a really quality hind leg,” he said.
The judges drew another “nice type of filly” forward to stand as reserve supreme.
This was senior horse champion Fordelhill Ruby, a two-year-old filly owned and bred at Leuchars Lodge by show stalwart Davy Greenhill.
“She’s got great bone and a lovely hind leg again and she just shows off some amount of power,” said Mr Sibbald.
The daughter of Collessie Whinhill President, which has only been lightly shown this season, took the reserve championship at Angus Show during the summer and previously won at Perth as a yearling.
Her dam Fordelhill Lady Margaret was also a renowned winner across the county circuit during her show years.
Conceding that there was “little between the top two” for the senior horse championship, the judges gave the nod for senior reserve to last year’s North of Fife Foal Show supreme winner Newton Glens Kara, from Laurencekirk breeder Sandy Aitken.
This May-born filly has only been shown twice previously this year, standing reserve female and reserve supreme at Aberdeen and champion at Inchture.
During her foal season she won at Cupar, Aberdeen, Thainstone and Inchture, was reserve at Forfar, first at the Winter Fair and second at the Stallion Show.
Home-bred out of Sandy’s Cawdor mare Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace, this daughter of Muirton Sabre is one of just two Clydesdales which he owns at Newton Cottage, Memus.
Reserve for the foal plaudits was West Forth Molly Malone, from Peter Tennant, Teneil, Lanark. This May-born filly, by Singlie Statesman, was home-bred out of West Forth Prima.
She was recently second of the junior entry at Lanark and won while at foot during the summer season at Kelso.
Results
Supreme: RH Black, Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, with Collessie Jennifer (by Redcastle Brelee Majestic). Reserve: Davy Greenhill, Leuchars Lodge, Leuchars, with Fordelhill Ruby (by Collessie Whinhill President).
Overall foal: RH Black, Collessie Jennifer. Reserve: Peter Tennant, Teneil, Braehead, Forth, with West Forth Molly Malone (by Singlie Statesman).
Senior colt: 1 Charlotte Young, Hall Farm, Ayr, with Doura Top Spec (by Carnaff Perfection); 2 John Anderson, Drummygar, Carmyllie, with Redcastle Lyndon (by Great American GW Carver); 3 Agnes Jackson, Covington Mill, Thankerton, with Boat Ambassador (by Carnaff Ambassador).
Junior colt: 1 Andy Love, c/o Hall Farm, Ayr, with un-named (by Doura King Maker); 2 Auchengree Clydesdales, East Bank Farm, Lenzie, with Auchengree JC (by Ingleston Perfection); 3 Desi Hill, Cupar, with Collessie Prestige (by Collessie Stepping Stone).
Confined colt: 1 D Hill, Collessie Prestige.
Senior filly: 1 RH Black, Collessie Jennifer; 2 Shona Campbell and Amanda Merchant, Laurencekirk, with Rolling Thunder Maggie May (by Singlie Storm); 3 Agnes Jackson, with Boat Lady Vanessa (by Dillars Top Gun).
Junior filly: 1 Peter Tennant, with West Forth Molly Malone; 2 C Carrick, Easter Littleward, Thornhill, Stirling, with Littleward Natalie (by Jackson’s Discovery); 3 John Adamson, Easter Glentore Farm, Airdrie, with un-named (by Carnaff Ambassador).
Confined filly: 1 RH Black, Collessie Jennifer; 2 Scott Greenhill, Leuchars Lodge, Leuchars, with Lodge Lexi (by Glebeview Sir Charles).
Overall senior: Davy Greenhill, with Fordelhill Ruby. Reserve: Sandy Aitken, Newton Cottage, Memus, with Newton Glens Kara (by Muirton Sabre).
Yearling colt or gelding: 1 Benny Duncan, Cupar, with Jackson.
Yearling filly: 1 Sandy Aitken, with Newton Glens Kara; 2 Davy Young, Finmont Farm, Kinglassie, with Finmont Ruby (by Mollinhillhead Celebrity); 3 B Ferguson, Bankfoot, Perthshire, with Fergie’s Fickle Fashion (by Muirton Sabre).
Two-year-old filly: 1 Davy Greenhill, with Fordelhill Ruby; 2 Auchengree Clydesdales, with Glebeview Emma (by Glebeview Sir Charles); 3 Charlotte Young, with Doura Zaria (by Doura Jackpot).
Gelding: 1 Benny Duncan, Cupar, with Davy.
Mare: 1 Desi Hill, with Redcastle Blossom’s Gift (by Collessie Cut Above).
Pair: 1 Charlotte Young; 2 Agnes Jackson; 3 Auchengree Clydesdales.