Ahorse which “almost floats across the ground” rose through the ranks at the Scottish Coloured Show at Wellbank Mains to secure the supreme championship.
Owned and shown both in-hand and under saddle by hairdressing student Marc Mitchell, from Dundee, the overall champion Oliver Twist VII was reserve champion at the show in previous years but, in taking the supreme, surpassed all his previous show ring achievements.
“He was a lovely, well put together traditional gelding,” said ridden judge Gayle Culross, from Kincaldrum, who was joined for the supreme contest by in-hand adjudicator Tina Moro, from Fordoun, who had also placed him top of her arena earlier in the day.
Marc, 20, who is studying for an HNC at Dundee College, has owned Oli for six years.
“I got him as an untouched five-year-old,” he said.
“I’ve worked with him to produce him primarily as a show horse, but he does also excel in plenty of other activities like showjumping and cross country,” he added.
Oli’s path to the ridden championship came courtesy of a second win in succession in both the ridden piebald and traditional horse classes.
He also topped a strong class of 16 traditional horses in-hand.
The 11-year-old gelding has stood champion at Kirriemuir show for the last two years and this year has been in-hand coloured champion at Fife, first at the Scottish Grass Sickness Show, second at Alyth and reserve at the Stonehaven Riding Club Show at Brechin.
The reserve in-hand championship and then reserve supreme went to Gemma Williamson’s seven-year-old gelding, Tom.
“He offered a good amount of feather and bone and moved very well,” said Gayle.
Gemma travelled to the show from Edinburgh, where she produces three horses from Meadowhead Farm. She bought Tom from Tower Farm Riding Stables four years ago, progressing to win in-hand at the Royal Highland Show in 2010.
However, their competitive outings were put on hold when Tom suffered an injury.
Following continued rehabilitation he gradually returned to the show ring this year, coming second reserve supreme at Strathkelvin and coloured champion at the Scottish High-Jinx.
The two-tone championship was won by Lynneann Cameron’s Cadlanvalley Georgie Boy, from Fettercairn.
“He is absolutely divine, moves beautifully and in my opinion he is every little girl’s dream pony,” said Gayle on awarding him the tri-colour.
“I can’t wait to see him under saddle in future,” she added.
Lynneann said this palomino Welsh Section B two-year-old colt has only been out to two shows this season, as he has been busy standing at her Goldenwood Stud.
On his only outings of the year he stood champion at the SWPCA show, taking a bronze medal and was also first at the Royal Highland Show.
Sired by Newtonhill Naughty Boy Charlie and bred out of Cadlanvalley Georgette by Howell and Yvonne Davies, near Cardigan, Dyfed, he has collected a raft of championships for Lynneann since she bought him as a foal.
His previous wins include standing supreme in-hand at the SWPCA Winter Show at Ingliston Country Centre at the end of last year.
Throughout his yearling year, he also amassed championships at the Royal Northern, NSWPCA and Brechin spring shows, took the overall mountain and moorland title at Alyth, and stood supreme horse at Turriff and Puddledub
Summer.