A pony that has stood in the ribbons of his section championship on two previous occasions at the Royal Northern Spring Show rose through the ranks to prevail as the 2014 supreme.
Taking the ultimate win from the equine rings was the rising 15-year-old 12.2hh bay Riding Pony stallion, Brookwater Indigo Bunting.
His win provided the first overall championship for Beryl and Alastair Bruce, of the Lesmore Stud, at Mains of Seggieden, Clatt, who have been avid supporters of the show now for a number of years.
The former East of England champion, which is one of five stallions that the Bruces currently have standing at Lesmore, previously took the Riding Pony championship at Thainstone in 2011 before promptly backing that result up with a reserve in 2012.
The son of Barkway Georgio and Blithbury Snow Goose, known as ‘Woody’ at home, was given the nod for the supreme by renowned local breeder Valerie Irvine, of Rogerseat, Rothienorman. But as a self-confessed hunter enthusiast, Mrs Ivrine said she had surprised even herself by opting for the pony as her supreme.
“I’ve always been a hunter person, and rarely a pony person, but this pony moved beautifully and had impeccable manners,” she explained.
Narrowly missing out on the supreme title, but reaping the rewards of overall reserve was Lynne McDonald’s Highland Pony champion Stone Roses na Dailach, from Mains of Coynach, Tarland.
“The Highland also won through because of his movement,” added Valerie.
“He has good confirmation too and, considering he is so young, he certainly has a good future in front of him.”
In taking his breed championship, the two-year-old colt, out of Prionnsonna Rose na Dailach, beat his own father Charlie of Muck into reserve.
Breed judge Rebecca Chalmers, from Millhorn Farm, in Coupar Angus, said she was delighted to discover her champion and reserve were so closely related: “The colt just struck me the minute he came into the ring he offers such a lovely presence,” she explained. “He’s very sweet for such a young colt and has a lovely head.”
Rebecca said Marguerite Osborne’s stallion Charlie of Muck came “an easy second”.
“In fact,” she conceded, “it was very hard to separate them.”
Since Lynne purchased the colt as a yearling from the Osbornes, he has stood first at Grampian Foal Show and at Turriff and was second at the Aberdeen Highland Pony Show, at Duthie Park.
Further along the heavy horse lines, Pete Black, of Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, found his section champion in a yearling filly which he said was “tremendous in its legs and action”.
This was the April-foaled Redcastle Mhorita Millie owned and home-bred by Arbroath property developer John Anderson, of Drummygar, Carmyllie.
Millie has previously scooped four supreme plaudits over the last show season, having topped the line-up of Clydesales at the Winter Fair, as well as the foal shows at Lanark and Lothian and Borders. Prior to those outings, she had also stood reserve female and reserve supreme at the Aberdeen Clydesdale Show. She brings Canadian breeding to the fore on both sides of her bloodlines, being sired by John’s Cawdor Cup winning, Canadian-bred stallion Redcastle Brelee Majestic, and as the first foal he has on the ground from Canadian import Stonecroft Mhorita Jewel.
Meanwhile, Steve Rendall had his work cut out separating the sheer volume of standard and miniature Shetland ponies which came in front of him. His choice to top the afternoon was the colour mare Warrackston Guylian, from Jim Wilson, at Lays Farm, Muckhart, outside Dollar.
With a raft of plaudits to her name, the nine-year-old daughter of Titus of Hutton was once again expertly handled by 15-year-old Lisa Wilson, who recently amassed the highest points tally of young handlers across the UK to stand champion for 2013.
Officiating within the hunter, hack and sport horse arena, Toots Cromarty, of Hilltoft, Burray, on Orkney, opted for “two useful sorts that could go out and do any job you might like them to do”.
As a result, her pick for champion was Hot Topic, the eight-year-old dressage and event ride of Jane Jeffries, from Lumphanan.
Hot Topic, which rarely appears in the show ring, began an eventing career last season with Eilidh-Jane Middleton progressing from BE80 to BE100 level during the year.
He won his BE90 section at Hopetoun, granting him passage into the Scottish Championship final at Hendersyde, where he finished eighth. Jane also competes him to novice level at unaffiliated dressage.
“He was very active with lots of presence,” said Toots of her champion. “He looks a very nice, useful sort”.
Building upon his third placing out of a strong class of 45 at last year’s Royal Welsh Show, Hilin Olympian topped the Mountain and Moorland section for Linda Cheyne and Dennis Andrew. They bought the rising six-year-old Welsh section C as a colt foal from his breeder Dewi Evans to add to their Auchmaliddie Stud, at Maud.
The son of Hilin Etifedd, which was the top pick of Liz Claxton, from Rosemount in Blairgowrie, is a double Bronze rosette winner.
Meanwhile, Tina Moro, from Redhall House, Fordoun, Laurencekirk, topped the Traditional gypsy cob section with her four-year-old gelding, The Entertainer. This son of the Fortune Teller has only lightly been shown, but previously won at the Royal Highland Show as a yearling.
ResultsClydesdales: John Anderson, Drummygar Mains, Carmyllie, By Arbroath, with the yearling filly Redcastle Mhorita Millie, sired by Redcastle Brelee Majestic and home-bred out of Stonecraft Mhorita Jewel, which stood supreme at both Lanark and the Lothian and Borders foal shows and also supreme at the Clydesdale Winter Fair. Reserve A Greenhill, Upper Tulloes, Forfar, with the second prized yearling filly Tulloes Lady Jane, sired by Collessie Stepping Stone and home-bred out of Rosehall Victoria. This June-born filly has only been lightly shown, finishing second in her class at Forfar Foals. Yearling colt: Yvonne Mile, Auchengree Bertie. Yearling filly: John Anderson, Redcastle Mhorita Millie. Two-year-old: Vic Peterkin, Glenbervie Elizabeth. Mare: Norman Christie, Anguston Molly. Gelding: G and R Skinner, Hadurran Minstrel. Young handler: Rebecca Betts.Shetlands: J and G Wilson, Leys Farm, Muckhart, Dollar, with the nine-year-old coloured mare Warrackston Guylian, sired by Titus of Hutton and out of Gatebeck Crystal Gleam, which last year took the breed championship at Kirriemuir and stood supreme horse at Moniaive. In 2013, she stood overall Shetland at Perth, champion at Stirling and Central and West Fife and was supreme coloured champion at the UK breed show at Bakewell. Reserve Donald MacLeod, Brannen, Dornoch, with the four-year-old miniature mare Hjaltland Hirta, sired by Vallendale Geordie and out of Hjaltland Finella of Houlland, which previously stood reserve champion at the Black Isle, but which was attacked by lurchers two years ago and recovered following emergency veterinary treatment. Stallion: Mr and Mrs W McEwan, Gladiator of St Ninian. Mare or gelding: J and G Wilson, Warrackston Guylian. Two or three-year-old: Irene Ann Spence, Warrackston Tamara. Yearling: HP Sleigh and Son, Wells Fashion. Miniature stallion: Bergli Stud, Rum of Berry. Miniature mare or gelding: Donald MacLeod, Hjaltland Hirta. Miniature two or three-year-old: Donald MacLeod, Standuff Kindred Spirit. Miniature yearling: Ann Irvine, Magenta Rose of Haybreak. Young handlers: 1 Lisa Wilson; 2 Reece MacLeod; 3 Jordon MacLeod.Highlands: Lynne McDonald, Mains of Coynach, Tarland, Aboyne, with reserve supreme horse, the two-year-old colt Stone Roses na Dailach, sired by Charlie of Muck and bred by Marguerite and Virginia Osborne out of Prionnsonna Rose na Dailach. Reserve Marguerite Osborne, Kinclune, Kirriemuir, with the 13-year-old stallion Charlie of Muck, sired by Strathmashie Seumus Mhor and out of Mary of Muck, which was champion at the National Stallion Show in 2008 and is a NPS Silver medal winner under saddle. Although only lightly shown in recent years, last year he stood reserve champion at the Grand Slam. Stallion: Marguerite Osborne, Charlie of Muck. Mare: Lynne McDonald, April Mist of Coynach. Gelding: Naomi Watson, Lorien Ebol Efydd. Three-year-old: Her Majesty the Queen, Balmoral Ulleam. Two-year-old: Lynne McDonald, Stone Roses na Dailach. Yearling: Mrs M Page, Glen Bruar Gold Dust.Mountain and Moorland: Linda Cheyne and Dennis Andrew, Auchmaliddie Stud, Maud, Peterhead, with the rising six-year-old Welsh section C stallion Hilin Olympian, sired by Hilin Etifedd and out of Hilin Branwan, a double Bronze rosette winner, which was bought as a foal and which last year finished third at the Royal Welsh from a class of 45 ponies. Reserve Wayne Gayler, Croft of Feith Hill, Fortie, Turriff, with the nine-year-old Fell gelding Urwins Tom Boy, sired by Heltondale Tom Tom and out of Urwins Ruby, which was reserve supreme at the Scottish and Northern Welsh Pony and Cob Association show, champion at the summer Welsh show at Fountain and reserve at Echt. Stallion: Linda Cheyne and Dennis Andrew, Hilin Olympian. Mare or gelding: Wayne Gayler, Urwins Tom Boy. Two or three-year-old: Julia Lyon, Saulire Rising Pheonix. Yearling: Lynneann Cameron and Alison Walker, Laithehill Jasmine.Hunters, hacks and sport horses: Jane Jeffries, The Mill, Auchenhove, Lumphanan, Banchory, with the eight-year-old gelding Hot Topic, sired by Hollylands O’ Donevan and out of Hot Spice, which competes in British Eventing and British Dressage. Last season, he progressed from BE80 to BE100 level with rider Eilidh-Jane Middleton, taking a win in the BE90 at Hopetoun and finishing eighth in the BE90 Scottish champions at Hendersyde. Reserve G and R Skinner, Strathorn Farm, Pitcaple, with the three-year-old filly Strathorn Breeze, sired by Brimstone Commander and out of the Clydesdale cross mare Bonny. Prevoulsy second at the Grampian Foal Show, he was shown by Teresa Macleod, who plans to break her to ride later this year towards a future as an event horse. Mare or gelding exc 15.2hh: Caroline Bruce, Flyingbuck Sempra. Mare or gelding under 15.2hh: Jane Jeffries, Hot Topic. Stallion or colt: Fiona Reed, Bollin Terry. Three-year-old: G and R Skinner, Strathorn Breeze. Two-year-old: Pamela Duncan, The Half Blood Prince. Yearling: Antony Westwick, Craighill Royal Joker.Ponies: Beryl and Alastair Bruce, Lesmore Stud, Mains of Seggieden, Clatt, with the supreme horse, the rising 15-year-old stallion Brookwater Indigo Bunting, sired by Barkway Georgio and out of Blithbury Snow Goose.Reserve Sue Williamson, Easkside Pony Stud, Justinhaugh, Forfar, with the three-year-old gelding Eskside Diamond Geezer, sired by Strinesdale Mastermind and home-bred out of Eskside Amethyst, which last year stood reserve supreme at Turriff Show, champion at Puddledub Summer and at Kirriemuir. Mare or gelding exc 14.2hh: Mrs S Craighead, Creevelea Angel Eyes. Stallion or colt: Beryl and Alastair Bruce, Brookwater Indigo Bunting. Mare or gelding not exc 14.2hh: Sue Williamson, Eskside Diamond Geezer. Two-year-old: Mary Steele, Venus Hullabaloo. Yearling: Pamela Duncan, Flash Dance.Traditional cobs: Tina Moro, Redhall House, Fordoun, Laurencekirk, with the four-year-old gelding, The Entertainer. This son of the Fortune Teller has only lightly been shown, but previously won at the Royal Highland Show as a yearling. Reserve Melanie Riley, South Silverford Croft, Longmanhill, Banff, with the rising six-year-old gelding Pride, of unknown breeding, which previously stood reserve champion at Turriff, champion at Keith and which has qualified for TOYS. Shown by Steven Yates. Mare or gelding exc 14.2hh: Tina Moro, Playstation. Mare or gelding not exc 14.2hh: Melanie Riley, Prince. Stallion or colt: Pamela Duncan, Swordale Superior Rebel. Filly or gelding three years and over: Tina Moro, The Entertainer. Yearling: Tina Moro, The Highwayman.