For the second year in succession emotions ran high as a ridden Clydesdale was crowned supreme of the Scottish Grass Sickness Show outside Blairgowrie.
Show organiser Jean Oudney, who established the show in 2010 dedicating it to the memory of Sykes, her own beloved Clydesdale, which was lost to the illness in 2009 commented: “I was so delighted to see a ridden Clydesdale win the overall championship again.
“The winner was a particularly lovely mare. She went really well throughout the show day, sweeping the board through to the supreme,”added Jean.
Indeed, topping both the ridden horse and heavy horse sections en-route to the overall contest was five-year-old mare Swordale Lady Luck owned by David Burnett and ridden by his sister Morag Snow, from Kilconquhar, Leven. This daughter of Swordale Master of the Glen and Serendipity Jane enjoyed her debut season under saddle just last year, ending on a high with a win in the ridden class at the City of Aberdeen.
“This season we are aiming her towards the Royal Highland and Blair Castle and will also make a return to Aberdeen,” said Morag, who initially took Pixie on to finish breaking her in for David, but who has embraced the world of the Clydesdale breed to ride and show the mare.
At home at Incharvie Equestrian, Morag said: “Pixie is completely adaptable and can be in the school practising dressage with me one day and hacking down the beach with David, who is a novice rider, the next.
“She is as everyone says about the Clydesdale breed an amazing gentle giant and she’s a firm favourite at the stables.”
This was Pixie’s second outing to the Grass Sickness Show. “We make the journey from Fife up to Alyth as it is for such a good cause. It is a well-attended show and great fun with classes for absolutely everyone,” Morag added.
The in-hand horse champion, Bankwell Dizzy Ever, in turn rose through the ranks to win the reserve supreme for owner Cathy Petrie. This three-year-old gelding, sired by Gemsike and out of Dizney, had been cob champion at Angus the previous day.
“As he’s young I’ve never take him out two days in a row before, but I wanted to support the show,”said Cathy, who hails from Drumlithie. “It’s a fantastic show and great for youngsters.
“Dizzy really does love being out at a show and he never lets me down. “I can’t wait to have him out under saddle next year,” she added.
This year’s event raised more than £2,000 for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund, taking the total amount raised since the show’s inception to more than £12,000.
equestrian@thecourier.co.uk RESULTS
SUPREME Morag Snow, Swordale Lady Luck. Reserve: Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever.
HORSES UNDER SADDLE Morag Snow, Swordale Lady Luck. Reserve: Lisa Dawn Borthwick, Ellie May. Small novice ridden: 1 Leonie Watt, Alfie; 2 Nathan-Jack Larder, Shannonbridge Kenny; 3 Stephanie Smith, Marnonwells Wallace. Large novice ridden: 1 Lisa Dawn Borthwick, Ellie May; 2 Angela Meachen, Strathmore Trooper; 3 Molly Hosie, Marcus. Hunter: 1 Nikki Ewan, Toastie. Sports horse: 1 Caitlin McKillop, Nutcracker; 2 Lynn Clark, True Heights; 3 Lisa Dawn Borthwick, Ellie May. Horse: 1 Bonnie Brown, Red; 2 Abigail Hope, Toffee; 3 Laura Koppel, Santiago Atitian. Leisure horse: 1 Daniel Dowie, Kito; 2 Abigail Hope, Toffee; 3 Molly Hosie, Marcus. Veteran: 1 Louise Andrew, Midnight Blue Diamond; 2 Rachel Mangto, Bracklinn Dougal; 3 Mags Coward, Enterprise of Vishabreck. Irish draught: 1 Lynn Clark, Silver Dream Catcher. Cob: 1 Daniel Dowie, Kito; 2 Liz Gardner, Lilly; 3 Danielle McKechnie, Guinness Hops.
ARAB Tessa Hourston, Romano Royal Fun. Reserve: Marion Sturrock, Skys The Limit. Ridden Arab: 1 Tessa Hourston, Romano Royal Fun. In-hand Arab: 1 Marion Sturrock, Skys The Limit.
HEAVY HORSE Morag Snow, Swordale Lady Luck. Ridden heavy horse: 1 Morag Snow, Swordale Lady Luck; 2 Liz Gardner, Lilly. In-hand heavy horse: 1 Rachael Cumming, Macfin Diamond Duke; 2 Jennifer Simpson, Bandit; 3 Jennifer Simpson, Smokey.
HORSES IN-HAND Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever. Reserve: Marion Sturrock, Skys The Limit. Horse: 1 Marion Sturrock, Sky’s The Limit; 2 Daniel Dowie, Kito; 3 Liessa Allan, Bambi VII. Hunter: 1 Nikki Ewen, Toastie; 2 Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever; 3 Hannah Hunter, Last Expression. Youngstock: 1 Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever; 2 Hannah Hunter, Last Expression; 3 Mags Coward, Proper Little Madam. Veteran: 1 Lisa Hunter, Camara; 2 Hannah Burns, Kirkhill Autumn Wind; 3 Liessa Allan, Bambi VII. Best behaved youngster: 1 Hannah Hunter, Last Expression; 2 Mags Coward, Proper Little Madam; 3 Rachael Cumming, Macfin Diamond Duke. Bus pass class: 1 Angela Meachen, Strathmore Trooper; 2 Suzanne Neil, Mhari Bhan; 3 Anne Aitken, Domino Dancer. Prettiest mane and tail (section a): 1 Cheryl Robertson, Gilslandwells Rohan; 2 Angela Robertson, Comalegy Womble; 3 Daniel Dowie, Kito. Prettiest mane and tail (section b): 1 Kendal Kidd, Thomas; 2 Mary Davidson, Champ; 3 Abigail Hope, Toffee. Horse and matching hound: 1 Donna Moyes, Northside Echo; 2 Emma Nicol, Yogi; 3 Denise Scott, Oor Miss Molly. Thelwell lookalike: 1 Mary Davidson, Champ; 2 Julie Finlayson, Haytonview Scotty; 3 Mags Coward, Enterprise of Vishabreck. Adult fancy dress: 1 Cheryl Robertson, Snow White and her dwarfs; 2 Denise Scott, Oor Miss Molly. Horse/pony the judge would like to take home: 1 Laura Henry, Flash with Panache; 2 Tara Kilburn, Chewy; 3 Kaitlyn Park, Bobby-Joe. Best six legs: 1 Julie Finlayson, Haytonview Scotty; 2 Laura Koppel, Santiago Atitian.
SHETLAND PONIES Bruce Walker, Harviestoun Romanov. Reserve: Hannah Burns, Oxgang Troy. Miniature in-hand: 1 Irene and Struan MacKenzie, Robins Brae Pacey; 2 Julie Finlayson, Haytonview Scotty; 3 Elaine McIntosh-Strachan, Earth Magic Solar Sprite. Standard in-hand: 1 Hannah Burns, Oxgang Troy; 2 Bruce Walker, Harviestoun Romanov; 3 Irene and Struan MacKenzie, Headowork Trademark.
NATIVE PONIES Emma Wake, Hermon Rafael. Reserve: Kirsty McKay, Nebo Glynis. M&M small breed in-hand: 1 Rachael McLean, Heathpool Yew; 2 Irene and Struan MacKenzie, Robins Brae Pacey; 3 Angela Robertson, Comalegy Womble. Welsh A and B in-hand: 1 Ashley Connor, Pappelwick Gino; 2 Mellissa Swinley, Daisy; 3 Laura Burn, Silvercraig Fingal. M&M large breed in-hand: 1 Kirsty McKay, Nebo Glynis; 2 Kimberly Wilson, Will o’ The Wisp; 3 Emma Wake, Hermon Rafael. Part-bred M&M in-hand: 1 Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever; 2 Hannah Hunter, Last Expression; 3 Tracey Parker, Viewmount Champagne. Highland pony in-hand: 1 Stephanie Smith, Marnonwells Wallace; 2 Jean Stewart, Esme Marie of Armoury; 3 Kayleigh Moran, Gordon of Caenlochan. M&M small breed ridden: 1 Bruce Walker, Harviestoun Romanov; 2 Hannah Burns, Oxgang Troy; 3 Louise Neuwirth, Fantastic Mr Fudge. M&M large breed ridden: 1 Emma Wake, Hermon Rafael; 2 Kimberly Wilson, Will o’ The Wisp; 3 Rachel Mangto, Bracklinn Dougal. Part-bred M&M ridden: 1 Tessa Hourston, Romano Royal Fun; 2 Tracey Parker, Viewmount Champagne; 3 Jessica Lamont, Senateview McCoy. Highland pony ridden: 1 Hannah Fairbrother, Belivat Muldoanich; 2 Stephanie Smith, Marnonwells Wallace; 3 Kayleigh Moran, Gordon of Caenlochan.
PONIES Ashley Connor, Afan Spy. Reserve: Shanyn Wilson, Legerview Charlotte. Lead rein: 1 Ashley Connor, Afan Spy; 2 Amy Bertrom, Rumworth Regal Rose; 3 Jessica Lamont, Senateview McCoy. First ridden: 1 Shanyn Wilson, Legerview Charlotte; 2 Tracey Parker, Viewmount Champagne; 3 Abbie McGovern, Galaxy. Ridden pony: 1 Leonie Watt, Alfie; 2 Susan Walker, Caerbrenin Muslan Mai; 3 Kaitlyn Park, Bobby-Joe. Pony Club pony: 1 Lorna McKechnie, Charlie; 2 Tracey Parker, Viewmount Champagne; 3 Louise Neuwirth, Fantastic Mr Fudge. Equitation: 1 Lauren Dawson, Heza Docs Tom Cat; 2 Caitlin McKillop, Nutcracker; 3 Alora Ramsay, Jack the Lad. Fancy dress: 1 Amy Bertrom, Rumworth Regal Rose; 2 Olivia-Rose Andrew, Galaxy; 3 Hannah Burns, Oxgang Troy.
COLOURED Natalie Young, Longacres Esso. Reserve: Bethan Whamond, Aodh Finn. Potential driving pony: 1 Kendal Kidd, Thomas; 2 Donna Moyes, Northside Echo; 3 Jennifer Simpson, Smokey. Native in-hand: 1 Melissa Hunter, Hamish; 2 Bethan Whamond, Aodh Finn; 3 Caitlin Walker, So Sassy. Non-native in-hand: 1 Mellissa Swinley, Bandit; 2 Nathan-Jack Larder, Shannonbridge Kenny; 3 Robyn Milne, Patches. Two tone in-hand: 1 Donna Moyes, Northside Echo; 2 Mellissa Swinley, Daisy; 3 Denise Scott, Oor Miss Molly. Native ridden: 1 Bethan Whamond, Aodh Finn; 2 Melissa Hunter, Hamish; 3 Lorna McKechnie, Charlie. Non-native ridden: 1 Natalie Young, Longacres Esso; 2 Lisa Dawn Borthwick, Ellie May; 3 Mellissa Swinley, Bandit. Two-tone ridden: 1 Lauren Dawson, Heza Docs Tom Cat; 2 Lisa Hunter, Camara; 3 Abigail Hope, Toffee.
MIXED Helen Sinclair, Gjevrijt Oude Wei. Reserve: Ashley Connor, Afan Spy. Friesian in-hand: 1 Nikita O’Hare, Emma H; 2 Shona Whyte, Madina V. Foreign or native breed: 1 Rachael McLean, Heathpool Yew; 2 Liessa Allan, Bambi VII; 3 Lisa Hunter, Camara. Ridden pairs: 1 Hannah Burns and Mags Coward, with Oxgang Troy and Enterprise of Vishabreck. Friesian ridden: 1 Helen Sinclair, Gjevrijt Oude Wei; 2 Shona Whyte, Madina V; 3 Nikita O’Hare, Emma H. Potential driving horse or pony: 1 Ashley Connor, Pappelwick Gino; 2 Daniel Dowie, Kito. Concours d’Elegance (junior): 1 Ashley Connor, Afan Spy; 2 Nicole Campbell, Copshawholme Red Lorenzo; 3 Hannah Burns, Kirkhill Autumn Wind. Concours d’Elegance (senior): 1 Nikita O’Hare, Emma H; 2 Rachel Mangto, Bracklinn Dougal; 3 Jillian Scott, Gypsyville Milky Bar Kid. Donkey in-hand: 1 Elizabeth Anne Kempsell, Eddieston Lady Naomi; 2 Claire Armet, Baxter; 3 Nicki Donaldson, Balnuith Jacksean. Working donkey or mule: 1 Claire Armet, Jools and Baxter; 2 Sheena McConnell-Ferrie, Sydney. Handy pony adult in-hand: 1 Jillian Scott, Gypsyville Milky Bar Kid; 2 Liessa Allan, Bambi VII ; 3 Laura Henry, Flash with Panache. Handy pony junior in-hand: 1 Irene and Struan MacKenzie, Headowork Trademark; 2 and 3 Mags Coward, Enterprise of Vishabreck. Handy pony adult ridden: 1 Jillian Scott, Gypsyville Milky Bar Kid. Handy pony junior ridden: 1 Alora Ramsay, Jack the Lad; 2 Katrina Ramsay, Chatterbox; 3 Mags Coward, Enterprise of Vishabreck.