James Whiteford achieved a double of championship wins in the NPS Scotland arenas at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials.
Both were courtesy of his mother Margaret’s Fuinseoig Boy, which won the Baileys Horse Feeds open ridden final before progressing to stand silver medal ridden supreme.
This six-year-old Connemara stallion was sired by Kilacloran Fuineseoig and out of Ballinclea Princess.
The duo have had a great season, lifting the young rider supreme and taking a qualifying ticket for HOYS at Ponies UK.
They were novice working hunter champions at NPS Malvern and have qualifications for the Royal International and Olympia semi finals.
Judges Rodger James and Nicola Shuttleworth had a strong entry of native ponies across all their classes, but were particularly impressed with the Connemara’s temperament and ability.
“We couldn’t fault him. He’s a lovely balanced pony,” they said after the judging.
Open ridden reserve went to Bill Ireland’s home-bred Dales stallion Kilmannan Robert the Bruce.
The nine-year-old, sired by Village Defender and out of the Olympia and HOYS ridden champion Kilmannan Black Pearl, was ridden by Richard Telford.
This year they have stood supreme in-hand at NPS Scotland Summer Show and qualified for HOYS at the Derbyshire Festival. Last year, ‘Bruce’ qualified for the cuddy supreme in-hand championship at HOYS after winning at the Royal Highland.
“We liked the Dales. He moved up from second place to win his class today and did a good gallop in the championship,” Mr James said.
Richard earlier won the gold medal ridden supreme rosette with Bill’s Kilmannan Black Magic.
The 12-year-old Dales stallion is by the stud’s foundation stallion Slaypits Black Magic and out of Trimdon Velvet. He qualified for HOYS at the Royal Highland, ridden by Kirsty Aird.
In the novice ridden championship Heather Dick won with her home-bred Highland pony Dunstruan Duich Mhor.
The six-year-old licensed stallion is by Carlung Findlay and out of Kirsty of Gargunnock.
They had won the novice Highland pony breed championship the previous day at Blair and were first at the Puddledub winter.
“Our champion really showed himself and was a nice example of the breed,” said judges Martin Jones and Mrs Cheryl Firth.
Reserve novice was Yswain Doric, an eight-year-old Welsh section D by Sydenham Solomon and out ofYswain Carys.
Ridden by Lauren Watt, for owner Kim Gill, the pony has been supreme ridden and in-hand champion at the Aberdeen and District Welsh Pony and CobAssociation Show.
There were huge entries in the Kilgraston School mini mountain and moorland championship, but the winner was drawn forward from the 21-strong lead rein class.
This was Vean Harry Hawk, shown by Mrs Tracey Boyd and ridden by Carris Boyd. The 14-year-old Dartmoor gelding is by Catesby Crusader II and out of Vean Flos Florum.
He recently stood supreme at Black Isle and Caithness Riding Club shows.
“The champion was an incredibly typey Dartmoor pony,” said judge Sarah Prior.
She said it was good to see old fashioned breeding bloodlines being used, with good limbs and nicely close to the ground. Itr was in “fine fettle for its age”.
The reserve champion came from the first ridden class Kelda Stewart’s Shamrock Shirley Temple.
This Dutch-bred cream Welsh section A mare is sired by Shamrocklake the Cool Colonell and out of Fronbach Shady Lady, and was ridden by Archie Stewart.
They qualified for HOYS at the 2014 Scottish Horse Show having been placed sixth in Birmingham in 2012, with older sister Holly riding.
The overall in-hand title went to Beverley Malim with the senior champion Noah of Meggernie.
This nine-year-old Highland stallion, sired by Ben Ruadh of Meggernie and out of Juno of Meggernie, was shown by Julia Voules. This year he was champion at Ayr and second at NPS Spring and Perth shows this year.
Reserve was youngstock champion Harris of Mendick, shown by Mrs Aileen Curle. The three-year-old licensed Highland stallion is by Dougal of Mendick and out of Clover of Mendick and will be a future ridden pony.
Gwen Rae was the youngstock champion with Nicholwalls Black Jack, a two-year-old Fell colt, home-bred by Bracklinn Jackpot and out of Bracklinn Black Beauty, which stood reserve supreme in-hand at Ayr and champion at the NPS Spring and NPS Summer shows.
The open reserve was Kilmannan Robert the Bruce, shown by Richard Telford.
There was only one entry forward for the NPS silver medal in-hand championship, which was awarded to Gillian McMurray’s Highland mare Trailtrow Tanera. She was supreme at the Native Pony Festival and champion at Braco and the NPS Summer show.