In a “fitting tribute” to Sykes the Clydesdale, in whose honour the Scottish Grass Sickness Show is held, Kathryn Prentice and Highland Perfect Expression lifted the 2014 supreme.
Run annually outside Blairgowrie by Jean Oudney, following the loss of her horse in 2009, the organiser said she was “delighted” with the result. Kathryn, a psychology graduate of Dundee University, brought ‘Victor’ to the show from outside Edinburgh.
“He’s an 11-year-old pure Clydesdale, which was actually orphaned from his mother Balvattie Caitlin at just three days old,” she said.
Sired by Doura Express, and bred in Inverness by the late Willie Johnstone, Victor found Kathryn when he was seven.
“He is my first horse, so our first year was just spent getting to know each other and having fun, but I realised that I would like to show him.
“I spent a lot of time schooling him but after we got to our first show, we’ve never looked back.”
Their wins in ridden Clydesdale show rings include at the Border Union, Doune and Dunblane, Strathkelvin and Aberdeen, but undoubtedly a highlight of their career to date was a win at the Royal Highland last year.
“My dad is my groom in the classes and my mum and twin brother always come and take pictures, so shows are a family outing,” added Kathryn.
Now back at university, she is training to be a veterinary physiotherapist for horses and dogs.
“My dream has always been to work with animals,” she said.
Despite having pipped Kathryn and Victor to the championship in the ridden horse ring, Donna Webster and Suprime Star were happy to settle for the reserve ticket overall.
The 13-year-old multifunctional Dutch warmblood gelding, by Star Trek, competes successfully across a number of various disciplines.
In the show ring, ‘Phoenix’ and Donna stood as reserve champions of the hunter section at Alyth on two previous occasions, took the overall championship at the Strathmore Working Hunter Show in 2012 and have won as a small hunter at Kirriemuir and Alyth a number of times.
“The atmosphere at the show was lovely as always. Everyone seems to be really friendly,” Donna said.
“It was fabulous to see a Clydesdale horse take the supreme.”
Since the show’s inception in 2009, the event has helped to raise more than £8,000 for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund.
Last year, the show fundraised a record £2,650.
The current total for this year’s event is sitting at around £2,400.