A horse that has rewarded his owner “time and time again” for taking a chance on him was crowned the supreme champion of the recent Brechin Castle Autumn Show.
In a “thrilling” finish to Blairgowrie rider Donna Webster’s show season, her hunter Suprime Star rose first to the top of two section championships before scaling the show supreme.
Their overall win comes just three years after Donna took a leap of faith to buy 13-year-old ‘Phoenix’, which previously stood idle in a field for two years.
“He was originally bought as a project,” said Donna, who had sadly lost her previous horse in a stable fire.
“Rather than sitting at home moping, I went along to Strathmore and District’s riding club camp to be amongst friends.”
It was there that Donna learned of a horse that had been out of work for some time as its owner had chosen to stop riding.
“I dragged one of my friends along with me to see this fat, hairy horse and I made her get on him first,” explained Donna.
“He didn’t buck her off, so I got on and he didn’t buck me off either so I thought that, considering he had done nothing for two years, he was worth taking a chance on.”
Although from this standing start it took time to rebuild Phoenix’s fitness, Donna said the Star Trek-sired gelding has since rewarded her “time and time again”.
Staying within their comfort zone, riding and jumping among friends through SDRC for which Donna is a former chairperson and current committee member and on the flat at local shows such as Alyth and Kirriemuir, they were finally encouraged to compete further afield by Linda Lucy, who judged Phoenix to stand champion of the riding club’s recent annual working hunter event.
Donna travelled to Brechin to contest the workers classes, and only opted to enter the ridden small hunter class simply to give Phoenix “something else to do”.
“I so was thrilled with him,” reflected Donna after scooping both the ridden horse and working hunter section championships en-route to their supreme win.
In particular, her workers triumph meant all the more to her as it was the first time Donna has jumped the gelding, which originally reached the UK from Holland via Alan Spalding, away from the realms of the riding club.
“He was pretty much foot perfect all day, which isn’t something that can always be said about him as he doesn’t like to stand still for too long!” she conceded.
Wowing the ridden horse judges Kirsty Aird (ride) and Dr Clare Peddie (conformation) with his “smooth and comfortable ride” and the working hunter judges Julia Craig (jump) and Sandra Yeaman (conformation) for his “impeccable manners” and “great condition”, Phoenix rose through the ranks to the top of the supreme.
“He is just an ideal hunter and you could see him out on the hunting field looking after his rider,” said workers ride judge Julia.
Speaking after the show, on behalf of all of her co-judges Miss J Dolan, Beryl Bruce, Kaye Ferguson, Clare, Kirsty, Sandra and Julia Jill Gunn said both Suprime Star and the eventual reserve supreme, Pumphill Tirella, stood out clearly as the obvious leaders.
With the final nod a “close run battle”, Jill said the decision went down to the wire. With one casting vote the difference, Suprime Star was crowned as the best horse of the show.
As a result, Lynn and Emma Robertson were drawn forward with their Dartmoor pony as overall reserve.
“The Dartmoor was a quality pony and so true to the breed in type and conformation, with a lovely movement,” said Julia.
“You could see that he was really looking after his small jockey, which is so important in a lead rein pony.
“If I had a child, it’s a pony I would love to own,” she added.
Pumphill Tirella is sired by the 2009 HOYS ridden winner Pumphill Bennet, and was bred out of Senruf Troika. The mare has previously stood mini champion at the NPS Summer Show at Strathallan.
Results
Supreme champion: Donna Webster, Suprime Star. Reserve: Lynn and Emma Robertson, Pumphill Tirella.
Horses in-hand: Lesley McNaughton-Wells, KD Wild Billy. Reserve: Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever. Youngstock: 1 Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever. Hunter: 1 Katie Blewitt, Icardo Van De Molendries Hoeve. Riding horse: 1 Lesley McNaughton-Wells, KD Wild Billy; 2 Katrina Byrne, Wisola; 3 Nicki Donaldson, Cinderella. Ex-racehorse: 1 Sally Northcott, Roscommon; 2 Nicki Donaldson, Cinderella; 3 Katrina Byrne, Laafet. Cob: 1 Sammy Johnson, Houdini Harry; 2 Nicki Flood, Woodside Trio. Heavy horse: 1 Kareen Glennie, Seumas. Ridden horse: Donna Webster, Suprime Star. Reserve: Philippa Merry, Woodytwoshoes. Small hunter: 1 Donna Webster, Suprime Star; 2 Rebecca Ling, Hollie. Large hunter: 1 Philippa Merry, Woodytwoshoes; 2 Lewis Campbell, Feroda Gold; 3 Caroline Hoddle, Hurricane Abjar. Riding horse: 1 Robyn Wilson, Zillion; 2 Caroline Hoddle, Hurricane Abjar; 3 Gayle Culross, Marrus Morse Code. Irish draught: 1 Zoe Guild, Rubix Cube. Cob: 1 Lynn Milby, Jack. Ex-racehorse: 1 Sally Northcott, Roscommon. Heavy horse: 1 Kareen Glennie, Seumas; 2 Kelsey Logan, Hero. Side saddle: 1 Hilary Mackie, Audene Blue Disciplin. Ponies in-hand: Rebecca Bruce, Apollo. Reserve: Conan Lyall, Craigieholm Alice. Youngstock: 1 Rebecca Bruce, Apollo; 2 Chloe Main, Craigieholm Lochinver. Pony: 1 Conan Lyall, Craigieholm Alice. Young handler: 1 Ruby Hall, Jet Set Go; 2 Chloe Main, Craigieholm Lochinver; 3 Conan Lyall, Craigieholm Alice. Local pony: 1 Bethan Whamond, Flora; 2 Linda Robertson, L.A’s Eirian. Ridden ponies: Lucy Craighead, Creevelea Domara. Reserve: Shonah Wood, Follywood Diamonte. Junior turnout: 1 Rosie Barron, Sisco; 2 Ruby Hall, Jet Set Go. Lead rein: 1 Lucy Craighead, Creevelea Domara; 2 Maisy Duncan, Tahuna Caramel; 3 Ellie Coutts, Creevelea Angel Eyes. First ridden: 1 Ami Conchie, Winswood Footprint. Not exc 12h2: 1 Ruby Hall, Jet Set Go. Not exc 13h2: 1 Amy Talbot, Solitaire. Not exc 14h2: 1 Shonah Wood, Follywood Diamonte; 2 Keira Gowans, Mossblown Miss Pippin; 3 Zoe Florence, Hirstmund Merlot. Local pony: 1 Tawnia Duncan, Penucha Thea; 2 Ruby Hall, Jet Set Go; 3 Freya Preston, Shercole Shancee. Pony/riding club: 1 Ellie Coutts, Creevelea Angel Eyes; 2 Ruby Hall, Jet Set Go; 3 Tawnia Duncan, Penucha Thea. Fancy dress: Maisy Duncan, Tahuna Caramel. Working hunter: Donna Webster, Suprime Star. Reserve: Lana Conchie, Aztec Warrior. Lead rein: 1 Lucy Craighead, Craigieholm Tamarind; 2 Maisy Duncan, Tahuna Caramel; 3 Mya Duncan Walker, Harviestoun Romanov. Nursery pony: 1 Amy Talbot, Solitaire; 2 Rosie Edwards, Scorach. Mini pony: 1 Ami Conchie, Wynswood Footprint; 2 Ami Conchie, Naderson Goodwill; 3 Lana Conchie, Aztec Warrior. Mini horse: 1 Kathryn Dawson, Samson Star; 2 Robyn Wilson, Zillion. Novice pony: 1 Lana Conchie, Aztec Warrior; 2 Ami Conchie, Naderson Goodwill; 3 Ami Conchie, Wynswood Footprint. Novice horse: 1 Kathryn Dawson, Samson Star; 2 Catherine Blundell, Abbie; 3 Amy Geddes, Hotspurs High Fidelity. Intermediate pony: 1 Jordan Headspeath, Burnside Seamus; 2 Kerry Richardson, Drambuie Roisbhienn. Intermediate horse: 1 Donna Webster, Suprime Star; 2 Philippa Merry, Woodytwoshoes; 3 Lewis Campbell, Feroda Gold. Open horse: 1 Caroline Hoddle, Hurricane Abjar; 2 Philippa Merry, Woodytwoshoes; 3 Anne Shaw, Bella. Mountain and moorland in-hand: Robin and Karen Stewart, Coulnacraig Jacobite. Reserve: Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever. Small breed youngstock: 1 Nicola Luti, Pillheath Angelina; 2 Nina MacDonald Lewis, Houlls Royal Perfection. Small part-bred youngstock: 1 Chloe Main, Craigieholm Lochinver. Small breed adult: 1 Rebecca Bruce, Apollo. Small part-bred adult: 1 Norman McEwan, Penrhoel Bella. Large breed youngstock: 1 Nicola Luti, Glynhir Gwennotta; 2 Jordan Headspeath, Anteallach of Abernethy; 3 F and M Lawson, Waverhead BIK Beauty. Large part-bred youngstock: 1 Cathy Petrie, Bankwell Dizzy Ever; 2 Jacky Niven, Into the Mystic. Large breed adult: 1 Niamh Cameron, Rhys; 2 Kirstie Williams, Usworth Silver Rocket; 3 Linda Robertson, LA’s Eirian. Large part-bred adult: 1 Lesley McNaughton-Wells, KD Wild Billy; 2 Linda Keith, Benson. Highland: 1 Robin and Karen Stewart, Coulnacraig Jacobite; 2 Mary Forsyth, Fourmerk Honey Bee; 3 Bethan Whamond, Flora. M&M under saddle: Lynn and Emma Robertson, Pumphill Tirella. Reserve: Shonah Wood, Merieston Daisy Duke. Lead rein: 1 Lynn and Emma Robertson, Pumphill Tirella; 2 Maisy Duncan, Tahuna Caramel; 3 Lucy Craighead, Craigieholm Tamarind. First ridden: 1 Mya Duncan Walker, Harviestoun Romanov. Small breed: 1 Mya Duncan Walker, Harviestoun Romanov. Small part-bred: 1 Ellie Coutts, Creevelea Angel Eyes. Large breed: 1 Shonah Wood, Merieston Daisy Duke; 2 Amy Green, Craigie Milly; 3 Kirstie Williams, Usworth Silver Rocket. Large part-bred: 1 Rebecca Ling, Hollie. Highland: 1 Jordan Headspeath, Burnside Seamus; 2 Kirsty Smith, Ruban Ceo. Coloured: Lesley McNaughton-Wells, KD Wild Billy. Reserve: Tina Moro, The Highway Man. Youngstock in-hand: 1 Tina Moro, The Highway Man. Pony in-hand: 1 Georgia Robertson, Free Spirit; 2 Sammy Johnson, Houdim Harry; 3 Norman McEwan, Penrheol Bella. Horse in-hand: 1 Lesley McNaughton-Wells, KD Wild Billy; 2 Zoe Guild, Rubix Cube. Ridden pony: 1 Shonah Wood, Follywood Diamonte; 2 Tina Moro, Jack Daniels; 3 Sarah Fish, The Fortune Teller. Ridden horse: 1 Gayle Culross, Marrus Morse Code; 2 Kelsey Logan, Hero; 3 Zoe Guild, Rubix Cube. Appaloosa: Ruth McLean, Capitall Quinn. Reserve: Sue Rore, Lindertis Doubletake. In-hand: 1 Ruth McLean, Capitall Quinn; 2 Jude Taylor, It’s Winchester 73; 3 Sue Rore, Lindertis Doubletake. Ridden: 1 Ruth McLean, Capitall Quinn; 2 Sue Rore, Lindertis Doubletake; 3 Jude Taylor, It’s Winchester 73. Palomino: Lucy Craighead, Creevelea Domara. Reserve: Jenni Ross, Fearless Fenton. In-hand: 1 Jenni Ross, Fearless Fenton; 2 Gail Forman, Falla. Ridden: 1 (equal) Gail Forman, Falla and Lucy Craighead, Creevelea Domara. Traditional Gypsy cob: Sammy Johnson, Houdini Harry. Reserve: Lynn Milby, Jack. In-hand: 1 Sammy Johnson, Houdini Harry. Ridden: 1 Lynn Milby, Jack; 2 Sarah Fish, The Fortune Teller. Arabs: Vanessa Robertson, Shabana Excellaya. Reserve: Hilary Mackie, Audene Blue Disciplin. In-hand part-bred: 1 Hilary Mackie, Audene Blue Disciplin. Ridden part-bred: 1 Vanessa Robertson, Shabana Excellaya; 2 Hilary Mackie, Audene Blue Disciplin. Foreign breeds: Michaela Watt, Zeus. Reserve: Ruth McLean, Blacklaw Xpresso. In-hand: 1 Ruth McLean, Blacklaw Xpresso; 2 Michaela Watt, Zeus. Ridden horse: 1 Michaela Watt, Zeus; 2 Ruth McLean, Blacklaw Xpresso. Veteran: Katie Blewitt, Solus of Marisland. Reserve: Amy Marshall, Rufus. In-hand pre-veteran: 1 Katie Blewitt, Solus of Marisland; 2 Georgia Robertson, Belan Delight; 3 Diana Findlay, Scole Virginia. In-hand veteran: 1 Tracy Van Someron, Singleton Ruby; 2 Gail Forman, Falla; 3 Meliisa McPherson, Fergus of Allnacailleach. Ridden pre-veteran: 1 Katie Blewitt, Solus of Marisland; 2 Kathryn Dawson, Samson Star; 3 Diana Findlay, Scole Virginia. Ridden veteran: 1 Catherine Blundell, Abbie; 2 Tracy Van Someron, Singleton Ruby; 3 Gail Forman, Falla. Ridden veteran plus: 1 Amy Marshall, Rufus.