THE BEST class of Shetland mares that judge Jimmy Wilson has seen for “many years” produced his two supreme ponies for the 2013 Scottish National Fat Stock Club’s Native Pony Show at Stirling.
A self-confessed “stickler for movement”, Jimmy, who runs his own Myreton Stud from Leys Farm at Muckhart outside Dollar, described his overall champion, Hedderwick Red Ribbon, as “perfection”.
But going beyond crediting the pony, he also praised champion young handler Brooke MacDonald, 15, for showing the seven-year-old mare to its best advantage.
“She did a great job. She knows how to really show off a pony,” said Jimmy.
Hedderwick Red Ribbon is owned by William and Pauline Robertson, from Montrose, who had never previously shown at the Winter Fair.
They said the mare is always shown by Brooke because “she just won’t go for anyone else”.
The yeld mare was sired by Sandown Emperor of St Ninian and was bred out of Clashandorran Review.
In-foal to Eynhallow Black Magic, she has had numerous placings this show season including at Banchory, Kirriemuir, Alyth and Perth.
Second in her class to the champion and progressing to take reserve overall was Kevin and Fran Punton’s five-year-old mare, Glenwhery Harriet.
The Puntons, who run their Almondell Shetland Stud, at Kirknewton, outside Edinburgh, bought her mother Sapphire Virtue when she had Harriet at foot.
Bred in the south of England, she was sired by Brockville Venture.
This year, she collected the championships at Stirling and the Border Union and stood reserve supreme at Moniaive.
She was also coloured champion at Perth.
The miniature Shetland champion was Stevie and Jackie McKay’s seven-year-old mare, Buxted Exotic, which was shown by their daughter Kirsty.
She is the only Buxted mare which the McKays have in conjunction with their Alichbrae Stud of miniature Shetland Ponies, at Tigh-na-Beag, Crieff.
In-foal to Kerswell Emperor, the multi champion, which last year stood champion at Tealing, was bought as a five-year-old.
She was bred out of Buxted Evangeline and was sired by Brandon Furio.
At the conclusion of judging, Jimmy said the overall standard of the ponies forward for judging was “very good”, particularly considering the time of year.
In the Highland Pony ring, breed judge Jean Ralston, of Moss-Side Farm, Methven said her overall champion caught her eye the minute she came into the ring.
This was Messrs GM Baird’s home-bred yearling Ulrika of Whitefield.
“She is a very nice sweet filly,” explained Jean after placing her Highland supreme.
“She has all the breed characteristics and was also a really nice mover.”
Bred at the Baird’s Whitefield Stud, at Burrelton, Blairgowrie, the yearling was sired by Oliver of Forglen, which they had on loan for the season, and is the first foal which they have from Queencake of Whitefield.
This season, she has stood first at the breed show at Strathallan and at NESHPES at Duthie Park and was also reserve female champion at Perth.
As a foal, she also won at Tayside Foal Show, at Forfar.
Taking another “very nice, typical and very feminine Highland” though to stand second in the top line-up, Jean awarded the reserve title to the Lawson’s two-year-old filly, Prosen Mist of Craigie Loch.
This two year-old filly, from Chapel of Dron, by Invergowrie, was bred out of Failte of Craigie Loch and sired by Viscount of Whitefield.
pstephen@thecourier.co.uk
Results
Shetlands: stallion or colt 1 Ken and Anne Scott, Kerryston Theodore; 2 Louise Wilson, Cassindilly Jester; 3 A Murray, Mawcarse Earl.
Two or three-year-old 1 Donna Lochtie, Mawcarse Lady Dionne; 2 Ken and Anne Scott, Kerryston Nanette; 3 A McDonald, Holdasay Gunhild.
Yearling 1 Catherine Marshall, Struie Pixie; 2 Catherine Marshall, Struie Clover; 3 Mr and Mrs Punton, Almondell Lucinda.
Foal 1 Catherine Marshall, Struie Dazzler; 2 Louise Wilson, Cassindilly Jayzee; 3 A Murray, Mawcarse Elisha.
Miniature four years and over 1 Mr and Mrs McKay, Buxted Exotic; 2 Mr and Mrs McKay, Kerswell Rania.
Miniature three years and under 1 Louise Wilson, Robin’s Brae Orla; 2 Mrs I Mackenzie, Robin’s Brae Pacey.
Young handler 1 Brooke MacDonald; 2 Lewis Wilson; 3 Anna Marshall.
Highlands: filly foal 1 Jean Connell, Selkie Bheag of Achnacarry.
Colt foal 1 J Hendrie and Mrs A Kerr, Tower Cavalier; 2 Messrs GM Baird, Whitefield King Vyktor; 3 Jean Connell, Achnacarry Macahir Mist.
Yearling 1 Messrs GM Baird, Ulrika of Whitefield; 2 WKA and KM Allan, Miley of Millfield; 3 J and J Bonar, Bowmore Ben Cruachan.
Two-year-old filly 1 F and M Lawson, Prosen Mist of Craigie Loch; 2 George Baird, Whitefield Queen Tia Maria; 3 Elspeth McCoull, Kirsty of Logierait.
Three-year-old filly 1 C McQuattie, Katrina of Strathmore; 2 J Hendrie and Mrs A Kerr, Tower Miss-Chief; 3 A and G Curle, Corrie Ben Breagha.
Two or three-year-old colt or gelding 1 Aileen Curle, Harris of Mendick.