So great was the entry of Shetlands at this year’s National Stallion Show that classes had to be split and rings altered to accommodate the number of ponies forward for judging.
Taking centre stage, judges Joan Lambert, of Reservoir Cottages, Eccup, Leeds (standard) and Jane Whitehouse, of West View, Heath, Wakefield (miniatures), said they were “hugely impressed” by the turnout and felt greatly rewarded for their journey north from West Yorkshire to officiate at Stirling.After a considerable feat in separating each and every one of their entries, the ladies stood unanimous in their decision to carry both the champion and reserve from the standard ring forward to stand as breed supremes.Taking the overall plaudit for Nicola Maternaghan, of The Cottage, Hartrigge, Jedburgh, was the eight-year-old black stallion Kerloch Rupert.“He’s a typical Shetland stallion, showing bags of presence,” explained Joan.“I couldn’t fault his form, particularly given the time of year,” she added.Rupert, sired by Stow Review and bred by Shirley Moro out of Burnbank Veda, has only been with Nicola for the last six months.During that time he has been out to three shows, standing champion at Penrith, winning at the Trailblazers at Inglewood and being placed at the Winter Fair.Joan found the overall reserve Jane Barry’s Kinkell Gilean from a class of 25 ponies, which ultimately had to be split into mares and geldings.“It was such a fabulously well supported class,” said Joan. “It’s tremendous to see that turnout of ponies anywhere, but it was a quality entry too.Of Kinkell Gilean she reflected: “The mare moved very well and stood out on her motion. She’s a very typical stamp of a broodmare also.”Gilean, which is rising four this year, was home-bred by Jane at Upper Braefindon, Culbokie.She was sired by Jane’s renowned multi-champion stallion Kinkell Guardsman and out of Kinkell Gaia, a mare that has bloodlines running directly back to Jane’s foundation mare.Only lightly shown, Gilean was first at the NPS Summer Show and placed at the Stallion Show and the Black Isle last year.Meanwhile, Jane Whitehouse was also keen to applaud the presentation of the animals forward in the miniature ring. “For the time of year, the ponies looked absolutely fabulous,” she said.She found her section champion in the offspring of a former National Stallion Show supreme.This was Lignite Dusky Beauty, home-bred by Lorna Jamieson, of Upper Auchenreoch, Springholm, Castle Douglas.“She was very free in her movement, with a really pretty head,” said Jane of her top selection.Lignite Dusky Beauty, a two-year-old coloured filly sired by Hartside Black Beauty, was home-bred out of the 2010 show supreme Lexus Daphne.Last season Dusky Beauty collected championships at Skelton and Neilston shows.Jane also took another “free moving” and “very correct” pony forward to stand reserve.Myreton Dougal, the four-year-old coloured stallion from Jim Wilson, at Leys Farm, Muckhart, is no stranger to success in Stirling.He stood champion at the Winter Fair in 2012 and champion at the Central Scotland Youngstock Show last year.He was sired by Myreton Talisman and home-bred out of North-wells Golden Dando.The Highland pony ring was officiated by Beth Sibbald, of Thorn Farm, Dollar, who found a clear favour in the progeny of Viscount of Whitefield.Drawing low mileage stallion Whitefield Prince Platinum forward to stand as breed supreme, she provided Sandy Baird, of Burrelton, Blairgowrie, with his first championship at the National Stallion Show in recent memory.“He just oozed presence from the moment he came into the ring,” said Beth.“He’s just a typical Highland pony and he moved perfectly,” she added.Now seven-years-old, Prince Platinum has only had limited outings to the show ring.The son of Viscount of Whitefield, which was home-bred out of Quicksilver of Whitefield, was handled in the ring by Greig Baird.He was second in his class at the breed show at Strathallan last year and was also previously placed at the Stallion Show.Drawing Prince Platinum’s half sibling forward into reserve, to make it a Viscount of Whitefield one-two, Beth awarded the blue and white rosette to Frank and Morven Lawson’s three-year-old filly Prosen Mist of Craigieloch.“This filly was another great mover, she was very sweet, and again is just a true and good old-fashioned type of pony,” said Beth.Home-bred out of Failte of Craigieloch, Prosen Mist is one of eight ponies owned by the Lawson family, of Chapel of Dron.Prior to the show, she similarly stood as reserve breed champion on her last outing to Stirling for the Scottish National Fatstock Club’s Winter Fair and was also placed second at Tayside Foals and Fife Show.The filly was shown during the proceedings by Shonagh Lawson.Reflecting on her stint in the ring, Beth added: “I was pleased to see the numbers of Highlands forward for judging rise on previous years. It was certainly a case of quantity and quality this year.”
Highland ponies: Sandy Baird, Strelitz, Burrelton, Blairgowrie, with the seven-year-old stallion Whitefield Prince Platinum, sired by Viscount of Whitefield and home-bred out of Quicksilver of Whitefield, second at the breed show at Strathallan and previously placed at the Stallion Show. Reserve: Frank and Morven Lawson, Chapel of Dron, by Invergowrie, with the three-year-old filly Prosen Mist of Craigieloch, sired by Viscount of Whitefield and home-bred out of Failte of Craigieloch, which stood reserve champion at the Winter Fair and was second at Tayside Foal Show and Fife Show. Stallion or colt: Sandy Baird, Whitefield Prince Platinum. Mare: John and Jacqueline Bonar, Bowmore Lady Laura. Three-year-old filly or gelding: Frank and Morven Lawson, Prosen Mist of Craigieloch. Two-year-old filly or gelding: Isabell Bergius, Belle of Over Langshaw. Yearling: Catriona Lackie, Meagaidh of Mullachbuie.Shetland ponies (standard and overall): Nicola Maternaghan, The Cottage, Hartrigge, Jedburgh, with the eight-year-old black standard stallion Kerloch Rupert, sired by Stow Review and bred by Shirley Moro out of Burnbank Veda, which previously stood champion at Penrith and was placed at the Winter Fair.Reserve (standard and overall): Jane Barry, Ceann-na-coille, Upper Braefindon, Culbokie, by Dingwall, with the four-year-old standard coloured mare Kinkell Gilean, sired by Kinkell Guardsman and home-bred out of Kinkell Gaia, which was first at the NPS Summer Show and was placed at the Stallion Show and the Black Isle last year.Stallion: Nicola Maternaghan, Kerloch Rupert. Colt: Louise Wilson, Cassindilly Jester. Mare: Jane Barry, Kinkell Gilean. Gelding: Dawn Monie, Rosebestman of Transy. Two or three-year-old filly: Irene Spence, Warrackston Tamara. Yearling: Catherine Marshall, Struie Dazzler.Miniature: Lorna Jamieson, Upper Auchenreoch, Springholm, Castle Douglas, with the two-year-old coloured filly Lignite Dusky Beauty, sired by Hartside Black Beauty and home-bred out of Lexus Daphne, which previously stood champion at Skelton and Neilston shows.Reserve: J and G Wilson, Leys Farm, Muckhart, by Dollar, with the four-year-old coloured stallion Myreton Dougal, sired by Myreton Talisman and home-bred out of North-wells Golden Dando, which previously stood champion at Winter Fair in 2012 and was champion at the Central Scotland Youngstock Show last year.Stallion: J and G Wilson, Myreton Dougal. Mare: Lorna Jamieson, Strathlene Lucky-Me. Two or three-year-old: Lorna Jamieson, Lignite Dusky Beauty. Yearling: Nicola Maternaghan, Hermits Party Girl. Young handler (7-11 years): 1 Connie Monie; 2 Lewis Wilson; 3 Kayleigh Keron. Young handler (12-16): Emma Bowden.