It was native ponies to the fore in the judging of the supreme in-hand pony championship at a rather blustery Central and West Fife show.
“The Shetland was just beautiful,” said overall judge Jill Cousens, from Dunblane, after drawing forward the Eynhallow Stud’s four-year-old Eynhallow Celia to top the line-up.
“She’s typey, she moves very straight and well and she just came into the ring and said ‘I’m gorgeous’.”
Revealing the contest was “difficult to judge” with a selection of “very level ponies” she took Lorna and Adam Shaw’s Welsh leader Islyn Hufen forward for reserve.
“Again, this was a very good mover,” said Jill.
Islyn Hufen, a five-year-old section A mare, previously stood second at the Royal Highland Show as a three-year-old but has not been shown since. In the supreme hunter championship, Gillian McCowan’s prolific winner Fusilier was a shoe-in for the top honours when the in-hand hunter failed to return to the ring for the overall contest.
“He’s like riding an armchair,” said hunter ride judge Jane Reid, from Ethiebeaton, Broughty Ferry. “He’s just beautifully schooled and he didn’t put a foot wrong given the testing elements,” she added.Judging alongside Jane, conformation judge Amanda Goldie, of Barnford Farm, Dalrymple, praised the condition of the now 17-year-old gelding by Parkhall Seymour.
“He’s in amazing shape considering his advancing years,” she said. “He has exceptionally clean legs.
“His limbs are in great shape for a veteran.”
In his haydey he contested the Horse of the Year Show. He has an extensive list of wins having stood supreme champion of shows such as the Border Union, and was champion at the Scottish Horse Show and also won at the Royal Highland.
More recently, he lifted the veteran championship at Ayr Show in 2014 and has been placed third at Bramham.
A “lovely, promising young horse” caught the eye of the two ladies for the reserve ridden hunter and reserve overall hunter plaudits.
This was Brockagh Farney Imp Lad, a five-year-old gelding, which was purchased by Heather Beck over the festive period from producer and rider Clive Storey, with whom he topped the hunter championship at Duns and won the four-year-old Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier at Floors Castle last year.
“He was so well behaved in the strong winds and he gave a lovely ride,” Mrs Reid said.
RESULTS
SUPREME IN-HAND PONY Eynhallow Stud, with Eynhallow Celia, a four-year-old Shetland pony mare, sired by Wells Champion and home-bred out of Eynhallow Bell, which was on her first outing of 2015, but which last year stood second at the National Shetland Awards and was junior champion at Fife Show. RESERVE SUPREME: Lorna and Adam Shaw, with Islyn Hufen, a five-year-old Welsh section A mare, sired by Lacy Buzbee and out of Islyn Hyder, which was bought privately as a foal and which was shown as a three-year-old to stand second at the Royal Highland Show.
PONIES IN-HAND Ashley Anderson, with Ashlea’s Little Princess, a home-bred two-year-old filly, sired by Archwood Flashwood and out of Littletons Princess, which was on its first outing of 2015 but which stood reserve champion at Turriff and first at Caithness last year.
WELSH A&B IN-HAND Lorna and Adam Shaw, with the reserve supreme in-hand pony, Islyn Hufen. Reserve: Lorna and Adam Shaw, with Rushiefauld Saffron, a three-year-old home-bred filly, sired by Islyn Atom and out of Islyn Sofren, which was only on its second show outing.
M&M IN-HAND Gwen Rae, with Nicholwalls Blackjack, a three-year-old Fell stallion, sired by Bracklinn Jackpot and home-bred out of Bracklinn Black Beauty, which was first at Drymen. As a two-year-old, he won a silver medal at Ayr, a gold medal at Malvern and was junior champion and reserve champion to his father at the Royal Highland Show. Reserve: Transy Stud, with Transy Bracelet, a 12-year-old Connemara mare, sired by Lockinge Frederick and home-bred out of Bardsey Bangle, which was similarly reserve champion at Central and West Fife last year. Previously, this mare stood champion at the Royal Highland in 2012.
SHETLAND Eynhallow Stud, with the supreme in-hand pony champion, Eynhallow Celia. Reserve: Transy Stud, with Charles of Transy, a seven-year-old stallion, sired by Earnbrig Rignor and home-bred out of Ceres of Transy. This stallion has three foals on the ground this year.
MINIATURE SHETLAND Abbie Watson, with Barflat Hannah, a four-year-old mare, which was previously placed second at Glenfoot and which was placed champion at Central and West Fife Show in 2013. Reserve: Adele Stewart, with Narinian Lottie, a four-year-old mare, sired by Firth Jason and home-bred out of Ceilla of Tulloch, which was champion at Central and West Fife last year and reserve at Perth in 2013.
HIGHLAND Miss E Hardie, with Portnadoran Breeze, a nine-year-old yeld mare, sired by Highfield Glen Albyn and out of Grasmohr of Achindrean. Reserve: Elizabeth Wilson, with Dunedin Markus, a seven-year-old gelding, sired by Dunedin Marksman and out of Craiglaw of Tiree, which was gelded just last year and which was on his first show outing.
OVERALL HUNTER Gillian McCowan, with Fusilier, a 17-year-old lightweight ridden hunuter gelding, sired by Parkhall Seymour, which has been a prolific winner during his career. His wins include the supreme championship at Border Union, whilst last year he was veteran champion at Ayr and third at Bramham. Reserve: Heather Beck, with Brockagh Farney Imp Lad, a five-year-old gelding sired by Ryelands Sea Master and bred by Martin Dwyer, on his first outing of the year, having been purchased at Christmas. Previously shown and produced by Clive Storey to collect championships including at Duns and won the Burghley Young Event Horse class last year at Floors Castle.
HUNTERS UNDER SADDLE Gillian McCowan, with the supreme hunter, Fusilier. Reserve: Heather Beck with the reserve supreme hunter, Brockagh Farney Imp Lad.
WORKING HUNTER Jessica England, with Eleanor of Aquitain, a seven-year-old mare, sired by Kings Master (by Master Imp) and out of Countess of Belvedere, which was second in the working hunter at Fife, and which events to BE100 level and which finished fourth at Burgham and ninth at Eden Valley this season. Reserve: Lynne Paterson, with Highly Addictive, ridden by Breanna Paterson.
HUNTER IN-HAND Ewen Taylor, with Cracked Diamond, a yearling filly, sired by Diamond Lodge and home-bred out of Buddy, which was on her first outing of 2015 but which stood champion as a foal at foot at Highfield at Howe last year. John Bennett, with Brackenbrae Somerled, a home-bred full Cleveland Bay yearling colt, sired by Southbrook War Lord and out of Twinoaks Skysail, which was reserve champion at Fife Show.
SPORTS HORSE IN-HAND Liz Smith, with Sarata, a three-year-old gelding, sired by Gigolo (by Darius) and bred by Fiona Horn out of a Balou du Rouet mare, on his first show outing. Reserve: Ewen Taylor, with the in-hand hunter champion Cracked Diamond.
HORSES IN-HAND Julie Wilkie, with Trish Blue Mist, a 21-year-old Irish Draught cross mare, which was purchased a month ago and which was on her first show outing. Reserve: John Bennett, with the reserve hunter in-hand champion Brackenbrae Somerled.
RIDING HORSES Suzanne Muir, with Moonlight Fantasy, a 12-yearold ex-racehorse gelding, sired by Night Shift and out of County Girl, which last season finished second at Haddington, Duns and Glendale shows under saddle and which won in-hand at Glendale. Reserve: Gwen Peddie, with Dinan Dun and Dusted.
NOVICE WORKING HUNTER PONIES Jessica England, with the working hunter horse champion, Eleanor of Aquitain.
MINI WORKING HUNTER PONIES James Houlden, with Pebbly Principal Boy, a coloured gelding, which was reserve champion at Fife Show and which previously qualified for HOYS as a 133cms WHP. Reserve: Eliza England, with Plas Llewelyn Lloyd, an eight-year-old Welsh section A, sired by Nantdywyll Swynwr and out of Lleweni Dilly.
OPEN WORKING HUNTER PONIES Amelia England, 11, with Rhydspence Ambassador, a 12-year-old Welsh section B gelding, which qualified for the Royal International Horse Show at Ayr Show. Last season, this partnership was novice WHP champions at Central and West Fife and champion at Drymen. Ambassador was also novice and open WHP champions at West Fife in 2013.
MINI SHOW PONIES Fiona Fleming, with Litton Quickstep, a six-year-old gelding, sired by Burfas Last Edition and out of Litton Dancing Delight, ridden lead-rein by Daisy Fleming. This gelding qualified for HOYS and the RIHS as both a four and five-year-old. Reserve: Hilary Cowie, 9, with Oranmore Sweet Millie, a nine-year-old first ridden pony, sired by Twylands Celebrity and out of Caedwalla Chantilly, which was champion at Puddledub, reserve at Scottish Friends of P(UK) and reserve miniature supreme at the Grand Slam.
SHOW HUNTER PONIES Olivia Cousens, 11, with Westerby Firelight, a 13-year-old gelding, sired by Westerby Firefly and out of Cosford Meadowsweet, which was champion at Stewarton, Puddledub, Kilmaurs, and the NPS Spring shows, reserve at Scottish Friends of P(UK) and third in their RIHS qualifier at Ayr. Previously, this pony qualified for HOYS consecutively from 2008 to 2012. Reserve: Laura Hercus, with Deanburn Regal Splendour, a fiveyear- old gelding, sired by Stanley Grange Regal Heights and bred by Sherlene Murray out of Broadstone Lavendar, which was champion at Fife, supreme at Scottish Friends of P(UK), reserve supreme at the Grand Slam and first at Puddledub. Last year, they stood champion at Alyth and Central and West Fife.
COLOURED HORSES & PONIES Ashley Anderson, with EZPZ Ezwulini, a nine-year-old 12.2hh ridden traditional gypsy cob stallion, which last year won at Blair Castle and this year was coloured in-hand and reserve coloured ridden champion at Brechin Spring. Reserve: Felicity Baker, with Alfie Moon III, a 12-year-old non-native gelding, bred in Ireland, which was champion ridden at Fife, champion ridden and reserve overall coloured at Ayr and reserve intermediate at the Puddledub Spring. Last year, this gelding was second as an intermediate show hunter at the Royal Highland, was second reserve supreme at the Kingsbarns Masters and coloured champion at Central and West Fife.
RETRAINED RACEHORSES Donna Kippen, with King Nicholas, a 16-year-old gelding, which raced from Newmarket and which was reserve champion at Fife Show.This gelding was previously reserve at Fife Show in both 2012 and 2013. Reserve: Suzanne Muir, with the riding horse champion, Moonlight Fantasy.
M&M RIDDEN Lynn Paisley, with Peggy of Combebank, a nine-year-old Highland Pony mare, sired by Sergeant Major of Whitefield and out of Ellie May of Combebank. Owned by Lorna and Fraser Boyd. Now in her first open ridden season, as a novice last year Peggy took the supreme M&M championship at Drymen, was champion at Doune and Dunblane and Alyth and was reserve novice at NPS Scotland Summer Show. Reserve: Lorna Keay, with Coedeneirin Reward, a 14-year-old Welsh section C gelding, sired by Twmbarlwm Nimrod and out of Miru Morning Cloud, which has twice previously lifted the M&M ridden championship at Central and West Fife and which was reserve last year at Dalkeith.
MINI M&M Jennifer Green, with Gwynrhosyn Demelza, a nine-year-old Welsh section A mare, sired by Waxwing Hurricane and bred by Countess Granville out of Callernish Cara, which was ridden lead rein by Rebecca Green (8) and led by Charlie Cousens, which was on its first outing of 2015 but which last year was the national points winner, stood champion at NPS Scotland Summer and reserve in the Lobster Pot final at P(UK). Reserve: Julie Aitchison, with Menai Llew Aur, a 15-year-old Welsh section A, sired by Mani Silver Gold and out of Menai Romana, which was first ridden by Katie Aitchison, 9. This pony previously stood mini champion at the Royal Welsh.
NOVICE M&M Christine Myles, with Iouar Jac Fflach, a seven-year-old Welsh section D gelding, sired by Midnight Express and ridden by Anna Wylie. Last season, this gelding stood junior ridden champion at NPS Scotland. Reserve: Lynn Paisley, with Bracklinn Melissa, a six-year-old Fell mare, sired by Carrick Am Yer Man, which was reserve champion at NPS Spring and was first in her class at Scottish Friends of P(UK).
M&M WHP James Houlden, with Pontsarn Sidan, a 16-year-old Welsh section A mare, sired by Baledon Vendicor and out of Pontsarn Swynol. This former HOYS champion this year stood reserve champion at Fife and won the cradle stakes at BSPS Spring. Reserve: Becca MacMillan, with Coathamdene Just-Dylan, a 10-yearold Welsh section C gelding, sired by Tyreos Survivor and bred by Mrs A Carr out of Popsters Just Devine, which last year stood champion at the Horse of the Year Show, having stood champion M&M worker at the Royal Highland. In 2014, they were also was champion at Fife, open champion and reserve supreme at NPS Summer Show and qualified for the RIHS at NPS Spring Show.