Aprolific riding horse mare, which has retired from the ridden show ring to begin a life at stud in Northumberland, launched her broodmare show career at the Royal Highland yesterday by scooping the Cuddy win.
Crowned champion of the sports horse section in the Thistle ring on Thursday afternoon, Broadstone Dolce-Vita proved a popular winner around the Royal Highland’s main arena when she swept to the top of the HOYS championship qualifier at Scotland’s flagship agricultural show.
Shown and produced by Billy Moran, of Homer Hill Farm, in Houghton Le Spring, the 13-year-old mare, which was shown with her May-born colt foal at foot, is joint owned by Pearl Underwood, who alongside her daughter Amy enjoyed years of success with her as a multiple riding horse champion.
“She’s an amazing mare, who completely dotes upon her foal,” explained Billy, after the mare used the main arena to her best advantage to show off her beautiful movement.
Previously champion at the Royal International with Amy under saddle, the mare topped a shortleet of four which in addition to herself included the Highland Pony champion, Mountain and Moorland (Fell), and Welsh section D leader as the top choice of Cuddy judge Linda Brudenell, from Thirsk, who is the chief horse steward of the Great Yorkshire Show.
“She oozed presence, and had a real ‘look at me’wow factor,” said Linda.
“I loved her from the moment she came into the main arena.”
Drawing Lisa Breeze and Ernest Gant’s Welsh section D champion Northwick Elektra forward to stand as Cuddy reserve, Linda added: “She was very true to type and showed herself in the vast space of the arena very well.” Elektra had already swept around the main ring to stand top of the Waxwing overall in-hand mountain and moorland championship against all of the British native pony champions.
Tom Barron, from Darlington, adjudicated this supreme, praising the mare’s “big movement”. He said: “She is a beautiful cob mare, which oozed quality. She had lovely limbs and a great big powerful and expressive movement, which gave her a tremendous presence in the ring.”
In the contest for the Sanderson Trophy, awarded to the overall champion from Scotland’s three native breeds, Angus-based joiner Sandy Aitken and his daughter Lynn Gowans trotted away as supreme winners with their Clydesdale mare Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace.
It was the second year in succession that the Sanderson went to a Clydesdale from Redcastle’s bloodlines.
“I wanted to award the trophy to an animal which came into the arena wanting to win,” explained Pat Stirling, from Galashiels.
“The Clydesdale mare just edged the competition because she is that wee bit more quality.”
Crowning the 2014 Royal Highland a show to remember for the Simpson family, of Chapellhill, Logiealmond, their home-bred Highland Pony stallion Chapehill Earl stood reserve for both the Waxwing and Sanderson trophies.
In the hugely popular ridden Highland classes, Dr Lindsay Macdonald, from Cromlix, was euphoric when Jennifer George drew her eight-year-old gelding Dunedin Merlin forward as the champion under-saddle entry.
Pumping her fist to the air and lapping up rapturous applause from the spectators during their lap of honour, Lindsay said the win made her year.
Merlin, which was champion at Drymen earlier this season, has won his in-hand class at the Royal Highland for the last two consecutive years, but creeping ever closer to the top of the line for the ridden classes over recent seasons, they have progressed up from third place in 2012, to second in 2013 and now first and champion for 2014.
The supreme hunter championship ran into the late hours ofThursday evening. Here, a long wait proved highly fruitful for Pat Martin and Dorothy Walsh when their in-hand hunter champion Diamond Choice became the unanimous top pick of hunter judges Jenny Banks (ride) and Val Gigell (in-hand and conformation) and Jane Graham (novice and workers).
“He took the pressure of the big ring atmosphere well,” explained Val of the two-year-old gelding.
They brought the overall ridden hunter champion and leading middleweight Top Executive, from Heather McCloy, forward as overall hunter reserve.
Taking the reserve overall ridden hunter championship ribbon was Perthshire mother and daughter team Freda and Emma Stewart and their working hunter winner Bollero Green Field, which had never previously tackled a HOYS workers track.
None of the entries for this HOYS qualifier jumped around the testing course clear but of the four horses to reach the conformation and ride stage with just one pole falling, rather tellingly three were under 15.2 hands high.
“He was a very nice ride,” said Jane Graham. “He was forward going, clearly enjoyed his job and I could have sat on him all day.”
She regarded the track “fit for the purpose” of sending a horse to HOYS, with issues spread around and no one particular bogie fence. After a year out of competitive show riding to have her daughter Hattie, Emma has recently taken Bollero Green Field out again to contest workers and the partnership were champions at Drymen and reserve at Central and West Fife.
“He jumped a little green but this is his first crack at a HOYS track,” said Emma.
She has been training with showjumping coach David Harland to improve her jumping.
“It’s taken a real team effort to get us competing again and to get us to the Highland,” said Emma.
RESULTS – Royal Highland Show, 2014 (mainly Friday judging)
Cuddy supreme in-hand Mr and Mrs William Moran and Pearl Underwood, Homer Hill Farm, Pittlington Lane, Rainton Gate, Houghton Le Spring, with the 13-year-old broodmare Broadstone Dolce-Vita, sired by Demonstrator and out of Deborah Coy XX. Previously a ridden show horse, she has been champion of the Royal International, National Hunter Show and Lincoln County. She was shown with her first foal at foot, a May-born colt, by Willowcroft Regal Bronze. Reserve: Miss Lisa Breeze and Ernest Gant, Applewood Close, Hartlepool, Cleveland, with the six-year-old bay mare Northwick Elektra, sired by Gwenllan Samson and home-bred out of the silver and gold medal winning mare Gerrig Unique, on her first show outing for 2014 but previously twice a supreme championship winner in 2013, and which has won a medal every year.
Waxwing supreme in-hand mountain and moorland Miss Lisa Breeze, Applewood Close, Hartlepool, Cleveland, with the reserve Cuddy champion Northwick Elektra. Reserve: Willie Simpson, Chapelhill Farm, Logiealmond, Perth, with the seven-year-old Highland Pony stallion Chapelhill Earl, sired by Chapelhill Vegas and out of Chapelhill Tess, champion at the Royal Highland in 2010. This was his first outing having previously stood champion at Perth in 2013. His son Chapelhill Isaac was first in the junior stallion class.
Sanderson Trophy Sandy Aitken, Newton Cottage, Memus, Forfar, with six-year-old Clydesdale mare Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace, bred by John Anderson out of Redcastle Miranda and sired by Millisle Solway Bay. Bought as a yearling, during which year she stood reserve champion at Aberdeen. On her first outing of 2014, but previously second at the Highland as a two-year-old and third at the age of three. Reserve: Willie Simpson, Chapelhill Farm, Logiealmond, Perth, with the reserve Waxwing supreme mountain and moorland, the Highland Pony stallion Chapelhill Earl.
St Johns Wells Messrs A Smith, Millhill Drive, Greenloaning, Perth, for the fourth consecutive year with two home-bred Fell ponies, Bracklinn Jackpot and Bracklinn Nora, both sired by Carrock I’m Yer Man.
Overall hunter Mesdames Pat Martin and Dorothy Walsh, Osbourne Park, Belfast, with the two-year-old in-hand gelding Diamond Choice, sired by Moshaajir and out of Millhouse Diamond, which was bought as a foal at Goresbridge. Last year third at Dublin, reserve champion of the Search for a Star in Ireland and fourth in the All Ireland yearling final. Reserve: Heather McCloy, Lakeside, Byram Park, Sutton, with a nine-year-old middleweight ridden gelding, Top Executive, sired by Out Of Touch and bred out of Executive Image. Purchased in Ireland in November, this year already amateur champion at Royal Windsor, first at Northern Counties and reserve champion at Midland Counties.
Hunter in-hand Mesdames Pat Martin and Dorothy Walsh, with the overall hunter champion Diamond Choice. Reserve: Mr and Mrs William Moran, Homer Hill Farm, Pittington Lane, Rainton Gate, Houghton Le Spring, with the three-year-old filly Tiger Trap, home-bred out of the renowned former Olympia and HOYS mare Tiger Lily and sired by Chase the Ace. Reserve champion this year at Bramham, and last year National Hunter Champion at Addington and reserve at the Highland. Also first at the Highland as a yearling.
Working hunter Freda and Emma Stuart, Mains of Duncrub, Dunning, Perthshire, with the 13-year-old gelding Bollero Green Field, sired by Parco and out of Vitesse Greenfield, which was contesting his first ever HOYS qualifier and has this season stood champion at Drymen and reserve at Central and West Fife. Previously supreme hunter champion at Central and West Fife in 2012, and also that year champion at Puddledub and qualified for the Royal International as both a small and amateur. Reserve: Miss Alex Mundell, Meigle Farm, Clovenford, Galashiels, with the 11-year-old Connemara cross gelding Pebbly Limited Edition, of unknown breeding, which was champion working hunter pony at Central and West Fife, qualified for the Royal International at Area 1B, was reserve at Ayr and which competes at British Eventing, finishing fourth this season at BE100 level at Central Scotland and second at Floors Castle.
Novice hunter Lesley Higgins, The Old Barn, Easter Breich, West Calder, with the 10-year-old grey gelding Upsekee De Leau, sired by President and bred by Tamara Van Moore out of O Sambertje, which this year stood reserve champion at Fife and reserve of the unaffiliated working hunter championship at Brechin Spring. Has competed at British Eventing to novice level. Reserve: Miss Sarah Tait, Boganlochie Croft, Downies Road, Portlethen, Aberdeen, with five-year-old bay Continental warmblood gelding Encore VI, of unknown breeding, which recently stood hunter champion at Angus Show, reserve at the Winter Woolies and was reserve champion at The Cabin, where he qualified for the Royal International as both an amateur and as a middleweight hunter.
Weights and small hunters Heather McCloy, Lakeside, Byram Park, Sutton, with the reserve overall hunter champion Top Executive. Reserve: Julie O’Neil, Orchard Cottage Stables, Ballykeigle Road, Comber, with five-year-old heavyweight gelding Let’s Coast, sired by West Coast Cavalier and out of Timoleague Gladys. Ridden by Lesley Webb to be first this season at Balmoral. Last season stood novice champion at Dublin.
Retraining of racehorses Robyn Gray, Fairview Gardens, Penrith, with Whatcanyousay, a 13-year-old former National Hunt racehorse by Prince Daniel and out of Snowy’s Pet. Previously in training with Arthur Slack it won six races, mainly at Sedgefield.
Riding horses Kirsty Pickles, Aireview Farm, Harden Road, Keighley, West Yorkshire, with the 10-year-old small height mare Bowood Diamond, sired by Bandmaster and bred by Mr and Mrs A Miller out of Broadstone Diamond Ice, which stood champion and qualified for the Royal International at the North East Counties and was reserve and the White Counties. This mare qualified for HOYS last year at the Showing Register and has previously finished second at the Royal International. Reserve: Sharon Haworth, Carrhouse Stud, The Granary, Green Dicks Lane, Preston, with the five-year-old large height gelding Carrhouse Beyond Suspicion, sired by Whalton Above Suspicion and home-bred out of Hibernica, which qualified for HOYS last week at Cheshire County and for the Royal International at the Cheshire Premier. Qualified for HOYS last year as a four-year-old at Garstang and was placed at the final.
Highland ponies under saddle Dr Lindsay Macdonald, Innishail, Cromlix, Dunblane, with the eight-year-old gelding Dunedin Merlin, sired by Dunedin Marksman and bred by Ann Mitchell out of Dunedin Fair Isle. Champion at Drymen this year and winner of the in-hand male class at the Royal Highland the past two years. Reserve: Gillian and Kirstin McMurray, Bellstown, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, with their home-bred mare Trailtrow Texa Beag, an eight-year-old by Rummlegairie of Trailtrow and out of Texa of Carrick. Olympia semi-finalist at BSPS Scotland the previous week, ridden champion at Blair Castle last season.
Welsh A Mr HJ Lowe, Oaktree Farm, Bolton Road, Heath Charnock, Chorley, Lancashire, with the 11-year-old grey mare Fouroaks Coco Chanel, sired by Gwyn Rhosyn Frenin and bred by the Fouroaks Stud out of Fouroaks Carmela, which has been unshown for the last four years, running on the Welsh mountains to mature, but which was previously a bronze and silver medal winner as a one, two and three-year-old. Reserve: Mrs M Higgins, c/o Lacy Stud, Blaen Cwm, Bethel, Bala, Gwynedd, with three-year-old grey filly Pinewell Bliss, sired by the leading stallion Blackhill Picalo and home-bred out of Springlane Babycham, which was unbeaten as a two-year-old throughout 2013, including a win at the Royal Welsh, and which has this season won at Midlands County and at the North Western Welsh Pony and Cob Association.
Welsh B Sandy Anderson, c/o Lacy Stud, Bethel Bala, Gwynedd, with 10-year-old stallion Stoak Tuscany, sired by Lemonshill Hylight, out of Stoke Taffetta and shown by Colin Tibbey. Lightly shown as a youngster and qualifying for the supreme in-hand final at Horse of the Year Show as a two-year-old. Has been used for stud duties since standing at stud in Holland and Sweden. Reserve: Waxwing Stud, Balgonar, Saline, Dunfermline, with the three-year-old filly Aytounhill Anastasia, sired by the stud’s own stallion Eyarth Beau Geste and bred by bred by the late Jock Mackenzie and his daughter Fiona Stewart, out of Aytounhill Annabella. Reserve champion last time shown at the 2012 Royal Highland and supreme in-hand at NPS Summer Show as a yearling.
Welsh C Mr R Bennett, c/o Ty Hir Farm, Old Road, Bwlchgwyn, Wrexham, with three-year-old liver chestnut colt Tycwn Master Joe, sired by Moorcroft The Master and bred out of Tycwm Abbeyleigh, which was champion at the East Midlands and at Anglesey and reserve at the Royal Cornwall. Reserve: Karen Hepple, Etherley Bank, High Etherley, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, with 14-year-old black mare Karnath Daria, sired by Glynwyn Dyfodol and home-bred out of Hardys Damsel, which stood champion and reserve supreme at the SWPCA.
Welsh D Miss Lisa Breeze, Applewood Close, Hartlepool, Cleveland, with the reserve Cuddy champion and overall Waxwing mountain and moorland champion Northwick Elektra. Reserve: Mrs Wendy Ennion, Mains of Moulin, Logiealmond, Perth, with yearling colt Coldwell Brenin, sired by Llechfryn Ffrwydryn and home-bred out of Geler Dwynwen, which has won six times this season and was shown by Graham Roberts.
Mountain and moorland in-hand Messrs A Smith, Millhill Drive, Greenloaning, Perthshire, with the seven-year-old black Fell pony stallion Bracklinn Jacpot, sired by Carrock I’m Yer Man and home-bred out of Southolme Beauty, which stood supreme in-hand at the NPS Spring, was Waxwing supreme at the Royal Highland in 2011, has formed part of the St Johns Wells winning team for 2011, 12 and 13 and which was a gold medal winner at both Blair and Malvern. Reserve: Mrs Gwen Rae, West Riverside Farm, Carron Valley, Denny, Stirling, with the two-year-old black Fell colt Nicholwalls Black Jack, sired by the champion Bracklinn Jackpot and home-bred out of Bracklinn Black Beauty, which was reserve supreme champion at NPS Spring, won a silver medal at Ayr County, and was Fell and youngstock champion at the NPS Summer.
Connemara Mrs DP Staveley, Davington, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, with the six-year-old grey mare Eastland Rashiebrae, sired by Lockinge Frederick and homebred out of Bradsey Trinket, which stood mountain and moorland section champion and reserve for the Cuddy at the Royal Highland last year. This year, she stood overall ridden champion and silver medal winner at the NPS Spring and won the open ridden and went reserve champion at NPS Summer. Also previously supreme mountain and moorland at the Great Yorkshire. Reserve: Iain Somervail, Oxnam Neuk, Oxnam, Jedburgh, with the yearling gelding Bellindene Hugo, sired by the former HOYS worker Bellindene Franklyn and home-bred out of Hungry Hall Biretta, which was previously placed first at both NPS Spring and NPS Summer shows.
Riding pony breeding Christine Duke, Stable Cottage, Little Hutton, Caldwell, Richmond, with the seven-year-old broodmare Greenbarrow Geisha Girl, sired by Deanhills Royal Portrait and home-bred out of Greenbarrow Midnight. Shown with her April-born filly foal by Turnberry Top Cat at foot. On only her second outing of 2014, having stood champion part-bred Arab and reserve champion riding pony at Cumberland County. Last year, she was reserve supreme broodmare at the NPS Championships.Reserve: Wadacre Stud, Chapel Lane, Melling, Liverpool, with the two-year-old filly Wadacre Whisper, sired by Wadacre William and homebred out of Talklands Queen Katalina, which was champion of the riding pony breeding section and reserve champion part-bred Arab at Cheshire County. Shown by Naomi Wall.
Hunter pony breeding Jill Cousens, Cromlix Stables, Dunblane, with the three-year-old gelding Kenilwood Windborne, sired by Mynach Arion and bred by Mr and Mrs Massey out of Rustums Whispering Wind, which stood champion at the Royal Highland last year. This season he was champion at NPS Spring and stood reserve supreme in-hand at the NPS Summer. Reserve: Christine Duke, Stable Cottage, Little Hutton, Caldwell, Richmond, with the three-year-old gelding Greenbarrow Art of Gold, sired by Pendley Gold Link and home-bred out of Heart of Gold, which stood champion this year at North Yorkshire.