Stud Nicholwalls takes three championships

Memorable day for Stirling-based Gwen and Stewart Rae

The Fell pony Stud Nicholwalls enjoyed a memorable day at the NPS Scotland Championships at Blair Castle when lifting three championships.

Set up by Stirling-based Gwen and Stewart Rae, the stud led the novice ridden championship, the gold medal in-hand championship and the working hunter pony championship with two different ponies. Fife rider Kirsty Aird rode the home-bred five-year-old stallion Nicholwalls Black Jack to win the overall novice ridden champion before Gwen led the pony to become inhand silver medal champion. In his first year under saddle he has been lightly shown to stand second at Ayr.

“He was supreme in-hand at the NPS Summer Show and reserve at the Royal Highland Show,” said Gwen.

Black Jack’s full sibling the yearling Nicholwalls Graceson, by Bracklinn Jackpot and out of Bracklinn Black Beauty, was youngstock reserve champion.

The seven-year-old stallion Greenholme Emblem topped the 133cm working hunter pony class before being the judges’ choice for the overall title.

Emblem has had a super year, qualifying for the Royal International Horse Show and the Horse of the Year Show after standing champion at the Royal Highland Show. He has four foals due for next year.

Gail Whetter stood reserve to Emblem after heading the 143cm class with Trenewydd Danny Boy, an eightyear-old Welsh section C gelding owned by Laura Naylor. They were champion at the Border Union and third in the novice working hunter final at the NPS Summer Championships at Malvern.

Champion of the open ridden and silver medal champion was Jo Jack with Robert Davidson’s home-bred Trowan Maverick. The eight-year-old Highland gelding, by Ruaridh of Mendick and out of Trowan Mabel, and Jo compete as part the Hi-Ho Highlands team quest dressage team. Christopher Grant won the NPS/Minns Ridden Silver Medal Championship for the overall gold medal with the 10-year-old Highland mare Dunedin Rhiona.

The 10-year-old mare, by HOYS champion Dunedin Marksman, was bred by Ann Mitchell and was bought by Christopher as a two-year-old as they also have her half-sister at home.

Standing overall in-hand champion was Shona Halford who was on a roll, following her win in the Highland pony show the previous day. She showed Sylvia Ormiston’s Danny Boy of Croila to claim the adult championship and then the overall.

There were huge entries in the mini ridden championships where a full complement of 28 lead rein ponies and 30 first ridden ponies came forward for judging.

The champion went to last year’s champion, Lynn and Emma Robertson’s 10-year-old Dartmoor mare Pumphill Tirella, ridden by Ella Anderson.

Reserve was Suzanne Craighead with the second placed lead rein pony Waxwing Sailaway, a six-year-old by Waxwing Victory and ridden by Lucy Craighead.

Victoria Mylius from Fife won the NPS/NFU Mutual Insurance riding/ hunter pony In-hand championship with her own home-bred Castafiore Emerald. The four-year-old part-bred Arab by Strinesdale Matador is out of the three-time British riding pony champion Lyndrose Tiny Dancer.

He was supreme inhand at the NPS Summer Show and reserve at the Royal Highland Show. GWEN RAE