The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Equestrian
Clydesdale champion supreme in native breeds –
The Clydesdale champion Ord Tinkerbell, owned and bred by Eric Johnstone, lifted the overall supreme title for the Sanderson Trophy to be awarded the best of Scotland’s native horse breeds.
The overall supreme judge, noted Clydesdale horse breeder Ronnie Black, from Ladybank, deliberated for some time before deciding upon the Clydesdale.
The two-year-old home-bred filly is sired by Eskchraggan Ernest and out of the City of Aberdeen supreme champion Ord Envy.
This year she stood first at the National Stallion Show and previously was overall champion at the National Stallion Show in 2017 and supreme at Black Isle and Grantown shows.
Eric has been breeding Clydesdale horses at home at the Muir of Ord for more than 30 years but this was only his second time showing at the Royal Highland Show.
“I never thought I had anything good enough,” Eric said.
Standing reserve overall was the miniature Shetland champion Kerswell Montgomery.
This was a new championship for this year as previously the miniature Shetland ponies were included in the overall Shetland pony judging.
Owned by Stevenson McKay, from Crieff, the 11-year-old stallion was purchased in Devon five years ago and was previously champion at Perth, Braco and the Shetland Pony Group Show.
The ridden Clydesdale championship, a direct qualifier to the Horse of the Year Show, saw 19 entries forward.
The title and qualifier went to Glenside Flower of Scotland, a six-year-old mare, owned by John and Margo McIntyre, and ridden by Judith Grant.
Sired by Dillars Ideal and out of Barlauchlan Claires Delight, she had been lightly shown in-hand as a youngster and was fifth in the ridden heavy horse class at Suffolk recently.
“She gave me a nice forward, comfortable ride,” said ride judge Morag Durno.
Shona Halford won the Highland pony in-hand overall with the male champion Danny Boy of Croila, owned by Sylvia Ormiston.
The nine-year-old stallion was supreme at the Royal Northern, and previously in-hand supreme at Blair Castle and NPS Scotland overall in-hand champion last year.
Susan Wardrop, judging, said: “He was a lovely, traditional Highland pony with a lovely front and bone and showed lots of presence.”
The ridden Highland pony championship was presented to Jane McNaught’s Heather Jock of Fourmerk.
This was a catch ride for Katie Common as Jane has been injured.
The nine-year-old gelding is by Mccallumdene and out of Fourmerk Honey, and has previously been ridden champion at Blair, in-hand silver medal champion at NPS Scotland Spring Show.
“He gave me a lovely ride, with beautiful transitions and came alive on the gallop,” said ride judge Virginia Osorne-Antolovi.
He was a lovely, traditional Highland pony with a lovely front and bone and showed lots of presence. SUSAN WARDROPE, JUDGE