The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Action from Brechin and Glenfarg
Brechin Spring Show supported by record entries
Competitors at the Brechin Castle Spring Show are accustomed to weathering all seasons but a decision to move the event back on the calendar was rewarded by glorious conditions, last weekend.
Winner of the supreme championship at the close of play, and topping the show which boasted record entries for 2017, was local rider Hilary Mackie and her retrained racehorse, King Brex.
Receiving top remarks from the judges for his “exceptional performance”, the 14-year-old gelding was bought out of racing just three years ago and is now in only his second show season out under saddle.
Sired by Trimatico and bred out of Moonstone, King Brex was originally imported from Denmark but raced successfully over hurdles and steeple-chased from leading Scottish racehorse trainer Nick Alexander’s yard at Kinneston.
During his career over fences, he amassed winnings of more than £20,000.
“This was his first outing for 2017, but last year he was very successful in the show ring,” Hilary said.
Indeed, King Brex stood supreme ROR champion at the Grand Slam, having won championships at Stonehaven, Angus, Alyth and Turriff shows. He also stood overall points winner for the ROR series.
“He can occasionally be a little naughty in-hand,” said Hilary, “but once you get in the saddle he settles quickly and works exceptionally well.”
Despite “having his moments”, Hilary said she was thrilled with Brex’s “foot perfect” performance at the weekend and was “delighted” to take the overall win.
The sash for the reserve supreme, and reserve overall ridden champion, was awarded to the 2016 Scottish Equestrian Awards Junior Rider Annabelle Brooks and her 11-year-old show pony Rotherwood Mr Pepys.
Annabelle, who previously lived in Laurencekirk but has since moved north to Fraserburgh, has been a regular winner at Brechin Castle and counts the supreme championship at Angus Show in 2015 among her considerable successes on the show field.
Mr Pepys, an 11-year-old 138cm show pony, sired by Strinesdale Matador and out of Rotherwood Bo-Peep, came to Annabelle after having stood reserve supreme of the SEIB Search for a Star series at the Horse of the Year Show, in 2014.
The Mintlaw Academy student has since qualified the gelding for the Royal International Horse Show across both the part-bred Arab and home-produced sections, but was unable to compete last year due to injury.
They kicked their 2017 campaign off with an in-hand part-bred championship win and first place under saddle at the NSWPCA and were Arab and part-bred champions at the Puddledub Spring, hosted at Fountain Equestrian.
In the contest for the overall in-hand championship, Aberdeenshire show producer Kayleigh Evans brought out Emma and Hilary Cowie’s show pony Woodview Inspiration to take the win.
This top nine-year-old 12.2hh gelding, which finished sixth at the Horse of the Year Show and was reserve champion at the Royal Highland last year, has now been outgrown by Hilary and is being offered for sale.
Standing reserve overall in-hand was Lynneann Cameron and Alison Walker’s Mountain and Moorland leader, Cadlanvalley Georgie Boy, from the Goldenwood Stud, Fettercairn.
This striking six-year-old Welsh section B stallion, sired by Newtonhill Naughty Boy Charlie and bred out of Cadlanvalley Georgette, previously won at the Royal Welsh as a two-year-old but was on his first outing of the year.
In the workers ring, the overall championship also went north, this time to Oldmeldrum, with 16-year-old rider Emma McClelland.
Emma, who has had a quiet winter in preparation for sitting her Highers at Meldrum Academy, rode Mr RM to lead the 15hh Working Hunter Pony class and in doing to picked up a qualifying ticket to Blair.
Mr RM, a 15-year-old grey Connemara gelding, which is owned by event rider Caitlin Padfield, has been on loan with the McClelland family for the past two years.
Together, Emma and he contested the Pony Club Championships, in both dressage and showjumping, last summer, representing Bennachie, and also finished ninth overall at the Pony Club Dengie Showjumping at Addington Manor last March.
This year, they stood champions of the working hunter pony section at the Cabin Spring Show and travelled to Brechin in preparation for the Royal Highland.
For the first time, the show also included a full section affiliated to the Clydesdale Horse Society.
This championship was won by Scott Greenhill, ably assisted by his son William, of Leuchars Lodge, Leuchars, with Fordelhill Queen Victoria.
This home-bred 12-year-old mare, by Collessie Whinhill President and out of Fordelhill Lady Margaret, twice previously stood reserve female champion at the Royal Highland Show, including most recently in 2011.
Unshown for the last five years, Queen Victoria topped the 12-strong Clydesdale section at Brechin, adjudicated by Jim Greenhill, of Upper Tulloes, in preparation for another run out in the main ring at Ingliston.