Angus mare towers above competitors during great gathering of Clydesdales

SHOW: Breeders gather from far and wide for horse show at Aberdeen’s Duthie Park

Aberdeen’s Duthie Park saw Clydesdale horse breeders and enthusiasts from far and wide gather for the city’s Clydesdale Horse Show, and taking the supreme championship was Sandy Aitken’s Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace, from Newton Cottage, Memus, Angus.

This 10-year-old yeld mare is no stranger to the limelight, having taken the prestigious Champion of Champions title at Aberdeen last year, adding to a long list of notable victories which includes her Cawdor Cup win at the Royal Highland in 2014. This year, her only other outing was to Kirriemuir where again she stood champion.

Bred by John Anderson, Amazing Grace is by Millisle Solway Bay and out of Redcastle Miranda. She was shown on the day by Sandy’s granddaughter, Keira Gowans. Keira, 15, had a fantastic day as winner of both the Young Handlers and Young Judges competitions.

Taking the reserve supreme honours was Collessie Consort, which had been placed male champion earlier in the day by judge Peter Ronaldson, of Orkney. Exhibited by Ron and Pete Black, of Newton of Collessie, Cupar, Consort is a two-year-old home-bred stallion by Arradoul Balvenie and out of Collessie Robyn.

Reserve female was Charlotte Young’s Clerkington Cassandra, from Hall, Ayr. This three-year-old mare is by Doura Kingmaker and out of Garleton Katie.

It was Jim Gibb’s Collessie Braveheart which took the reserve male award. By Arradoul Balvenie and out of Collessie Julia, Braveheart is a yearling colt bred by the Blacks at Collessie.

Taking the top award in the decorated harness classes was Toots Cromarty, of Burray, assisted by Vicki Cursiter. The reserve rosette went to Ian and Diane Smith, of Kirkwall.

Leading awards:

Yeld mare – 1. Female champion and supreme, S Aitken, Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace.

Mare with foal at foot – 1. S Campbell and A Merchant, Rolling Thunder Maggie May.

Filly foal – 1. C Young, unnamed.

Best mare and foal – S Campbell and A Merchant.

Three-year-old mare – 1 and reserve female, C Young, Clerkington Cassandra.

Two-year-old filly

Doura Joules.

Yearling filly – 1. I Young, Arradoul Capella.

Aged gelding

Full Monty.

Colt foal – 1. C Young, unnamed.

Three-year-old gelding – 1. P Mcdonald, Hilton Jake.

Two-year-old colt or gelding –1. male champion and reserve supreme, R Black, Collessie Consort.

Yearling colt or gelding – 1 and reserve male, Gibb, Collessie Braveheart.

Best decorated harness (wool) –1 and reserve harness, J and D Smith.

Best kept harness – 1 and champion harness, I Cromarty.

Best groomed horse – 1. I Cromarty.

Pair – 1. C Young.

Young judges – 1. K Gowans.

Young handler – 1. K Gowans.

Ridden – 1. I Cromarty. – 1. J Gibb, Collessie

J– 1. J Graham,