Hunter and child’s pony take the honours

TURRIFF SHOW: Break with tradition as two horses land overall supreme title

Not one but two horses stood supreme overall champions at the Haughs, during the 151st running of the Turriff Show.

For the first time in recent memory, champions were split to stand adjudicated in separate in-hand and ridden supreme competitions – sending two happy exhibitors home with equines that were garlanded with sashes as the best exhibits on the showfield.

Pulled forward for the second year in succession to top the supreme Turriff line-up was Deeside-based private carer Lorna Gilbert and her now three-yearold in-hand hunter, Expensive Decision.

Already supreme horse at Banchory this season, this youngster was the top pick of overall in-hand judge Mary Sivewright, of the Blackford Stud, Rothienorman.

“I liked this hunter even more today than at Banchory,” said Mrs Sivewright.

“He was nicely behaved and overall he is just a very nice horse – he boasts a nice short canon bone, a good shoulder and the expression on his face is just lovely.”

As well as his Banchory and Turriff success, Expensive Decision has been unbeaten in his classes to date, also achieving a championship at Echt and reserve prize tickets at New Deer, Fettercairn and Angus shows this season.

Standing as reserve supreme in-hand was Sally Leslie-Melville’s eye-catching Highland pony breed leader Glenbanchor Lady Ferelith, home-bred at South Cantray, Croy.

This seven-year-old mare was being shown in-hand for the first time in 2015, and has instead been concentrated on her novice season under saddle.

“This mare showed herself beautifully,” said Mrs Sivewright.

“She’s a cracking Highland – nicely short coupled with nice flat bone.”

This home- bred daughter of Glenbanchor Lady Fiona, which is by virtue a half-sister to the 2015 Royal Highland Show champion Glenbanchor Gillebrighde, won under saddle at Strathbogie earlier in the summer and qualified for Blair Castle at Mundole.

In the contest for the ridden supreme, the overall decision fell to Jacky Low-Mitchell, who had travelled north to the show from Balcormo Stud, Leven.

Electing for a “true child’s pony” as her supreme pick, she sent young lead-rein jockey Rebecca Green home with top honours.

Although beaten within the small breed mountain and moorland section championship, Rebecca won through to the overall ridden competition with her pony, Gwynrhosyn Demelza, courtesy of topping the mini M&M ridden.

“This little pony was just outstanding,” said Mrs Low-Mitchell.

“For a child’s pony, she just had manners to die for and their overall picture as a partnership was just stunning.”

Topping off a great weekend in the show ring, Rebecca and Demelza had stood reserve overall for the M&M section at Perth Show only a couple of days previously.

Also carrying forward form from Perth was Mrs Low-Mitchell’s selection for the reserve supreme ridden plaudits.

This was Freda Newton’s five-year-old steel grey hunter gelding, Parkmore Rowan, which gave a crowd-pleasing performance to produce a top gallop down the packed ringside.

Ridden and produced by James Munro, from Spittal, Wick, this young lightweight, which also competes over rustic fences, had stood reserve champion of champions, supreme horse and overall hunter at Perth last week.

“He gave a very polished show, had a good turn of pace, his conformation is good and he was beautifully turned out on the day,” said Mrs Low-Mitchell.

Freda bought Rowan at the Dublin Horse Show last year, where he was placed fifth in the lightweight ridden hunter class.