The Showing Journal 27 178th Royal Highland Show

Ingliston, Edinburgh 21 - 24 June Photos courtesy of Sinclair Photography courtesy Photos

Sylvia Orminston’s Highland champion Danny Boy Of Croila shown by Shona Halford.

Danny Boy is the pride of Scotland

the Sleigh Perpetual Cup, the A native Scottish home- Johnston Silver Salver, the bred heavy horse claims Sanderson Trophy, the James Chapman Perpetual Cup, the 10 silver trophies, a Dundee Citizens Perpetual homebred wins the Silver Cup, the Robert S Watt Challenge Trophy, the Dawson Cuddy and one rider Memorial Trophy and the Matthew Templeton Challenge bags three HOYS tickets. Cup. Tinkerbelle won her yearling Report by Jeanetta La-Four class here last year and her CV is quite remarkable for one he overall Highland pony title went so young; she was supreme to Balmoral Stud manager Sylvia champion at the Clydesdale Ormiston’s nine-year-old stallion National Stallion Show, Danny Boy Of Croila. He was bred T winning the Prince of Wales by Sylvia’s late father Cameron Ormiston and Trophy. She also racked up left to her in his will. Shona Halford and her wins at Sutherland County partner Jason Cunningham then gave him a Show, was supreme champion home three years ago and showed him today. He at Nairn Shire Farming lives on their family farm in Morayshire and his Eric and Miranda Johnstone with their Sanderson Cup best of Scottish breeds Society, Clydesdale champion companions are three Ryeland gimmers [female winner Ord Tinkerbelle. and native breed supreme at sheep]. Danny was supreme at Northern Spring Black Isle Show, Clydesdale earlier this season and last year stood supreme at mare Ord Envy by Eskechragan Ernest. She was champion and native breed supreme at Perth Blair Atholl and at Black Isle. Shona now plans entered here alongside her year-older full sister, Show, Clydesdale champion and native breed to concentrate on his ridden career and they are Ord Destiny. ‘The decision about which horse to supreme at Keith Show, Clydesdale champion enjoying hacking and dressage. The following bring was made for us,’ said Eric’s wife Miranda. at Grantown Show, Clydesdale champion and day she showed Danny’s daughter Gaolean ‘Destiny wasn’t fully in feather so we decided to supreme overall at the City Of Aberdeen Show Of Croila — a former champion at Nairn and bring Tinkerbelle.’ The Johnstone family have and reserve senior female champion at the Mundole Spring — to win the working harness been breeding Clydesdales at the Muir Of Ord, Clydesdale Horse Society winter fair. class. on the Isle of Bute, for 30 years but this was only A pony on the other end of the size scale Eric Johnstone flew the flag for Scotland their second time at Royal Highland. Her haul was reserve — the McKay family’s 11-year-old with his best of Scottish breed winner Ord of silver probably filled the living of Eric and miniature Shetland Kerswell Montgomery. Tinkerbelle. The two-year-old Clydesdale filly Miranda’s lorry and included the Ninth Cawdor is out of City of Aberdeen supreme champion Cup, The Medcalf Challenge Cup (home-bred),

www.theshowingjournal.co.uk 28 The Showing Journal th at foot, capably shown ‘We loved the show and 178 Royal by Eleanor Ingram. ‘In have been here every my opinion she is a top year for the last 12 years,’ class show mare,’ said a said Dorothy. ‘The staff Highland Show delighted Colin. She is couldn’t be more helpful out of one of Thistledown and we are of course very Stud’s best broodmares, pleased with Kit.’ Thistledown Extravaganza, Mountain and who has an enviable moorland working hunter record of producing ponies were wall-to-wall champions. Her sire is with huge entries but it Thistledown Snow Storm was Gwen Rae’s 133cm who in turn is by Sarah native worker winner and Colin Tibbey’s Lacy Greenholme Emblem Stud stallion Blackhill who stood champion for Piccolo. the second consecutive ‘The reserve was a very year, ridden by Kirsty nice, straight-moving mare Vanessa Ramm’s novice hunter winner and Aird. Gwen bought “Rio” with a lovely foal at foot,’ supreme hunter champion Lucky Jack ridden by as a yearling from the Fell added Jack Cochran. Martin Skelton. Pony Sale and he is now Vanessa Ramm’s very promising Lucky Jack eight. The stallion is in his fourth season with won his novice hunter class and was supreme producer and jockey Kirsty, having started in hunter champion, ridden by Martin Skelton. flat classes aged five and progressed through to Suzannah Welby’s riding pony youngstock champion He is by Grafenstolz and was bred in Ireland by open workers. and Cuddy supreme Revolution Brave shown by James Billy Twomey. Vanessa bought him aged three Last year he Crockford. at Royal Dublin where he won his class. Shortly combined Suzannah Welby’s long-term support of after arriving at Vanessa’s Northumberland covering duties showing with many types was rewarded today yard, he won at the SHB (GB) National Hunter at Gwen’s when her two-year-old homebred riding pony Show and was reserve champion. Last year he Dunblane yard, colt Revolution Brave was youngstock made his ridden debut and was unbeaten in half an hour champion before taking on and beating seven outings including Royal Windsor, Royal from Kirsty, allcomers to land the Cuddy supreme, shown Highland, SHB (GB) Hunter Show and the with ridden by James Crockford. This is Jerome Harforth’s BSHA National Championships. Now five, he work and he is second exhibit through to the final at HOYS — came out to win the novice class at Sport Horse renowned as Mark Buckley’s Crafton Blithe Spirit qualified at Breeding (NW) and then won the novice class being super- Royal Three Counties. The colt is a son of Steve and was champion, before winning his first open mannerly and Pitt and Vicky Smith’s 138cm Brown Bear who middleweight class at Yorkshire Sport Horse. happy to stand is a full brother to Suzannah’s prolific large hack Freda Newton’s reigning HOYS small hunter in line next to Elusive. Suzannah bought his mother, Ainthorpe of the year Ebony King won his class and was mares. This Countess, from Jerome Harforth as an unbroken reserve, ridden by producer James Munro. year he won the three-year-old and she went on to an illustrious The six-year-old by Aughabeg Patch looks 133cm workers, career under saddle with her daughter Isadora. magnificent and fully mature this term and stood champion Gwen Rae’s 133cm native worker Now in her 20s, Countess has her third foal at appeared to give the most amazing ride. and overall winner and champion Greenholme foot. “Brave” was lightly shown as a yearling, supreme at NPS Emblem ridden by Kirsty Aird. standing champion at the NPS championships Scottish Spring, and came out this term to stand supreme at NPS BSPS Scotland Winter championships and NPS Area 4 and reserve to the eventual Cuddy winner Scotland Summer. ‘Every time he has had a clear Broadgrove Family Silver at Nottinghamshire this year he has been champion,’ said a delighted County. Gwen. ‘He qualified for HOYS here last year too. ‘My winner was the best of its type for all the He is such a gentleman and just wants to please. breeds forward,’ said judge Jack Cochrane. Kirsty also does cross country with him and he loves it. As long as he is doing a job, he’s happy.’ Martha [Moo] Jobling- Purser has only had her 148cm Dorothy Walsh and Tim Martin’s hunter youngstock show pony champion and reserve supreme Clover Choice shown by and former Tim Martin. broodmare Family friends Dorothy and Keith Walsh and Litton Cerise Tim and Pat Martin landed the in-hand hunter (CC) for four championship and the Manderson Trophy for months and the fifth time with their two-year-old Clover they managed Choice. He looked outstanding to win the to enter hunter youngstock championship and was here as her Sandy Anderson’s overall in-hand mountain and moorland champion Thistledown Jess Eniss shown by Colin Tibbey. reserve supreme, handled by Tim. He is a full mother Yorkie brother to their Superior Choice who qualified Jobling-Purser Yorkie Jobling-Purser’s part-bred class Sandy Anderson’s six-year-old mare for the HOYS Cuddy supreme here last year and was bringing winner and Royal Bank of Scotland Thistledown Jess Eniss absolutely charmed recently stood in-hand hunter champion at Great Cheryl Farrow’s overall light horse champion Litton Cerise, ridden by Martha Jobling-Purser. the crowd and earned the reserve supreme spot, Yorkshire. He was bred by the late Desmond Bannview shown by producer Colin Tibbey. They began Noctor and is by Emperor Augustus out of an Scirocco which her head girl Elliee Stunt their ascent by winning the section A broodmare Irish Draught sport horse mare called Kemella produces from their Northumberland base. They class and then stood section champion and Clover. “Kit” was bought as a foal and this year duly won their intermediate show hunter class claimed the overall in-hand mountain and was second at Royal Ulster, and champion at but it was Moo who landed the big one. She and moorland title. She had a gorgeous colt foal Lurgan County Show. the daughter of Llanarth Aristocrat — out of www.theshowingjournal.co.uk 29 Litton Cherry B — began by winning their small SHOW SNAPS part-bred class and championship, earning them a spot on the overall light horse supreme. The relative novice waited patiently in the ring on her own for 20 minutes whilst all other exhibits were gathered for the Bank Of Scotland supreme. ‘She is so old-fashioned in her type; we love her temperament and her attitude to work,’ said Yorkie. ‘We weren’t expecting this and didn’t have any suitable clothes for Moo to wear for the presentation in the magnificent Royal Highland Centre. We had to rush off and buy something. The trophy was presented in front of all the cattle and sheep stockmen — it was such fun and a great experience.’ Sophie Hourston, 11, was reserve supreme on Jennifer Gilchrist’s riding pony and part-bred Sue White’s large junior mountain and moorland winner champion Serene Royal Princess. The seven- and champion Thunderbolt Fairy Robin Bambi ridden by Suzie England’s 143cm working pony winner and year-old 138cm mare, a daughter of Deanhills Megan White. champion Rosshill Paddy ridden by Amelia England. Royal Portrait, was bred by Shirley Sykes and has Lancashire. He was shown successfully in-hand been on loan to her mother Tessa for two years. as a five-year-old, winning the adult Connemara The pair were champion at Puddledub Spring class at Royal Cheshire. Last year he qualified for and Summer Shows. this year’s RIHS at the first qualifier at Equifest. Ridden mountain and moorland classes here This season he came out to win the juniors and are always strong and this year was no exception. was supreme at Derbyshire Festival. ‘He is just Producer Aimee Devane claimed three HOYS the most straightforward pony,’ said Megan. ‘He tickets and it could well have been four, had the takes no work and his favourite thing is having section B Wortley Golcar Lily not misbehaved several power naps during the day. He is just in the class presentation with Becki Penny after one in a million — I don’t think I will ever have standing top. Dawn Groom’s stallion Aleanto another pony like him.’ Bon’A Parte won his section D class before a storming gallop and the crowd’s approval saw him crowned overall champion, ridden by Aimee. The Harkers’ 143cm show hunter pony winner and champion The Real McCoy II ridden by Victoria Harker.

Chrissy Knipe’s lead rein mountain and moorland and mini champion Langfield Lord Asriel ridden by Rebecca McColl’s ridden coloured champion Hopgarden Samantha Taylor. Playboy ridden by Abbie Kirkbride.

Rebecca McColl’s six-year-old Hopgarden Dawn Groom’s overall mountain and moorland champion Playboy won through in a huge pony section Aleanto Bon’A Parte ridden by Aimee Devane. and was ridden coloured champion, piloted by Of The North won the native/traditional pony Abbie Kirkbride. The reigning RIHS plaited class and was in-hand coloured champion, Now seven, the son of Menai Sparkling Magic small pony champion is by Hopgarden Hanky handled by Clive Johnston and produced by has been with Aimee for three seasons and was Panky out of Cardells Evangaline. Megan Hewitt. Beverley spotted him at a local second at HOYS last year. This year he hit top Beverley Walsh and Nigel Lowe’s Billy King show with Katy Barker and Chris Shackleton who form early, winning and qualifying for RIHS at then showed him in-hand for several months BSPS Area 5. He then won at Royal Windsor, and took him for a successful grading with before coming here fresh from a second on his CHAPS. He joined producer Megan two first appearance at Lincoln County. ‘Bon is my years ago and she started him under saddle. favourite — he’s got that something special,’ said Now seven, the stallion of unknown breeding Aimee. ‘We travelled up via Lincoln and then was then BSPA graded, and stood champion spent two days riding on the beach at Yellow at Keysoe Spring last year first time out. He Craig in Scotland with him and Townend qualified for RIHS there under saddle too. Schubert, who also won his Fell class here. He was coloured reserve champion at Royal I also won on Gill Simpson’s Dales mare Cheshire County and went on to be overall Griseburn Faye and qualified her too.’ reserve supreme, both in-hand and ridden, Susan White’s seven-year-old gelding at the CHAPS Championships. He ended Thunderbolt Fairy Robin Bambi topped his the season as overall pony of the year in the huge large junior mountain and moorland class BSPA achiever awards. and was champion, ridden by Megan White. This season he came out to stand He was bought just-backed as four-year-old to champion in-hand and ridden at do workers. Megan started him under saddle Beverley Walsh’s in-hand coloured champion Billy King Of The Patrington Mill Show and won his and produces from home in Northcote Stud in North shown by Clive Johnston. RIHS qualifier at Barnard Castle. www.theshowingjournal.co.uk