A mare that has had an amazing career continued her domination of the City of Aberdeen Clydesdale Show at the weekend.
Ormiston Mains Amelie from Robert and Jean Trotter, of Ormiston Mains, Tranent, East Lothian, took her third successive Balmoral Tanks-sponsored supreme championship at the event, held amid sunny if blustery conditions at Aberdeen’s Duthie Park on Saturday.
The three-year-old has won almost all the main championships in the Clydesdale world in Scotland in a glittering show career.
Amelie, by Mollinhillhead Sensation, got off to the worst possible start in life after her mother, Ormiston Mains Sophie, died of a twisted gut just three weeks after she was born.
She was adopted on to another mare found for her by Ronnie Black, of Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, Fife.
The Black-Amelie combination has proved a winner since and it was Mr Black who again led out her out on Saturday to follow up her Royal Highland Show championship in June.
Reserve supreme was the male champion, Dillars Dominator, a 17-month-old colt, by Dillars Scottie Boy and out of Malcolmwood Iona, from Robert Hamilton, of Dillars Lesmahagow.
Dominator has certainly lived up to his name, winning the foal, male and reserve supreme championships at Kilpatrick, the yearling colt class at the National Stallion Show and a first and reserve male title at the Royal Highland. He has also this year been male champion and reserve supreme at Kittochside as well as male champion at both Biggar and Peebles.
Dominator was bred by Jim and Helena Rochead at Malcolmwood, Blantyre.
Judges Walt Bedford, of Sheepwalk Farm, Escrick, York, and Ted Cumbor, of School Garden Cottage, Station Road, Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, agreed on the choice of supreme.
Mr Bedford, who had earlier placed the females and given Amelie the female championship, said: “She is a quality three-year-old and oh what a scope there is in her. She probably has one of the best track records with her win at the Royal Highland.”
Mr Cumbor, who judged the males, was equally impressed with Dominator. “He’s a good mover and in a nice condition.”
There was a new trophy at the show, the Campbell Challenge Bowl for the best mare and foal which was presented by Shonah and Andrew Campbell.
It was won by Thorn Orange Blossom, a seven-year-old mare by Greendykes Footprint and out of Thorn Leading Lady, and Thorn Blue Velvet, a three-month-old filly foal by Heatherwick Perfection.
Both were exhibited by Robert Sibbald, of Thorn Farm, Dollar.
Blue Velvet was first at the Royal Highland and in the foal class at Doune and Dunblane. She stood Clydesdale champion at Braco and foal champion at Kinross.
Her mother has collected a series of prizes too, including firsts at the Royal Highland, Doune and Dunblane and Braco plus a reserve championship at Kinross.
Reserve in both the male and female sections on Saturday was farmer and property developer John Anderson, of 4 Alexandra Place, Arbroath.
His female reserve was his Angus Show champion, Gregglea HC Nicole, a 27-month-old filly by Highfield Collessie and out of Armbro Rosalee.
Male reserve for Mr Anderson was the 19-month-old colt, Great American GW Carver. This US-bred Clydesdale was imported by Mr Anderson in October last year after he saw him at the World Show in Wisconsin.
By Great American Ben Franklin and out of Spring Hollows Elegant Contessa, he was bred by Great American Clydesdales who won a string of championships with him at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada, as well at Michigan Great Lakes and at Milwaukee.
Aberdeen’s lord and lady provost, Peter and Sandra Stephen, were guests at the show. Mr Stephen presented the prizes and trophies.
The show attracted entries from as far south as Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.
Conditions proved so windy in the afternoon that the secretary’s tent blew over.
Results:
Yeld mare born in or before 2004 – 1 John Adamson, of Glenside Farm, Plean, Stirling, with Hawkhill Katy; 2 Calum MacKay and Julie Wright, of 13 Bellfield Park, Inverness, with Bellfield Bonnie May; 3 Jim Ingram, of 42 Sunnyside Avenue, Drumoak, Banchory, with Barns Lady Emily.
Mare with foal at foot – 1 Robert Sibbald, of Thorn Farm, Dollar, with Thorn Orange Blossom; 2 David Walker and Beverley Brown, of Galcantray, Cawdor, Nairn, with Thorn Spring Flower; 3 Tom Gillies, of Lady Jane Croft, Laurencekirk, with Heatherwick Lady Luck.
Filly foal born in 2008 – 1 R. Sibbald with Thorn Blue Velvet; 2 D. Walker and B. Brown with Galcantray Petal; 3 T. Gillies with Heatherwick Lady Lucinda.
Mare born in 2005 – 1 Robert and Jean Trotter, of Ormiston Mains, Tranent, East Lothian, with Ormison Mains Amelie; 2 David Greenhill, of Leuchars Lodge, Leuchars, with Fordelhill Queen Victoria; 3 J. Ingram with Barns Camilla.
Filly born in 2006 – 1 John Anderson, 4 Alexandra Place, Arbroath, with Gregglea HC Nicole; 2 Charles Carrick, Easter Littleward, Thornhill, Stirling, with Littleward Alexi; 3 D. Walker and B. Brown with Kenbar Roxy.
Filly born in 2007 – 1 D. Greenhill with Fordelhill Heather Mairi; 2 Angus Howie, of Millhouse, Dunning, Perth, with Castlehill Princess; 3 Carolynne Crawford, of Powguild Farm, Cardenden, Fife, with Powguild Lady Jessica.
Gelding born in or before 2004 – 1 Lyndsay Adamson, of Glenside Farm, Plean, Stirling, with Kelvinhead Express. 2 George and Ruth Skinner, of Strathorn Farm, Pitcaple, Inverurie, with Strathorn Jamie; 3 George Wight, of Sunnyside Farm, Drumoak, Banchory, with Caldo.
Gelding born in 2005 – 1 Lorna Tulloch, of 5 Glenburgie Distillery, Forres, with Cluny Miracle Explorer.
Colt or gelding born in 2006 – 1 Angus McPherson, of Millhill, Arbirlot, Arbroath, with Kirk.
Colt or gelding born in 2007 – 1 Robert Hamilton, of Dillars, Lesmahagow, with Dillars Dominator; 2 John Anderson with Great American GW Carver; 3 Alan Noble, of The Fishing Lodge, Bridge of Dun, Montrose, with Phesdo Scott.
Colt foal born in 2008 – 1 J and T. Spence, 9 Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord, with Ben Wyvis Rory; 2 J. Adamson with Glenside Novo; 3 Sharon Campbell, 43 Beech Avenue, Nairn, with an unnamed entry.
Harness classes – 1 G. and R. Skinner with Glenside Harry.
Best pair – 1 J. Ingram; 2 R. Sibbald, 3 Eric and Miranda Johnstone, 50 Highfield Circle, Muir of Ord.
Young judges – 1 Amanda Stewart, of Mollinhillhead, Mollinsburn, Cumbernauld; 2 George Young, of Wellheads, Clochan, Buckie; 3 Charlotte Young, of Hall Farm, Ayr.
Young handlers – 1 G. Young; 2 David Stewart, of Drumlochy Farm, Blackford; 3 Louise Tulloch, of 5 Glenburgie Distillery, Forres.
Ridden Clydesdales – 1 Amy King, c/o Strathorn Farm, Pitcaple, Inverurie, with Jake; 2 Lisa Lamb, of 36 Station Road, Findochty, with Kaitlands Top Gun; 3 Gary Picken, c/o Strathorn Farm, with Mac.
