The top award at this year’s National Stallion Show – the Prince of Wales Trophy – went to the Clydesdale yearling filly, Ord Tinkerbell, from Eric and Miranda Johnstone of Muir of Ord.
While the Clydesdale judging provided some debate amongst spectators – with the judging being drawn out over some six hours – the huge venue, better known for being packed with the country’s leading cattle during the Royal Highland Show, proved the ideal spot for this year’s show of Clydesdales, Highland and Shetland ponies.
Supreme champion Ord Tinkerbell, from the Johnstones, is by Eskechraggan Ernest and out of the home-bred Dillars Scottie Boy-sired mare, Ord Envy. She was reserve filly foal at North of Fife, Lanark and the Winter Fair, was reserve overall at Lothian and Forfar and champion at Grampian Foal Show.
“Undoubtedly the best horse here, a very sweet filly and great on her legs,” judges Campbell Steel and John Henderson agreed.
Male champion and reserve supreme was Doura Master Eddie from Charlotte Young of Ayr. The pick of male judges, Robin Lang and Robbie Morton, this five-year-old stallion was bred in Northern Ireland by Victor and Raymond Scott and is by Glebeview Sir Charles, out of the Singlie Sir Charles daughter, Bannview Dawn. Master Eddie won the Cawdor Cup at this event back in 2014. Charlotte lifted the Cawdor Cup this time round with Doura Aird Ambition, a three-year-old stallion bred in Stranraer by Andrew Love and by Doura Kingmaker, out of Lagavar Blossom.
It was certainly Charlotte’s day in the show ring as her seven-year-old yeld mare, Forneth Lucky Daisy, took the reserve female honours. She has a tremendous show career behind her and is by Collessie Whinhill President and out of Blueton Princess.
Standing reserve for the Cawdor Cup was the yearling colt, Lutterington Harry. Unbeaten on the winter foal show scene, Harry was brought out for his owner, Harry Emerson, by the Fife team of Ronnie and Pete Black, Collessie.
In the Highland Pony ring it was John and Kate Dykes of West Linton who dominated events taking both the champion and reserve awards in front of judge Susan Wardrop. Their champion was the five-year-old stallion, Islesman of Mendick. Home-bred by Moss-side Iain Mhor and out of Gissings Luscardene, Islesman was champion at the National Stallion Show in 2015 and reserve overall last year. In 2016 he was also supreme champion at the NPS summer show and reserve at Blair. He is now being produced under saddle by Ruth Darling and will be making his debut in the novice ridden classes this summer.
Out of the same mare as the champion, the reserve champion, Marksman of Mendick, is a son of the late Strathmore Airlie. This yearling colt stood second in his class at the Winter Fair on his only other outing.
Kerloch Rupert took the Shetland Pony championship for John Watson of Jedburgh for the second year running at this event – indeed he was also champion at the national show back in 2014. By Jim Swan’s Stow Review, Rupert was bought from his breeder, Shirley Moro, four years ago. Judge Wendy Toomer-Harlow said her champion was “a stunning quality stallion with great conformation, fit to do any job and very well presented”.
Harry Sleigh, of St John,s Wells, Fyvie, took the reserve Shetland championship with his standard four-year-old stallion, Wells McCoy. Home-bred, it is by Stow Review and out of Whitefield Pryde, a mare which goes back to Wells Puzzle and the very best Wells pony line.
