The 27th Annual Aberdeen Highland Pony Show took place on Sunday at Duthie Park, Aberdeen.
Following the Aberdeen Clydesdale Show on Saturday the Highland Pony Show gave the chance for Scotland’s native pony breed to be put on display at one the north-east’s most popular and well supported shows.
The show itself is dedicated solely to the Highland pony breed and attracts entrants from all over Scotland, this year producing a turnout of 60 ponies to compete in the ridden and in-hand classes.
This year’s in-hand champion was Ulrika of Whitefield from Sandy, Alan and George Baird which judge Robin Stewart deemed as being of “great quality, beautifully turned out with lots of style and presence in the ring.” The reserve champion was Lochlands Moondance from Kate Lawson & Willie Sinclair.
The ridden champion was Coulnacraig Jacobite. Judge Ms Virginia Osborne of Kingoldrum said: “Jacobite is a beautiful pony, very forward going with lovely paces.” The reserve champion was Rhinns Point Sendac from Lesley McNaughton-Wells.
As Coulnacraig Jacobite is owned by Robin & Karen Stewart, Willie Allen of Fife had to stand in in place of Mr Stewart to judge the overall championship.
After much deliberation the Umpire Hugh Duncan of Turriff was called into to decide between the in-hand champion and the ridden champion. He chose Jacobite as his overall and Ulrika as his reserve, commenting that both ponies were “of exceptional quality and difficult to separate,” but decided on Jacobite due to his manners and conduct in the ring as a ridden stallion.
Jacobite was ridden by Maggie Ingles on behalf of the Stewarts and he has had a successful season both in hand and ridden with wins at Blair Atholl, Tarland, Turriff, Banchory, Stonehaven RC, Brechin Castle and NESHPES Spring Show.