ONE of the first dreich days of the summer didn't dampen visitors' spirit at the Kittochside Heavy Horse Show, held at the National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride, on Sunday, where although the ringside didn't seem as busy as previous years, the busy car park proved there were still plenty numbers through the gates.

It's the Clydesdale breed that proves the star attraction as members of the public gaze at the friendly giants in awe and watch on in wonder as the driven classes take to the ring.

As well as classes of Clydesdale, Highland and Shetland ponies, show-goers were treated to a couple of demonstrations from the Riders of the Storm stunt team which showed off their acrobatic skills as horses raced from one end of the ring to the other. There was also the chance to ride a Clydesdale and for the young ones to complete a hobby horse obstacle race while, at the farm, there were farriery, sheep shearing and milking demonstrations to educate the public.

With Captain Jim Anderson, of the West Glen stud, in charge of placing the Clydesdale entries, females were to the fore when two went on to stand overall champion and reserve. Taking the top title was Charlotte Young's champion from the Great Yorkshire a few days previously, Clerkington Cassandra, a three-year-old Doura Kingmaker daughter bred from Garleton Katie. She started off the season with the reserve female honours at the National Stallion Show before going on to stand champion at both Ayr and Fife shows.

Following her all the way from the female championship was John Graham's Doura Joules, a two-year-old filly that stood senior champion at Kilpatrick Foal Show. Her breeding features Doura Jackpot on to Mill Barbara.

Best of the males was Bryan Lindsay's Carnaff Perfection-sired three-year-old that picked up the same award here last year, Dillars Rascal. Bred out of Slievenamon Ellie, he's done well this season and stood male champion at both Doune and Dunblane and Stonehouse shows.

The Shetland pony section once again welcomed the largest entry by far, boasting more than 75 in the catalogue, where judge Ms Joy Barugh, from East Yorkshire, selected her miniature champion as supreme. That was the seven-year-old stallion, Eiger Nijinsky, from Robert and Karen Pitcairn, and handled by Jen Hanning. Nijinsky is another with a good start to his 2018 season, standing champion at the North of England, Skelton and Cumberland shows for the husband and wife duo's Oxgang stud.

With Brenda Laing's standard champion, Eynhallow Dew, making a swift exit due to Brenda needing to take her husband to the airport, it was Louise Wilson's reserve standard, Cassindilly Joules, that picked up the reserve supreme honours. This six-year-old by the multi-champion Southfield Valiant is out of Jasmine of Milton, and stood reserve female at the Royal Highland Show.

Dew, by Brookville Vintage and out of Eynhallow Bloom, stood junior champion here last year as well as champion at Angus earlier this season.

Landing the reserve miniature title was Lynda Cochrane's Parlington Viola, a 10-year-old bought just six weeks previously by Lynda, who is more used to showing Welsh cobs. Viola's breeding includes Parlington Maverick on to Parlington Faye.

Best of the juniors was Lorna Jamieson's miniature, Lignite Island Breeze.

From a small entry of Highland ponies it was John and Jackie Bonar's mouse dun gelding, Bowmore Ben Cruachan, handled by Jackie's daughter, Mirren Hay, that caught the eye of Miss Jennifer Allan to claim the championship, This six-year-old Moss-side Iain Mor son, out of Bowmore Lady Laura, has won a number of gelding championships and has just started his ridden career.

Matching her result here last year was William Nelson's Glenmuir Mountian Rose, a six-year-old Carlung Fergus daughter out of Rosemaree of Glenmuir.

LEADING awards:

Heavy horses (Judge: Captain J Anderson). Senior gelding – 1 and reserve male, L Campbell's Whinhill Statesman; 2, C Young's Jim; 3, K Stewart's Wesley. Junior gelding – 1 and male champion, B Lindsay's Dillars Rascal; 2, J McMillan and Family's gelding. Yeld mare – 1, female champion and overall champion, C Young's Clerkington Cassandra; 2, B Lindsay's Goodsburn Lucky Heather; 3, National Museum of Rural Life's Dapple Miryanna. Two-year-old filly – 1, reserve female and reserve overall, J Graham's Doura Joules. Yearling filly – 1, J Rochhead's Malcolmwood Islay; 2, J McMillan and Family's Mill Lady Jane; 3, A Steel and Son's Jacktons TG Kate. Ridden – 1, National Museum of Rural Life's Dapple Miryanna; ***CHECK 2, A Barnes' Pacemuir Elfrieda; 3, J Spiers' Malcolmwood Jenny Ann CHECK***. Buggy – 1, J McMillan and Family; 2, C Young; 3, B Lindsay.

Shetland pony (Judge: Ms J Barugh).

Gelding – 1, L Wilson's Oakley of Auckhorn; 2, H Teven's Seagrind Jake; 3, T Gray's Northwells Golden Shadow.

Standard – Stallion – 1, L Wilson's Cassindilly Jayzee. Yeld mare – 1 and standard champion, B Laing's Eynhallow Dew; 2, reserve standard and reserve overall, L Wilson's Cassindilly Joules; 3, F Punton's Horninglow Caldbeck. Brood mare – 1, E Carlyle's Dryfesdale Dekatrina; 2, F Punton's Rosemillie of Transy; 3, A McConville's Kinness Sally. Foal – 1, E Carlyle's Dryfesdale Dekarina; 2, A McConville's Baldinnie Supernova; 3, F Punton's Almondell Rhapsody. Yearling – 1, B Laing's Eynhallow Contessa; 2, L Wilson's Cassindilly Renee; 3, G McIntosh's Loanin Morgan. Two or three-year-old – 1, A McConville's Midcalder Midnight; 2, B Laing's Eynhallow Black Beauty; 3, GW Gold's Platinumdale Ruddy Jemima Puddleduck.

Miniature – Stallion – 1, miniature champion and overall champion, RS Pitcairn's Eiger Nijinsky; 2, Mr and Mrs Preston's Parlington Alexander; 3, S Calvert's Doonpark Toada. Yeld mare – 1 and reserve miniature, L Cochrane's Parlington Viola; 2, L Jamieson's Mingulay Impala; 3, L Jamieson's Lignite Swingtime. Brood mare – 1, G McIntosh's Chewvalley Rosebud; 2, K Thompson's Blackertor Bear's Mayfly; 3, E Carlyle's Elangata Margaret. Foal – 1, G McIntosh's Ardanbeag Magic's Rosa; 2, E CArlyle's Dryfesdale Martina; 3, E Crawford's Fayrefield McKenzie. Yearling – 1 and overall junior champion, L Jamieson's Lignite Island Breeze; 2, E Crawford's Plumtree Jolie; 3, S Calvert's Doonpark Barney. Two or three-year-old – 1, S Calvert's Doonpark Cinderella; 2, RS Pitcairn's Oxgang Bentley; 3, Mr and Mrs Preston's Mardlebrook Valentine.

Unregistered – 1, L McCurdie's Busbies Pumpkin. Ridden – 1,

2,

Young handlers – Aged four to six years – 1,

Aged seven to 11 years – 1,

Aged 12 to 16 years – 1,

Highland pony (Judge: Miss JA Allan). Gelding – 1 and champion, J and J Bonar's Bowmore Ben Cruachan; 2, F Walker's Carlung Marksman. Yeld mare – 1 and reserve, WS Nelson's Glenmuir Mountain Rosse; 2, L MacLeod's Glenmuir Myleene; 3, S Craig;s Glenmuir Rhonda. Ridden – 1,

2,

3,