HE may have been the only entry in his section but that didn’t stop a Highland pony stallion strutting his stuff to win the supreme horse championship at the Royal Northern Spring Show.

While snow is usually expected at the annual event, the ‘Beast from the East’ deterred a number of exhibitors but, that being said, there was no doubting the quality of the line-up during the overall championship.

With Mrs Jill Cousens, of the Dunblane-based Cromlix Stables, in charge of picking a supreme, she first short-leeted the Highland, Clydesdale, coloured and Shetland pony section winners, before tapping out the Highland as supreme.

That was Danny Boy of Croila, a nine-year-old loaned by Shona Halford from HM The Queen’s Balmoral Stud. He’s been lightly shown but has won a haul of prizes, most recently the NPS supreme in-hand championship at Blair, beating a score of other ponies of all native breeds at the end of the season, which followed on from the overall title at the Black Isle. Sired by Sunny of Runivraid and out of Sylvia of Croila, he’ll put his working hat on in the next few months covering mares before hitting the show circuit again.

“He’s a lovely pony – the top few were all very nice but he’s definitely a Highland I’d be happy to take home,” said Mrs Cousens, who has piloted Highland ponies at HOYS and Olympia.

The Scottish Farmer:

         Tulloes Blossom

It was the Clydesdale winner that secured the reserve honours and she’s another with a number of championships to her name as Tulloes Blossom, from the Greenhills, was champion here last year too. The three-year-old Collessie Stepping Stone daughter from Ally and James, brought out with help from Louise and Tom as well as Blair Wyness, had a great 2017 season in her home county, landing the tri-colour tickets at Angus, Alyth and Kirriemuir shows.

The Scottish Farmer:

        Rocky of Haybrake

With both standard and miniature Shetlands contesting the supreme championship, it was the miniature that edged the lead in the overall. That was Ann Irvine’s home-bred Rocky of Haybrake, an eight-year-old stallion by Hazelhead Dynamite that is another to bring home the prizes, standing reserve overall Shetland at the Black Isle last year.

The Scottish Farmer:

         Will I Am was coloured as well as ride and drive champion

LEADING awards:

Clydesdale (Judge: A Christie, Endrick Gardens, Balfron). Champion, reserve supreme and reserve – A and J Greenhill, Upper Tulloes, Forfar. Taking the top title for Ally and Jim, who were helped by Louise and Tom as well as Blair Wyness, was their three-year-old Tulloes Blossom, a Collessie Stepping Stone daughter that was champion here last year. She did well on her home turf that same year, winning the championship tickets at Angus, Alyth and Kirriemuir Shows. In reserve was the family’s yearling filly, Tulloes Lady Claire, which is by Doura Kingmaker and stood second in her class at Forfar Foal Show on her only other outing. Yearling colt – 1, RH Black’s Collessie Braveheart. Yearling filly – 1 and reserve, A and J Greenhill’s Tulloes Lady Claire; 2, N Christie’s Anguston Ali; 3, G and R Skinner’s Strathorn April. Two-year-old – 1, Ms I Cromarty’s Hrossland Just Poppy. Mare – 1, champion, best bred by exhibitor, A and J Greenhill’s Tulloes Blossom; 2, I Young’s Arradoul Ceilidh. Gelding – 1, G and R Skinner’s Denbrae Wullie; 2, J Gibb’s Collessie Full Monty. Young handler – 1, Sophie Mitchell.

Shetland pony (Judge: BT Hunter, Maunderville, Uyeasound, Unst, Shetland). Standard – Champion – Bachlaw Projects, Upper Seaview, Cornhill, with Strocherie Benny, a yearling colt paraded by Kyle Wilkie. This son of Westpark Eagle Star was foal champion at Turriff last year on his only other outing. Reserve – R Macleod, Loch Fleet, Dornoch, with Lochfleet Exult, a home-bred two-year-old by Stow Vulcan that has won a number of tickets for young Reece. Two or three-year-old – 1, reserve and best bred by exhibitor, R Macleod’s Lochfleet Exult. Yearling – 1, Bachlaw Projects’ Strocherie Benny. Miniature – Champion – A Irvine, Kininvie, Blackford, Rothienorman, with Rocky of Haybrake, a home-bred eight-year-old stallion by Hazelhead Dynamite. He’s won a haul of prizes, including the reserve overall Shetland honours at last year’s Black Isle and the horse championship at Banchory the year before. Reserve – R Macleod, Loch Fleet, Dornoch, with Standuff Kindred Spirit, a seven-year-old by Waltzer of Brindister from young Reece, who also won the young handlers’ class. This mare has barely been out the prizes in her show career. Stallion – 1, champion and best bred by exhibitor, A Irvine’s Rocky of Haybrake; 2, S Mitchell’s Hjaltland Thorvald; 3, LM Wilson and J and G Wilson’s Myreton Dougal. Mare or gelding – 1 and reserve, R Macleod’s Standuff Kindred Spirit; 2, A Irvine’s Midnight of Ore; 3, S Mitchell’s Kera of Brindister. Two or three-year-old – 1, R Macleod’s Tillyorn Zaidee; 2, A Irvine’s Minuet of Ore; 3, A Irvine’s Mojo of Haybrake. Yearling – 1, R Macleod’s Loanin Colton; 2, M Greaves’ Xander of Chapelhill; 3, R Macleod’s Juliette of Brugarth. Young handlers – 1, Reece Macleod; 2, Leah Stein; 3, Chloe McDonald.

Highland pony (Judge: W Allan, Millfield, Knowehead, Freuchie, Fife). Champion and supreme champion – S Halford, Muirside Steading, Brodie, Forres, with Danny Boy of Croila, a nine-year-old stallion loaned by Shona from HM The Queen’s Balmoral stud. This Sunny of Runivraid son has been lightly by very successfully shown, taking the supreme in-hand NPS title at Blair, the overall championship at the Black Isle and North-east Scotland Highland Pony Enthusiasts Show as well as at the Working Native Horse Show at Brodie. Stallion – 1, S Halford’s Danny Boy of Croila.

Mountain and Moorland (Judge: Miss K Aird, Kirkforthar, Markinch, Fife). Champion – H Miller, Whiteriggs Cottages, Fourdon, with Balkly Beezneez, a 23-year-old Welsh B gelding that is a real all-rounder for nine-year-old Hannah and her three-year-old sister Heather. The Broadlands Coronet son also takes a turn at driving. Mare or gelding – 1, H Miller.

Hunters and hacks (Judge: Mrs P Stirling, South Blainslie, Galashiels). Champion – G and R Skinner, Strathorn, Pitcaple, Inverurie, with Strathorn Hannah, a four-year-old Westerton Aranda daughter bred at home by George but shown by Ruth Barclay. She has picked up a few tickets including a reserve at foal shows, and is currently being broken to ride. Reserve – C Miller, Whiteriggs Cottages, Fourdon, with Gentle Clover, an Irish Sports Horse by Clover Valley. On her first outing and shown by Roy Valentine, Carly mostly contests showjumping classes with the six-year-old mare. Mare or gelding 15.2hh and under – 1, C Miller’s Gentle Clover. Mare or gelding over 15.2hh – 1, G and R Skinner’s Strathorn Hannah.

Sports and performance horses (Judge: Mrs P Stirling). Champion – C Miller, Whiteriggs Cottages, Fourdon, with Gentle Clover, an Irish Sports Horse by Clover Valley. On her first outing and shown by Roy Valentine, Carly mostly contests showjumping classes with the six-year-old mare. Reserve – M Morrison, Blackwater Lodge, Bridge of Cally, Blairgowrie, with Oor Tak a Dram, a four-year-old Appaloosa gelding by RDF Ti Kha Atta Rain. He was shown lightly as a foal and has just been backed by Moira. Mare or gelding exceeding 148cm – 1, C Miller’s Gentle Clover; 2, M Morrison’s Oor Tak a Dram

Coloured horses and ponies (Judge: Mrs NC Neill, Thornington, Mindrum, Coldstream). Champion – Miss E Watson, Croft of Feith Hill, Fortrie, Turriff, with Will I Am, a 10-year-old native gelding by Vines Splash. Brought out by Gav Ingram for his owner Emma, Will has had a successful career, standing supreme horse at Banchory last year as well as first and reserve coloured at the Royal Highland. This year he will be aimed for HOYS qualifiers. Native mare or gelding – Miss E Watson’s Will I Am.

Ride and drive (Judge: Mrs NC Neill). Champion – Miss E Watson, Croft of Feith Hill, Fortrie, Turriff, with Will I Am, a 10-year-old native gelding by Vines Splash. Brought out by Gav Ingram for his owner Emma, Will has had a successful career, standing supreme horse at Banchory last year as well as first and reserve coloured at the Royal Highland. This year he will be aimed for HOYS qualifiers. Four year old and over – Miss E Watson’s Will I Am.

Young handlers (Judge: Mrs J Cousens, Cromlix Stables, Dunblane). Aged under 11 years – 1, Heather Miller.