BECCA Macmillan and the Welsh section C Coathamdene Just Dylan were rewarded for their long wait at the NPS Scotland Spring Show at SNEC when lifting the working hunter pony supreme title.

They won the open class and qualified for Hickstead before being Heather Prescott and Russell Sutcliffe's choice for the tri-colour rosette after earlier heading the intermediate championship.

This is their first year at open level, and the seven-year-old black gelding by Tyreos Survivor and out of Popsters Just Devine is a proper working hunter pony having spent last season hunting with the Lauderdale Foxhounds.

In-hand and ridden classes took place in the main indoor ring at SNEC, with the working hunter ponies waiting until both rings had finished before their section could take place. Unfortunately as the working hunter ponies section is one of the most popular sections as well as entries taken on the day meant for bumper classes, which finished at 9.30pm.

Reserve was Olivia Grant with the active little Welsh section A mare Pontsarn Sidan, reserve in open section. Travelling from the Black Isle, their journey home would seem shorter as they too won the Hickstead qualifier in the not exc 122cm class. Big winners around the country, the 12-year-old grey mare by Baledon Venidor and out of Pontsarn Swynol looks like she really enjoys her job.

Richard Telford won the open ridden supreme and the silver medal championship with Bill Ireland's home-bred stallion Kilmannan Robert the Bruce. The seven-year-old is by Village Defender, himself reserve at Olympia and out of Bill's Black Pearl which was an Olympia champion. Robert the Bruce was fifth at HOYS and champion at the NPS final at Malvern last season.

"I really liked him, he trots like a Dales should and covers the ground well in gallop," said judge Nicola Shuttleworth.

Open reserve was Caroline Gray riding the Welsh section D Tybanadl Trystan. Previously ridden by Richard, who is now based at Caroline's Preston Mains Farm in East Lothain, Caroline will be riding the chestnut herself this year.

Reserve in the silver medal championship was the young pony champion Glynis Cockbain's young Dales mare Tarbarl Mary Jane, ridden by Kate Watson from Barrow in Furness, this is the five-year-old's first season.

Young pony reserve was Duntarvie Antony.

Novice champion was Sarah Dowdeswell with the Connemara, Coill Rua Lad.

"It was really typey, with stunning movement and a beautiful head," added Mrs Shuttleworth.

In-hand champion was Mynach Master Chef, a yearling shown by the Waxwing Stud for breeder Miss Margaret Gethin.

The striking black Welsh section B is by the stud's Eyarth Beau Geste and out of Mynach Mimosa, who was champion at the Royal Highland Show as a youngster.

At the same time and standing reserve was Beau Geste who the stud decided that day would be their future stallion, although it took a further two years to persuade the owners to sell the colt to Waxwing Stud.

Reserve was the three-year-old Fell filly, Gwen Rae's Bracklinn Melissa. She is by Carrock I'm Yer Man and out of Bracklinn Black Beauty.

The Anderson family's Rushfield Maltman was senior in-hand champion. The four-year-old Dartmoor stallion by Moortown Countryman has been recently broken.

Senior in-hand reserve was Anne Mitchell's Highland mare Dunedin Highland Rose, which was supreme at the Balck Isle Show last year when ridden by Alastair Matheson, who will be riding the eight-year-old mare this year.

"I had outstanding ponies in the championship," said judge Caroline Nelson, who stood in for Sue Hide. "I thought she'd liked what I picked. The Dales mare which was reserve epitomised the Dales breed, with a degree of femininity and pretty without being too fine and it was a delight to see her going so well under saddle."

Mini champion was Myles Lindsay-Brown with Waxwing Painter, an eight-year-old gelding by Waxwing Hurricane. Last season they qualified for the RIHS and HOYS in first ridden classes.

Reserve was the Shetland lead rein pony, the Transy Stud's Rosebestman of Transy, shown by Sheila Keron and ridden by Heather Keron.

Novice working hunter champion was Katie Common from Inverness with Sil Na Gig, a six-year-old Connemara mare bought in Ireland as a three-year-old.

Reserve was Alexandra Kerr and Kelly's Dreamcatcher, while intermediate reserve was Emma-Jane Murray with Castlestrange Wee Sparrow.

LEADINGawards:

Ridden (Judge: Mrs N Shuttleworth, N Yorks). Novice champion – S Dowdeswell, Coill Rua Lad. Reserve – L Hamilton, Lothian Hazy Mist. Welsh A & B – 1, C Lindsay Brown, Milford Fair Honey Bear; 2, E Crate, Skellorn Graffiti. Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland – 1, L Mulholland, Beinnliath Hartshornpike. Welsh C & D – 1, C Macmillan, Coathamdene Just Dylan; 2, L Kennedy's Regal Mayo; 3, P Jamieson, Cwmythan Easter Express. Dales, Fell and Highland – 1, Tarbarl Maryjane; 2, H Kerr, Tower Lewis; 3, R Telford, Moss-side Ruaig. New Forest and Connemara – 1, Coill Rua Lad; 2, Lothian Hazy Mist; 3, K Common, Sile Na Gig. Open champion – W Ireland, Kilmannan Robert The Bruce. Reserve – C Gray, Tybanadl Trystan. Welsh A & B – 1, M-C Nimmo, Duntarvie Antony; 2, F Campbell, Lindisfarne T'ambassador; 3, L Gilliland, Rosedust March Mist. Dartmoor, Exmoor, and Shetland – 1, S Graham, Colliston Bonanza; 2, G Whetter, Cosmic Lacerta. Welsh C & D – 1, Tybanadl Trystan; 2, B Hill, Llanllugan Mike's Lad; 3, C Hunter, Oak Bronwen. Dales, Fell and Highland – 1, Kilmannan Robert the Bruce; 2, M Comrie Bryant, Oatcake of Whitefield; 3, H Kerr – Tower Lewis. New Forest and Connemara – 1, S Dowdeswell, John's Cuckoo; 2, A Grainger, Cannard Special; 3, A Grainger, Eastlands Loch Tam.

Mountain & moorland open young ridden (Judge: Mrs C Nelson, Kelso). Champion – K Watson, Tarbarl Mary Jane. Reserve – Duntarvie Antony. All breeds, 4 yrs old – 1, C Harding, Runaig; 2, M Aitken, Maydown Star. All breeds, 5 yrs old – 1, Tarbarl Mary Jane; 2, S Wheway, Bisterne Diva; 3, R Chalmers, West Lodge Marty. All breeds 6 yrs old – 1, Duntarvie Antony; 2, K Mcmurray, Trailtrow Texa Beag; 3, J Page, Trowan Monty

NPS/ridden silver medal (Judge: Mrs C Nelson). Champion – Kilmannan Robert The Bruce. Reserve – Tarbarl Mary Jane.

Mini ridden section (Judge: Mrs C Nelson). Champion – M Lindsay Brown, Waxwing Painter. Reserve – S Keron, Rosebestman of Transy. LR – 1, Rosebestman of Transy; 2, J Green, Gwynrhosyn Demelza; 3, J Aitchison, Thistledown Elle. FR – 1, Waxwing Painter; 2, L Ker, Megan Bach; 3, M Foran, Roseisle Brave Romance. Tiny tots FR – 1, Rosebestman Of Transy; 2, Megan Bach; 3, L Mulholland, Morwyn Lady Verity.

In-hand (Judge: Mrs C Nelson). Overall champion – M Gethin, Mynach Master Chef. Reserve – G Rae, Bracklinn Melissa. Youngstock champion – Mynach Master Chef. Reserve – Bracklinn Melissa. Senior champion – Mr & Mrs CJ Anderson, Rushfield Maltman. Reserve – A Mitchell, Dunedin Mountain Rose. Senior – Large – 1, Tarbarl Mary Jane; 2, V Campbell, Ashley Jubilation; 3, L Gregg, Kailwater Kings Seat. Highland 4 yrs and over – 1, Dunedin Mountain Rose; 2, S Terras, Moorpark Arran; 3, J Vasey, Highland Piper of Sunnyneuk. Small M & M 4yrs and over – 1, A Jamieson, Twyford Nuit; 2, K Miller, Thistledown Waikerie; 3, Mr & Mrs Keenan, Waulkmill Fergus. M & M stallion 4 yrs & over – 1, Rushfield Maltman; 2, M Rawlinson, Brackenbank Flash Harry; 3, Skellorn Graffiti. Youngstock – Large M & M yearling – 1, J Somervail – Bellindene Single Malt; 2, K Jones, Garrabeg Cherokee; 3, Raithill Stud, Erfan Jack. Small yearling – 1, Mynach Master Chef; 2, Raithill Stud, Waitwith Golden Wonder; 3, E Crate, Dunaskin Rivendell. Large 2 or 3 yrs – 1, Bracklinn Melissa; 2, M Rawlinson, Lunsdale Mountain Song; 3, J Lister, Fergus Dubh Of Mendick. Small 2 or 3 yrs – 1, Waitwith Gold Dust; 2, L Kennedy, Tygolau Seren; 3, K Mowat, Waxwing Macadam.

Working hunter ponies (Judges: Mrs H Prescott, Lancs, And R Sutcliffe, Lancs). Supreme champion – B MacMillan, Coathamdene Just Dylan. Reserve – O Grant, Pontsarn Sidan. Novice champion – K Common, Sile Na Gig. Reserve – P Kerr, Kelly's Dreamcatcher. Not exc 122 cm – 1, R Fleming, Lippens Sweetcorn; 2, L Mulholland, Beinlaityh Hornpike; 3, K Grant & H Mackay, Crwbin Siwgwr Candi. Exc 122cm but not exc 138cm – 1, Milford Fair Honey Bear; 2, G Reilly, Townend Sam; 3, Lindisfarne T'ambassador. Exc 138cm – 1, Sile Na Gig; 2, Kellys Dreamcatcher; 3, C Young, Fronarth Rio. Intermediate champion – Coathamdene Just Dylan. Reserve – E-J Murray, Castlestrange Wee Sparrow. Exc 138cms – 1, E-J Murray, Castlestrange Wee Sparrow; 2, W Aird, Falfield Beeleaf; 3, A Robson, Kiltartan Justice. Exc 122cms but not exc 138cms – 1, Coathamdene Just Dylan; 2, K Watson, Peasedown Artful Dodger; 3, G Reilly. Townend Sam. Not exc 122cms – 1, C Lindsay Brown – Pentrelloyd Edward; 2, J Mctaggart, Menai Silver Symbol; 3, K Errington, Locharmoss Bella. Open champion – Coathamdene Just Dylan. Reserve – Pontsarn Sidan. Not exc 122cms – 1, Pontsarn Sidan; 2, Mrs A J Layfield, Airyhope Gunner; 3, K Errington, Locharmoss Bella. Exc 122cms but not exc 138cms – 1, Coathamdene Just Dylan; 2, S Wheway, Peasedown Mr Muddle; 3, K Watson, Peasedown Artful Dodger. Exc 138cms – 1, A Robson, Kiltartan Justice; 2, J Somervail, Bellindene Franklyn; 3, S Weir, Ruby Slippers.