THE Highland pony leader was on top form at a sunny Spring Show when it won the supreme championship in front of the Princess Royal and a packed crowd.
There was a cracking line-up of native, coloured and light-legged horses for the supreme, but it was John Reid’s Glenbanchor Gillebrighde that caught the eye of the judge, Mrs Kay Ainsworth, an Irish Draught breeder from Lancashire.
“I was looking for something I’d like to take home and I’d be very proud to have the Highland in my stable,” said Mrs Kay of her supreme champion. “He has great presence and looks like he owns the place, just like a champion should.”
The seven-year-old, by Moss-side Quercus Rubra, is no stranger to the tickets, having won the same award back in 2015 and took the Highland pony title at the Highland Show in that same year. His dam, too, has been a good producer – Glenbanchor Lady Fiona has also bred a number of in-hand, ridden and driven champions.
There was another previous winner to the fore when Mrs Caroline McIntosh’s German Warmblood, Flying Buck Sempra, was tapped in to the reserve spot. This 11-year-old piebald mare took the coloured title here last year but mostly competes in ridden classes and won the ridden championship at Banchory Show last year.
She was bought by Caroline, of North Eddieston, Cullerie, just four years ago, but the Semper De daughter was originally imported from Germany. “She’s a lovely mare, with movement to die for and lovely manners,” commented Mrs Kay.
Also in the spotlight was the Clydesdale leader, Jim Greenhill’s Tulloes Blossom, which was best bred by exhibitor. This rising two-year-old is by Collessie Stepping Stone.
Among the Shetland ponies it was Lynemore Finnesse, a six-year-old standard chestnut mare from Christine Forbes, Dufftown, that stood overall.

LEADING awards:

Clydesdale (Judge: Miss C Young, Hall Farm, Ayr). Champion and overall best bred by exhibitor – A and J Greenhill, Upper Tulloes, Forfar, with Tulloes Blossom, a rising two-year-old Collessie Stepping Stone daughter that stood best yearling at the Forfar Foal Show on her only other outing. She is out of Tulloes Louise, a Collessie Hallmark daughter. Reserve – L McDonald, Mains of Coynach, Tarland, with Freeland Miss Eliza, a February-born filly bought from her breeder, Margo McIntyre, as a weanling. Second at the Grampian Foal Show on her only other outing, she is by Great American GW Carver and marks a new equine enterprise for Lynne who is better known for her Highland ponies. Yearling colt – A and J Greenhill’s Tulloes Invictus. Yearling filly – L McDonald’s Freeland Miss Eliza. Two-year-old – A and J Greenhill’s Tulloes Blossom. Mare – Mrs A Merchant and Mrs S Campbell’s Rolling Thunder Maggie May. Gelding – J Gibb’s Collessie Full Monty. Young handler – 1, Kieran Gowans; 2, Victoria Peterkin.
Shetland ponies (Judge: Ms S Pye, Tillychelty Cottage, Alford). Champion and supreme Shetland – C Forbes, Dullanbank, Dufftown, Keith, with Lynemore Finnesse, a home-bred five-year-old mare by Abbotsbury Urquhart, a ride and drive stallion that has produced a number of winners. Finnesse was lightly shown as a yearling and is out of Kinkell Julia. Reserve – J Watson, The Cottage, Hartrigge, Jedburgh, with Kerloch Rupert, a 2006-born stallion that stood supreme Shetland at the National Stallion Show for the last two years in a row. Bred by Mrs Shirley Moro out of Burnbank Veda and by Stow Review, Rupert also stood champion at the Great Yorkshire last year. Stallion – J Watson’s Kerloch Rupert. Mare or gelding – C Forbes’ Lynemore Finnesse. Two or three-year-old – HP Sleigh’s Wells Craig. Yearling, junior champion – HP Sleigh’s Wells Paisley.
Miniature Shetland pony (Judge: Ms S Pye). Champion and reserve Shetland – A Irvine, Kinirvie, Blackford, Rothienorman, with Evita of Haybrake, an eight-year-old mare that has only been lightly shown. Bred at home by Ann, she is by Zig Zag of Brindister – a stallion bought at Thainstone whose offspring are doing well – and out of Eve of Haybrake from the 40+ pony Haybrake stud. Reserve – Miss S Mitchell, Windsor Place, Conon Bridge, with Tenston Orkney Breeze, a 2004-born bay stallion that was bought in December. Placed second at a show on Shetland, he is by Kerswell Rowan and out of Loanin Cleo. Stallion – Miss S Mitchell’s Tenston Orkney Breeze. Mare or gelding – A Irvine’s Evita of Haybrake. Two or three-year-old – L Stewart’s Lynemore Inca. Yearling – A Irvine’s Clyde of Haybrake.
Highland ponies (Judge: Mrs A Barron, West Newton, Arbroath). Champion – JA Reid, Jackstown Cottages, Rothienorman, Inverurie, with his supreme horse champion from 2015, Glenbanchor Gillebrighde. This  seven-year-old is one of only a few by the late Moss-side Quercus Rubra and is out of Glenbanchor Lady Fiona – a mare that has bred a number of in-hand, ridden and working hunter champions. Gille stood champion at the 2015 Highland, and male champion at the Highland as a two-year-old. Reserve – Miss S MacIntosh, Greystone, Blackhills, Peterhead, with Tiana May of Forglen, a seven-year-old mare bought by Sarah just eight months ago. Sired by Maronwells Gleann Eagas and out of Dawn May of Forglen, recently back Tiana was on her first outing and will head to the stallion in the coming months. Stallion – JA Reid’s Glenbanchor Gillebrigdhe. Mare – Miss S MacIntosh’s Tiana May of Forglen. Gelding – Miss S Macintosh’s Lochewe Magnus. Three-year-old and bred by exhibitor – Mrs L McDonald’s Ruby May of Coynach. Two-year-old – Miss S MacIntosh’s Louise of Strathmore. Yearling – JA Reid’s Gypsy Rose o’ the Glens.