Heavy horse enthusiasts enjoyed the pinnacle of the show calendar last weekend at the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC Birmingham, which attracted many Scottish exhibitors and spectators.
The week kicked off with the heavy horse musical drive composed by Ron Brewster and Helen Carr from Bandirran Stud in Perth. Ron and Helen along with Chris Warden, Jimmy Tennant, Pete Tennant, Ailsa Noble, Annette Noble and Charlotte Young put on a display each night where the ladies/stallion cart movements were choreographed to Scottish music.
Sunday was the highlight of the week for many with it being 'heavy horse day'. Each of the horses forward had competed throughout the season to qualify for the event from up and down the country.
The first competition to take place was the prestigious Barber Family Ridden Heavy Horse of the Year. Taking top honours this year was Cotebrook Sgurr Alasdair from Gemma McClorey.
Now eight years old, this Shire gelding is sired by Moorfield Edward out of Cotebrook Loch Carron and qualified at the National Shire Show back in March. Bred by the late Alasdair King, he was produced by Will Morton, a professional rider competing for the first time in the heavy horse section.
Standing reserve was one of the furthest travelled competitors, Isla Miller from Caithness with her beloved Stobilee Zac. He qualified at this year's Royal Highland Show and is owned by her Dad, Brian Bisset. He is sired by Great American GW Carver and out of Stobilee Ruby.
This year saw the introduction of a new class to the programme and that was the Gogar Services driven heavy horse of the year championship. Competitors have travelled the country competing to gain their place in the final, which saw some classes reach in excess of 20 entries. However, only nine competitors made the final.
Trotting his way to take the championship was Walton Bomber from Wendy Toomer-Harlow. Despite being one of the oldest horses forward he did not let this affect his performance and was immaculately turned out by the Bandirran Stud after qualifying at the Perth Show.
The reserve award went to Scottish exhibitor Ailsa Noble with her five-year-old mare Doura Lizzy. Qualifying at the Royal Norfolk, this mare was bred by Charlotte Young from Doura Clydesdales, sired by Doura Aird Ambition and out of Barns Lady Emily.
The day was brought to a close in the main arena with the evening performances including the Shire Horse of the Year presentation.
Taking home the supreme honours was Batley Pepper Gray from Richard and Robert Bedford. This three-year-old filly, out of Batley Alison Gray and sired by Toc Hill Sir George, has had a great start to her show career. She stood as female champion previously this year at the National Shire Show where she picked up her qualifying ticket.
Reserve honours went to Herkules Catching Fire. The five-year-old stallion sired by Moorfield Ted and out of West Winds Cari Ann is owned by Christer Paulsson.
The Paulsson family are from Sweden where they breed both Shires and Clydesdales. Qualifying at The National Shire Show in March, he also stood as champion stallion under the team of Paul and Matthew Bedford who have produced him this year.
Leading Awards
Ridden Heavy Horse of the Year – 1, Cotebrook Sgurr Alasdair x Moorfield Edward (Cotebrook Loch Carron) r W Morton, o G McClorey; 2, Stabile Zac x Great American GW Carver (Stobilee Ruby) r I Miller, o B.Bisset; 3, Doura Oakley x Doura Dovecote Expectation (Garff Callista) o/r C Hodge; 4, Acle Mojo x Rookhills Leapley Lad (Acle Queen of Diamonds) r D.Drake, o N Wray; 5, Hillmoor Roxy x Hillmoor Trump Card (Hillmoor Rose-Mary) r Rose-Mary Littler o J.Ithell; 6, Ha Durran Harry x Doura Woodhouse Real Deal (Ha Durran Primrose) r L Stewart o B Bisset; 7, Wheatland Cane x William Milnerfield (Wheatland Primrose) r A Harvey o S Lawrence; 8, Bordley House Norman x Acle Supreme (Valiants Lucky Laura) r S Green, o L Winship; 9 Sutton Forest Elegance x Acle Challenger (Rheidol Beauty) r/O A Wagstaff.
Driven Heavy Horse of the Year – 1, Walton Bomber x Caeberllan Buskot (Walton Lees Laura) o/d W.Toomer Harlow; 2, Doura Lizzy x Doura Aird Ambition (Barns Lady Emily) o/d A Noble; 3, Landcliffe Glassia x Sladbrook Bennefacter (Martonian Princess) d E Ramsay o H Ramsay; 4, LLangwmhill Monty x Skeyton Matthew (Llangwmhill Kirkland Star) o/d Kurt Manders; 5, Batman x Cumeragh House Reuben (Kingston Roxy) o/d J McIntyre; 6, Glenside Matthew’s Flower of Scotland x Dillars Ideal (Barlauchlan Claires Delight) d H Carr o J and M McIntyre; 7, HaDurran Finlay x Doura Woodhouse Real Deal (Ha Durran Daisy) d I Miller o B Bisset; 8, Mollinhillhead Bruno x Mollinhillhead Celebrity (Mollinhillhead Lady Jane) d A Balfour o J Tait; 9, Buck o/d C Young
Shire Horse of the Year – 1, Batley Pepper Gray x Toc Hill Sir George (Batley Alison) R Bedford; 2, Herkules Catching Fire x Moorfield Ted (West Winds Cari Ann) C Paulsson; 3, Bewholme Glenda x Hilmoor Double Trouble (Bewholme Bluesmoke) Fw Richardson and Son; 4, King’s GG x Snelson Gatsby (Lockley Top’s Girl) M Martin; 5, Woodhouse Sensational Ruby x Woodhouse Rainsman (Woodhouse Phenomenon) W Fountain; 6, Knutsford Montana x Felthope Fascinator (St Giles Morgana)Whittaker and Sons; 7, Acle Celebration x Merthingham Upton Hamlet (Acle Annabelle) B Banham; 8, Thames Oak Harley Quinn x Knightways Knobby (Cotebrook Loch Carrie) J Bowers; 9, Herkules Miss Sweden x Moorfield Ted (West Winds Cari) C.Paulsson.
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