A VIRTUAL heavy horse show has raised the fantastic sum of £1750 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event, organised by Matthew Burks and Jacqueline Pettigrew of the Heavy Horse Herald, was held to fill the gap left by show cancellations during the global Covid19 pandemic.

The show attracted over 300 entries from the US, Canada, Australia and across Europe, as well as all corners of the UK, from Orkney in the north to Cornwall in the south. A team of 15 world renowned judges placed the horses by photograph, with the supreme championship went to Skovlys Rosie, a four-year-old Shire mare by Moorfield Edward from Swedish exhibitor, Christer Paulsson.

The event went ‘live’ last Sunday when the classes were shown online throughout the day, with commentary from one of the UK’s leading commentators, Delma Nulty, and music, all adding to the atmosphere, and social media interaction going someway to creating the much missed ‘banter’ and camaraderie of a real show.

Champion Clydesdale was Willow Way Puzzle from Allan Gordeyko of Alberta, Canada. This Willow Way Horton-sired five-year-old mare is the reigning World Clydesdale Show champion.

Leading the Percherons was 11-year-old YF Hillary’s Isabel, by GT’s Hallmark from the North American stud of David Anderson, while the champion Suffolk was UK born and bred. This was Shotleyfield Dazzling Duke, an eight-year-old stallion by Euston Bobby Dazzler, from Fiona Clarke of Essex.

“We knew that our fellow heavy horse breeders and enthusiasts were missing shows and events, both from a social aspect and keeping in touch with friends, but also from the point of view of marketing and showcasing our fabulous stock, and so the idea was born”, said Jacqueline.

“We have been blown away with the support it received, and the generosity shown. Views on YouTube have topped 10,000, and we hope that the interest created will provide a lasting reminder of the 2020 show season that never was. We would be happy to run another in Spring, but dearly hope that the real events can go ahead!”