A two-year-old filly, topped a strong show of Clydesdales which saw more than 60 entries forward for the section judges, William Mitchell who placed the females and William Hall who was umpire amongst the males.
The supreme honours were presented to Yorkshire-based Paul and Matthew Bedford's filly, Roughland's Graceful Lady, which also takes the prestigious Cawdor Cup. Bred by Iain Johnston, Falkirk this filly is sired by Collessie Monarch and out of the 2021 Cawdor Cup winner Roughland’s Majestic Lady.
The Bedford family have had a successful run at the Highland, having won the male championship in 2003 with Deighton Telstar, the gelding honours in 2006 with Deighton Ringo and turnout title in 2008 with the mare Deighton Miranda leading the unicorn.
Adding to the celebrations, the two-year-old filly, went on to take the Sanderson Trophy for the best native Scottish Horse of Pony. Last year Graceful Lady was overall champion at the National Stallion Show and reserve overall here.
The male champion, Littleward Harvie from Richard and Robert Bedford, Yorkshire, landed the reserve overall honours. This four-year-old stallion is sired by Collessie Monarch and out Littleward Natalie. Bred by Matthew Carrick, Stirling, he was bought as a foal and has since secured several top awards to include a reserve for the Cawdor Cup in 2023 and reserve male champion here in 2024.
West Forth Twiggy was reserve female and best bred by exhibitor for the Tennant Family, South Lanarkshire. Brothers Tom, James and Peter Tennant, bred the yearling filly under their historical prefix of West Forth which once belonged to their father Peter. This yearling is sired by Singlie Limited Edition and out of West Forth Jenny Wren. Lightly shown as a foal, Twiggy was third at the Clydesdale Horse Society's Winter fair.
Reserve male and best male bred by exhibitor was Robert Sibbald's yearling colt, Shielhill Royal Star from Dollar. He is sired by Macfin Starlight and out of Shielhill Silver Star. He was first prize junior colt at theNational Stallion Show and was reserve champion of champions at Stirling.
Some 22 exhibitors were forward for the ridden Clydesdale section judged by Charlotte Young, Ayr (conformation) and Polly Coles, Yorkshire (ride). For the second year on the trot Burgess Outon Miracle took the supreme and Horse of the Year Show qualifying ticket. Owed by Barry and Colleen Marshall, Whithorn and ridden by daughter Kaitlyn Marshall this mare is ‘a horse of a lifetime,’ according to the family. Sired by Eskechraggan Ernest and out of Rashillhouse Jessica Jean, Outen Miracle is no stranger to success, having won the Cawdor Cup in 2022 and then beginning on a ridden carer which has seen the mare qualify for Horse of the Year Show three times as well as winning Blair Horse Trials in 2024.
Always a spectacle, the heavy horse turnouts, were topped by David and Beverley Walker, Cawdor with their team of six Clydesdale geldings. Driven by Logan Behn, Illnois, USA it was a lifetime dream come true for the family having previously won the World championship at the 2022 Scottish World Clydesdale Show for both the six and eight-horse hitch.
Reserve went to Adam Young, Crieff with the five-year-old Arradoul Allegra and his agricultural turnout - a William Dickie and Sons Ruck Lifter built in East Kilbride around 1930. It is rare for the Agricultural Turnout to have such success in the championship and a real achievement for the Keystone team.
The harness class continues to grow in popularity and this year saw Benny Duncan and granddaughter Blyth Duncan, Fife take the overall with their five-year-old gelding, Old Greenlaw Benjamin. The Balmalcolm team previously took the title in 2024 and show their woollen harness which is around 100 years old.
Kaitlyn Marshall, Whithorn was crowned champion young handler and young stocksman before going on to take overall heavy horse young handler judged by Amanda Stewart, Mollinsburn. Winning both these sections is a real achievement and is only the third time this has been done. She showed her ridden champion Burgess Outon Miracle to take top honours.
Supreme Shetland pony champion was the best male, Oldeworlde Vivaldi from Amy McConville, Fife. He then went on to stand reserve for the Sanderson Trophy. The seven-year-old stallion bred by Mrs K Hammond is sired by Somahouse GT and out of West Park Velvet. He stood first at this year's Fife Show.
Reserve was the female champion and best bred by exhibitor from Jennie Gregory, Wilts. Lidbrook Dark Angel, a seven-year-old mare, is sired by Sharptor Predator and out of Gamin Bluebell. She was reserve champion at North Somerset Show.
Supreme miniature was the male champion, Halstock Apollo from Lynda Cochrane, Kilwinning. The now nine-year-old stallion, which was champion here last year, was bred by David Hodge, Oakhampton and licenced in 2025. He is sired by Kerswell Warrior and out of Halstock Aniseed. Apollo was miniature champion at the Royal Northern Spring Show and supreme Shetland at the National Stallion Show.
Midgarth Lowrie took the reserve overall and reserve male honours for Douglas and Charlotte Mathison, Lanarkshire. The three-year-old colt bred by Carole and Andy Forteath is sired by Gabriel of Brygarth and out of Kerswell Carmella. He stood reserve miniature at the Strathkelvin Show.
Top honours amongst the Highland ponies were presented to the male champion from Emma Hamilton, East Lothian. Her two-year-old home-bred colt, Aikengall Belhaven Boy is by Orion O the Glens and out of Moss-Side Zafira Lady. Another big show winner, he was supreme at the NPS Summer Show and champion at Scone Palace.
Lagalgarvie Skara Brae from first time exhibitor, Lucy Thomsen, Co Durham took the female championship and reserve overall. The eight-year-old mare by Marnoch of Millfield and out of Erray Syringa was reserve at Pony of the Year Show last September.
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