Pretty Amazing day for Sandy at Aberdeen

Taking the supreme championship was Sandy Aitken’s Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace, from Newton Cottage, Memus, Angus. This 10-year-old yeld mare is no stranger to the limelight, having taken the prestigious Champion of Champions title at Aberdeen last year, adding to a long list of notable victories which included a Cawdor Cup win at the Royal Highland in 2014. This year, her only other outing was to Kirriemuir where was again champion.

Bred by John Anderson, Amazing Grace is by Millisle Solway Bay and out of Redcastle Miranda. She was shown on the day by Sandy’s grand-daughter, Keira Gowans – and the 15-year-old had a fantastic day as she was winner of both the young handlers and young judges competitions.

Judge of the female classes, Kevin Wilson, of Blackford, said: “She was outstanding all day. She has tremendous action, uses her joints and for a ten-year-old mare she was looking well.”

Reserve supreme was Collessie Consort, which had been placed male champion earlier in the day by judge, Peter Ronaldson, of Orkney. Exhibited by Ronnie and Pete Black, of Newton of Collessie, Cupar, Consort is a two-year-old home-bred stallion by Arradoul Balvenie and out of Collessie Robyn. He was reserve male at the National Stallion Show in March a place he also took at the Royal Highland.

Reserve female was Charlotte Young’s Clerkington Cassandra, from Hall Farm, Ayr. This three-year-old mare is by Doura Kingmaker and out of Garleton Katie. She was female champion at the National Stallion Show and has lifted a host of championship rosettes this summer, with wins including Ayr, Fife and the Great Yorkshire.

Jim Gibb’s Collessie Braveheart took the reserve male award. By Arradoul Balvenie and out of Collessie Julia, Braveheart is a yearling colt bred by the Blacks.

The decorated harness competition saw both the championship and reserve awards head north to Orkney. Taking the top award was Toots Cromarty, of Burray, assisted by Vicki Cursiter. They had painstakingly made the wool harness over last winter and started out with a set of swingers left to Toots by her late brother in-law, and the set was displayed on Ha Durran Windsor.

The reserve rosette went to Ian and Diane Smith, of Kirkwall.

Leading awards:

Yeld mare – 1, female champion and supreme, S Aitken, Redcastle Pretty Amazing Grace; 2, W Robertson, Blackrocks Hollywood; 3, S Harper, Roeshall Snowflake.

Mare with foal at foot – 1, S Campbell and A Merchant, Rolling Thunder Maggie May.

Filly foal – 1, C Young, unnamed; 2, R Black, with Lutterington Butterfly; 3, S Campbell and A Merchant, Rolling Thunder Moon Shadow.

Best mare and foal – S Campbell and A Merchant.

Three-year-old mare – 1 and reserve female, C Young, Clerkington Cassandra.

Two-year-old filly – 1, J Graham, Doura Joules; 2, C Young, Glebeview Lady Izzy; 3, B Warburton, Bogton Islay.

Yearling filly – 1, I Young, Arradoul Capella; 2, I Young, Arradoul Olivia May; 3, G and R Skinner, Strathorn April.

Aged gelding – 1, J Gibb, Collessie Full Monty; 2, I Cromarty, Ingleston Crusader; 3, G and R Skinner, Denbrae Wullie.

Colt foal – 1, C Young, unnamed.

Three-year-old gelding – 1, P McDonald, Hilton Jake; 2, K Logan, Bogton Hero.

Two-year-old colt or gelding – 1, male champion and reserve supreme, R Black, Collessie Consort; 2, W Robertson, Monquhitter Maximillion.

Yearling colt or gelding – 1 and reserve male, J Gibb, Collessie Braveheart.

Best decorated harness (wool) – 1 and reserve harness, J and D Smith; 2, I Cromarty; 3, W Robertson.

Best kept harness – 1 and champion harness, I Cromarty; 2, J and D Smith; 3, W Roberson.

Best groomed horse – 1, I Cromarty; 2, W Robertson; 3, J and D Smith.

Pair – 1, C Young; 2, J Gibb; 3, I Young.

Young judges – 1, K Gowans; 2, R McLeod.

Young handler – 1, K Gowans; 2, R McLeod; 3, S Mitchell; 4 and RHS qualifier, C Smith.

Ridden – 1, I Cromarty; 2, J Gibb; 3, G and R Skinner.

Fancy dress – 1, J Gibb; 2, D and R Skinner; 3, G and R Skinner.