Clydesdale horse Scotland’s largest Clydesdale breeder and one of the youngest, Charlotte Young (26), Ayr, enjoyed her best ever year at Ingliston in 2019, when she won her first supreme championship at the Royal Highland Show, which continued on his winning ways to win The SF’s Champions of the Decade.

Charlotte who runs 90 Clydesdales with assistance from her father, Jim, went all the way with the now three-year-old stallion, Doura Magic Touch. No stranger to the limelight, Jim bought his Magic Touch in Ireland from Victor Milnes, at just a month old, and shipped him over to Ayr, when he was weaned. His dam is Ballinrees Lady Jane, whose maternal grand dam was bred by Dougie Gilchrist.

The first Clydesdale to win the Stallion three years on the trot, he was also male champion at Ayr and breed and reserve overall champion of champions at the Winter Fair, last year. Backed by some top show winning genetics, his sire is Glebeview Sir Charles, which has bred three Cawdor Cup winners.

While Magic Touch, like all of us, is having a year off the show circuit, he has though had to work for a living, having covered in excess of 30 mares already this year.

“He’s one of the best horses we’ve ever had,” said Charlotte. “He’s got the size, bone, quality and hair but he’s also got the traditional characteristics of a Clydesdale horse with plenty spirit.”

Judges comment: James Rochead, Alasdair Fletcher and Peter Keron, president, vice-president and immediate past president of the Clydesdale Horse Society respectively said: “All three Clydesdales in the short list were fine champions. However, if ever a Clydesdale horse was well names it is Doura Magic Touch.

“His Champions of the Decade award is a fitting accolade following three successive male championship awards at the National Stallion Show which began in 2018 when he also took the much coveted Cawdor Cup.

“And he rounded it off last year by taking the supreme title at the Royal Highland Show followed by the reserve champion of champions ticket at last November’s Clydesdale Horse Society Winter Fair.”

Highland ponies An 11-year-old stallion bred by the late Cameron Ormiston, and now owned by son Dochy and his wife Sylvia Ormiston and shown by Shona Halford, bagged the 2018 Royal Highland Show champion and Champions of the Decade.

Danny Boy of Croila by Sunny of Runivraid and out of Sylvia of Croila was something special as soon as he hit the ground, according to his breeder.

Once licensed as a stallion he was used for breeding with Cameron for a couple of seasons before heading to Ayrshire to the Tower Stud. He then travelled north to HM The Queen’s Balmoral stud, where Dochy and Sylvia both work, to breed foals and to ride.

“He has the most wonderful temperament and passes this on to his children,” said Sylvia adding that when Cameron Ormiston sadly passed away in 2014 Danny’s future was in their hands.

However, with Sylvia working full time at Balmoral, she felt she was not in a position to keep Danny, and her good friend Shona Halford took him on, when she already owns a daughter of his. He now lives with Shona and Jason on their croft at Brodie, Morayshire.

The following year Shona took him to several shows and won every time. Danny went on to win the overall at the Royal Northern Spring Show, Black Isle, Blair, NESHPES and then of course at the Royal Highland Show in 2018.

Syliva added: “I know that Cameron would have been so proud of his Danny Boy and we all feel very honoured to be part of this special pony’s life.”

Judge’s comment : Sandra Yeaman who chose the 2018 breed leader, Danny Boy of Croila, owned by Sylvia and Dochy Ormiston and exhibited by Mrs Shona Halford.

“It was a great honour for me to have been asked to judge the final of the Highland pony Champions of the Decade. After careful consideration of these former champions, my choice is the 2018 Champion Danny Boy.

“This pony is the epitome of the Highland pony breed. He has excellent quality limbs and joints that are in proportion to the rest of him. He has a well-balanced outline, with great depth of heart, strength and beauty all rolled into one.”

Shetland pony It was another stallion that topped the Shetland ponies, when Aberdeenshire breeder, Harry Sleigh, who had two of the three finalists, landed the Champion of the Decade title with the now seven-year-old Wells McCoy.

Breed leader at the Ingliston event in 2016 and champion and supreme horse at the Aberdeen Spring Show the same year, this Stow Review-sired pony was providing the family from St Johns Wells, Fyvie, with an unbelievable 35th Shetland championship from the RHS since 1950. This added to the other numerous sheep titles and a Clydesdale winner bagged by the family at Ingliston.

His dam is Whitefield Pride, a pony bred by Margaret Morrison but bought from Shirley Moro’s Kerloch Stud from Laurencekirk.

Reserve at Turriff Show in 2018, McCoy has since sired 10 foals from the 50-plus Wells Stud which includes Harry’s next potential show winner, Wells Dancing Brave.

Judge’s comment: Joan Lambert, vice-president of the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society, said: “For me, the 2016 champion was my choice. Standing well in the ring and apparently quite comfortable and alert, interested in the situation and the prestige of being champion at such a premier Scottish show.

“The general activity of a show with the popularity of the Highland deserves such an obedient and well-behaved Shetland pone, complete with sash award,” said Joan.