Friday saw the running of the 2018 NPS Scotland Finals and Silver Medal Championships. The climax of the NPS season, the show attracted a record 415 entries.
Katrina Of Strathmore, recently bought from breeder Charlie McQuattie by Shona Halford and ridden by Jo Jack, was crowned NPS Scotland/Kilmannan Stud Mountain and Moorland Novice Ridden Champion and NPS/Minns family Mountain and Moorland silver medal rosette champion.
While Jo was understandably over the moon with the win, Katrina appeared to take it all in her stride, despite only recently having returned to the show ring after enjoying several months away at grass:
“She’s been on Weight Watchers for the best part of a year,” laughed Jo. “She’s lost over 80 kilos but it’s taken a long time. It’s really special to win here – Blair Castle is like an end of term party for me.”
Elsewhere 10-year-old Emily Campbell from Caithness beat off much older and experienced competition to win both the NPS Scotland/Kingfisher Building Products Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony Final for ponies not exceeding 122cms and the overall Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony Championship. Emily was partnered by Isabel More’s Welsh section B gelding Annondale New Approach who she has been riding for the last three years.
“I’m delighted,” said Emily who also finds time for swimming, dancing and playing the clarinet around riding and school. “This is the first time I’ve been a Champion at Blair so it’s exciting.”
Alice Gilliland and her own Welsh section D Derradda Rummy were Reserve Champions.
Airdrie-based Aileen Curl took the Highland In-Hand (4-years-old and over) class with her main ridden pony Rosy Of Strathmore:
“I love this little pony – she’s so easy,” said Aileen. “She’s seven now and was quite difficult when I first got her as a youngster but we’ve come a long way and have a real bond now.”
Later in the day Aileen was a winning owner again when Brian Williams rode her Highland gelding, Harris Of Mendick to victory in the NPS Scotland/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain and Moorland Highland Open Ridden class. All in all it’s been a successful couple of days of the son of Dougal Of Mendick as he also won the Open Highland Pony class on Thursday.
Kirsty Aird had a good day at the office, winning three classes with Blackrock Oscar, Greenholme Emblem and Woodstock Smokey Sam. Sam was also placed second in the New Forest & Connemara Open ridden class with stable mate Castle Diva third. For good measure Kirsty collected a blue rosette in the Fell and Dales Open ridden class with Nicholwalls Black Jack and yellow with Dunedin Merlin in the Highland Open Ridden class. Gail Whetter also had a good show taking the top two places in the Dartmoor, Exmoor and Shetland Open Ridden class with Barhill Marigold and Cuthbert and second in the Dartmoor, Exmoor and Shetland novice ridden class with Cillechuimen Hootenanny.
There was success for breeder William Ireland and jockey Richard Telford with the seven-year-old Dales Kilmannon Jack Sparrow. They won the Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain and Moorland Open Ridden class for Fell and Dales ponies (with stablemates Kilmannan Robert The Bruce placed third) and were later awarded the Open Ridden Championship.
At the other end of the experience scale sisters Isla (6) and Lucy (5) Smith from Dalbeattie were first and third in the Mountain and Moorland Lead Rein Final with Lacy Flight and Calderberry Raider respectively.
Isla was very proud to have won her first Championship at Blair and, more importantly, to have beaten her younger sister in a large class which boasted 34 entries. Her day then got even better when she and Flight were named overall Minor Champions. Meanwhile Lucy, ably led by Mum Laura, was delighted with her third place on Calderberry Raider who she described as: “my best friend in the whole world.”
RESULTS
NPS Scotland/ Kilmannan Stud Mountain and Moorland Novice Ridden Final 2018
Class 1 Dartmoor, Exmoor & Shetland
1, Shilstone Rocks Tornado (Kirsty Errington-Anderson)
2, Cillechuimen Hootenanny (Gail Whetter)
Class 2 Welsh section A & B
1, Blackertor Pioneer (Karen Duncan)
2, Ceulan Steph (Jennifer Green)
3, Stonedge Celebration (Sarah Walker)
Class 3 New Forest & Connemara
1, Bellindene Fearghas (Julie Somervail)
2, Glenwood Royal Sovereign (Jenny Christie)
3, Hawkhill Don (Samantha Catton)
Class 4 Fell, Dales & Highland
1, Katrina Of Strathmore (Mrs J K Jack)
2, Whitefield Prince Valiant (Sarah Doran)
3, Strathearn Bonnie Mae (Norma Gillon)
Class 5 Welsh sections C & D
1, Blackrock Oscar (Kirsty Aird)
2, Middlemuir Jimothy (Joanna Hare)
3, Greenwing Hillbilly (Sheila Stewart)
Novice Ridden Champion: Katrina Of Strathmore (Mrs J K Jack)
Novice Ridden Reserve Champion: Whitefield Prince Valiant (Sarah Doran)
The NPS/Minns family ridden silver medal rosette championship (Scotland) final 2018
Gold Medal Champion: Fuinseoig Boy (Mrs M B Whiteford)
Reserve Champion: Heather Jock Of Fourmerk (Jane McNaught)
NPS Scotland/ Kilmannan Stud in-hand silver medal rosette championship (Scotland) final 2018
Gold medal Champion: Trailtrow Lllie (Gillian McMurray)
Reserve Champion: Knockandy Abigail (Morven Campbell)
NPS Scotland/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain and Moorland Open Ridden Final 2018
Class 6 Dartmoor, Exmoor & Shetland
1, Barhill Marigold (Gail Whetter)
2, Cuthbert (Gail Whetter)
3, Beinnliath Hartshornspike (Lynda Mulholland)
Class 7 Welsh section A & B
1, Ceulan Steph (Jennifer Green)
2, Butleigh Silver Flyer (Andrea Harley)
3, Landswood Moonstone (Judith Miller)
Class 8 New Forest & Connemara
1, Fuinseoig Boy (Margaret Whiteford)
2, Woodbank Smokey Sam (Kirsty Aird)
3, Castle Diva (Kirsty Aird)
Class 9 Fell & Dales
1, Kilmannan Jack Sparrow (William Ireland)
2, Nicholwalls Black Jack (Kirsty Aird)
3, Kilmannan Robert The Bruce (William Ireland)
Class 10 Welsh sections C & D
1, Trehewyd Cardi (Kayleigh Evans)
2, Owrtyn Dreamcatcher (Samantha Cotton)
3, Gems Swn Y Mor (Kirsty Finnie)
Class 11 Highland
1, Harris Of Mendick (Aileen Curran)
2, Trailtrow Lillie (Gillian McMurray)
3, Dunedin Merlin (Kirsty Aird)
Open Ridden Champion: Kilmannan Jack Sparrow (William Ireland)
Open Ridden Reserve Champion: Harris Of Mendick (Aileen Curran)
The NPS/Minns family Mountain and Moorland silver medal rosette championship
Champion: Katrina Of Strathmore (Jo Jack)
NPS Scotland/Kingfisher Building Products Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony Final 2018
Class 12 Ponies not exceeding 122cms. Fences maximum 70cms
1, Annandale New Approach (Isabel More)
2, Cui Mai Jess (Grant Turnbull)
Class 13 Ponies exceeding 122cms but not exceeding 133cms. Fences maximum 80cms
1, Greenholme Emblem (Kirtsy Aird)
2, Synod Ieuan (Donna McElhinnery)
3, Northview Popcorn (Keri Conchie)
Class 14 Ponies exceeding 133cms but not exceeding 143cms. Fences maximum 90cms
1, Woodbank Smokey Sam (Kirsty Aird)
2, Culmore Frank (Dervilla Campbell-Grieve)
3, Graigue Milly (Amy Green)
Class 15 Ponies exceeding 143cms. Fences maximum 100cms
1, Landleague Orlando (Pamela Danvers)
2, Derrada Rummy (Alice Gilliard)
3, Crossowen Jay (Mr & Mrs Allan Gerrard)
M&M WHP Champion: Annandale New Approach (Isabel More)
Reserve Champion: Derrada Rummy (Alice Gilliard)
NPS Scotland/Townend Pet n Pony In Hand Mountain & Moorland In Hand Final 2018
Class 16 Fell, Dales, New Forest, Welsh sections C & D 4-years-old and over
1, Kebroyd Onyx (Jill Graham)
2, Eastlands Rashiebrae (Mr & Mrs J Staveley)
3, Manor Willow (Mrs Winsome Aird)
Class 17 Highland 4-years-old and over
1, Rosy Of Strathmore (Aileen Curle)
2, Heather Jock Of Fourmerk (Jane McNaught)
3, Knockandy Abigail (Morven Campbell)
Class 18 Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland, Welsh sections A & B 4-years-old and over
1, Charlotte Of Transy (Transy Stud)
2, Nisbet (Leona Clark)
3, Mynach Party Promise (Kirsty Miller)
Senior Champion: Kebroyd Onyx (Jill Graham)
Reserve Champion: Charlotte Of Transy (Transy Stud)
Class 19 Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland, Welsh sections A & B 3-years-old and under
1, Duntarvie Adelaide (Mrs M C Nimmo)
2, Waxwing Daisy May (Kirsty Miller)
3, Warrackston Little Diamond (Mrs S Bridgeman)
Class 20 Connemara, Fell, Dales, New Forest, Welsh sections C & D 3-years-old and under
1, Bracklinn Avenger (Messrs Smith)
2, Maeve Of Millfield (WKA and JA Allan)
3, Drybarrow Authentic (Messrs Smith)
Youngstock Champion: Duntarvie Adelaide (Mrs M C Nimmo)
Reserve Champion: Bracklinn Avenger (Messrs Smith)
Overall In-Hand Champion: Duntarvie Adelaide (Mrs M C Nimmo)
Reserve Champion: Kebroyd Onyx (Jill Graham)
NPS Scotland/NFU Mutual Insurance Riding Club & Hunter Pony In Hand Final 2018
Class 21 Riding ponies not exceeding 148cms at maturity. All ages
1, Tylo Pillow Talk (Mary Steele)
2, Tylo Lillie Langtry (Claire Chisman)
3, Castiafiore Regal Charm (Victoria Mylius)
Best yearling: Tylo Pillow Talk (Mary Steele)
Best 2-year-old: /
Best 3-year-old: Manorview Toy Soldier (Suzanne Potter)
Best 4-year-old and over: Durran Jazz Dancer (Jessie Allan)
Class 22 Hunter ponies not exceeding 153cms at maturity. All ages
1, Parknook Perseverance (Suzi Ayres)
2, Cosford Percival (Claire Chisman)
3, Chiddock Shooting Times (Sue Williamson)
Riding Pony/Hunter Pony Champion: Parknook Perseverance (Suzi Ayres)
Reserve Champion: Cosford Percival (Claire Chisman)
NPS Scotland/Kilgraston School Mountain & Moorland lead rein and first ridden final 2018
Class 23 Mountain & Moorland lead rein final
1, Lacy Flight (Laura Smith)
2, Springwater Garden Tiger (Charlie Cousens)
3, Calderberry Raider (Laura Smith)
Class 24 Mountain & Moorland first ridden final
1, Wellbank Gabriel (Tom Brash)
2, Papplewick Gino (Ashley Connor)
3, Latheron Keepsake (Lisa Kennedy)
Mini Champion: Lacy Flight (Laura Smith)
Reserve Champion: Wellbank Gabriel (Tom Brash)