Exhibitors and spectators from as far afield as Shetland down to Northumberland were out in force to celebrate Aberdeen Clydesdale Horse Show’s 40th Anniversary staged at Uppermill Farm, Kintore, by kind permission of Malcolm Allan.
More than 60 horses were forward for the judges, John McMillian, Rothesay and Gary Gorman, Durham who awarded the female and overall in hand championship to Tulloes Emily from Jim Greenhill. Shown to success by daughter Louise Greenhill this four-year-old is sired by the Cawdor Cup winner Arradoul Balvenie and out of Tulloes Lady Jane. The home-bred mare and current Scottish World Show Champion is a full sister to this year’s Cawdor Cup winner Tulloes Sensation.
Reserve overall was the male champion, Arlene Davidson’s two-year-old colt, Dillars Hawk, bred by Amanda Stewart, Mollinhillhead. Sired by Macfin Starlight and out of Mollinhillhead Queen of Diamonds, he was was first at Turriff Show and won the Society Shield on his sole previous outing.
Foal champion was Ronnie Black’s Collessie Princess, from Newton of Collessie. This March-born filly is sired by Collessie Monarch and out of Collessie Kirsty which stood second in her class. Princess was placed first at Fife, West Fife, Perth and Kinross and stood reserve at Area 12.
Mr Black also produced the reserve foal in the colt Collessie Warrior, a son of Arradoul Balvenie out of Roughlands Jasmine. January-born, the colt was reserve male at Peebles Show.
President of the Clydesdale Horse Society, Sandy Aitken along with daughter Lynn Aitken and grandaughter Kiera Gowans, took the reserve female title with their brood mare Doura Allegra, a four-year-old bred by Charlotte Young, Ayr.
She is bred from Luce Bay Islay, sired by Glebeview Sir Charles and was first prize brood mare at this year’s Royal Highland Show.
Reserve male was Old Greenlaw Benjiman from Blythe Duncan. He is sired by Collessie Monarch and out of Old Greenlaw Skye.
The three-year-old gelding also went on to win the harness championship when shown by grandfather Benny Duncan and Blythe topped a strong entry of young handlers with the same horse.
The ridden section saw 10 entries forward. A focus this year was made on ring etiquette and safety which was highly promoted by judges Morag Snow, Fife and Gary Gorman, Durham.
Champion was Rachael Stewart’s Am Blar Mhor Bombardier, ridden by Chloe Hunter. The seven-year old gelding is sired by Great American GW Carver, out of Arradoul Rhapsody.
Winner of the single cart class was George and Ruth Skinner from Strathorn, with their seven-year-old gelding, Collessie King Edward, bred by Ronnie Black, Fife. He is sired by Cawdor Cup Stallion Doura Master Eddie and out of Collessie Robyn.
Local farriers Donald Nicol and Murray McIntosh organised the 40th Anniversary Farrier Competition at Aberdeen Clydesdale Show in memory of Donald’s father Alex Nicol.
Alex, Jim Simpson and Donald Nicol provided a demonstration at the first City of Aberdeen Clydesdale Show held in August 1994 at Duthie Park.
The competition was judged by Alan Ferrie who has been involved with the recent changes made to heavy horse shoeing and the new guidelines for the shoes to be made.
The competition required three shoes to be made – a plain stamped front shoe and a plain stamped flat show hind shoe within sixty minutes for the apprentice class. The open and intermediate classes required these along with a fullered flat work shoe within 80 minutes.
The 16 entries forward across three classes, saw PJ Williams, Coalburn, win the apprenticeship section while the intermediate and open was won by Andrew Thompson, Kilwinning and Lewis Balfour from Angus, respectively.
LEADING awards
Farriery – Apprentice – 1, PJ Williams; 2, Ben McCredie; 3, Matthew Bradley. Intermediate – 1, Andrew Thompson; 2, Garbhàn Quinn; 3, Alexander Fletcher. Open – 1, Lewis Balfour; 2, Billy Scott; 3, Jim Balfour; 4, Wayne Balfour; 5, Andrew Drybrugh.
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