Words by Emma Duncan
Photography by Natalie Hudson
The show this year was on 3 June at the fantastic venue of Highfield at Howe, in the Kingdom of Fife, where we utilised the indoor and new outdoor area.
Unfortunately, entries were low, but the quality of the horses presented was first class and the day dawned bright and dry.
Classes commenced with the new AHS Centenary performance classes judged by our two judges Penny Hollings (ride) and Julie Bridges (conformation). These classes were well supported with two forward in the novice class, which was won by Kirsty Scotland and PS Silvern Rose (Silvern Prince x Imperial Silk). The restricted class had three entries and Rashah (Sylvan Magician x Rawen) ridden by Joy Mclean took top spot. There was only one entry forward for the open class and this was Razelle (Star of the Seasons x Rawen), also ridden by Kirsty Scotland.
The in-hand classes started in the indoor arena once the performance classes concluded with the Anglo/partbred youngstock judged by Julie Bridges. Champion was the stunning two-year old Castafiore Regal Charm (Stanley Grange Regal Heights x Lyndrose Tiny Dancer), owned and bred by Victoria Mylius. Reserve was the eye-catching Ledarb Phaberge, by the purebred stallion Ledarb Silver Blue Sovereign (Red Shadow x Maracz), owned, bred and exhibited by Kerry Macdougall.
Next to strut their stuff in the in-hand section were the junior purebreds. Champion of this section was the spectacular gelding Yanny (Master Design GA x Yannah), exhibited by Danna Gowans. Yanny also collected the Classic Head Championship. Reserve Junior Purebred went to the eye-catching Crabbet youngstock winner Ledarb Phoenix, bred and exhibited by Kerry Macdougall.
On to the senior purebreds where Jaqueline Hall and Aazimirah (Aazari x Bey Samirah) had a fantastic day taking wins in the Crabbet class and amateur home-produced as well as the purebred mare class. The winner of the straight Egyptian class was Elaine Brown’s HT Oriole (Saikh al Kuran x HT Orillia), who was also Reserve in the Classic Head Championship.
The in-hand gelding class went to Psynatra (Psynergy x Escoveda) with Alison Murry, who were also Reserve Senior Champions to Jaqueline Hall and her Crabbet mare Aazimirah.
A special class which is eagerly anticipated by the spectators is the Concours d’elegance, which was won by Laura Fairbairn and the grey gelding Shazarni (Azinja el Shaklan x Focus Shayla). They looked amazing in a silver and navy outfit. This then led us on to the end of day championships.
These started with the Amateur Home-produced Championship, which brought together the in-hand and ridden class winners. The champion was the consistent chestnut gelding Psynatra, owned and ridden by Alison Murray. In Reserve was Aazimirah.
Next into the arena was the Overall Crabbet Championship, won by Joy Mclean and the grey stallion Rashah, with Aazimirah Reserve.
The Overall Purebred In-hand championship completed things in ring two, and judge Julie Bridges had a stunning line up to choose from. Here, the striking chestnut gelding Yanny triumphed over the lovely chestnut mare Aazimirah.
The ridden classes took place in the new outdoor arena with the novice classes judged by Penny Hollings. There was a good entry of novice part-breds and Anglos, and the pre-novice class was won by Aiva Dickie and Greenbarrow Picture Perfect (by Stanley Grange Regal Heights) with Tylo Hot Like Me taking the second spot.
Kirsty Scotland won the novice purebred class with the only exhibit forward, PS Silvern Rose. The part-breds were to the fore in the novice section with four entries forward in the novice class. This was won by Joy Mclean and Arktic Ayres (Hemmingway x Arctic Lady), who then went on to take the Novice Championship with PS Silvern Rose taking Reserve.
The purebred ridden horses were next to enter the ring with four forward in the amateur home-produced ridden, which was won by the lovely chestnut gelding Psynatra. Rashah won the ridden Crabbet class, with his half-sister, Razelle, taking second spot. These two horses went on to be Ridden Crabbet Champion and Reserve. The open ridden class was also won by the striking grey Rashah. The RASS ridden class was won by Shazarni, with the young riders class once again headed by Jodie Scotland-Turner riding Razelle.
The Purebred Ridden Arabian Championship was awarded to Rashah. Reserve went to Razelle.
The amateur home-produced part-bred class was won by Lilly Godfrey and the coloured mare Something Posh (by GR Saneeb). Unfortunately, there were no entries forward for the 148cm and under part-breds but there were three quality horses presented for the over 148cm class. This was won by the novice winner Arktic Ayres and Blainllians DB’s Dark Shadow and Marion Maclennan stood second.
The Anglo/Part-bred Ridden Championship was given to Arktic Ayres with Marion Maclennan’s consistent gelding taking the reserve.
The Overall Ridden Championship took place in blazing sunshine and Rashah shone out for judge Penny Hollings and he was crowned Champion. Kirsty and Razelle took the reserve spot, making it a very good day in the ring for Joy Mclean and her team.
We then moved on to the main event of the day, the Supreme Championship. Forward for this prestigious award were Yanny, Rashah and Castafiore Emerald. The judges looked at each exhibit in turn and the decision was unanimous – Rashah and Joy Mclean clinched the title.
