TOWNEND CHOOSES A CONNEMARA STAR AT SCONE PALACE INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS

The National Pony Society (NPS) Scotland finals and championships at Scone Palace International Horse Trials (27-30 August) concluded with the supreme of show, where guest judge and leading event rider Oliver Townend selected Connemara pony Birchill Silver Star and Cumbrian rider Nikkita Guy as his supreme champion.

“He was beautifully balanced and produced,” said Oliver. “He was an athlete, and in proportion with good conformation. He’s everything I would want and I wouldn’t mind riding him myself.”

Earlier in the morning, Nikkita and eight-year-old Silver had taken the NPS Scotland/Kingfisher Building Products M&M working hunter championship after winning the exceeding 143cm class. The duo continued their Scottish reign after being crowned working hunter champions at the Royal Highland Show in June, securing their HOYS ticket.

“He loves the Scottish ground,” said Nikkita, making her Scone debut. “He gave me a great spin round here at Scone Palace; he loved the atmosphere. After the season he’s had, I thought it would be silly to miss out coming here. He’s got a heart of gold, though this morning he tested my patience; he’d pulled a shoe in the stable and was a bit nippy, which is out of character for him. But when he’s causing my heart rate to lift in the stable, I know he’s going to be on top form when he’s out there.”

Of being judged supreme by Oliver, Nikkita said: “That was incredible. To be chosen by someone with all those medals to their name is something else.”

The winning 133cm contender, Waxwing Money Matters, and Darcey Alexander slotted into reserve in the M&M working hunter pony championship.

Oliver chose Achilty Defender as his reserve supreme, after the pony had finished reserve in the NPS Scotland/Achilty Stud riding pony/hunter pony in-hand final behind champion Claire Chisman’s Small-Land Entertainer daughter Tylo Maud Mackintosh, led by Tom Marshall. 

Achilty Defender – last year’s plaited in-hand champion – was exhibited by his breeder David Shand and handled by David’s grandson, Hunter Macdonald.

Fell pony Townend Gideon and 19-year-old Keiva Robertson’s 14.5-hour journey from Shetland paid off as they claimed this year’s NPS Scotland/Kilmannan Stud M&M novice ridden championship. The family left on Tuesday night to arrive in time for today’s final.

Gideon is a 10-year-old by Underwoods Gideon out of Townend Ripple, and apprentice accountant Keiva produces him from home.

“He’s a typical Fell pony in many ways, but he’s a smiley pony,” said Keiva, who bought him last October and also competes him in working hunter classes. “He’d done nothing, just hacking and being a fun pony. My mum, Avie, does a lot for us at home, helping us juggle everything.”

Cheryl Mackintosh’s Welsh section C stallion Corstan Royal Addition, by Moorcroft The Master, won the class and finished section reserve for Kirsty Aird.

Three classes formed the NPS Scotland/Maggie May M&M junior ridden finals, with Valerie Renwick’s Welsh section A Maxwelltown McGuigan and Jenny Jardine coming out on top of the championship. Reserve was Sophie Trotter and Highland Trailtrow Tianavaig.

It was a Highland one-two in the NPS Scotland/Nipna Stud M&M ridden Silver Medal championship final as yesterday’s HOYS breed winner, Chris Grant’s 10-year-old stallion Dunedin Iolare, stole the show once again, finishing ahead of reserve Carmen Durick and Gillian Reid Durick’s Strathmore Imperial Guard.

Chris achieved an NPS Silver Medal double when he returned with Highland gelding Dewley Rascal to land the NPS Scotland/Blackertor & Sharptor Stud M&M in-hand Silver Medal championship final. This was the second consecutive year this home-bred seven-year-old, by Dunedin Mohawk out of Dunedin Rhiona, has won the title.

Kirsty Miller’s home-bred Welsh section A Pinnerburn Peony Blush, a three-year-old filly by Thistledown Vierra out of Waxwing Daisy May, finished reserve.

Iolare and Chris were pipped, however, in the NPS Scotland/Harbro M&M open ridden championship by Stirling producer Kirsty Aird and Stewart Rae’s 16-year-old Fell stallion Greenholme Emblem, who is enjoying a career change after dominating the working hunter pony scene during his youth. The Greenholme Look At Me son was HOYS M&M worker champion in 2018.

“Since, he’s just been out in the field chilling,” said Kirsty. “This is his first year back out and while he’s done the workers, he’s never done any flat classes so it’s a new bag for him. He’s such a gentleman and is so well mannered, but he knows he’s handsome. It’s been lovely to have these finals here in Scotland in such a beautiful setting.”

Stewart was delighted to watch his stallion win: “He’s not lost any of his magic.”

Last year’s reserve supreme, Bracklinn Beth, a Fell mare owned and bred by The Smith Family, won the NPS Scotland/Townhead Pet n Pony M&M in-hand championship for the second consecutive year, with her colt foal at foot. Reserve was Alan and Carolyn Munro’s home-bred Highland colt Loandu Lachlan, also youngstock champion. 

In the NPS Scotland/Craigclowan School M&M lead-rein and first-ridden final, the first-ridden winners, Ceulan Steph and Mary-Jo Grant, were victorious ahead of the winning lead-rein, Ada Stephenson riding Nantfforchog Blue Rocco, for owner Heather Rothwell.