'Today has been the best day ever'

The National Pony Society (NPS) Scotland Finals and Silver Medal championships drew top-class competition on Friday at Scone Palace  International Horse Trials (21-24 August). 

Multiple riders continued their form from the previous day, becoming dual and triple Scone Palace 2025 champions.

An exceptional supreme of show line-up was assessed by equestrian icon Lucinda Russell OBE, who trains racehorses nearby to Scone Palace at Milnathort. Lucinda selected NPS Scotland/Baileys Horse Feeds open ridden champions, 10-year-old Olivia Dickson and Aimee Lock’s Welsh Section A Dukeshill Penny Pincher, as her supreme champions. 

The gelding, bred by Jo Sheil out of Dukeshill Penny From Heaven by Oldenzijlster Action Man, is a nine-year-old. He was favoured earlier in the day by open judges Fiona Leadbitter (conformation) and Nicki Oldershaw-Glen (ride). Olivia is in her third season with “Spam” and the pair started off in first ridden classes together, making their way up the ranks. 

“He’s been hard work, but we’ve got there now,” said an emotional Olivia. “Spam is very energetic and he can be strong, but once he’s in the mood he goes well. Today has been the best day ever; I can’t believe we’ve just won the supreme at Scone!”

Lisa Barsoum Allen concluded a busy judging day with the NPS Scotland/Townhead Pet n Pony M&M in-hand finals. Her champion was Fell mare Bracklinn Beth, exhibited by her breeders, The Smith Family. She was then selected by Lucinda as reserve supreme. By Auckside Freddie out of Bracklinn Tess, Beth was supreme champion at the Fell Pony Society breed show just a week prior to her debut at Scone Palace. 

M&M in-hand youngstock champion, Shetland filly Hools Je T’Aime, finished in reserve in the overall M&M championship for her breeder, Kelly Peace.

Inverness-based Katie Common lifted two titles, taking her Scone Palace championship tally to three. She secured the NPS Scotland/Kilmannan Stud M&M novice ridden championship title aboard Jane McNaught’s lightly-shown dun gelding Mullachbuie MacLaren (Eric) before judges Jane Somerset (conformation) and Lisa Barsoum Allen (ride).

The six-year-old is a son of Glenwestcastle Loch Rannoch and Megaidh of Mullachbuie, and he was bred by Catriona Lackie.

“He’s very relaxed but he’s a little cheeky, too,” said Katie’s friend Rhianna Gilmour, who was ringside to watch their triumph. “This is only his first season and he hasn’t done a lot, though he did win at the Royal Highland in June.”

Reserve novice was Connemara Laith, owned and ridden by Emma Brown.

Katie then kept her cool when partnered with her trusty Highland gelding Dunedin Mascot (Scottie), yesterday’s ridden Highland champion, to secure the NPS/Nipna Dales Pony Stud M&M Silver Medal rosette final, assessed by Lisa Barsoum Allen. 

“Scottie never got his moment in the ridden Highlands nor in the NPS finals at Blair,” said Katie. “This was totally unexpected. I do feel the pressure when I show him due to his record, but he’s so brilliant, and he knows when to pull it out of the bag. He looks better than he’s ever looked and I’m so lucky to have him.”

A Highland pony also came to the fore in the NPS Scotland/Maggie May M&M junior ridden championship. This was Lorna Boyd’s nine-year-old Holmedown Princess Kaiulani, ridden by Morgan McLaughlan, who had led the exceeding 138cm field in front of judges Sarah Ross (ride) and Elizabeth Russell (conformation). She was bred by Wendy Bridges out of Holmedown Kona by Lyncrest’s Rhodri. The home-produced mare is a dual showing and dressage contender.

Welsh Section C Troedymynydd Trouble, ridden by Natasha Connor, headed the under 138cm section before posting section reserve.

There was plenty of celebration from the ringside when the NPS Scotland/Kilgraston School M&M mini champion was called out. Nicola Marshall’s Shetland mare Addingham Darcy and five-year-old Grace Alexander had earlier led a 29-strong lead-rein final before being judges’ Jane Somerset (conformation) and Gillian Cowell’s (ride) choice for the overall title.

Darcy, an 11-year-old mare, is the ultimate mother’s dream. She also contests Pony Club competitions and is a regular feature in Pony Club Games. Darcy has been based with Nicola and her family for five years.

“She came on loan to be brought on under-saddle and she never went back; she’s a wee star and I trust her with my life,” said Nicola. “We’ve enjoyed ourselves so much at Scone; the setting is beautiful.”

Reserve was the top first ridden pairing, Tracy Turner’s Dartmoor Dykes Blue Moon and Charlotte Turner.

Chris Grant added another tri-colour to his Scone CV, winning the NPS/Blackertor and Sharptor Studs M&M in-hand Silver Medal rosette final leading his home-bred gelding Dewley Rascal. Judge Nicki Oldershaw-Glen had nine finalists to choose from.

Rascal, a six-year-old, is from a long line of NPS Scotland champions. He’s by Dunedin Mohawk, winner of Blair Castle’s last in-hand Silver Medal championship, out of Dunedin Rhiona, a double Blair ridden Silver Medal title holder during her career under-saddle.

“He’s a rascal by name and nature,” said Chris. “He’s good fun and he keeps us on our toes.”

Chris now holds both Scottish and English NPS Gold Medals, having won the English equivalent earlier this month at the NPS Summer Championships handling Dunedin Iolare.

Chris, in-hand Highland champion the previous day leading home-bred filly Dewley Essence, added: “It’s amazing to go home with two Scone Palace champions at the very first fixture.”

Dales mare Sowermire Amber, owned by Jill Graham and handled by Lewis Fuller, was reserve for the in-hand Silver Medal.

Four NPS Scotland/Kingfisher Building Products M&M working hunter pony classes, judged by Fiona Leadbitter and Gill Cowell, culminated in the championship, which was won by the top 122cm combination. This was young Aberdeen-based rider Lucy Whiteford aboard her scopey Welsh Section A Rookery Bertie. The Uphill James Fox son is home-produced and he provided Lucy with her first-ever HOYS ticket at the Royal Highland Show.

“We do Pony Club and British Dressage alongside showing,” said Lucy, 11. “He’s a keen bean; such fun and is a big character. He feels like a rocking horse to ride; he’s so comfortable. The course was big today, but if I point Bertie at something, I know he’ll jump it.”

The not exceeding 143cm winner, Ellis Simister’s Drumree Dandy Man, was called into reserve position.

A three-year-old hunter-type was judge Jane Somerset’s choice for the NPS Scotland/Achilty Stud championship. Hunter Macdonald led his grandfather David Shand’s home-bred Achilty Defender to the crown, pipping the Riding Pony winner, Niamh Green’s 128cm Mount Pleasant Celtic Pride.

“He’s been incredible today,” said Hunter. “My grandfather also bred his dam, so today is a real family affair.”

Scone Palace International Horse Trials is the most exciting addition to the national equestrian calendar in years, and takes place in the beautiful grounds below Scone Palace in Perthshire, with all the advantages of the excellent permanent facilities of the adjacent Perth Racecourse. As well as international eventing classes and the Scottish Grassroots Championships, there are a multitude of showing classes, arena eventing, Pony Club Games and British Showjumping competitions, including the The Malcolm Group Scone Palace Grand Prix.

There is superb shopping with a carefully curated selection of local and national retailers, excellent food and drink options and hospitality packages, and great evening entertainment.

Scone Palace is on the northern outskirts of Perth, and has excellent accessibility from the newly opened Cross Tay Link Road over the River Tay from the A9 and the A93 and A94.

For more information, including a full timetable, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sconehorsetrials.com.

Action from all three phases of the international eventing classes can be watched live on ClipMyHorse.TV.