ALICE Hill rode Kian’s Choice to lift the light horse supreme title at a damp Dalkeith Show on Saturday.

Incessant drizzle failed to dampen the spirits of the Haddington-based rider, who had earlier accounted for the working hunter pony tri-colour.

Overall light horse judge Walter Bowie cast an experienced eye over an impressive line-up of finalists, pulling forward the smart bay 15hh victor to rapturous ringside applause.

The pair are part of the Scottish BSPS WHP team, and just missed out on their Horse of the Year Show ticket when finishing second recently at the BSPS Scottish summer show at Strathallan. Having qualified several times this season for the Blair Castle Tullibardine Contractors open working hunter pony series, they aim to contest next month’s final.

Reserve supreme light horse was Jo Ann Smith’s stunning coloured mare, Lady in Red, who had earlier gained the approval of section judge Penny Clifford. A traditional cob, the bay tobiano has been with Joanne since she was a two-year-old, and is no stranger to success, finishing sixth at Horse of the Year Show in 2008.

Already this term, she has collected the tri-colour at Kilmaurs, and finished reserve at both Puddledub and Drymen.

Permit-holder Rayson Nixon, who farms in the Ettrick valley near Selkirk, sorted out the ridden hunter entry, with the assistance of ride judge Katy-Jo Walling, whose mother later judged the riding horses. Their champion came from the over 13st category after Victoria Walton’s upstanding chestnut P J maintained poll position.

“This is his first show,” explained Victoria, “and I certainly never expected him to do so well.

“I’ve had him for four years now, and he’s my hunter,” she continued.

“My partner has hunted the Lauderdale hounds with him, and he was coming for the hound parade today anyway, so I thought I’d show him too.”

The partnership is entered for Kelso’s Border Union Show in a couple of weeks.

Best of the riding horse entry was Hilary Mactaggart’s large victor, Anthony’s Boy. The bay has proved a consistent performer for his Hawick owner/rider since his purchase from Buckinghamshire producer Jo Jenkins, with victories at Cumberland County, Northumberland County, and a second at the Royal Highland amongst his successes.

Emma Haigh’s second-placed large, Teasel – bought from the Agnew family at Hendersyde with eventing in mind – took the reserve ticket.

Judge Jessie Tennant found a worthy show hunter pony champion in Margaret Whiteford’s striking grey Kellys Dream Catcher, a six-year-old by Glencarrig Prince, ably ridden by son, James.

Karen and Archie Waterston watched daughter Emily take the novice working hunter pony title with her 13hh-15hh winner Cambrai Fenman.

Edith Gunn collected the riding pony and overall in-hand honours with her delightful Penhalogen Fantasia, having just his second outing this term. It is the fourth time Edith has lifted the overall in-hand title with a home-bred pony.

The yearling colt, who made a victorious debut at Alyth, is by the Welsh section B stallion Lennards Monarch out of her riding pony mare Fenwick Fleur. In just two outings as a foal, he stood champion and reserve. 

He is particularly special to Edith, as she explained: “His mum rejected him at birth, and I bottle fed him for five weeks until my hunter mare foaled.

“I then twinned him onto the hunter mare with her filly foal, and she fed him and her filly right up until weaning, with no problems at all.

“After a bad start the wee man has done me proud!” added Edith.

Reserve in-hand supreme was the hunter pony in-hand champion Roseisle Brave Romance.

Liz and Pat Rennie took the overall Mountain and Moorland championship with their ridden champion Willoway Carousel, ahead of the Hill family’s impressive Welsh Cob Llanllugan Mike’s Lad.

The Rennie sisters collected further silverware with their New Forest mare, a daughter of Willoway Minstrel, when adding the large breeds and in-hand championships.

Kirkcaldy-based Raith-hill Stud took the Welsh section A tri-colour with their palomino yearling colt Waitwith Gold-Dust, while the section B equivalent went to Susan Walker from Broxburn with Rosedust Black Viola, a black yearling filly by Eyarth Mowgli.

LEADINGawards:

Hunters (Judge: W Bowie, Dunfermline). Champion – P J, V Walton. Reserve – Gonzo, M Shiel. In-hand – 1, L McKendry; 2, Imperial High Flyer, S Middleton; 3, Bordergrove Miami, Bordergrove Stud. Under 13st – 1, Gonzo; 2, Charlie Fox 1V, S Cloy; 3, A Little Cushla, L Turner. Over 13st – 1, P J; 2, Lady’s Tramp, A Aplin; 3, Lisnataylor Star, P Beck.

Riding horse (Judge: Mrs F Walling, Galashiels). Champion – Anthony’s Boy, H Mactaggart. Reserve – Teasel, E Haigh. Small – 1, late entry; 2, Easthill Alba, I Mitchell; 3, Ladiesman Twist, C Sheddon. Large – 1, Anthony’s Boy; 2, Teasel; 3, Flying Ace, L Younger.

Ridden ponies (Judge: Mrs J Tennant, Lanark). mini champion – Duchalaw Freddie, K Swales. Reserve – Mister Brandysnap, A Robertson. Utility 138cms – 1, Ferrero Rocher, A Kerr; 2, Phantoms Quest, G Brown; 3, Parc View Premier, I Bamford. Utility pony 148cms – 1, Mister Brandysnap; 2, Rose, E Soeder; 3, Golden Promise, T Morrison. First ridden – 1, Morwyn Bronze Telstar, E Soeder; 2, Tickety Boo, A Hunter. Lead rein – 1, Duchalaw Freddie; 2, Tinker, K Brash. Show hunter ponies champion – Kellys Dreamcatcher, M Whiteford. Reserve – late entry. 153cms – 1, Kellys Dreamcatcher; 2, Applause, P Simpson; 3, late entry. 143cms – 1, late entry; 2, Pebbly Grey Fox, L Tinson; 3, Phantoms Quest, G Brown.133cms – 1, C Dickens; 2, Waxwing McEnroe K Anderson; 3, late entry. 122cms – 1, Rookery Bouquet, C Cohen; 2, Morwyn Bronze Telstar, E Soeder.

Working hunter ponies (Judges: Mrs M Inglis, Edzell). Champion & light horse supreme – Kian’s Choice, A Hill. 158cms – 1, E Watson. 153cms – 1, Kian’s Choice; 2, Lucky Talisman, S Reshad; 3, Coosh, K Banford. 143cms – 1, A Touch of Frost, K Mundell; 2, Cae Colly Paper Crown, C Dun; 3, S Hume. 133cms – 1, Lord of the Manor III, L Tinson; 2, Glenteifi Daniel, S Reshad; 3, Sam, A Noble. Nursery – 1, Lord of the Manor III; 2, Waxwing MacEnroe; 3, Chance, D Crawford. Open horse – 1, Finnisk Warrior, A Paxton; 2, Charlie Fox 1V. Novice working hunter – champion – K Waterston. Over 153cms – A Mundell; 2, L Turner; 3, Bellino Royal, M Maher. Under 153cms – 1, K Waterston; 2, Phantom’s Quest. 133cms – 1, Tweedbank 2nd Thoughts, M Crawford; 2, Zulu, M Marshall.

Ponies in-hand (Judge: Mrs P Clifford, Newmilns). Champion & overall-in-hand – Penhalogen Fantasia, E Gunn. Rreserve – Romanno Night Watch, S Law. Part-bred – 1, Romanno Night Watch; 2, Penhalogen Fantasia; 3, Penhalogen Gucci Guy, E Gunn. Brood mare – 1, Hollowmoor Neros Pandora, D Playfair. Foal – 1, Kaimknowe Midnight Minx, D Playfair. Youngstock, 14hh – 1, Penhalogen Fantasia; 2, Romanno Night Watch.

Hunter pony (Judge: Mrs P Clifford). Champion, & reserve overall-in-hand – Roseisle Brave Romance, M Foran. Reserve – Rangehill Musician, A Efthymiou. Youngstock – 1, Netehrmoss Smoke Signal, S Robson; 2, Rosedust Rebus, K Scotland. 153cms – 1, Roseisle Brave Romance; 2, Rangehill Musician; 3, Penhalogen Gucci Guy.

Coloured (Judge: Mrs P Clifford). Champion & res sup light horse – Lady in Red, M Smith. Reserve – Hobnob II, G Brodie. In-hand – 1, Hobnob II; 2, G Williamson; 3, Jasper, N Cormack. Ridden – 1, Lady in Red; 2, Ladiesman Twist, C Sheddon; 3, Tinker, K Brash.

Veteran (Judge: Mrs P Clifford, Newmilns).– champion – C Dickens. Reserve – Rangehill Musician. In-hand – 1, Rangehill Musician; 2, Landswood Marigold, G Reilly; 3, Frederick Von Wittingburg The Third, K Broadfoot. Ridden – 1, C Dickens; 2, Alsa, J Graham; 3, Latheron Aristocrat, L Coltherd.

Mountain and moorland (Judge: Mrs R Provan, Glenfarg). In-hand champion – Willoway Carousel, E & P Rennie. Reserve – Bracklinn Milly, N McClung. Large breed champion – Willoway Carousel. Reserve Bracklinn Milly. Small breed champion – Waitwith Gold Dust, Raith-hill Stud. Reserve – Rosedust Black Viola, A Walker. Welsh Section A champion – Waitwith Gold-Dust. Reserve – Glenbrae Veronica, J Borthwick. Welsh section B champion – Rosedust Black Viola. Reserve – Mynach Sea Anenome, W Young. Small breeds – 1, Lotus Point Formula Six, Almondell Shetlands; 2, Bracken, G Brown. Dartmoor – 1, Breamish Jollity, M Nichol, 2 & 3, unlisted. Stallion – 1, Llanllugan Mike’s Lad, B Hill. Welsh Section A/B mare – 1, Glebrae Veronica, J Borthwick2, Perperwell, McVitie, P Simpson; 3, Craigieholm Hawk, A Fraser. Welsh Section A youngstock – 1, Waitwith Gold-Dust; 2, Ormond Miss Jones, Raith-Hill Stud; 3, Loddesdale Solar Sprite, F Blackie. Welsh section B youngstock – 1, Rosedust Black Viola; 2, Mynach Sea Anenome; 3, Rosedust Rebus, K Scotland. Large breeds – 1, Willoway Carousel; 2, Bracklinn Milly; 3, Coedeneirin Reward, L Keay. Ridden mountain and moorland champion & supreme – Willoway Carousel. Reserve & reserve supreme – Llanllugan Mike’s Lad. Small breeds – 1, Gyrah Zeus, C Barker; 2, Bracken; 3, Pepperwell McVitie, P Simpson. Large breeds – 1, Willoway Carousel; 2, Llanllugan Mike’s Lad; 3, Coedeneirin Reward, L Keay. Lead rein – 1, Loddon Valley Markita, M Foran; 2, Bicton Lotua Euan, M Marshall. First ridden – 1, Gyrah Zeus, C Barker; 2, Sherberton JL, D Crawford; 3, Bryndefaid Paddington, C Cohen.