Winning two championships at a bright and breezy Kilmaurs Show was Madelaine Tinson with Lord of the Manor III.
Judged by Jane Smith, the 12-year-old chestnut gelding remained foot perfect over Jack Bishop’s working hunter pony track to head both the mini and open working hunter championship.
Ridden by Madeleine (11), from Dunfermline, the gelding was previously ridden by her older sister, Jessica, who qualified for the Horse of the Year Show and was part of the Scottish working hunter pony team at the BSPS Championships as well as winning 10 working hunter classes last season.
Open reserve was last year’s champion, Rachael Brown and Clonshire Harvey V, an eight-year-old Irish-bred gelding. They were second in the RIHS qualifier at Ayr and champion at the Grand Slam.
Mini reserve was Angus Ritchie with the schoolmaster, Black Label. The 16-year-old pony won the Highland Show nursery stakes at the Highland Show with sister, Harris, in 2008 and with Angus won the BSPS spring show nursery stakes.
Zoe Nicoll headed the show hunter pony championship with Marshbrook Limited Edition, and were following a reserve at Ingliston’s Grand Slam the previous week. Her older sister, Kimberley, was also champion show pony with a new ride this year, Jack of Diamonds, which had previously qualified for HOYS and this season had been well placed at the BSPS Winter Championships.
Reserve in both these sections was Gemma Mason, with Bracon Toytown in the show ponies and Greylands Little Star in the show hunter ponies. Toytown was supreme at Stranraer, last year, and reserve supreme at the Grand Slam. Greylands Little Star, an eight-year-old by Cyon Star, was mini supreme champion at the Grand Slam.
Coloured horse champion was Jo Ann Smith with Lady in Red, winner of both the in-hand and ridden traditional class. The nine-year-old mare was sixth at HOYS in 2008, while last year she was reserve supreme at Campsie, reserve champion at Braco and a winner in-hand at the East of England Show.
The reserve was Victoria Harvie riding Lesley James’ It’s Ozzy. Last year, ridden by Sharon Thom, the gelding was champion at the Royal Highland and qualified for HOYS, this year, the plan is for the nine-year-old to be shown in intermediate show riding type classes.
Sharon headed the ridden horse championship with Classical Independence, winner of the riding horse class, with Samatha Cloy and Charlie Fox IV reserve.
In the mountain and moorland section it was Andrea Hodgson with son Haydon that headed the championship with Lathom Juni, after winning the lead rein class.
The 10-year-old black Shetland mare has been a big winner in-hand, winning across the country including the Kilmannan gold medal winner at Blair and first reserve in the supreme mountain and moorland championship at Ponies UK.
Reserve was Hannah Grant with Llanarw Betsan, a seven-year-old Welsh section A mare which was first in the novice working hunter pony at the BSPS spring show.
LEADINGawards:
Show ponies (Judge: A Bowie). Champion – Jack of Diamonds, Z Nicoll. Reserve – Bracon Toytown, G Mason. Mini champion – Rivenwood Class Act, O Cousens. Mixed height intermediate – 1, Stanley Grange Limits, J Slight; 2, Jive Time Frightfully Nice, K Nicoll; 3, It’s Ozzy, V Harvie. Mixed height novice – 1, Jackets Mayfair, A Pollock; 2, Premier Dancer, Z Nicoll; 3, Truly Scrumptious, H Kerr. 148cm – 1, Jack of Diamonds; 2, Jackets Mayfair. 138cm – 1, Bracon Tap Dance, E Hamilton; 2, Wychways Escapade, T Ladds. 128cm – 1, Bracon Toytown; 2, Hightops Enchatment, L Bainbridge-Craig; 3, Mybella Etlatine, A O’Neill. Family pony – 1, Maximilion, S Cumming; 2, Zelda, F Jess. Lead rein – 1, Rivenwood Class Act; 2, Rosslayne Fairy Story, B Waugh; 3, Cosford Persia, B Moore. First ridden – 1, Hightops Enchantment; 2, Cherrytop Imperial Starlight, C Waugh.
Coloured horse or pony (Judge: A Boswell). Champion – Lady In Red, J Smith. Reserve – It’s Ozzy. Non-native open in-hand – 1, Solarado, M Garland; 2, Mr Brightside, F Masterton. Native, cob, traditional in-hand – 1, Lady In Red; 2, Willow, S McArdy; 3, Mr Brightside. Non-native open ridden – 1, It’s Ozzy; 2, Betty Boop, W McFarlane; 3, Midnight Lady, L Bell. Native, cob, traditional open ridden – 1, Lady In Red; 2, Betty Boop; Midnight Lady.
Ridden horses (Judge: J Cartner). Champion – Classic Independence, S Thom. Reserve – Charlie Fox IV, S Cloy. Working hunter – 1, Gold Card II, K Brown; 2, Charlie Fox IV; 3, Foxes Spot On, N Evans. Riding horse – 1, Classic Independence. Hunter – 1, Charlie Fox IV; 2, Mister Lincoln, S Thom; 3, Balinmore Charmed Hero, R Latchford. Yearling not likely to exceed 14.2hh and in-hand champion – 1, Penmaric Floral Dosh, S Hoggans; 2 and reserve, Tullibardine Barn Dance, E McManus.
Show hunter ponies (Judge: Mrs S Harper), Champion – Marshbrook Limted Edition, Z Nicoll. Reserve – Greylands Little Star. 153cm – 1, Piverside Poker, K Nicoll; 2, Stanley Grange Applause, R simspon; 3, Penmaric Begin Again, D Sloan. 143cm – 1, Marshbrook Limited Edition; 2, Duval Midnight Rhapsody, C Gilbert. 133cm –1, Hindleap Hoya Bella, A Hood; 2, Cedarfarm Topman, C Dickens; 3, Courtway Amadelis, C Parker. 122cm – 1, Greylands Little Star.
Working hunter ponies (Judge: Mrs J Smith). Champion – Lord of the Manor III, M Tinson. Reserve – Clonshire Harvey V, R Brown. Mini champion – Lord of the Manor III. Reserve – Black Label, A Ritchie. Mixed height novice/ intermediate – 1, Clonshire Harvye V; 2, Kres, R van Doorneward; 3, Robestepper, L Brewster. Intermediate – 1, Gold Card II. 153cm – 1, Clonshire Harvey V; 2, Pyrotechnic, S Lynch. 143cm – 1, The Pied Piper, N Melville; 2, Catmint, H Ritchie; 3, Pebbly Grey Fox, J Tinson. 133cm – 1, Lord of the Manor III; 2, Brookhall Distant Storm; 3, Topper, A Noble.
Mountain and moorland ridden (Judge: Miss A Scott). Champion – Lathom Juni, H Hodgson. Reserve – Llanarw Betsan, H Grant. Small – 1, Llanarw Betsan; 2, Brookhall Paddy Moon, C Dickens; 3, Lindisfarne Grouse, D Grant. Large – 1, Fingal of Strathavon, D Sloan. First ridden – 1, Locharmoss Blueberry, H Hodgson; 2, Llanarw Betsan; 3, New Hall Buttons, C Bainbridge Craig. Lead rein – 1, Lathom Juni; 2, Hengwys Cymro, H Macmillan.




After a couple of recent visits to Musselburgh racecourse, I am of the view that it is a worthy contender for a racecourse of the year award.

