The Black Isle show is always a fantastic venue for driving and this year was no exception with all the bad weather we have had recently it was great to go to an event and stay dry yes the sun came out and stayed out for us at last! Fingers crossed that we will see more good weather before the end of the season!

We had a good number of entries this year and it was good to see the classes well supported especially the exercise class with five well-presented turnouts forward. This years exercise class had a great variety of horses from a towering Clydesdale to a miniature Shetland.

As always Black Isle show had some special prizes for the competitors. Robert Robertson our judge on the day awarded these prizes to Emma Macpherson driving her lovely pony Rhoson Klondyke who won the best newcomer and junior whip; it is always great to see the juniors in the show ring and best Shetland pony went to Jo Tonkinson and her lovely pair of Shetlands Ramnaberg Andy and Charlie. Jo had a busy day and had to do a quick change over after the Private driving class for the exercise class and then changing back again for the championship. Helen Hunt also had a successful day winning the exercise class and was also reserve champion driving her gelderlander Nelson a change of pace for Nelson who is usually competing at HDT events.

Kim Pearson-Miller driving her standard bred cross JD’s El Diablo won the Private driving class for the second year.

The Championship saw both 1st and 2nd prize winners forward from both classes and it was great for the large crowd around the main arena as the competitors were allowed to use the entire arena and everyone got a good look at the turnouts as always with Black Isle we had a good commentator who allowed the suspense to build before the Champion and Reserve were picked. Mr Robertson found his Champion in last year’s winner Kim Pearson-Miller and Reserve went to Helen Hunt.

Congratulations to all competitors and winners and we hope to see Black Isle show as well supported next year!

PRIVATE DRIVING:

1st JD’s El Diablo – Kim Pearson-Miller
2nd Merkisayre Jackson – Jo Tonkinson
3rd Pandora’s Nik Nak – E Duncan

EXERCISE CLASS:

1st Nelson – Helen Hunt
2nd Askival Monty – Kirsty Barr
3rd Helza Duncan – Julie Hunt
4th Rhoson Klondyke – Emma MacPherson
5th Ramnaberg Andy & Charlie – Jo Tonkinson

Champion - JD’s El Diablo – Kim Pearson-Miller

Reserve Champion – Nelson – Helen Hunt

Report by Alan Miller