Auctioneer Brian Ross of Lawrie & Symington, Lanark describes another offering to a crowded ringside of potential purchasers

Ghosts of times past were echoing around the organisation of the second annual sale of Clydesdale Horses to be run by the Clydesdale Horse Society in recent years at the venue in Lanark where in the heyday of the breed hundreds of these draught horses were sold over several days of selling. As part of the pre-sale publicity there had been a photo opportunity at the restored mill village at New Lankar, one of the largest cotton manufacturing centres in the country, made famous as a model community under the management of Robert Owen from 1800-1825 - and now in the running to be a World Heritage site. The majesty of the horse amongst the imposing buildings provided a photograph with enormous impact as the sound of the hooves on the cobbled roadway echoed off the sandstone walls. It was easy to visualise several teams of horses bringing in the raw bales of cotton from the west coast ports to be spun and finished by machinery powered by the Falls of Clyde - evocative stuff indeed.

The filly class lines up for the presentation of prizewinners' rosettes

And indeed many spectators were drawn to the event on a misty Scottish morning on the 3rd of April. There had been 27 horses across the age ranges entered, and 23 were forward on the day. It was standing room several deep around the ringside as the judge, Paul Bedford from York, started his duties. There were five mare due to foal in 1999, three 3 year old and over mares, three 2 year old fillies, five yearling fillies, two older males and five yearling/2 yr old males. It was a credit to their owners that all the horses looked so well after such a prolonged spell of damp unfavourable weather throughout the autumn and winter in the UK and the judge reported afterwards that he had been pleased with the quality on offer. He chose a two year old filly Eskechraggan Rhona from Tom McMillan of Eskechraggan, Rothesay, Bute as his Champion. This filly is by Mollinhillhead Majestic and out of Eskechraggan Esther. The Reserve Champion was Bogton Nell, a 4 year old by Howgillside Earl and out of Middlebank Carlogie Isla, shown by Jim Young from Kelso. Neither of these two were sold on the day.

The overall Show Champion Eskechraggan Rhona, a 1997 born filly shown by Tom McMillan, Eskechraggan was unsold at 1100 gns

The first animal into the ring, a 5 year old in foal mare from Tom Gillies sold for 500 gns and indeed Mr Gillies got the top price of the day for his 3rd prize winning 2 year old colt Heatherwick Sir James which sold for 1050 gns to Nigel Blakey of Lincolnshire. Indeed Mr Blakey purchased 3 animals all told - he also bought the 2nd top priced horse, a 4 year old Stallion "Ainville Tartan Special" and a useful yearling filly "Shatton Joan" at 420 gns. the judge was seen to be bidding for some of his prize winners but he only succeeded in taking home one, a 4 year old gelding for 400 gns. Other prices included 500 gns for a yearling colt forward from Peter Tennant of Forth in Lanarkshire and 480 gns for another Shatton filly named Katy who went to one of the stewards on the day, Billy Drummond, also of now Lanarkshire, but originally from Northern Ireland. Although only 8 horses actually changed hands on the day, reports are now filtering back of others that were sold in the days following the event, so interest is continuing making the organisation well worth while.

Top price of the sale Heatherwick Sir James sold for 1050 gns by Tom Gillies, Laurencekirk

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