“Superstar” students showcase their sporting successes and special deeds – Layla Kirkness

Schools are out, summer is in –  and it’s proving to be a time for some of our young students to shine in sporting events and special deeds!

The holidays are generally seen as a time for young people to relax and unwind ahead of the start of a new year at school.

Far from making the most of long lie ins and duvet days, some of our pupils have been out and about enjoying local and national successes in sporting events, raising money for charity and making their families proud.

Here at the Council, we are also proud of our pupils – particularly the resilience shown after a challenging period throughout the pandemic - and would like to share a few of their stories with you over the holiday period.

St Andrews Primary School pupil Layla Kirkness – the fourth generation and future of the Hools Shetland Pony Stud in Orkney - has been continuing her passion for ponies during the summer holidays.

Most recently, Layla, who turns 9 on 17 August – her first day back at school and into P5 – made a 1,000-mile round trip to compete for the first time at the Great Yorkshire Show.

This proved to be a great experience for the young rider, and while she did not come away with a rosette on this occasion, Layla has enjoyed considerable success over the past months and years, most recently winning the Overall Ridden Champion at the North of Scotland Shetland Pony Group summer show in Turriff, despite some very tough competition.

Mum, Kelly Cromarty Peace, said: “We had planned to do the Great Yorkshire Show last year however it was cancelled, so as soon as they announced it was going ahead this year plans were quickly made. We left Orkney on the ferry on the Tuesday morning and travelled to Falkirk. Resting the ponies overnight, the following morning we headed to Harrogate and the Great Yorkshire Show, some 512 miles.

“Layla competed in the M&M Lead Rein class on Thursday, there was 47 in the class with only 9 placed. Sadly, she wasn't in the top 9 but had terrific fun. On Friday she competed In-hand with Merkisayre Dawn, there were 21 in the class - she was the only child. She was placed 12th and did a super job showing Dawn, with Layla’s mum’s pony taking 1st!”

However, Layla and the Hools Stud did come away with a host of accolades at the North of Scotland Shetland Pony Group recently. Their young filly – Hools Miss Jura, handled by Hannah King – won Black Junior Champion, Overall Black Champion, Supreme Overall Champion of Show. Yeld mare - Hools Miss Jutland – was named Black Reserve Overall Champion, handled by Kelly herself. Yearling filly – Hools Briseis -  won Black Reserve Junior Champion, handled by Willie Kirkness and Layla riding Merkisayre Dawn was named overall Ridden Champion and reserve Overall Young Handler.

It’s not surprising that Layla has shown a keen interest in ponies from an early age – it’s in her genes. Hools is now run by Kelly, assisted by her mum Jane, and for many years under the trusted guidance of grandmother Ivy Cromarty who founded the stud along with eldest son Arthur and Jane in 1958 on Hools Farm in South Ronaldsay. Sadly, Ivy passed away in March 2020 aged 97.

Ivy and Layla shared a very special bond with their Shetland pony passion – 90 years apart in age was no barrier.

“Ponies and horses were an addiction that kept Ivy going her whole life; an addiction that continues in us all. The stud consists of more than 20 Standard Black Shetland ponies used for breeding, showing, riding and driving. They may be little, but they have big personalities and really are our extended family.

“Layla has been involved since she was very young. I started taking Layla on the ponies at 18 months old as living in the country I found it easier than the push chair! Every morning after getting up she would look out the window and count the ponies! She first started riding on Strocherie Ennya and then moved onto to Hools Major High. She’s competed at shows in Orkney and Shetland as well as being the youngest person to take part in the historic tradition of the Riding of the Marches every August, an event where roughly 100 riders ride around the boundary of Kirkwall.”

Layla’s first win was at the Orkney Riding Club Winter Woolies in February 2015, when she was just two years old. She was placed 3^rd in the M&M Ridden and 1^st in the Lead Rein/First Ridden classes. A year later in 2016 she made the front cover of the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society magazine.

She has won numerous championships on Strocherie Ennya, Hools Major High, Pricklegate Buzzard and Merkisayre Dawn who she currently rides now. She has competed at Orkney and Shetland Shows, Caithness Show, Royal Highland Show and Great Yorkshire Show.

She also attends the Orkney branch of the Pony Club where she learns all kinds of sport connected with horses and riding, sportsmanship, strength of character and self-discipline.

During the summer months, Layla rides six days a week, reducing to three in the winter when the weather can be harsh, and the daylight hours limited.

More than just enjoying riding or competing, Layla has learned the hard work involved in looking after a large animal such as a pony, especially the mucking out!

Asked how she has coped with the pandemic and lockdowns, she said: “Lockdown was homework, riding, homework, riding, sleeping!”

She is disappointed the local shows, especially East Mainland and County at which she would normally compete, remain cancelled this year.

“I’m going to make the most of the events that the Pony Club and Riding Club are running,” Layla said.