Fast becoming a legend in his own life time, few would dispute the ‘legendary’ status of the Clydesdale stallion, Collessie Cut Above, selected by the Scottish Equestrian Association (SEA) in 2005 for one of two of their inaugural breeding awards for his contribution to breeding in Scotland. Owned by Ronnie Black from Newton of Collessie, Ladybank, Fife, Cut Above has lived up to his name by becoming one of the leading sires in recent times.

Standing a mighty 17.3hh and born in 1992 of distinguished parents, Collessie Cut Above has lived up to the standards set by his sire, Doura Sir Charles (photo left), three times a National Stallion Show champion and winner of the famous Cawdor Cup. Cut Above himself was a champion from the offset; he was male champion as a foal at both Aberdeen and the Winter Fair, a winner as a yearling at the National Stallion Show and went on to stand champion of champions at Aberdeen that same year. In 1997, he was champion at the National Stallion Show and, in the tradition of his family, collected the prestigious Cawdor Cup. Cut Above’s strength of breeding doesn’t come from his sire alone. In his case, three generations of females bring with them exceptional credentials. His dam, Kettlestoun Valetta, her dam, Kettlestoun Apple Blossom and before that, her dam, Kettlestoun Lucinda, were all Cawdor Cup winners. With such a wealth of successful antecedents, it is little wonder that Collessie Cut Above enjoyed show ring success himself and, more importantly, it is no wonder that his influence has been felt so strongly through his offspring.

His progeny include some of the great show winners of the past decade. His first foal crop included the Cawdor Cup winners, Woodhouse Hamlet and Littlewood Lucinda, while from his second crop, Craigluscar Miriam was female champion at the National Stallion Show. His daughter, Collessie Duchess, was three times National Stallion Show champion and Cawdor Cup winner at the Royal Highland Show in 2004. Redcastle Alena was Winter Fair champion in 2003, Royal Highland reserve champion in 2005 and Aberdeen champion of champions in 2005 for the fourth time. On the photo : Redcastle Alena wins the Cawdor Cup in 2007. Arradoul Sweet Melody, as a three-year-old, was champion of champions at Aberdeen in 2003 — the same year that Collessie Duchess was show champion there. In 2004 Redcastle Alena won the champion of champions at Aberdeen , while Arradoul Sweet Melody stood reserve. Stock by him is in great demand both at home and abroad. According to his owner: “He has sons and daughters in most countries where Clydesdales are bred.”

A son of Cut Above, Collessie Crackerjack, was sold to Alberta, USA, and was consequently grand champion at the Calgary Stampede; another son, Highfield Collessie, went to British Columbia with the supreme at the Western Regional Show to his credit as well as twice taking the grand champion at Calgary. Interestingly, Cut Above’s name made headlines for quite different reasons when in 2000, Cairn Witherow’s mare, Collessie Heather Honey (see photo), produced live twin filly foals by him at her stud in Portnablagh, Co Donegal.

The popularity of Collessie Cut Above is testament to the influence, which this stallion has already exerted on the Clydesdale breed. Most recently, Ormiston Mains Amelie, a grand-daughter of Cut Above through her sire, Mollinhillhead Sensation, took an amazing eight out of nine supremes round the foal shows in 2005. With grandsons and daughters now taking major titles at home and overseas, the success of the progeny of Collessie Cut Above currently knows no equal within the breed.

Contact
Ronnie Black
Newton of Collessie
Ladybank, Cupar
Fife
KY15 7RQ
Tel. 01337 810257
Tel. 07885 442860
E-mail blacks@collessie.freeserve.co.uk