Rathburn_Hackneys.jpg (18200 bytes)The Rathburn Terrier

SUNBEAM LUCKY

BloodlinesSunbeam1.jpg (11946 bytes)

Lucky was sired by Hermine Marvel and also traced to Highstone Nicholas who is seen by Frank and Cynthia Haydon as the "most outstanding Hackney Harness pony" of his time and winner of the National Hackney Show from 1957 to 1962.    Lucky was out of Sunbeam Success, born in 1974 and sadly died in June 1998.  

History

During his illustrious career he qualified for the HOYS Wembley 12 times in his career and took Colleen to dizzy heights with show success. Mrs Vyse named him Lucky after he was disowned by his dam at birth and brought up on bottled milk. He crossed the water to Ireland under the ownership of Harry Eastwood who saw Lucky as a novice one year at the Northern Hackney Show. Later when owned by George Vardy and trained by Denis Midgley, Lucky achieved stardom status at the National Hackney Show in 1985 when he was National Harness Pony Champion and was also 2nd at Wembley HOYS the year Barnfield Poldark by Highstone Nicholas won the class.

Progeny

Sunbeam Lucky sired 3 daughters; Rathburn Royal Dancer in 1992, Rathburn May Queen in 1993 and Rathburn Small Wonder in 1994, all out of Theydon Spot.  Royal Dancer has become a BSJA jumping pony in Aberdeenshire with great speed and accuracy while Small Wonder is a super children's riding pony and has grown to 13.2hh, much bigger than the 12.1hh Lucky and 12.2hh Theydon Spot.  All of Lucky's offspring have had wonderful natures and have been excellent for children to handle and have strong show hunter pony looks.  This gives proof that hackney ponies can be useful for work other than driving and are very suitable as show hunters.

Successes Sunbeam winning at BDS Scotland Show held at Houston Park, Glasgow in 1993

Colleen was the youngest person ever to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show in 1991 at 14 years old when driving Sunbeam Lucky and gained 1st place at the Royal Highland Show judged by Rev W J Watson and collected the Reserve Championship.    Lucky, who we affectionately called "Sunny the Bunny", taught Colleen to drive and collected most championships in the North of Scotland.  He is more than a great loss to the family and his character and name will always live on.