Rennies and Larsen to feature on television’s The Mart

Shetland residents will be featuring on the final two episodes of the reality television series The Mart, which is largely filmed at the Aberdeen & Northern Marts base at Thainstone in Aberdeenshire.

The programme on BBC1 Scotland on Monday 15th February at 7.30pm will feature Stromfirth couple Kevin and Alison Rennie. They need to raise cash to feed their flock through the winter so decide to take some lambs down to to sell at Thainstone.

The following Monday’s programme, the last in the six-part series, will feature Norwegian farmer Bjorn Larsen, who now lives at Walls.

Mr Larsen and his partner Tore feed their passion for Shetland ponies at their 100-animal stud. They are well used to winning prizes and showing off their ponies all over the country, regularly competing against friendly rival Harry Sleigh.

What Mr Larsen is not used to is having to make room to keep his stud going by selling some of his favourite ponies, which he plans to do at Thainstone. He is well aware that the journey alone will cost a total £800 but is adamant that his ponies go to good homes.

But he is especially worried about how his favourite pony Pom Pom will cope with the long journey.

Mr Larsen says: “Eleven ponies travelling together. It’s like in a school playground they might be bullied – and I’m afraid Pom Pom is one of the bullied ones. Because he’s the smallest and he is shy, he is sad and I hate that.”