In-hand beauties

A windy Friday morning in Christchurch saw the in-hand classes being held at the South Island Premier Championship show.

Friday morning at the South Island Premier Championship Show was all about horses being shown in-hand and there were some big classes and wonderful horses and ponies on display.

We always love the gypsy cob section, and today’s classes were very competitive. The champion pure-bred was Willowlee’s Perfect Storm, and she went on to win the Supreme Champion Gypsy Cob.

Three-year-old ‘Storm’ is three-quarters gypsy cob, and was bred, trained and shown by Kelly Chalmers. “She’s a cheeky girl, she unties herself, loves food – no bucket is safe.” Her reward for winning so many titles was a nice piece of a Cookie Time afghan, which she obviously enjoyed!  Kelly has nine gypsies at her place, and will be breaking in Storm herself. She is hoping she will prove to be her next ridden gypsy. This is the pair’s second Supreme title this season.

The champion led Shetland was Diamante, shown by Lyn Griebel who said the rising five-year-old was bought for her grandchildren. “She’s out here getting an education. I’m also teaching her to be in a cart, and so she is also dragging things around. She’s really a worker, not a show horse!”

Bewitched of Flaxmere, shown by Vanessa Pickens, won Supreme Champion Led Arabian, a class judged by Paul Warhurst from Melbourne, who was very enamoured of the mare. “I just love her head, I love her front, and I would like to take her home,” he declared after awarding the sashes.

There were big numbers in the standardbred section. Best-paced went to Courage du Fair for  Shannon Luff, who didn’t expect to win but was obviously delighted when she did. “I have had her about a year and a half. We are still practising for the ridden, but she’s going really well in the in-hand.”

The Supreme Champion Standardbred was awarded to Royal Sapphire, shown by Rochelle Groufsky. The nine-year-old mare was reserve champion last year. “I’ve had five years to win this bad boy,” declared Rochelle. “I’m also going to try the riding class but she is like two different horses; she’s quite sassy in the riding classes.”

Judge Robyn Cuzens said that the horse was “even-gaited” and had a great walk. Reserve was Eagles Nest shown by Fran Brooks.

The Supreme Champion Led Sports Horse or Pony was Caithness Emperor, owned by Duncan Norrie and shown by Sarah Fitzgerald. The stunning stallion, aged four and standing at 151.5cm high, is a cross between riding pony, thoroughbred and a little bit of warmblood. “This is his second season under saddle now,” said Sarah.

The Supreme In-Hand All-Breeds Champion was awarded to Sarah Cronin’s Chelton Fairy Lights, who had won Supreme Champion Pony. “This is the second year we have won it,” said a very happy Sarah. “She was bred by Shelley Hague, and I bought her as a weanling. I broke her in after the Christchurch Show, and she has been about three weeks under the saddle. I’d like to do the Nationals and Horse of the Year to finish off her youngstock career, but ultimately she is for my five-year-old daughter as a riding pony.”

Dale Plumb from Melbourne judged the Welsh and Golden Horse sections and was one of the judges involved in deciding the overall champion. “The line-up is very impressive, there is a great turnout,” he said.

The six rings were all busy, so unfortunately not every champion was interviewed. There were lots of photos taken, however, so we hope you enjoy the galleries.

The show continues on Saturday and Sunday but unfortunately we cannot be there to cover the action. Good luck to everyone!

Champion Led Welsh: Peter Philip, Karana Blue Danube
Champion Led Hack: Julieanna Baynes, Villa Maria
Champion Led Warmblood: Matt Ryan, Royale Grassiano DG
Champion Led Pinto: Tanya Davie, RMS Inkheart
Champion Led Pony: Sarah Cronin, Chelton Fairy Lights (Also All Breeds Supreme)
Champion Miniature Horse: Lynn and Lauren Miller, Bayview Nova’s Ricochet
Champion Led Shetland: Lyn Griebel, Diamante
Champion Led Arabian: Vanessa Pickens, Bewitched of Flaxmill
Champion Led Gypsy Cob: Kelly Chalmers, Willowlee’s Perfect Storm
Champion Sport Pony/Horse: Sarah Fitzgerald, Caithness Emperor
Champion Led Golden Horse: Adrienne Lil-Hey, Arapito Kowhai
Champion Led Standardbred: Rochelle Groufsky, Royal Sapphire
Champion Ridden Pinto: Zoey Charles, Indian Glow
Champion Ridden Gypsy Cob: Georgia Allison, Westfield Cosmo
Champion Ridden Warmbloods: Sheridan Subritsky, Alyeska
Champion Ridden Welsh: Brackenleigh Stud, Arawa Commodore
Champion Ridden Standardbred: Stacey Markham, JD Fortune
Champion Ridden Arabian: Meg Fleming, Mansfield Park Magnolia
Champion Ridden Golden Horse: Mel Cleland, Simply Striking
Champion Working Hunter Pony: Molly Smith, Little Mandy Lou
Champion Working Hunter Horse: Olivia Mitchell, Washington

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