‘Merivale Park Kings Ransom’
Champion Show Pony Colt or Gelding – Ring 1
Photo:Bridey Lee
The Victorian Riding Pony Committee held its 2nd foal show on Sunday the 31st of May at WPEC. This year we were invited to join forces with the APSB group and run our show after theirs concluded all on the same day. We believed this would be a great opportunity for competitors have a variety of classes with a variety of Judges. Once again we offered competitors a double chance ring style show for RP registered foals and a new addition, a third ring for any other pony breeds. Numbers supported our belief’s with over 45 foals entering and it was great to see our new 3rd ring, the any other pony breed ring, so well supported with good numbers across all breeds on offer.
It was also great to see interstate competitors and handlers attending our show with so many beautiful ponies on show of all types it was a fine sight indeed. With the beautiful sunshine outside and the simple layout and accessibility of the indoor at Werribee it all made for a great day.
Both Show ponies colts and fillies had excellent numbers, however the show hunters were still low in numbers and I am sure this will improve in time.
Onto the judging. The classes were well filled in our first ring, the colts looking very to type and beautifully turned out and conditioned. Champion led show pony colt under Michael Holzer (family member of the Mikani Stud prefix of Victoria). Was the beautifully presented Fairley Camilla(imp) son Merivale Park Kings Ransom owned and bred by Judy Ivory and shown by Nathan Berrill. The Reserve Champion led show pony colt was Birchwood Silver Lining bred and Shown by Bree and Nick Petrie. Both these colts were sired by Myscal Encore (resident sire of Merivale Park) who always has progeny up the top of the line at the foal shows.
Following on were the fillies and Champion went to the Chestnut filly Pemberly Cover Girl owned and bred by Lisa Smith and shown by Nathan Berril. She is sired by Dainhill Royal Bow (who was this year’s Champion Senior RP stallion at the Melbourne Summer Royal and himself a son of the illustrious Keston Royal Occasion out of a TB mare. Standing reserve to this filly was Beckworth Commanding Sunset ( by Beckworth Rising Command out of a full sister to David Ross’s well preformed mare Blaircourt Crystal Rose) owned and bred by Vanbrek P/l and shown by Darren Telford from Qld. This filly has saddle star of the future written all over her and definitely one to watch.
The Show Hunters were the last section for Mr. Holzer to judge and he found his Champion with Uhavta Impressive ( By Sydney Royal Champion Uhavta Country Charm) shown and bred by Uhavta Stud.
Mr. Holzers final class in Ring 1 was the progeny pair. This class was won by a beautiful pair of fillies owned, bred and shown by Robert Cockram of Deanhills Stud. Naturally the two blue ribbon girls were sired by Sandbourne Royal Ensign (IMP), who was sadly put to sleep earlier in the week. Not enough can be said about this influential stallion and the impact he has had on the Riding Pony breed world wide. We all send our deepest condolences to Robert and connections for their loss.
Ring 2 was adjudicated over by Mrs. Kerry Dunstan of Malibu Park Stud in Gippsland an ex president of the Victorian Riding Pony Committee. Mrs. Dunstans ring started with the Show Hunters and she chose the palomino filly Pinjarrah Park Dream On (By Karlana Say Farewell, sire of the Best in Show at the RMS 2009 Keira Park Cascade) owned and bred by I & M Marin as her champion and Uhavta Impressive shown and bred by Uhavta stud as her reserve. Pinjarrah Park Dream On went on to be sashed Supreme show hunter foal of the show and the Supreme Open Breeds in Ring 3. This sweet Palamino was also Champion Show Hunter at this years RP Gala Events foal show.
Champion colt in this ring was Beckworth Magic Moments( By Beckworth Rising Magic) owned and bred by Vanbrek P/l and shown by Darren Telford from Qld. Standing reserve to this colt was the little colt Taylyn Park Showtime( by Karlana Classic Edition) owned and bred by L King. Beckworth Magic Moments went on to be the supreme show pony colt or gelding of the show.
An added addition to this years program was the inclusion of the owner/breeder section. It was fantastic to see it so well supported with eight entries across the two classes on offer. The winner in the filly section was Uhavta Studs exhibit Uhavta Imitation and in the colt class C Herbert and Tapu Height of Elegance.
Ring 3, had well known pony breeder and performance pony enthusiast Chris Hartigan sporting the judges badge. This ring offered a great opportunity for those ponies that competed in the morning in their respective breed classes for the APSB to remain on for the early afternoon to compete.
Mrs Hartigan had a good number of ponies to choose from with over 20 entires received. Her first Champion sash was to Marcia’s Adams Australian Pony colt, Dunelm Movie Star, who has had a very successful foal show season. Reserve was Filou Lane Royalty. Other champion winners included Coufel Music Man, Champion Welsh Foal, Pilinta Park Spender Champion Shetland Foal, Outlook Dartola took the Sash for any other registered Pure Bred APSB, Naruni Park Matisse took home Champion APSB RP or Part APSB, Champion Arabian Riding Pony Foal was Tapu Height of Elegance and Pinjarrah Park Dream On was Part Welsh Champion and eventual Supreme of Ring 3.
Again thank you to our three judges for their time and diligence and to all the other volunteers on the day who without their effort this would not eventuate and lastly and not leastly to the competitors and their dear little foals who put their best hoofs forward and strutted their stuff for what will surely be the start of a wonderful show ring career.