|
Post Office Box 67 Fulham Gardens SA
Phone: 0412 208 011 |
||||||||||||
2000
South Australian Horse of the Year Show |
|||||||||||||
The 2000 South Australian Horse of the Year was held in warm conditions at its regular venue of John Vaughan Equestrian Park at Bowden. Unfortunately the grass was worn in some parts of the main arena as the area showed the effects of being the launching area for the fireworks of Skyshow the previous week. Judges for this years event were Deborah Bell from NSW, Jan Smith, Grant Morley from Tas and Margaret Runcie from the UK. The first class was the SA Champion Senior Rider of the Year 18 Years & Over. Despite tough competition from many of South Australia's promising riders the experienced Margot Haynes reclaimed the title that she had won previously in 1998. Riding the Lawries' horse Prince of Thieves Margot gave a polished display of riding to take out the first event. Reserve Champion was awarded to Samantha Morgan-Glatz of Mount Barker riding her hack Knowing. The next class decided was the SA Champion Junior Rider of the Year Under 14 Years. It was a very tough assignment for the judge to choose from the talented youngsters. In the end Simone Montgomerie from Ungarra riding the chestnut pony County Liar was awarded the Champion prize with Melissa Karutz receiving the Reserve Champion award. The final rider event was the SA Champion Junior Rider of the Year 14 Years & Under 18 Years. Despite the presence a number of former winners of this class it was 14 year old Lesley Burrow from Munno Para who won the title. Carmen Slater of One Tree Hill riding Touch of Elegance claimed the Reserve Champion prize.
On Saturday afternoon three new awards were presented. With the growing interest in Show Hunter classes over the last couple of years these awards were added to this years program.
The Champion Show Hunter Pony NE 14hh was awarded to Hazelmere Snapdragon (Colbeach Firefly (imp)-Weston Suger & Spice) ridden and owned by Janine Kranz . Reserve Champion was Glenmist Springwood Mockingbird (Pinehurst Overture - Glenbrook Moonmist) ridden and owned by Nicole Milton.
With no heats required for the SA Champion Pony of the Year NE 12.2hh the class was judged before the lunch break on Sunday. Kirreway Abide was defending her title in this class with a new rider, 11 year old Mardi Montgomerie, taking over where Margot Haynes left off last year. With an impressive workout Kirreway Abide (Rotherwood Acrobat-Kirreway Peacetime) was judged Champion with Springwood Moonstruck (Kirreway Sail-A-Way - Sanlirra Sprig of Holly) ridden by Caitlin Winen claiming Reserve Champion.
The next award was the SA Champion Pony of the Year Over 12.2 NE 14hh. In an event which showed that the young riders of today are starting to catch up with the seniors County Liar (Keston Royal Occasion - Covers) and 13 year old Simone Montgomerie claimed the Reserve Champion prize over some of the States most accomplished riders. It followed in the footsteps of Saturdays Champion Rider Award. Charlotte Mitton's Mirinda Mardi Gras (Keston Royal Occasion-Spring Song of Waverley) made it a hat trick of wins as Champions of this event after yet another faultless display.
The SA Champion Galloway of the Year was again another replay of 1999 with a more mature and experienced KB Superstar (Niccolo Polo - Mayo's Hope) ridden by Vicky Lawrie and owned by A Penalurick taking the top prize. Sanlirra Flair (Vale Park Spotlight - Sanlirra Robin) overjoyed her owner/rider Sean Bignell in claiming the Reserve Champion award. She has matured and filled out in the last 12 months and has also been competing at Championship level dressage competitions.
The final award of the weekend was the SA Saddlehorse of the Year over 15hh. With a stunning field of thoroughbreds to fight out this award it was always going to be a hard decision for judges. Although many entrants seemed stirred by the frequent jumbos passing overhead (and resultant shadow passing over the grass) and the freight trains passing at the back of the area during their workouts it was a great display of South Australia's top combinations. After much deliberation Vicky Lawrie's dark chestnut gelding Kings (Covetous - November Babe) took out the Champion Award which followed up her 1999 win with Gosh in this event. Neon (Grosvenor - Emblem), who once raced as the accomplished Flagstaff, took out the Reserve Champion award for Charlotte Mitton.
Overall it was yet another successful show for the EFA Saddlehorse Committee which is getting bigger each and every year. Personally I'd like to thank those competitors who so patiently stood their horses up after winning the Champion and Reserve Champion Awards for photos to be taken, those who helped in getting the ears forward for the pictures and the organisers who allowed time for the photo sessions.
|
|||||||||||||
Barnes Photography Home Page | About Jenny Barnes |
|||||||||||||
One of the
feature classes on the Saturday was the Waverley Festivity Trophy. This event is sponsored
by Charlotte Mitton in honour of her marvellous mare Waverley Festivity who was very
successful in winning many champion awards at the Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney
Royal shows from 1988 to 1992. It is awarded to the horse or pony in it first year of
competition which the judges feel has the potential to go on to be awarded Champion titles
in the future. The competitors in the class must also compete in a snaffle bridle. This
year's class attracted a wide variety of entrants from youngstock from established show
homes to successful ex racehorses. Ultimately it was the compact 3 year old grey pony Kirreway
Cartier (Small Land Mascot (imp) - Weston Caroline) who won the award ridden by
Jessica Winen and owned by C Winen. His champion qualities are already starting to show as
he was one of the Pony of the Year finalists on Sunday. 
The
Champion Show Hunter Galloway over 14hh NE15hh was awarded to Homevale Acrobat
(Menindee Don - Chittern Gemini) owned by Katherine Lindh of Mylor with Hi-Pine
Inheritance (Rotherwood Acrobat-Ultimate Gordon) ridden and owned by Andrea
Riedel-Carrison receiving the Reserve Champion award. 
Andrea went one better in
the Champion Show Hunter Hack over 15hh collected the main prize with Hi-Pine Carlisle a
15 year old thoroughbred by Johns Hope from Apple Cider. The Reserve Champion was won by Cheltenham
(New Regent - Petitie Mink) ridden by Karine Penalurick and owned by A Penalurick. 
Held over the lunchbreak on Sunday was the Leading
Rein Pony of the Year featuring the young riders might be the future National Champions in
the equestrian world. As usual a quality field was assembled with rider ages ranging from
4 to 8 years. The Champion prize was awarded once again to Trentlyn Liberty
ridden by 7 year old Caitlin Clark for Corumbene Stud following up their previous victory
in 1999. Salient Simpson owned and ridden by 6 year old Danielle Jolly won the Reserve
Champion award. 
