Hexham Native Horse and Pony Show 2009 Report and Results
Hexham Native Horse and Pony Show took place on Sunday 26th July at Linnel Wood, Hexham. Ponies from all native breeds were represented and some good quality Irish Draughts supported their breed classes.
photography by Phoenix Photography
Entries for the show were good, but due to bad weather forecasts, worries about the ground and rumours of cancellation circulating along the showing grapevine, numbers on the day were down. As it was the weather was lovely apart from a brief shower in the morning and the going was excellent despite the show field still had 4 inches of water and a standing crop of haylege on it on the Wednesday before the show.
The winner of the NPS In-Hand Silver Medal and Overall Supreme Champion of the Show was Mr and Mrs Ian Thompson’s Manorian Melanite. A lovely 3 year old Dales mare bred by the owners at their home in Kelloe, County Durham. Her sire, Waterside William was also the Mountain and Moorland Open Ridden Champion, helping the Thompson’s to have a very good day and take home several trophies.
photography by Phoenix Photography
The Reserve Supreme Champion of the show and winner of the NPS Ridden Silver Medal was Townend Barty; a young Fell Pony bred by Mrs M Wilson from Cumbria. Barty has been with the Dowdeswell Family in Northumberland for 2 years – well ridden by Sophie he has a fantastic and classic Fell temperament and was considered by the Judge, Mr Russell Sutcliffe from the Darrenvale Stud in Lancashire, as a great example of the breed.
Amongst the youngsters competing on the day it was local ponies and competitors taking home the prizes. The Junior Ridden Championship was won by the Mallinson’s from Brampton on their Welsh C, Trixie’s Lady Jane. Meanwhile the Mini Championship was won by the Lead Rein pony winner, Ella Pybus, from Throckley, on her pony Rosemarch Heather.
Separate classes for the Shetlands and Connemara’s were well supported and it was Joanna Kain from Blagdon who swept the board in the Connemara ring with her Stallion, Rosenharley Sir Laurence winning both the Ridden and In-Hand Connemara Championships. Sir Laurence is currently standing at Andrew Spalding’s Hedgethorpe Stud in North Yorkshire. The Connemara Pony Society also held the Tam O’Shanter qualifier and a 2 year old filly inspection with Sheila Clark and Eileen Simpson judging. Victoria Bell from Durham took home the title of Overall Shetland Champion with her wonderful skewbald stallion, Butterby Kracker.
The Fell Pony Society North East Supporters Group and the Highland Pony Enthusiasts held 6 classes during the day as well as their annual picnic lunch at the show. Both the classes and the picnic were well supported by experienced and weathered society members, as well as several newcomers who were encouraged to show some of their ponies for the first time. Saul Blenkarn and Hades Hill Perry tried out their first show with great success taking 2nd place in the Open Mountain and Moorland In-Hand class, having brought the mare down the day before from standing with Lunesdale Redstart at Linnel Wood. The Fell Pony Champion was Mr F Cowings Greenholme Vicky and the Highland Pony Champion was Jan and Chris Grant’s Dunedin Rhuann. The Grant’s from Heddon-on-the-Wall have been constant supporters of the Show and consistently win prizes year on year at Linnel Wood in both showing classes and at the Native Pony Performance Trials held in September.
photography by Phoenix Photography
The Working Hunter Pony Championship was won in style by the Gray’s from Bafferton on their beautiful bright bay Dartmoor, Oaktree Starstorm. Lucie Charlton on her home ground also had a good day with her novice pony Linnel Poppy bred by the Charlton Family winning the 12.hh-13.2hh Working Hunter and the Fell Pony Ridden class.
Aside from the ponies on the ground entertaining us, the showground and the competitors on the day were treated to several displays from the Red Arrows flying over on their return from Sunderland Air Show as well as some of the biggest Chinooks in the Armed Forces- the latter didn’t go down too well with the ponies!
The next event to take place at Linnel Wood will be the Fell Pony Society and Native Pony Performance Trials on September 27th. A One Day Event with dressage, cross-country and show jumping, all with positive scoring and no possibility of elimination. A great day out for any Native Pony enthusiast and a unique event not to be missed. Contact Mrs S. Charlton at Linnel Wood, Hexham, NE461UB for information. We hope to see you there!