Western riders show off their skills
The Kumeu Western Riding Club held its Summer Spectacular show at Woodhill Sands with 42 horses entered, one of the biggest western shows in New Zealand.
More than $6500 in prizes and prizemoney, along with trophies, garlands and specialty ribbons were in contention.
Over two days, the club held 317 classes. Halter breed classes, Showmanship, Horsemanship, Reining, Ranch Riding, Trail, Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation.
Judge Dave Young who has been competing in western riding for years and is an American Quarter Horse Association. Ring steward was Jeremy Croft, who has been in the sport just a few years now but has a new horse he will be showing next year.
Campbell Phillips won Supreme Champion
Performance Horse as well as his horse Shinning N Stylish winning High Point Senior Horse and Highest Scoring Reining Run.
Kissed Down Under and
Vicky Evans won the Overall Halter Exhibit, which is judged on horse confirmation. Vicky and Riley also won the Topp Twins Technical Trail with an amazing run that was nothing short of perfection.
An ’open classic showmanship’ class that was sponsored by Vets North (Kumeu and Helensville) and much to the surprise was won by Alyssa McDowell, a senior youth competitor. Alyssa also won the High Point Senior Youth trophy, as well as the printed saddle cover for Supreme Champion Competitor, donated by Awol Photography & Design.
The youngest rider was 13, the oldest 74. Angel Marsh travelled up from Wellington to compete with Stallion Ima Whizin
Wimpy, the first show she has ridden him at. They won the Open Ranch Riding (sponsored by Argent Farm QH Stud NZ), the Amateur Reining, and second in the Senior Horse Reining.
Angela Croft and Ima Lazy Revelation (Cruz) won the Open Classic Hunter Under Saddle, along with also winning the Amateur and Junior Horse HUS, and second in the Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation – winning the Highest Scoring English Horse trophy. Angela (past KWRC President and current secretary) also organised and ran the show.
Kumeu club is one of the biggest western clubs in New Zealand and was founded in 1975