Model pony banks a grand on debut
A 13-hour trip proves no barrier to success for one Northern Irish pair and a coloured native pony provides a timely boost to connections
A NORTHERN Ireland-based family sprang the surprise of the show to lift the prestigious £1,000 Michaela Wood supreme ridden pony title, beating a host of top names.
Supreme debut-makers Ellie McDonnell, 12, and her lovely 133cm hunter pony Goldengrove Sunrise, were the very last to go in the 19-strong final but their mannerly, confident show wowed judges Jane Hubbard and Jenny Banks.
“This pony was the most beautiful model, with a superb set of limbs,” Jenny commented. “It had a leg at each corner, lovely short cannons and plenty of bone — then it went out and did a really nice show, so that was the decider for us.”
The result exceeded all the family’s expectations.
“We were coming over for the show anyway, but we didn’t know we had qualified for this until a friend rang and told us,” said Ellie’s mother Mary, who produces the nine-year-old “Sunny” at the family’s dairy farm in Co. Down. “We didn’t really know what it was all about but thought since we were here, we might as well have a go.”
Although this was a first major supreme attempt for the pair, they have qualified for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) for the last three years and are already through again.
“I was very, very nervous,” admitted Ellie, who often uses Sunny to round up cows on the farm. “I didn’t have a clue what I was supposed to do so I just winged it. We were travelling for 13 hours yesterday so I wasn’t expecting too much, but he went like an absolute saint and did everything I asked of him.”
Reserve went to another diminutive pair. This was the Harker family’s Team Jinksproduced 128cm show pony Ardenhall Blenheim, capably ridden by Emma Harker, 10, who is in her first season “under rules.”
LITTLE AURORA BAGS A LARGE CHEQUE
THE lure of a full set of HOYS classes and seven £1,000 supremes — as well as last-ditch qualifying possibilities — proved a strong one and entries broke all records.
This inevitably made for an exceptionally long first day and it was almost dusk before 18 partbred and anglo-Arabs contested the June Horsfall final. However, this class was one of the best of the day.
Yet again, small proved mighty when a soft, flowing show from a determined Mia Donaldson and the delightful 128cm show pony Whiteleaze Aurora (Gracie) became Mark Moncaster and Rosemary Hilton’s choice for the £1,000 prize.
“This was an exceptionally strong class,” said Mark. “We were spoilt for choice but loved this pony from the moment it walked in — everything it did was just right.”
Producers Team Ahern have had an enviable record in this show’s various supremes but this was their first June Horsfall victory and was not really expected.
“We left home at 3am this morning,” said the team’s Kirsty Pickles. “Gracie was in the ring at 8am, then she had a 12-hour wait for this final. Plus with so many adults in there pulling out all the
stops, I thought winning was a tall order.”
The squad had already posted a good result when the prolific-winning lead rein contender Thistledown Las Vegas finished reserve in the Colosso Family mini supreme with Lilly Ahern-Lee aboard. Victory here went to the Team Young-produced hunter pony lead rein campaigner Trefriw Earl with his new partner this year, Cate Mitchell, seven, led by her mother Claire.
The charming eight-year-old was bought by the Dumfries based Mitchell family in
December and also campaigns successfully in 122cm show hunter pony ranks with Cate’s brother Charlie, who will debut at both the Royal International (RIHS) and HOYS after winning four qualifiers in four outings.
“We’ve won the Sporting Sam [intermediate] supreme before, but this is our first time in the mini final,” said Edward Young. “I was hoping he would do well as they were top judges [Jenny Banks and Jane Hubbard] and he’s a cracking pony, but in these supremes, you never know.
“Sadly I was so busy running round after our ponies in other rings, I didn’t even realise he was in so I didn’t see their show.”
‘I MADE MY SHOW UP AS I WENT ALONG’
THIS year’s Sporting Sam final saw a triumphant supreme debut for Rae Colosso, 15, and the in-form Walker-produced show hunter Chantilly Bojangles.
“I wasn’t even expecting a place,” said Rae. “I thought I’d just
‘I was hoping he’d do well, but in these supremes you never know’
PRODUCER EDWARD YOUNG ON TREFRIW EARL
go in and have a lovely time, so I made my show up as I went along. When they were calling out the result in reverse order, my heart was in my mouth.”
Reserve went to Harry Moore with his brother Jack’s elegant grey small intermediate and hack campaigner, She’s The One. This result heralded a good weekend for the family as Jack also finished third with the mare in the June Horsfall final and third in their HOYS qualifier.
Pharmacy dispenser Megan Cookson improved on her previous week’s runner-up spot in the Royal Angel amateur final to head a line of 18 in the TopSpec Pretty Polly (home-produced) supreme with her wonderful intermediate and small hunter campaigner Louvaine Rooney. A stunning gallop and a superbly executed line of canter changes crowned one of the best shows this super-consistent pair has produced.
This was their third North of England supreme, having landed the Sporting Sam title in 2013 and the Pretty Polly sash in 2015, but they only qualified for this one on the day.
“We haven’t done many shows with him this year so thought we’d come and give this a try,” said Megan. “He did feel a bit tired outside the ring, but he soon realised when it was his time to shine.”
Reserve went to the opposite end of the size scale, in the form of Lincolnshire-based Kara Arnold’s smart 133cm show hunter pony Annandale Motivator, another homeproduced and true-to-type stamp with a consistent record behind him.
This brought the pair’s weekend tally to a profitable £500, having finished third in the Michaela Wood final earlier.
“I was just very happy that he went well so to get placed — let alone reserve —in this was the icing on the cake,” was Kara’s verdict.
ROSE PROVIDES A TONIC
A NATIVE pony bought as a “therapy project” for cancer sufferer Nicola Stanier gave a superb all-round performance to head a line of 13 Life Of Riley coloured finalists.
Nicola’s daughter, university student Rowen, rode the attractively marked skewbald
Red Rose beautifully and after a foot-perfect go-round, delivered a simple yet effective show.
“We didn’t even know we had qualified for this supreme until I had a text from the organiser,” said Nicola, whose illness and treatment have necessarily curtailed the family’s efforts. “We planned to come and try for the HOYS class and just take part in the Life of Riley — never in our wildest dreams did we think we might win.”
This is Nicola’s second season producing the mare, who was bought unseen from Val Sheehan as an unbroken six-year-old.
“She has turned out to be everything he said she could be,” added an emotional Nicola. “She has seen me through some dark and challenging times.”
Reserve went to Meg Thompson, 14, with the highestplaced plaited contender, So Sweet (Kandi), who lived up to her name from the moment she entered the ring. The smart 11-year-old — another homeproduced contender originally sourced by Val Sheehan — joined Meg and her mother, Rachel Cowan, in 2015 and qualified for The Showing Register (TSR) masterclass at HOYS, narrowly missing out on an open place last year.
“Kandi won the first HOYS qualifier at TSR this year though, so will finally get there,” said Rachel, who produces the mare and will take the ride at RIHS.
As always, one of the most hotly contested finals was the Torne Valley ridden native supreme, where 21 top-drawer campaigners came forward for judges Michael Hendrie and
Sarah Harrison.
After due deliberation, the verdict went to Essex-based university student Molly Kushner with her 11-year-old Fell, Severnvale George. This lovely stallion, who won this title in 2014 with Sarah Parker, is produced by Craig Elenor and Sara Parrott.
“I went in today with no expectations other than to enjoy the class and do the best I could,” said Molly, 19. “I’ve been planning my show for a while and had a training session with dressage rider Victoria Hayton a few weeks ago to help me perfect it. I couldn’t have been happier with how George went — he’s a pleasure to ride.”
Reserve — and £400 — went to Katy Marriott-Payne with the multi-garlanded Welsh section B, Cadlanvalley Sandpiper, duplicating his last appearance here in 2015.