Glorious sunshine, glorious wins
Spring is in the air as natives with potential stand out
BSPS Area 11, Stretcholt EC, Somerset
WELSH section B Treflan Elfed and 11-year-old Molly Webb triumphed in both mountain and moorland junior and novice small breeds classes.
Five-year-old “Elfie” was purchased by Molly’s mother, Pettina Webb, last July and has been based with his producer Sam Roberts since November.
“He’s an old head on young shoulders and his temperament is second to none,” said Pettina, who watched the pair trot to third place in the Royal International (RIHS) young riders class at Wiltshire Spring Show the following day.
Molly has been a pupil of
Sam’s for some time, but this is the first pony the family have had in production.
“He’s only a baby, so we want him to be done correctly. Sam’s doing a wonderful job with him and Elfie always seems happy to crack on with his job,” said Pettina.
Sam was also in the winnings herself, scoring twice with Claire Heywood’s Welsh section B mare, Hilin Hibiscus, in British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage novice and restricted/ open classes, while Ann Fisher’s Weydown Out Of The Blue netted his National Pony Society (NPS) novice ridden ticket.
Alice Barr landed both NPS novice large breeds qualifiers on Welsh section D Maesymor Cindy. The Pennel Apollo six-year-old was spotted by Alice’s mother Debbie Barr as a yearling.
“I saw her at her first show and her type and trot caught my eye,” said Debbie. “When she came up for sale, I bought her from her former owner Dan Ayling, who in turn purchased her from Hay Sales as a foal – he’s got a good eye for a pony. We’ve given her plenty of time to mature; this was only her second show.”
Debbie also led home-bred Welsh section A, Firle Skylark, and Grace Comley to BSPS and NPS novice lead-rein classes.
Welsh section C Courtyard Cab Calloway, a seven-year-old by Popsters Tommy Cockles, and Carla Fall won both NPS open ridden and in-hand large breeds classes. Home-producer Carla bought the stallion from his breeder in 2019 and contended four shows with him during his debut season last year.
“He’s a bronze medal winner in-hand,” said Carla, who is gearing up for a season of Horse of the Year Show qualifiers.
Team Holder triumphed in several classes, with Emma Holder’s own coloured mare, Worsenden Pricilla, winning a red, and show ponies Carmens Legacy and Rotherwood Toy Chorus taking respective novice and open classes with Cerys Holley, who also rode Claire Scott’s Goldengrove Savannah to the novice show hunter pony crown.
Native Pony Winter Festival, Kirkley Hall College EC, Northumberland
PRODUCER Emma Burrow found time in her busy schedule to give her own young Welsh section C stallion, Popsters Olympic Star (Roli), an outing to stand NPS novice and silver-medal champion.
The six-year-old by Caebryn Endeavour, who was bought directly from his breeders Justin Davies and Heidi Bennett as a three-year-old, has relished a winter of jumping.
“Roli loves his work so we do anything to keep him occupied,” said Emma. “I’d been looking for a nice Welsh section C for ages and asked Justin to let me know if he ever had one for sale. This year, we’ll aim for the NPS Picton final as well as a few qualifiers.”
Emma also fielded the reserve NPS novice champion, Sarah Pearce’s Welsh section A Garnelog Heledd and Milly Philipson.
“She’s come out on great form, especially considering she had a foal on her last year,” said Emma of the former broodmare.
Emma’s final victor was Sara
Dowdeswell’s seven-year-old Connemara, Lisnard Sparky, who collected his NPS spring festival tickets and the section title.
“He came over from Ireland and was gelded late,” said Emma of the prospect who was reserve novice champion at BSPS Area 1B in January. “He was lovely to break and is a really nice person.”
Viv Ruddick received an extra birthday gift when her Highland, Trailtrow Gabhan, shown by Katie Barber, captured the NPS in-hand silver medal.
Viv bought the six-year-old by
“I saw her at her first show; her
type and trot caught my eye”
DEBBIE BARR ON NOVICE WELSH COB MARE MAESYMOR CINDY
Dunedin Ranald as a foal with the intention of showing him herself, but after undergoing knee surgery a few months later, she sent him to his current rider Chris Grant.
“Chris fell in love with him and he never left,” said Viv of the gelding who was reserve novice ridden champion at the Highland pony breed show last year.
The NPS mini accolade went to 11-year-old carriage driver Poppy Clegram-Brown and Kate Upsall’s six-year-old Welsh section A, Coffeepot High Flier (Herbie), who were making their debut in showing classes.
The versatile pony has been with the family for three weeks.
“We’ve always had a connection to Herbie; he came to our yard to be broken to drive and returns weekly for schooling,” said Poppy’s mother, Paula Clegram-Brown. “Poppy hopes to compete him on the British Carriagedriving team. We jumped at the opportunity to have him, as he’s good enough to show. He’s full of Welsh character.”