The South West Shetland Pony Group were once again invited back by the Dunster Country Fair Committee to hold our Group Show on Wednesday 30th July. A lovely venue on the lawns beneath the beautiful Dunster Castle.
Entries were good In Hand but down on the Ridden and Young Handler Classes. The Judge Ms. Gill Wright from the New Forest had some very difficult decisions to make. She said that she had not been to a Show with such high standards for a long time, the quality was outstanding. That was great to hear.
We started the day with the Ridden classes. It was disappointing with only three entries in the Leading Rein Class. The winner of the class, Ridden Champion and Bronze Medal winner went to the grey Mare Sharptor Silver Skyline of Brynony Wellings-Hodge. Skyline was led by Brynony and ridden by her six year old daughter Millie who did a foot perfect show. The second placed and Reserve Champion Ridden went to Mrs. Jackson’s pony, Rolster Thumper. Led by Mrs. Jackson and ridden by Savannah Jackson who also did a beautiful show.
The Young Handler Champion and Reserve Champion both came from the older section of the 9 – 14 years old. There was really serious competition going on between two best friends. The Judge’s Champion went to Harvey Fletcher-Hodge with Sharptor Silver Skyline and Reserve Champion went to Ruaidri Watmore with Foxsedge Hathor.
Now to the In Hand classes. Entries were up and down. Our biggest class of the day was the Standard Mare class with ten entries. Followed by the Miniature Yearlings and the Miniature 2 & 3 year old, both had nine entries.
The Overall Miniature Champion and Bronze Medal winner went to Anne Fairweather’s dark bay Filly Melini’s Dawn Phoenix. This Filly won the 2 & 3 year old class and went on to take the Junior Miniature Champion before the Overall. Anne certainly had a good array of rosettes. The Overall Reserve Champion went to Megan Dyer’s home bred Filly Sunridge Blizzard which also came through the Youngstock section winning a very strong class of Yearlings and the Junior Miniature Reserve Champion.
The Overall Standard Champion and Bronze Medal winner came from the Adult section and went to David Hodge and Julian Walters beautiful home bred bay Mare Sharptor Dionne. Closely followed for the Overall Standard Reserve Champion which went to another Sharptor pony, Alice Gould’s 6 year old, black Stallion Sharptor Democrat.
To end off our Show on such a hot afternoon the Supreme Champion went to the Overall Standard Champion of David and Julian’s, Sharptor Dionne with the Reserve Supreme Champion going to the Stallion of Alice Gould, Sharptor Democrat.
Congratulations to all the Prize Winners.
A big thank you goes to the Judge Gill Wright. Also to all the Exhibitors for taking part and supporting the Show.
Photo’s by: Martha Morgan Photography