Perfect conditions at Linnel Wood
Last updated 10:41, Friday, 22 August 2008
COMPETITORS travelled from all points of the region to take part in this year’s Hexham Native Horse and Pony Show.
Held at Linnel Wood on July 20, the previous day’s rain might not have been to the liking of riders bringing in their horse boxes.
But as far as their mounts were concerned, the conditions couldn’t have been better.
Host of the event Sarah Charlton said: “The serious decision of whether the show should go ahead was made at 5.30 that morning.
“The ground conditions were poor for all forms of transport, but for the horses and ponies it was very nearly perfect.”
The show, which is affiliated to the National Pony Society and The Irish Draught Society, boasted an excellent turnout.
Local competitors came out top in all the mixed moorland and mountain in-hand classes, with Denise Bain, from Stamfordham, and her Welsh section A stallion, Heugh Pendragon, winning the first class of the day.
Hexhamshire based Juliet Rogers, of The Moorland Mousie Trust, won the mare and the foal classes with her experienced Exmoor, Rosefinch, and her foal, Danny.
Sharon Welford, from Leadgate, followed up with two wins on her Dales mare, Leadgate Black Beauty, and her yearling, Leadgate BJ’s Surprise.
The three of them have shown at Hexham for many years, and the in-hand championship and NPS in-hand silver medal rosette were well deserved wins for Sharon Welford.
In the open ridden class, Courtney Savage, from Penrith, and her mount, Bracklinn Jo Jo, took both the championship and the junior ridden reserve championship.
But she was beaten in the junior ridden championship by Tiffany Mactaggart, from Bonchester Bridge, on Caperann Swift.
Tiffany also took the Connemara ridden championship.
A hotly contested novice ridden championship was won by Julie Robinson, from Sedbergh, on the talented young grey fell stallion, Severnvale Denzil.
She then went on to win the prestigious NPS mountain and moorland ridden silver medal rosette.
The lead rein class was won by Jack Naughton, from Stamfordham, on Briardene Lavinda. He just lost out in the mini championship to the first ridden winner, Rowen Stanier, of Bishop Auckland, on Bushmoor Rocco.
The novice working hunter pony championship was won by Sarah Dowdeswell’s pony, Parklands Lord Roderick, ridden by Gail Whetter.
In the unaffiliated WHP classes, Linnel Poppy took her new jockey, Rosie Pearson, to success on home ground, winning a few ribbons and taking first place in her class.
The Shetland classes were dominated by the Nicholson family, from Brampton, who won the championship with Kinness Susan.
Mrs Finnigan, from Acomb, took the brood mare and the foal classes with Redburn Golden Charm and her foal Letha Lobby Loo.
In the stallion four years old and over class, the Nicholsons took first place with Wells Royal Gold.
Judge Mr J.S. Strang was delighted with the strong entries in the Connemara competition.
“He said he had been judging at the Connemara breed show the week before and felt the quality of the ponies at Hexham was higher,” said Mrs Charlton.
“It just shows how high the standards were.”
Stamfordham and Scots Gap entries battled it out in the young stock classes.
Rob and Val Williams, from The Glenwood Stud, took the yearling and two year old class with Glenwoodstud Lovebird, while Frank and Denise Cowan, of Scotts Gap, took the three year old class with Wannie Fair Change.
The four year old and over class was won by Joanna Kain, from Blagdon, with her mischievous Connemara stallion, Rosenharley Sir Laurence.
Mr and Mrs J.G. Staveley, from Langholm, took the brood mare class with Eastlands Dunrose.
The mare then went on to win the Connemara championship and the supreme mountain and moorland show championship.
In the Irish draught classes Pure Bred Silver River, owned by Gillian Ganley from Seaham, ran away with the in-hand and ridden championship. Supreme champion was Mr B.M. Hyslop’s Irish draught sports horse Blue Peter’s Son, a 17.2hh grey gelding.
The ridden hunter was won by Mrs Field-Valentine’s Dennis the Menis.
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