Show world honours Ansell with turnout classes

The Show Horse Council of Victoria honoured Malcolm Ansell by including turnout classes in its Horse of the Year event.

THE Show Horse Council of Victoria paid tribute to one of its true greats with the introduction of turnout classes to its Horse of the Year event last week.

Malcolm Ansell, who died last year, was one of the country’s best judge of beautiful horses and a mentor and coach of so many young riders.

The famous Garryowen was his favourite event, with its intricate scoring system on ability and immaculate appearance of horse and rider, and nothing gave him more pleasure than to have one of his pupils score well.

Malcolm mentored 15 individual winners of the Garryowen over the years plus numerous placings, and he was inducted into the Victorian Equestrian Hall of Fame in 2019.

Outfits worn by competitors have moved away from classic hunting wear and have become far more flamboyant, with coats much shorter and red ties and browbands proliferating, so the organisers of the show decided to honour Malcolm by including three classic turnout classes, in senior, intermediate and junior sections. Garlands, trophies and rugs for the events were donated by his long-time friends.

Event organiser Glenys Triffett said: “It was a really emotional event and it will get bigger next year as people seem really keen to compete in it. We will include a Shetland Pony section as so many people asked for it.

“Malcolm was a larger than life character, so talented himself and so generous with his time. He would have loved this section.”

The senior section was won by Stephanie Barrington on Rebelle, Ella O’Doherty on St Andrews won the intermediate and junior went to Sabrina Gilmore on Yurrugar Supermodel.

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