Tiny tot riders a highlight of classic competition

The Victorian Show Horse Council’s Classic event pulls in the crowds with its competitors in the junior classes and pony rings the main drawcard.

Winners’ embrace: Harry Armistead Riemer gives his pony Pant-y-Flynon Cariad a winning hug. Picture: Lisa Gordon

AFTER  a total starvation per­iod for show-horse people over recent months, the run of premier shows has begun and will continue thick and fast until the Sydney Royal Show at Easter.

The first to be held was the Victorian Show Horse Council’s Classic event at Whittlesea Showgrounds.

“We have survived our first show as a committee, it was never going to be an easy task on a tight timeframe, many said it could not be done, but we did it!” said the chair, Glenys Triffit.

“There were a few speed bumps along the way for the committee but through teamwork everyone pitched in and delivered the final Grand National qualifier for 2020.”

The show attracted a good crowd with a lot of competitors in the junior classes and pony rings.

Winners in the show hack classes included Ava Halloran’s Royal Muse, a young horse that won and placed well in the Royal Windsor Show’s online international event during the winter.

Greg Mickan rode Sue Thompson’s Givenchy to win the small show hack class and in the show hunter classes, Samantha McMaster’s Somerset Hill and Ava Halloran’s Rushton Park Revelry won sashes.

There was a great line-up of good Shetlands, with the little heroes showing they are well deserving of the chance to perform under saddle. Debby Macher’s Carrig Wen Athena won in a very strong class of 14 exhibits.

Kellie Withers’ Hibrie Sec­ret Song won the saddle pony 12.2hh and under and Lynda Hayes rode Wideacre Black Diamond to a win in the up to 14hh class.

All smiles: Harry Armistead Riemer on his pony Pant-y-Flynon Cariad, with leader Luke Dawes. Picture: Lisa Gordon

The tiny tot classes were a delight, with Harry Armistead Riemer piloting Luke Dawes’ pretty Welsh Pony, Pant-y-Flynon Cariad to a win in the show hunter leading rein and Chloe Backman doing the same in the Shetland Pony leading rein on her mum Jenna’s Bojinda Little Kimeko.

The show pony leading rein winner was Bordershow Charlemagne, capably shown by tiny Ella Cutugno.

The best First Ridden show pony was Braeburn Park Spring Dancer ridden by Annabel Richardson and the pony also took the ridden child’s show pony class. The young rider also won the First Ridden show hunter pony class on DP I Candy.

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