Victorians make their mark at Sydney Royal Show

Victorians stole the limelight at the Sydney Show while here, on the Mornington Peninsula, the dressage competition was strong on quality.

Supreme champion Australian pony Koora-Lyn Enchanting owned by Kym and Stuart Robinson. Picture: Glenys Lilley

THE Victorians who made the trip north to the Sydney Royal Show found the trip worthwhile.

The champion hack, Rolex II and his rider Kaitlin Labahn have made a good partnership over the past couple of years. Kaitlin has just turned 18 and was also reserve champion in the Ida Buring turnout class won by Stephanie Barrington.

Rebecca Gerber’s consistent Loriot Breaking Dawn was the champion large show hunter pony.

The Romsey Park stables had a busy and successful show with the Crane Trophy winner for best mare going to Royal Highness, shown by Romsey Park and Emily Murray, ridden by Greg Mickan. They also won the open hack, over 15.2hh and not more than 16hh with Givenchy for Sue Thompson, and the winner of the Best Novice Hack and the open hack over 16.2hh, Fashionista, for Georgia Kellock.

The stud pony section at Sydney Royal is wonderful and much envied by those that remember them at Royal Melbourne, now long discarded.

The Supreme Champion Welsh In Hand Exhibit was the gorgeous black Section C stallion, Catarqui Hasufel shown by Taylah Lee. Not just a pretty face, he came out in saddle to take out the champion Ridden Welsh Exhibit sash.

In a very strong Australian Pony section, the supreme champion was the winner of the Australian Pony Mare, four years and over, over 12.2hh and not more than 13hh Koora-Lyn Enchanting shown by Suburban Lodge Stables and Margie Whyte.

Lovers of heavy horses saw some beautiful turnouts in the classic classes with Murroka Clydesdales an Denmore Mark winning the Four-wheeled Turnout Team of Three or more Horses class with Tullymore Sir Thomas and McMurchie Ingram.

Perhaps the most eye-catching pair in this section were the spectacular chestnuts, Belgian Draft cross Warmblood pair Carberry Estate Romeo and Carberry Estate Bruno shown by Murroka and Carberry Estate, and driven by Matthew Marriott.

Corrinne Collins has been a long-time exhibitor of good horses and at Sydney showed the champion show hunter hack Danson Dakota, in partnership with by Melissa Harding, and in the harness class with Andrew James’ showed the Champion Non-Hackney Pony, Roseair Manikato and the Reserve Champion Sulky or Buggy Pony, Nawarrah Park Pink Panther.

— FRAN CLELAND

SOLO CANNON FIRES UP FOR GRAND PRIX VICTORY

THE Coastal Equestrian Club held its Dressage Extrav­aganza at the picturesque Boneo Park on the Mornington Peninsula.

Although not big on numbers the competition was strong on quality.

Only one combination started in the Grand Prix. Melissa Cannon rode her PPH Zepplin to score 60.5 per cent and win the class.

Jessica Dertell rode her Eskara De Jeu to win the Intermediate 11 with an excellent score of 66.3 per cent.

Second place went to Stephanie McDonald riding Friedolin on 64.4 per cent.

The Intermediate 1 was won by Abbie O’Brien riding Revelwood Fleur with 67.5 per cent finishing just under 1 per cent ahead of Campbell Baxter and Heatherton Park Rapscallion with 66.6 per cent to take second place.

Jane Crantock rode her La Vie to win the Prix St George with 68.4 per cent once again relegating Campbell Baxter and Heatherton Park Rapscallion to second place with 67.7 per cent.

However, Baxter and Rapscallion did turn the tables and score enough to take out the small tour championship ahead of Crantock and La Vie.

Sharyn McCombe had a very successful day when she won the Advanced 5A and 5B tests riding Yarramee Spellbound. McCombe scored an excellent 67.7 per cent and 68.5 per cent to also take out the Advanced championship from Zoe Farrant and Charleston Swing.

The Medium championship was won by Nicole Vanatta riding Hollingrove Saffron from Jodie Barton and Rockfields Cioccolata. Corrinne Winch rode Donnerstag to score 68.8 per cent and win the Elementary 3A test from Yvonne Gelabert-Ferrer and Bloomfield Reina Del Sol on 67.7 per cent.

Winch and Donnerstag went on to win the Elementary 3B with 69.4 per cent. This duo then went on to take the Elementary Championship from Jazi French and Urodel Du Texier. The Novice Championship was won by Cynthia Bossema and Holland’s Bend Shanghai La from Jackson Stern and Redwood Burlesque.

Other winners across the weekend included Belinda Bourke and Bloomfield Fantasia, Betty Kopetzky and San Sebastian and Greer Maloney and Schnapp Happy.

— LIZ RICHARDSON

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