With Towerlands being promoted to a silver medal show and so much talk about the atmosphere, I was very glad to be able to attend this show. Very good turn out in the vast majority of classes and a really good number of geldings across the sections, which was nice to see. Plenty of big movers although the judges were looking for more than just movement, with some real quality animals going forward for the innumerable championships. Judging started at 9.00am and didn't finish until 8.30pm, with judges,stewards and ponies and me, quite frazzled by the end. Thank goodness the supremes were awarded according to a points system, otherwise it could have been a very long night!
Section Championships:
In the Section A's the 2 Year Old Filly Coffepot Aryzona was the youngstock champion and reserve overall champion of the Welsh Mountain Pony classes and also went on to be reserve supreme youngstock. Reserve youngstock champion in the A's was the 2 Year Old Colt Baledon Sea Admiral. Idyllic Entrepreneur was overall champion of the Section As and went on to be reserve supreme stallion and exhibit in show.
At the other end of the ring, the Section B youngstock and overall section was the yearling colt, Stockham Minstrel, with the stallion Dunsford Springcorn standing reserve. Reserve champion youngstock was the 3 year old colt Mynyddgraig Neifion.
In the Welsh Part Breds, the deep bodied mare Royal View Fairy Dancer was Champion who looked much nicer than my rather rubbish photo would suggest, with the reserve going to the Yearling Colt: Chiddock Talk Time.
With the middle barriers swept away, the Section C judging got under way. Champion Youngtock went to Dycott First Impression,a 3 year old colt, with Moorcroft Louisianna from the 3 Year Old filly class reserve. Coathamdene Just-Dennis took the overall Section C Championship with Laurtom Little Gem going reserve.
And so to the cobs... Youngstock Champion was Coppathorne Miss April, with Murrayhall Asti taking reserve. Whilst it was the Section D stallion Dycott Tywysog who was overall champion Section D, with the barren mare, Trevallion Princess Pandora taking reserve.
Supreme Championships:
Supreme Youngstock Champion was one of my favourites from the day: the Section D two year old filly, Coppathorne Miss April, who was also Champion Owner Bred. Champion Mare was Laurtom Little Gem. Champion Gelding was Cefn Shades.
Pictured above is the Champion Section C Stallion, Supreme Stallion & Supreme in Show: John Gray's Coathamdene Just-Dennis (Parvadean Lotta Bottle x Popsters Just Divine), who was purchased at the 2010 Brightwells Spring Sale.
Judges were:
Section A: Mrs J.P Price, Courtway
Section B & Welsh Part Breds: Mrs R Andrew, Bronheulog
SectionC: G.D.J Jones, Fronarth
Section D: D.P Jones, Menai
Photos of some of the class winners, as well as champions and supremes below.
A very amicable professional photographer attended, please visit the Flash Harry Website to purchase photos from the show. Mine are very grainy and not worth buying!