Judge:  Mr. James Athanasoff from NSW

Class 21:  Saddle Stallion, 12.2 hands and under.

There were only three in this class and the first to go individually was Number 1113, the chestnut Quamby Park Cashman.  He was ridden by his owner E. Alexander who rode a neat display but was not able to show anything outstanding.
Next to go was Number 928 - Vancouver Park Max, the pretty bay that had some elevation in his paces, again a very neat workout.  I am sure that his connections would have been well pleased with his performance today.
The charming coloured pony stallion Number 850 - Tapu Kid McCoy was last, but certainly not least to go.  I would love to find a 16.2 hand version of this little guy to do dressage and he had an abundance of all the qualities that would be desirable, presence, lovely movement with heaps of suspension and a co-operative temperament. He was capably ridden by his owner Alix Herbert and they went on to become the Champion with Reserve to Vancouver Park Max.

Class 20: Saddle Stallion 12.2 and not over 14 hands.

First to go was No. 812 Southern Downs, he is owned by G. Richardson, his work was mostly obedient but he appeared heavy at times and the performance lacked polish.
Anne Coxon's gorgeous liver chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail was No 823 and all quality. Stanton Park Paprazzi was ridden beautifully by Sarah McDonald, and he has elegance to burn.  Recognising the A.Coxon name I wondered if this was a relative of the former queen of the pony show ring, Tanygoes Pyrites (I am not sure about the spelling) the outstanding chestnut pony mare imported by Anne more than a decade ago.  Pyrites had a show record which would have seen her win every big championship in Australia and she has legendary status with pony enthusiasts.  Her 'little boy' did her proud today.

Third to go was Number 137 Brieldale Sequel Owned and ridden by Roger Searle.  This pony was 'dwarfed' by his rider and this spoilt the picture.  He also had mouth problems which to me confirmed a lack of submission - He did make up a little with his very expressive gallop which was straight and very forward.
Willowcroft Regal Mascot Number 993, owned and ridden by Penny Cook were next to contest this class of large ponies.  This is a quality group with very much competition coming from a variety of breeds.  This is a smaller, finer type and at first he thinks that he would rather be out the door than working for the knowledgable audience in the steamy indoor arena.  He is not able to convince the judge with his lengthened trot, which is really just running on.  I felt that his work was tight and lacked smoothness, but he had friends in the crowd who applauded enthusiastically and the judge moved him up to the provisional third placing.
982 is the lovely grey Wildon Impressive ridden by Clint Bilson for owner J. Sandy.  The stud prefix would say that he has some Arabian blood as Wildon horses come from the stud of well known Arabian breeder and handler Donna Sadler.  His work has a shaky start and the extension is disappointing, then a wrong canter depart causes some imbalance and the lengthened canter does not show enough to bring about a change in Mr. Athanasoff's provisional line up.
The smaller framed liver chestnut, Number 299 Fairlight Acres Kristian owned by P. Ronzio.  The rider finds it difficult to produce this pony's best trot and the tail swishing confirms the attempt.  It is not extremely hot in the indoor and the picture lacks harmony.  The canter work is better and the lengthening pleasing and they go up to fourth in the provisional placing's.
To me the championship sash, garland and rug cam as absolutely no surprise - Stanton Park Paprazzi, a very worthy winner and the runner up, Reserve Brieldale Sequel.

Class 18:  Saddle Stallion under 15 hands.

There were four galloway stallions in this class, and again with their different breeding making up for the differences in type and movement.  It would have been difficult to choose between them as they all had quite unique qualities and certainly the crowd favourite was the wonderful 'elderly gentleman' Owendale Percival. 

First to go was the lovely soft moving galloway Number 462 King Lodge Lord of the Manor, capably ridden by former Garryowen winner, Pam Ahern.  She was able to show him off to perfection and the work was impressive with flowing extensions and expressive lengthened canter, to see them come out with the Championship sash, garland and rug.

Next to move off was number 868 owned by Alison Chipperfield and ridden by her daughter Karen, Owendale Percival.  Alison told me that they would have liked Percival to have contested the inaugural Barastoc Saddle Stallion - galloway class last year - to represent his final show outing, but as the class was judged by  his breeder Pauline Owen, she thought that this year was a more appropriate chance for the p[pony to say 'goodbye' to his friends.  His worked very well and 'foot perfect' but he did lack the softness and flow of the younger stallions, and had to be satisfied with third placing.  (pic:   Di Gatehouse)
Next to go was the chestnut

Number 956 Wellworth Noble Toff, ridden and owned by Sunny Wilson.  As in another part of the program, I recognise this stud prefix as indicative of his Arab blood, and much about the way that this galloway travelled confirms this.  He is very pretty, bright chestnut with four white stockings.  His work lacks flow and he was unable to show that lovely Arabian extended trot and broke in the middle. The canter was stiff, particularly in the turns and they came in 4th.
The last horse to work is the very elegantly framed galloway Egyptian King Number 281 (he has been moved down in his height class from the Saddle Stallion, over 15 hands), who is owned by Helen Clark and ridden by Andrea Reidel-Carrison.  To me his movement was modest and I thought he was 'built a little downhill' which makes that light airy movement difficult.   He does redeem himself with a nice extended trot and improved yet again, in the canter. They came second in the class.
The Championship sash, garland and rug went to Pam Ahern's ride King Lodge Lord of the Manor with the last horse to go Egyptian King Reserve.

Class 18:  Saddle Stallion, over 15 hands.

This class would have ... again ... caused the judge Mr. James Athasanoff, to put on his 'thinking cap', as they were all breeds, all types and with varying degrees of education, from FEI  dressage horses, elementary dressage horses, well performed show horses and jumping horses.   Mr. Athanasoff was very thorough and also very critical of faults that he would rather not see in a breeding stallion.

The first to go was the impressive liver chestnut Trakehner stallion, Number 34, APH Speigel.  He is owned by Bruce Dumbrell and ridden by Michelle Hicks, who spent some time training in Germany.Speigel is by the very well performed, and outstanding imported Trakehner stallion Kassiber (dec.) who has stamped most of his progeny with lovely elastic movement and presence.  The horse is graded Prix St. George/Intermediate 1 dressage and the level of education was very apparent in the faultless display of exuberant extensions and sequence flying changes.  The crown really enjoyed this seldom seen treat and Michelle and Speigel won the class.

The second horse to work was the liver chestnut Number 629 My Limited Edition who was very well presented by the very successful ''showy'' Marie Mellington. Compared to the previous horse (perhaps not a fair comparison) this horse was strung out and this made the extensions difficult and slightly irregular.
Next was Number 1120, Trudi Yates stallion Shoshone Park Charlston, who was beautifully presented and made a lovely riding horse, on type, but I thought that he lacked suspension in his trot. I thought that the rider showed her nerves today as she was not always straight in the saddle and this kind of weight displacement badly affects the horse's confidence and balance, and did so today, particularly in the canter.
4th to go was Number 559, the smaller black stallion Manregna owned by B. Kennett and ridden by Annie White.  This horse has really nice natural suspension in his trot, but today he was very tight in the neck and this prevented him from showing his best.  The workout lacked harmony throughout, but this was quite apparent when attempting a change of rein at the canter.  I am sure that there is loads of improvement in this horse, and the judge had him finishing on 4th.
Curringa Flashdance Number 224 is owned by Barbara and Warren Canning.   Flash is their pride and joy,  today he was well ridden by the proprietor of the Melton Equestrian Centre, Catherine Shelley.  The horse needs to come up off his forehand in order to present a lighter, more elegant picture.  Flashdance did show his education and experience in his neat canter changeover and controlled exhibition.
Last but not least was Number 749 Rimini Park Tystar owned and very capably ridden by Nadine O'Sullivan from Rimini Park Stud in beautiful Myrtleford at the foothills of Victoria's alpine region.Tystar is by Northern Ty Cardin and out of an anglo mare.  Tystar is a most attractive horse with lots of suspension in his trot.   This time last year Nadine and Ty spent a few days with me at Hollybrook and I could see the improvement in their work.  I did feel that todays work was a little too 'dressagy' and not enough forward - the judge must have agreed as they were 5th.
The well deserved champion of the Joseph Lyddy Saddle Stallion, over 15 hands was APH Speigel and the Reserve was My Limited Edition.

The judge, Mr. James Athanasoff  told me later that he was looking for more than just movement, the stallion of his choice would have to be capable of breeding soundness in to his offspring and he was also looking for temperament.