I accepted with pleasure the invitation issued by Kevin Townsend to judge the North Island Welsh Pony & Cob Show on 14th February 2009^.

^{I had been told that the Section As in New Zealand were good but nothing prepared me for the quality of some of the exhibits, both As & Cobs.}

The day of the show was cold and wet and unfortunately some ponies looked as if they would have preferred a dry bedroom rather than the open showground. The Show was very professionally organized and I had the pleasure of working with an excellent steward, Kevin Fitzgerald.

The Section A stallion class was won by the young chestnut, Three B Charming Boy, a real mountain pony who showed himself off superbly. Second to him was the good moving Surreyholme St Patrick, very much a baby in the class, with the older stallion Alcheringa Jones Boy (imp Australia) in third place.

The Brood Mare class was a joy to judge with some very nice mares coming forward. The winner was the lovely Brecon Bach Sweet Pea, a mare I would have loved to have taken home. Second was the equally nice Nanteos Autumn Peach, the image of her grandmother Cherrytree Mimosa (Australia), with third going to Osory Gem (imp Australia). The foal class was also strong with the eventual winner being the typey bay filly out of Nanteos Autum Peach, Waimai Penny Royal. Second in the foal class was the foal out of Brecon Bach Sweet Pea, Mistylea Sian, a big upstanding grey filly with third going to the colt Glynmawr Ribbonwood.

The dry mare class was won by one of the nicest mares I have ever seen, the imported Three B Best Girl. A lovely mare, very feminine with a fabulous body and the most wonderful hindquarter. Second was Ridgevale Aquila with third going to Nanteos Autumn Gypsy Rose.

It was nice to see a good lineup of geldings. The class for geldings 4 years & over was won by Surreyholme Brigadoon. Second was Waimai Special Addition, a full brother to the winning foal, with third going to Vanace Peppermint.

It was a close decision for the Senior Champion Section A Exhibit with the winner being Three B Best Girl (imp UK). Reserve Champion Senior Section A Exhibit was the lovely broodmare Brecon Bach Sweet Pea.

Colts were short on numbers but some very nice exhibits came forward. Winner of the yearling colt class was Waimai Sensation, a full brother to the winning foal, and the two year old colt class was won by Arobryn Campari. There were no three year old colts presented.

The yearling Section A filly class was won by the very feminine and good moving Three B Silver Moon with second place going to Niloh Holly Go Lightly.

The two year old Section A filly class was won by the very elegant Glynmawr Peony, a filly I could see having a wonderful future as a ridden pony & eventually a brood mare. Second in the class was Niloh Gabriella Brown with third going to the very good moving Elargee Song Of Joy (imp Australia).

The three year old filly class was very strong with the winner being a daughter of the Senior Champion Exhibit, the lovely roan Three B Amazing Girl, a real mountain pony, Second place was awarded to the very feminine Springdale Serendipity and third to Waimai Pearl, another full sibling to the winning foal.

Again, it was good to see good numbers in the junior gelding classes. The yearling Section A gelding class was won by the big grey, Brecon Bach Gamekeeper. Second was awarded to Springdale Ray Of Hope with third place going to Niloh Hopscotch. The two year old class was won by Waimai Celebration, again out of Nanteos Autumn Peach, with second place being awarded to Surreyholme Buccaneer and third to Verona Lodge Merlin. Winner of the three year old gelding class was Arobryn Chivas with second place being awarded to Niloh Fun n Games.

Champion Section A Youngstock was a tussle between the three lovely filly class winners with the award eventually going to Glynmawr Peony. Reserve Champion was the very feminine Three B Silver Moon.

Supreme Champion Section A Exhibit was awarded Karl Reipen’s lovely Three B Best Girl (imp UK), a mare I would love to have at home.

Section C & D classes were combined at the show which I felt was a shame. Although numbers were small, the quality of exhibits was outstanding.

The Stallion class for Sections C & D was a tussle between the two Section D half brothers with the class eventually going to Three B Red Fox (imp UK) over Awakino Flyer, both out of Grayswood Anna (imp UK) and owned and bred by Karl Reipen.

The Broodmare class was won by the lovely feminine Section C, Wingana Gidget (imp Australia). An aged mare, she was still superbly elegant. Her foal, a very nice colt named Kaimai Gracious Me, was the winner of the foal class.

The Dry Mare class was won by the very feminine young Section D mare, Arawa Rosina, a cob I feel sure will have a wonderful future once she matures.

Champion & Reserve Champion Senior Section C or D Exhibits went to the two cob stallions, Three B Red Fox (imp UK) & Awakino Flyer respectively.

Junior Sections C & D were low in numbers with only one gelding exhibited, the nice chestnut Kaimai Huckleberry.

Champion Youngstock Section C or D was awarded to the very good moving young foal, Kaimai Gracious Me with Reserve Champion going to Kaimai Huckleberry.

Supreme Champion Section C or D was the very impressive stallion Three B Red Fox (imp).

Supreme Champion Purebred Welsh Exhibit was co-judged by Francis Best who had judged the Section B & Part Welsh classes at the Show. The winner this year was the Section A mare, Three B Best Girl (imp).

The other ‘Supreme’ awards at the show, are combined Purebred & Partbred classes, again co-judged by Francis.

The Champion Foal Overall was awarded to the typey Section A filly, Waimai Penny Royal.

Champion Mare Overall was awarded to the Section A, Three B Best Girl (imp UK)

Champion Stallion Overall was won by the Section D, Three B Red Fox (imp UK)

Champion Gelding Overall was won by the lovely Partbred, Willowmead El Nino.

Champion Youngstock Overall was awarded to the Section A, Glynmawr Peony.

The class for New Zealand Purebred was won by the Section A broodmare, Brecon Bach Sweet Pea. Second was awarded to the nice three year old Section A filly, Springdale Serendipity and third to the Section A filly, Niloh Gabriella Brown. This class was for ponies who were not by or out of an imported or imported in dam parent.

The Sire’s Progeny group of three was won by the group by Ascot Perlow. Second was the group by Imperial Popcorn (imp Australia) and third the group by Waitangi Victor. All sires were Section As.

The Dam’s Progeny group of two was won by the group of of Glenvar Rhianon (Section A), second was awarded to the group of of Llandovery Limelight (Section B) and third, the group out of Nanteos Autumn Peach (Section A).

The class for Veterans 15 years & over was won by the lovely Section A broodmare, Brecon Bach Sweet Pea, with the 23 year old Partbred gelding. Blue Hills Haleys Comet awarded second.