Four seasons in one royal show at Adelaide 2023
THE Royal Adelaide Show has been run and won for another year with those who were there from start to finish experiencing all the elements over the eight days of competition.
Warm, spring days enjoyed by the early exhibitors made way for wind and rain as the program progressed, possibly accounting for a drop-off in numbers presenting for judging in some classes.
The showjumping section was one of the best supported of the show, where course designer Roger Laplanche, from New Zealand, built large tracks that tested the riders and their mounts.
Gemma Creighton had a great show riding for Linda Huddy, taking out the group A championship on Alan 111 Z. She was named most successful showjumping rider on Dada Des Brimbelles Z, the most successful showjumping horse. She also won the scurry on her own mount, Its Silkbridge.
Kristy Bruhn was senior champion South Australian rider for her work on James' Bentley, while Philip Lever’s Bonita was the best performed young horse.
Sienna Holdsworth-Rose and Coolart Farm Short Torque were the junior champions after winning three out of the four junior classes. She was beaten into third place in the fourth by Elissa Stephens on Vertigo and Zoe Waller on Bequest.
Tilly Fair and Oaks Constantino took out the young rider jumping contest. Tilly also won two group A classes on Bella Bonita.
SHOWJUMPING
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All images: TY MANNING
South Australia has always produced good Australian Stock Horses.
There were with some classic types in the lineups and they weren’t just pretty faces, competing (and winning) in both led and under saddle.
DeeAnne Hunt’s Adelle Musician was champion led gelding and also took out the ridden sash, while Oakton Lodge Sudden Impression shown by Michelle Gorton was supreme led and also won the ridden mare class.
Reserve champion ridden ASH was Ashlee Carrigan-Walsh’s Kardinia Niah.
The supreme champion working stockhorse of the show was Jane Allen’s Asar Collusion, with reserve going to Charmain Davis’ Silverthorn Magenta. Asar Collusion carried Jane for a win in the ASHLA class, with Ashlee Carrigan-Walsh second and Michelle Gorton third. The novice ASHLA was Keyara Garraway.
The stockamn’s turnout – always a highlight at the royals – was won by Claire Davidson riding Braeview Coolabah.
Another crowd pleaser at Adelaide is the sidesaddle section. Although numbers were light on, these classes give pleasure to show goers and are a reminder of the elegance of the past.
Scott and Maryanne Finemore’s Another Grand was champion sidesaddle mount and Maryanne won the senior Concours de Elegance. Sienna Finemore was the winner of the junior Concours de Elegance riding Stoneridge Trinity. She also won the junior rider class and was named best sidesaddle rider. Stacey Rusic won the senior lady rider class.
Carolyn James’ Wynara Tom Piper, ridden by Jean Schroeder, won the sidesaddle pony class and also the period turnout. This versatile pony also placed in the ride and drive in the light harness section.
SIDESADDLE & HARNESS
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All images: ANGIE RICKARD
The harness classes were well supported, providing colour and movement to the program.
Corinne Collins and Andrew James’ Rose Air Manikato was the champion non-hackney pony and supreme light harness exhibit. They were reserve to Rodney Lane and Naringalook Gandalf in the light horse turnout but the order was reversed in the viceroy turnout.
Team Vaudin took home both the champion and reserve champion sashes in the non-Hackney section with Kittle Composer and Kittle Waltz.
The champion Hackney was Holberton and Cusack’s The Doune Monarch, with Carolyn James’ Beauwood Amazing Grace reserve.
The funnest event in the harness section – the ride and drive – was won by Imogen Lindh driving Lentara Ambition.
In the heavy harness classes, Scott and Maryanne Finemore's Churchil won the single business turnout, the Fritsch family’s Lowan Vale Fearghus took out the multiple business turnout and Peter Strafford’s Samarah Park Thomas was champion delivery horse.
Lowan Vale Fearghus was supreme champion traditional heavy harness exhibit.
Adelaide, like Melbourne, still holds the traditional section four hunting class won by the Fleurieu Hunt Club, while the individual gentleman’s hunter sash was won by Germeinium Estate’s GE Monaco. The lady’s hunter went to Bec Leslie’s Edialta Elvis.
In the show horse section, the ponies who dominated the arena in the first days of the show made way for the hacks and galloways.
The chestnut warmblood Kalimna Quick Hit, shown by Kate Halliday, went through from winning novice champion to take the open hack championship, a pleasing win for Kate who has owned him since he was a foal.
Royalwood Westend shown by Emma Richardson was reserve.
In the show galloways, Mcarthurparc Star Soprano took the championship sash with Burns and Vanderput’s KT So Fine reserve.
In the show hunter hack classes, Ali Berwick and Arielle Stella’s Ultimate PPH continued the show’s trend of first winning the novice championship before doing the same in the open class. Paul Austin and Abbey Lovell’s Heathmont Flirt went reserve.
The Haynes, Quayle and Reid-owned Lily's Sovereign was champion show hunter galloway, with reserve going to Allison Bartlett’s Golden Sands Above and Beyond.
In the racehorse to show horse section, Riley Shannon-Winzer’s Shaundale Park Egyptian Prince was champion show hunter and Merry and Clarke’s Royal Fair champion hack.
Megan Cheeseman was champion senior rider and Caitlin Fricker reserve. The senior smartest on parade winner was Abbey Lovell riding Heathmont Flirt.
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