SA GALA DAY

The Australian Warmblood Horse Association (SA Branch) held it’s annual Gala Day on the 23^rd of April in perfect autumn weather.  This year we were proud to have Stanley Lambert Wines as our major sponsor, makers of the Warmblood Shiraz.  The move to the Mallala Equestrian Centre last year continues to be a successful one for the Branch with increasing numbers in both the led and ridden events.  This year we were proud to see Christine Phipps’ young stallion, Jaybee Leuwis by Jaybee Leuwin out of Jaybee Alicia (Aachimedes) presented successfully for colt selection.  He now joins our growing list of Approved and Licensed stallions for the State.  Leuwis and Christine have been enjoying a successful competition season, with the young stallion placing at the recent State Championships.

Our visiting interstate classifiers, Diane Bennit from WA, Lesley Archer from NSW and Ros Moffat from VIC, were joined by seasoned local judges Geoff Chibnall and Mary Hovers alongside well known Victorian Charlie Moffat to award the prizes for the Warmblood led events.

The feature classes for the morning were the warmblood foal championships, which were hotly contested by foals representing both local and imported bloodlines.  The filly title and supreme championship was awarded to Ponderosa Stud’s PS Lah Dee Dah, the cute as a button chestnut daughter of Lontano, who scored high marks for both conformation and movement.  Champion colt went to PS Lucious, also by Lontano with Hillendale Donikian from the imported stallion Donnerblitz’s first crop taking reserve.  Reserve champion filly was Glenella Rotsana by Rotspon, another sparkling chestnut with lots of chrome.

The junior warmblood championship was judged outside and saw the title go to Melissa Karutz’s young Medallion gelding, Byalee Millions, purchased at December’s Auction of the Stars.  Reserve champion went to the two-year-old colt, PS Loculus, another impressive chestnut by Lontano.  The Senior Championship was dominated by Ponderosa Stud stock, with the title going to PS Lucarno and PS Lonarto taking reserve.  The champions were presented with trophy rugs in the indoor arena prior to the judging of the prestigious Premium Mare class, which was taken out by PS Lalique.

The Open led events for all breeds were well supported by competitors from dressage events as well as AWHA members, however it was the warmbloods who took out Champion and Reserve, with the delightful mare MF Ambition’s Waterbabe by Janeil’s Ambition and owned by Sarah Hocking awarded Champion.  Katherine Szalay’s big bay stallion Halado Werdun, by Wunder took home the reserve.

The afternoon featured an open free jumping class judged by Charlie Moffat and two dressage events held in the indoor arena judged by Grand Prix rider Jody Cavuoto.  It was a clean sweep for Ponderosa Stud with PS Leroy winning the freejumping.  PS Lonarto placed second in the freejumping before going on to win both the Preliminary 1:3 and Novice 2:2 tests and take home a beautiful rug for the best-performed AWHA dressage horse.  Judge Charlie Moffat described the very young PS Leroy as, “a very nice forward going horse” while PS Lonarto caught his eye as “one you would take home”.  Katherine Wright riding Tudor Park Barrington was placed second behind PS Lonarto in both dressage tests and Melissa Karutz’s black gelding Sanburn Park Sorrento also placed in both events.

The showjumping classes ran for most of the day under the watchful eye of renowned course builder John Brice.  Good prize money was on offer and attracted competitive fields with Nicole and Leanne Bruggemann in the placings for every class and young Kate Clark having a great day on Domino, with a first and two second placings.  The 100cm class saw World Cup rider Adam Beckel have success on Ponderosa Stud horses, placing third, fourth and fifth in a strong field.  With his third placing in the 100cm, PS Lonarto was awarded the best performed AWHA showjumping horse and combined with his clean sweep in the dressage and second placing in the free jumping, the young stallion took home the overall award for AWHA performance horse on the day.  Owner, breeder and rider, Cheryl Hatswell, was understandably delighted with her stallion, who continues to perform well in official dressage as well as making a start on an eventing career under the guidance of experienced Olympian Scott Keach.  Cheryl also took home the Zwion trophy for best-presented handler on the day.

The Branch would like to thank all of our sponsors and competitors who continue to make our annual event such a success and we look forward to 2007.

Eques thanks the SA branch for article & photos

Regards, Cheryl Hatswell, President AWHA SA Branch
Cheryl Hatswell
Ponderosa Stud - Warmblood Performance Horses

website: www.ponderosastud.com

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