Lauren Campion has had a great year with her 6 yr old bay gelding Chilham Aquarius (by Castle Comet out of Chiltern Quota).   Lauren, 18, purchased ‘Ruby’ – as he is known – as a 4 yr old after trying him at Equifest two years ago.  

 He has achieved great successes this year, culminating with his second visit to HOYS coming up in October.   Earlier this year he competed in both the Open and the Junior classes at the Royal International Horse Show, qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show and the NPS Championships.   At the Ponies UK Championships they won the Amateur Ridden M & M Class and the Championship, as well as claiming the Lee-Smith and the Open Section of the Junior M & M Large Breeds.   What a fantastic start for this combination, and a wonderful birthday present for Lauren as she celebrated her 18^th birthday just two days later!

 Their success carried on at Equifest, winning the Junior Ridden Championship, as well as winning the Connemara & New Forest Equimax Championship Class.  This win went on into the evening performance where they claimed the Overall Ridden Championship.   Unfortunately, Lauren received the news that Chiltern Quota had sadly passed away, making their success truly special for all associated with the Chiltern ponies.

 Their last competition has been the Elite Show at Arena UK, where they rounded off their run of success by claiming the M & M Ridden Championship.   She is so very excited for her pony’s future, and can’t wait to compete again at the Horse of the Year Show.   Well done Lauren, and good luck at HOYS!

Photo courtesy of Equinational

Ponies (UK) Summer Championships were the tops for Kerry Wainwright.   Home bred Skellorn Harrison collected his ticket to the Cuddy In-Hand Final at HOYS by producing his best performance, and a trot that earned spontaneous applause from the stands.   Judge David Puttock said ‘the stallion sparkled and shouted ‘look at me’.  He is an athletic, good all-round mover with lovely one, super limbs and a great front and shoulder’.    Kerry nearly did not go to the show after losing her old section B stallion in a field accident, but friends persuaded her and handler Stuart Mason came in at the eleventh hour to give the performance of his life.   Skellorn Harrison has qualified for the Cuddy and Ridden Finals at HOYS – a repeat of last year’s successes.

Katie Bacon has sent us news of the wonderful season she has had with the stallion, Galloon Rollover (aka Barney). His wins include

What a triumph for british breeders!

John & Dianna Staveley took a holiday and travelled over two days to get to the show with Eastlands Burniebrae and her foal Eastlands Katiebrae (by Rosenaharley Laughris) - Katiebrae aptly named as she was born on the royal wedding day! 

Burniebrae was Top Broodmare & Reserve Supreme In-Hand Champion, and has qualified for the All Ireland Broodmare championship to be held at the end of July in Mullingar.   She was beaten by a young stallion who was truly outstanding.  On returning home she was confirmed n foal to Canal Laura's Lad the next day!  "Lad" is the stallion son of Padriac Hynes' famous mare Canal Laura, who sadly had to be put down the next day

Also at the show was Bellindene Lirael, a 6 years old mare british bred by Julie Somervail - probably the first foal by Bellindene Franklyn – who was competing in the performance pony class.

Tango Fawcett  writes" Freddie  is raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, as part of a challenge set by school.  They had to set their own task, and raise some sponsorship money.  They then have to give a talk about what they have done to the whole school.  So, if anyone was able to sponsor Freddie, we completed the 40km Endurance ride, and Freddie won it, as his pony, Gentle Aherlow Dawn (Laerkens Cascade Dawn x Newtown Sophie) started with the amazingly low heartbeat of 33 and finished on 38. My pony, Barnaby (Drimcong Owen x Hilltop Daragh),  started on 38, and finished considerably higher !  It was good fun, but we were all tired by the end !  It was up at Sutton Bank, above Thirsk, so beautiful, and amazing views, but very hot.  We prepared with a 16km training ride, and learnt to take the ponies heartbeats etc.  Having done so well, I think we will try and do 2 more and qualify for the National Champs.  Both Freddie and I really enjoy the map reading and working out times and speeds thing, and hopefully will get better at it."