Autumn Breed & Hack Show

10 May 2009

The North Coast Equestrian Club decided to have our usual Autumn Hack Show this year with a difference, including a variety of breeds in led and ridden classes before progressing on to the hacking part of the show.   Firstly, we had fine weather!!!, I breathed a big sigh of relief when it was nice weather on Saturday and it stayed that way. We had many of our own member’s competing, but also drew quite a few competitors from Grafton area and down south. 

Many thanks to our judges, Colin Bennett judging the Pony Ring, Skye Fewings judging the Galloway Ring and Shelley Webster judging the Hack Ring, Skye and Shelley also having just finished two weeks on the show circuit the night before so extra thanks to them for getting up early again to help make our Show a success.  Another fabulous help was Shelley’s husband, Wayne, who manned the microphone for us all day and contributed greatly to the smooth running of the show. 

Our first attempt at hosting a breed component with our usual Hack Show proved to be very successful, with all breeds being very well represented, with quite a few horses having 3, 4 and even 5 registrations, giving them many classes in led and ridden to compete in.  All the breeds had Champions and Reserves for their led classes, with Champions of each breed eligible to compete for Supreme Led Exhibit of the Show.  This line up was great to see and the Supreme Sash was awarded to the Australian Stock Horse Gelding, Yarranoo Recoil, from Grafton and proudly shown by his owner, Sue Salisbury.  They also received a rug, kindly donated by Valley Country and a beautiful Garland, beautifully made by one of our member’s, Amie Harrison, of Ame’s Browbands in Grafton, many thanks to both of the above mentioned for their generous support. 

Quite a few horses featured prominently in the led results, it was great to see Bev Davis and her Buckskin QH stallion, Honeyjones Black Otoe, out and about, receiving two Champions and numerous other ribbons, (Bev is usually on the judging side so this was a great change for her), Corley Woodland from Dorrigo and her lovely Galloway, Stage Lights, featured prominently throughout the day, as did Kate Twomey and Koorana Noble Rarity in the pony classes.  Also doing extremely well were Amie Harrison and her three horses, all featuring in the led and ridden classes. It was really great just to see everyone out there, old faces and new, too numerous to mention and all doing very well in their respective breed classes. 

The hack classes were hotly contested with a high quality of horses in all rings, great to see quite a few of our younger member’s out there having a go and doing well and having fun and also all the crew from Horsing Around. 

The Champion Pony Hack was awarded to Kate Twomey’s Mr Darcy, with Reserve Champion going to Ellie, contested brilliantly on by Chelsea Dennis.  Champion Galloway Hack was close, with Fiona Portelli taking it out on the lovely Raleigh Calypso, Reserve Champion going to Tegan Harrison on Mirinda Jigsaw. The Champion Hack went to Cassie Schmidt and the well performed Regal Centre with Reserve Champion going to Yarranoo Recoil with Siggy Walsh on board, having a very successful day indeed.  All our Champion Hacks were awarded rugs as well which were very kindly donated by Petstock Animal Supplies, also, a big thanks to them for their generosity. 

Lastly came the Champion Rider’s with Junior Rider being taken out by Lachlan Aitkin on Belle and Bianca Meldrum on Clydie for Reserve Champion.  Senior Rider was won by Chelsea Dennis & Ellie, who also had a fabulous day, and Siggy Walsh on Yarranoo Recoil for Reserve Champion.  The adult Rider was quite competitive, with Amie Harrison on In Your Dreams taking out the Champion and Hellen Campbell on Nova Carbon winning Reserve Champion, well done to all those rider’s. 

It goes without saying that I could not have managed to run this event without our loyal helpers, Kathy Meharry for helping with the program and printing, and also with registrations on the morning, Tasmyn Wood and Anne Webster, also with registrations and organising, Deb Hillier, Carol Wright and Mary Tate for also pencilling and also Caroline Thompson, a newcomer, who came and pencilled all day, my husband Steve, for setting up and pulling down arenas, and minding our child, (and putting up with a couple of weeks of stress beforehand) Finally, thank you to Sean and Chris Gardiner and Steve and Audrey Twewin who stock and man the canteen voluntarily to raise funds for the NCEC and are a huge asset to the Club. Thank you also to my helpers who contributed to the running of the show, without your help, it would not have been the success that it was and we hope to have another show of this type early next year. 

Narelle Hayes

Click here to check out all the winners and grinners in the gallery ...