The headlines around the world say "Volcanic Ash stops planes".   Our own personal Headline should say "Volcanic Ash stops SQH Judge getting home"!

(Photo: NRH Photography - Adult High Point Winners: 
L-R  Mike Roberts (2nd)  Sandra Groome (1st) Serge Michel (3rd)  Mandy Miles (Show 3 Highpoint)

Due to the fact that no planes were able to fly this weekend Judge Sarah Deptford who had been taking part in a demonstration with AQHA World Champion Tom Foran in Ireland wasn't able to make it back in time for the show.   However, luckily we had a back up Judge, David Deptford on hand.  David, along with Ring Steward Amanda Watts, (who stood in at short notice), were on hand to overview the 48 horses and over 160 entries on 18th April competing for high point awards, and prizes down to 6th place in most classes.

With the first class, Showmanship saw 12 competitors enter the ring.  After judging, David did comment that everyone did a great pattern.  The show 2 winner Janelle Norton with Tuff Harlan was pipped to the winners prize sponsored by Sue Boydon by Lucy Adams with Dallas with Vicky Easton and Smart Snippa Chic in third and Kerry Hankin with Heir to Independance making their first appearance at the show earning fourth and chocolate.

A lot of the rail classes were large classes, so as usual, we split the classes into go arounds with a final.  Judge Deptford worked competitors hard in their go arounds, as the standard was high, and everyone very consistent. With the Walk Jog Pleasure having 18 competitors, the final comprised on 9 horses.  Special mention should go to Emma Turner with Mini Monster (a very ironic name as he is neither mini, nor a monster) a 17 hh plus Irish Draft cross coloured horse.  Cody as he is affectionately known made the finals in all but one of the classes that had go arounds.  He's incredibly consistent, and tries his hardest and he's a real favourite at the shows.  Mandy Miles with Doc Duz It Easy won the walk jog pleasure class,  from Elizabeth Curtis on Hobbys Cutie.  Mandy and Dually won several classes during the day, on their way to winning the Show 3 Adult High Point Sash.  Hetty West with Snippers Della Reed competed consistently during the day to win the Youth Version.

UK PHA Winners
Tracey Eaton with Strait Smokin Doll, won the UK PHA High Point Award at this show with Sally Wright and Strait Smokin N Sweet winning the overall UK PHA High Point Award.

WPPA Winners
The WPPA made a presentation to the lovely pony Toby Tuesday with his two handlers, Nathan and Keely.  These two children and their pony are popular at the shows.


Westernscene Trail Challenge
We're very lucky to have at these shows the Westernscene Trail Challenge.  This class sponsored by the online one stop western equipment tack shop, Westernscene is a pick your own line trail class, where all obstacles have points allocated to them, and competitors have 3 minutes to amass the most points.  Westernscene, who are also running a 3 day camp at Horse Creek Farm in May click here for more info provide a wonderful glass trophy for the winner, with all entrants winning a prize, this time, individual marble trophies.  This class proved to be very popular, as entrants can take their young horses in this class in hand.  Well, we should have noticed several of the inhand competitors limbering up before the class, stretching, doing reflex training.  Whilst the final winner of the class, Sandra Groome on the speedy Montana Minstrel won overall. Sophie Mead with Fast Draw Flashy, John Norton with Docs My Delight and Ashley "Winged Feet" Watts with Majorlook Majorstare impressed all as they sprinted around the course with horses in tow and amasses a huge amount of points.  Ashley Watts and Deets sprinted into second place in the competition!

Overall SQH Winter High Point Winners
The Adult high point award was closely fought with Mike Roberts and Miss Poppy Zippo Jet leading Sandra Groome with Montana Minstrel  by two points going into the Westernscene Trail challenge, Sandra's win in that class with Mike back in 7th place meant that Sandra catapulted into the lead.  It was now down to the final class of the day, the reining class.   Mike did get a higher placing than Sandra, but not enough points, so Sandra and the consistent Montana Minstrel won the winter high point trophy.  Trophies and flowers were award to the top three.  With Mike Roberts in third, Serge Michel who won the Show 2 High Point with Sonny Shock Em picked up points all through the day to pick up the 3rd place trophy (after only attending two of the shows).

The Youth High Point was very close too between Hetty West riding Snippers Della Reed and Clare Evans riding Sir William.  Hetty prevailed in the end, but William and Clare are very consistent performers and we were thrilled when they picked up their second place trophy and flowers.  Avril Wilson and Story of Smoke competed consistently to earn the third place.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable show, with a great atmosphere.  These shows are fun, they are informal, and they aim to give people a chance to compete in a friendly atmospher.   We were lucky that Nathan from NRH Photography was on hand to capture the day.  Please visit his website www.nrhphotography.co.uk to view the photos from the day that can also be purchased.

Our next show is Sunday 30th May