The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
Cymdeithas y Merlod a'r Cobiau Cymreig

The South African Welsh Showing Festival 2009

Photographs by Tanneth Bern
(www.finephotography.co.za)

Supreme In Hand Champion WPBR Foresyte One in a Million & Terence Jagers

The 4-day show was held at Angie Meredith’s Eaton Farm in Kyalami near Johannesburg. We thoroughly enjoyed leaving a wet UK Autumn behind to judge a range of sections that included Fiona doing Connies to Rob sorting the South African National Equestrian Federation (SANEF) ridden hacks, riding horses and hunters. The Welsh sections were much anticipated, as any judge will know that it’s a pleasure to assess animals you’ve never seen. We could dwell on many lovely animals but will focus on the Welsh and discuss our Champions.

Section A Champion was W. De. Villiers’s Caernarfon Tabutanne Dunkid, an archetypal little mountain pony with real pony character.

Section A Champion Caernarfon Tabutanne Dunkid

Section B & Welsh Champion Vintage Count Pushkin

Section B Champion and eventual Overall Welsh Champion was The Vintage Stud’s beautifully presented Vintage Count Pushkin, a true B with natural substance and an active stride.

A combined C/D section was headed by the Section C Glenferness Griffin. Champion in hand pure Welsh gelding was the charismatic A Dunkid St Peter, who shone under saddle later.

Section D Champion Glenferness Griffin

Gelding Champion & LR winner Dunkid St Peter

The WPBR Section was a quality line up clearly demonstrating its popularity and versatility. Champion was credit to the discerning eye of Terence Jagers in his mature 2yr old filly Foresyte One in a Million (see title photo), a quality pony with a huge stride.

Over the 4 days we relished judging a diverse number of ridden classes, but again will focus on the Welsh. Champion Young Childs Purebred was the working pony winner Hydown Special Edition, a balanced pony with accurate paces. Three class wins led the well presented and foot perfect Eljero Bon Jovi to win Champion Young Childs Part bred.

Ridden winners & Vintage Ruby Cabernet (centre left)

Eljero Bon Jovi (left)

Champion Part Bred Show Pony/Hack was Sherwill Valasquez a handsome and good bodied pony, very accurately ridden. Champion Part Bred Show Hunter was Caegwyn Regency Buck, a worthy winner who demonstrated workmanlike paces and a gallop befitting the section. Champion Part Bred Show Riding Horse/Pony was the elegant roan Vintage Ruby Cabernet who flowed at all paces; one who should also make a versatile broodmare in time. She was also our eventual Overall Champion Ridden Part Bred, rewarded for a foot perfect yet forward going individual championship show. The Pure Bred Ridden Championship concluded the outstanding A stallion Hydown Pepper a worthy and charismatic Champion by showing elevated paces, a huge trot and real pleasure in his work. We will mention the Reserve here in a most attractive novice ridden B gelding winner Tipuana Eros; one we greatly admired in type and wondered why he was ever gelded.

We co judged The Supreme In Hand Championship which was open to all breed Champions from the 4 days. They ranged from Arabs to appaloosas to TBs and of course, the Welsh. Our task was to select the top 5 which were then announced in reverse order to great effect by commentator Mike Bernstein (also our charming driver to and from show days). This was awarded to the WPBR Champion Foresyte One in a Million (see title photo), who returned to the ring as polished and extravagant as a day earlier.

The Supreme Ridden Championship followed the same format and was even more diverse in including hunters, hacks, western and a host of ridden show and M&M ponies (dominated by the Welsh of course!). Our Supreme was the ridden SANEF hunter winner Empathy Light; a grand “English” stamp. A very close Reserve was the A Ridden Purebred Welsh Champion, Hydown Pepper, one of few who demonstrated the requisite gallop. Sincere thanks to all the owners, riders and hard working stewards who shared ring time with us; it was a real privilege and a pleasure.

Welsh Ridden Champion - Hydown Pepper in full flight

Supreme Ridden - Empathy Light

With the show sadly over we set off on our itinerary of sight seeing and as many stud visits as possible. First was Cape Town and the easy company of Maureen Wolters of the Syringa Stud, who gave so generously of her time in showing us her ponies, the imported B stallion Pendock Dante, Hermanus and its Southern Right whales, Cape Aghullas and a highlight of visiting the Bloms Stud of big moving As.

We then visited Gustav and Glynis Karlson’s Freyja Stud in the Langeberg mountains. Here we admired outstanding C & Ds including the lovely Hywi Pearl, Fronarth Brynmor and the versatile champion Danaway the Sting. All in an environment very like parts of Wales, without the rain but with ostriches! We cannot thank them enough for their generosity in hosting us at their family home overlooking False Bay in Cape Town. Sadly, Glynis had adorable twin cob foals to sort at home, but in Gustav’s relaxed company we spent a memorable week in The Cape. There was, of course, plenty of talk of Welsh breeds but time on Table Mountain, Cape Point and Rob hanging out of the Mercedes sunroof to video the stunning coastline were true highlights.

The Bloms Stud

Twin Cob foals at Freyja

Pendock Dante (imp)

We then flew back to Johannesburg for an evening and braii (barbeque) in the company of Society members, to speak of our own animals and for Rob to speak at the SANEF National Judges Conference. We were asked to discuss our impressions of the show and Welsh ponies seen so far. These included a credible taste and bias for type and substance that we greatly admired and hope will never be lost. Also, an exceptional standard of riding (children in particular) and a humbling appetite for open and positive discussion on our opinions. Finally, a real respect for bringing in overseas judges to key events, a format that should guarantee an objective opinion whether you agree with it or not.

Following this we spent a week with “The Big 5” at the beautiful Pilannesberg National Park and then, as we feared we might have overstayed our welcome, returned to Johannesburg for a final weekend before flying home to a UK winter. The generosity of members and Society Secretary Sue Cook’s world renown organisation came to the fore again as we spent quality time with Lyn King at the Roly Stud. Lyn’s artistic talents resulted in the hand painted commemorative china we were gifted by members to mark the trip. These and the set of Society journals kindly given by Gustav and Glynis are much-treasured mementos.

Lyn King (2nd right) & Digby at Tipuana

Dibynn Star Edition with Di Nicholson

Lyn also kindly drove us to a stud we had particularly wanted to visit, and our thanks go to Digby and Lindi Donaldson of The Tipuana Stud for an absorbing afternoon viewing a host top class Welsh that include some insightful imports and many favourites including the A colt Waxwing Talisman. We also had time at Di Nicholson’s Dibynn Stud where we admired the handsome WPBR stallion Dibynn Star Edition, an abundance of quality youngsters and the fruits of her labours with AI from the UK.

Our final day in SA was spent with Warren Dewey and Bea Giddy of The Vintage Stud and Terence Jagers our generous and entertaining driver and guide to our many “appointments”. Here we admired their combined string of top class animals. South Africa had certainly saved some of the best till last! Sue Cook joined us there for a superb meal and a flying visit to her renowned Caegwyn Stud before reluctantly boarding the plane home.

Our thanks again to Sue, Gustav and the generosity of many other charming members who made this a memorable and highly recommended trip.

Rob Jones (Pontsteffan) & Fiona Leadbitter (Thornberry)

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