Lead Photograph: Almas Brilliance
Sunday 21 May saw the Norfolk and Suffolk Arabian Horse Group hold its second annual show, following the success of last year’s event. The resurgence in this group has continued since the new committee took over in 2015, and this show resulted in a highly successful day with happy faces seen everywhere. The Norfolk & Suffolk Arabian Horse Group has always been known for putting on relaxed and friendly shows, where people can show their own horses, with no pressure, and this year was no exception.
As well as running the main The Arabian Magazine ring indoors for the Arabian classes, there was a second ring outside for other breeds, kindly sponsored by Total Driving. The judges for the Arabian classes were Emma Maxwell for in-hand, and Rachel Dear for ridden.
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| Elizabeth Bey (Kazmierek x Rebekka Bey) |
The first class of the day was a very competitive purebred mare class, with the win going to Pat Grant and Fiona Grant-Chivers’ homebred Elizabeth Bey (Kazmierek x Rebekka Bey). Second was awarded to JB Fforget Me Not (Thee Apprentice x JB Ffemme Ffatale), owned by Dave and Veronica Tyler. These two mares held their places in the Senior Female Championship. Third place in this lovely class went to Andrea Tayalor’s homebred Verlenzia (Vervaldee x Legacy’s Sonata).
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| Daring Dream (Psy Dream x Yokosuka F) |
The senior gelding class saw the first appearance the in-hand superstar of the day. This was Daring Dream (Psy Dream x Yokosuka F), exhibited by Angela Fleming and bred by Armada Arabians. He won the class in style ahead of Kelda Smith with Imbuya (Aja Ben Rajah x Indikah). Again, these two Arabians held their places in the championship.
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| SA Eternal Spirit (Crystal Magic x Nahema) |
For a small show, it was wonderful to see three stallions forward in the purebred stallion class. A late entry was the very flashy Crabbet-related SA Eternal Spirit (Crystal Magic x Nahema). With his huge, proud trot and handsome chestnut and chrome looks, Eternal Spirit powered to first place for his owners/breeders Alan Theobald and Gina Hunt. In second place was the straight Crabbet stallion Beeston Hakim (Klinta Bashir x Hadila), exhibited by Imogen Budd. These two boys held their place in the both the Senior Male Championship and the Second Generation British Born Championship. Third place in the stallion class went to Arazi Al Kamar NH (Marwan Al Kamar x Nathalia NH), exhibited by Debbie Groom with Mrs C Sheridan.
There was just one yearling colt forward for the colt/gelding class, and that was Titanium (ex DG Givenchey). Owned and bred by Andrea Taylor, he is sired by her on stallion, Vivegas (Vervaldee x La Dolce Vita), who would have been Lead Sire of the Show had there been such an award. Titanium was slightly overawed at his first showing experience, and that is exactly why the Norfolk and Suffolk Arabian Horse Group is the perfect calm introduction to the world of showing.
LS Hadassah (Vivegas x Hepsebah Bey), exhibited by Debbie Groom and Mrs C Sheridan, won the two-to-three-year-old filly class, and would be named Junior Female Champion for the second year running.
There were two entries into the corresponding colt class, with Almas Brilliance (SG Imagine x SG Bliss) making his showing debut. Exhibited and bred by Noelle Skingle, he won the class with ease and would go on to be named Junior Male Champion with Titanium in Reserve. Second in the colt/gelding class was ELM Avicii (Khurli x Coriana), exhibited and bred by Emma Mooney.
Beeston Hakim was the winner of the Crabbet Class and then it was on to the All Star classes, starting with a large class for stallions and geldings aged four and over. Daring Dream took the win ahead of PHA Just Devine (PHA Devine Chance x B Bianka), exhibited and bred by David and Jean Peck. Beeston Hakim placed third.
In the junior All Star class, for potential ridden horses, Almas Brilliance placed first ahead of DD Amir Noir (Deemonstator x DD Flame of Fantasy), exhibited by Imogen Budd.
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| Alkara de la Rosa (H Tobago x Rose Aboud) |
In the Overall Purebred In-hand Championship, Daring Dream was awarded the Champion title, much to Angela’s delight and, almost, disbelief! After a good look, Emma Maxwell awarded Reserve to SA Eternal Spirit.
On to the Anglo and part-bred classes, with just one mare forward from those entered. This was Christine Osborne’s Etherow Illusion (Little Sam Chap x Grangewood Gay Fantasy). In the stallions and geldings aged four and over, Courtview Royal Sovereign (Stychlands Royal Secret x Jackets Firebird) took the win for Janice Osborne. In second was Armagnac Bowlesmeover (Indian Banner x Jetsam Midnight Dancer), exhibited by Yvonne Gill.
In the Senior Anglo and Part-bred Championship, Courtview Royal Sovereign and Armagnac Bowlesmeover held their class positions to take Champion and Reserve respectively.
Mettlewood Mayqueen (Mettlewood Jubilee Tribute x Mettlewood Liberty) took the Anglo/part-bred two-to-three-year-old filly class. She is owned by Mike and Wendy Carr and has been very successful for them. Taking second was Sameon Spun Gold (Sameon Golden Virtue x Sameon Sun Serenade), exhibited by Janine Thickett.
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| Future Inferno (H Tobago x Future Illicit Affair) |
In the class for Anglo/part-bred colt or gelding aged two-to-three years, the winner was Rebecca Cross’ Future Inferno (H Tobago x Future Illicit Affair), and he would go on to have a very successful day. Second place went to Sue Palmer’s Stanley Grange Gilt Edge (Turberry Top Cat x Shimmering Silk). Verity Arbuthnot was third with Crusoe Collaton Star (Ninth House (USA) x Mayzend Tallaroo).
In the Junior Anglo and Part-bred Championship, Future Inferno took the title with Mettlewood Mayqueen in Reserve.
Future Inferno held on to top spot, taking the Overall Anglo and Part-bred In-hand Championship title, with senior gelding Courtview Royal Sovereign in Reserve.
The family pairs saw grandmother and granddaughter Elizabeth Bey and LS Hadassah take to the ring, and then it was a very well-supported amateur/home-produced purebred class. There, the Anglos and part-breds trumped the purebreds, with the top three spots going to Future Inferno, Courtview Royal Sovereign and Mettlewood Mayqueen respectively.
The final in-hand class was the Supreme In-hand Championship, with Daring Dream making it a truly amazing day for Angela. Future Inferno also made his mark as one to watch, as he took Reserve Supreme.
The ridden classes began under the watchful eye of Rachel Dear, and first in were the Ridden Arabian Star Series (RASS) classes. The mare section was won by Alkara de la Rosa (H Tobago x Rose Aboud), exhibited by Carla Calver and beautifully ridden by her 11-year-old daughter, Jenna. In the RASS stallions and geldings class, Incandescent (Psalm x Illaria), exhibited by D Whittom, took the win. PHA Just Devine was second, with Noelle Skingle’s SG Belissimo (Akhenaten x SG Bliss) in third.
The pre-novice class had a huge number of entries, and taking the winner’s rosette was Pyotr (Vervenco x Pokrovka), exhibited by Kit Rolfe. SG Belissimo took second, and third place in this strong class went to Bey Reuben.
Incandescent won the novice purebred mare, gelding or stallion class, with the quality bay Ffinalai (Ffatal Attraction x Ass Windi), exhibited by Miss N and Miss S Perry, in second place. Third in this large class was Pyotr.
Two late entries headed the top of the line in the open purebred mare, gelding or stallion class, and the winner was the lovely chestnut gelding Sameon Marouhk (Mareschal x Shaarinah), exhibited by Ben Hester. In second place was another quality entry, the stallion A Sound of Thunder (Vervaldee x Pashonate), exhibited by Sarah Todd. In third place was another stallion, Beeston Hakim.
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| Alkara de la Rosa |
There was a popular win in the amateur/home-produced purebred, Anglo or part-bred ridden mare, gelding or stallion class, as Alkara de la Rosa took the win with her junior rider up. Tessa Calver had just turned 11 years of age the week before the show, and she very much deserved her placing. She would go on to be named Amateur/Home-produced Champion. Taking second in the class was Akbar Khan (Narismma x MA Bint Azadik), exhibited by Tanya Case, with Darcy (Om El Mareikh (USA) x Ffiligree), exhibited by David Biles, in third.
On to the Anglo/part-bred ridden classes, and Palmfields Night Image(Litton Reflection x Palmfields Nightingale), exhibited by Charlotte Wright, took the win in the novice class, with Armagnac Bowlesmeover in second place.
The Cherif qualifiers this year were very poorly supported, perhaps as the Championships are ending this year. Armagnac Bowlesmeover took the 148cm and under class, while Palmfields Night Image took the over 148cm open class.
The final class before the championships was CARE – Career after racing/endurance, again part of the Ridden Arabian Star Series initiative. Beeston Hakim was named the winner here, with Alnaseem (Al Saoudi x Simooma), exhibited by Jean White, in second.
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| Sameon Marouhk |
The Ridden Purebred Championship saw the super entries, Sameon Marouhk and Incandescent, take champion and reserve respectively, while in the Ridden Anglo and Part-bred Championship, it was Palmfields Night Image and Armagnac Bowlesmeover taking the honours.
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| Incandescent |
In the Supreme Ridden Championship, the purebreds that won out, with the title and beautiful sash going to Sameon Marouhk, with Incandescent in Reserve.
All in all, it was a wonderful day at the Norfolk & Suffolk Arabian Horse Group Annual Show. Exhibitors left happy, and with large smiles on their faces, and social media was full of positive comments about the show. The venue and judges have already been booked for 2018 – we look forward to seeing you there!
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All photographs by Pauls Pix
