In mid-August, Arabian horse breeders and lovers met for the 43rd time in Janów Podlaski for the Polish National Championships combined with the Pride of Poland auction.
A total of 150 horses were entered for the show, but as many as 32 horses did not appear in the ring, which is unusual in the case of this show. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the entire event was financed by an agricultural agency, and the organiser was obliged to withdraw from exhibitor fees for applications or even VIP invitations.
The weather was good, although as last year, the organiser of the show provided a tent over the ring and the stands for the audience, to protect the participants in the event of bad weather. On the one hand, a good solution, although for me and other photographers, taking photos under the same tent was a torment – both because of the low access to light, and because of the colourful and variable lighting that made work difficult. But that does not matter – it is the show that does.
The championships were judged by Cedes Bakker, Christine Jamar-Demeersseman, Eric Gear, Kathleen Ohlsson, Eiad Safady, and Francesco Santoro.
On the first day of the show, on Friday, according to tradition, we had the pleasure to admire the colt and stallion classes.
Empirial Babel
A total of 18 horses were entered into the yearling colt classes, of which 15 appeared in the ring. In section A, first place was taken by the Gold medallist of the Sopot Show, Empirial Babel (Ghaith al Zobair x Eden Beauty KA by QR Marc). Bred and owned by Hekmat Shareif’s Babel Arabian Horse Stud, he scored 91.9 points. Taking second place and going through to the championship was Glorius M (RFI Farid x Ginga by Galba), bred and owned by Piotr Podgórny of M Arabians. The grey ERI Farid (RFI Farid x Espanolita by Shanghai EA), bred by Petroniusz Frejlich, took third place in the class.
Glorius M
In the second section, another son of Ghaith al Zobair (RFI Farid x Fazea al Zobair by Marajj) won. Bred by Polska AKF Sp. z o.o., this was the bay Nihil al Khalediah (ex Nawal Al Khalediah by Forteynas Magic). He scored 92 points, the highest score in his age category. The second and third places in the class were taken by colts from Michałów Stud. Porto Rico (Gold Medal x Parmania by Kahil Al Shaqab) took second place, with the Gold medallist from Białka, El Maestro (Morion x El Medonia by Shanghai EA), in third.
Nihil Al Khalediah
Porto Rico
In the two-year old colt class, the well-known Ferrum (Morion x Ferrmaria by El Omari) from Michałów Stud scored 92.5 points and qualified for the championship taking first place. In second was Janów Podlaski’s Czaro (Poganin x Cedora by Kahil al Shaqab).
Ferrum
Czaro
The grey Pointer (Sahm el Arab x Palanga by Ekstern) won the three-year old colt class for Michałów Stud. The Silver medallist from Białka championship, who was in Monday’s Summer Sale Auction, scored 91.9 points. The dark bay son of Wadee al Shaqab took second place, Almagram (ex AHB Aidha by Nijem El Aziz), bred by Alicja Napióra of Silvatica Black Arabians.
Pointer
Almagram
Traditionally, the entries in the senior stallion classes are never numerous, and this was the same this year. Winning the senior class was the Janów Podlaski-bred grey seven-year old Paris (Kahil al Shaqab x Palmeta by Ecaho) with 93.1 points. He clearly stood out from the competition in both classes. Taking second to him was Psyche Ull (Forteyna’s Magic x Psyche Victoria by Ekstern) bred by Chrcynno-Palace Stud.
Paris
Psyche Ull
The four-to-six-year old stallion class was won by the chestnut Erantis (Ascot DD x Eugara by Om el Belissimo), bred by Janów Podlaski. Second went to the well-known ‘troublemaker’ from Białka, Belmari (El Omari x Bint Ermina by Kabsztad).
Erantis
Belmari
After the classes finished, the audience and potential buyers had the opportunity to see horses from the Pride of Poland Auction list.
On Saturday, it was time for the fillies and mares. There were three yearling filly classes, but it is worth noting that a large number of fillies did not appear in the ring. This was especially notable in the first section where, from 11 entered fillies, we saw just four. First place went to Dąbrówka Arabians’ Bogini Róż PA (Kahil al Shaqab x Black Rose by Abyad AA). The bay Basilea (Pogrom x Bambina by Kahil al Shaqab) took the second place, full sister of the Brodnica offered in the Pride of Poland Auction and bred at Janów Podlaski. Third place went to Psyche Apsara (AJ Elaf x Psyche Victoria by Ekstern), bred and owned by Chrcynno-Palace Stud.
Bogini Róż PA
Psyche Apsara
The second class was won by Michałów Stud’s Złota Myśl (Equator x Złota Bull by Kahil al Shaqab). Right behind her were Kachetia PA (Morion x Kalahari by Ajman Moniscione) from Dąbrówka Arabians and Estymacja FA (Empower x Estema by Emerald J).
Złota Myśl
The winner of the third yearling filly class was Exfaria Zalia (RFI Farid x Excalibria by Excalibur EA) from Zalia Arabians, scoring 92 points, the highest among all yearling fillies. Second in the class was Babetta (Emerald J x Belinda by Kahil al Shaqab) from Janów Podlaski, with Michałów Stud taking third with El Mariella (Morion x El Marina by Ganges).
Exfaria Zalia
Babetta
The two-year old fillies were split into two classes, with 20 entered although there were only 16 forward. The winner of the first section was the big, characteristic Forga (Morion x Forgissima by Vitorio TO) from Michałów Stud won with 92.3 points. Second place was taken by Melarosa GA (AV Cloud Dancer x Marwtyna by ZT Marwteyn), bred and owned by Artur Gibała from GA Rancho.
Forga
The second section was won by last year’s Gold Yearling Filly Champion, the grey Mamma Mia (ES Harir x VA Magnifica by Magic Magnifique) bred by Tomasz Tarczyński. Behind her was the bay Pustynna Lilia (Złoty Medal x Pustynna Kalia by Esparto) from Michałów Stud.
Mamma Mia
In the three-year old filly class, the grey El Esmera (Sahm el Arab x Esmeraldia by QR Marc) from Michałów won, followed by the bay El Farida (RFI Farid x Esmeta by Ekstern), bred by Nana Arabians and owned by Alicja Najmowicz.
El Esmera
The mare classes are highly anticipated and always enjoyed by the audience. This year, there were five mare classes, each of a high level, that made the show even more exciting. The first section for four-to-six-year old mares was won by a mare from Michałów Stud, the chestnut El Belissima (Ascot DD x Ekliptyka by Ekstern), with 93.8 points. Second place wen to the dark bay Gold medallist of the Sopot Show, Pila (Abyad AA x Piba), bred by Janów Podlaski Stud.
El Belissima
In the second section, the first two places were taken by the daughters of Pentra (Poganin x Peczora by Emigrant), both bred by Michałów Stud. In first was Protekcja (by Ekstern) with Poganinka (by El Omari) in second.
Protekcja
The seven-to-ten-year old mares were next, with the first section won by Wieża Nimf (Kahil al Shaqab x Wieża Marzeń by Ekstern), bred in Michałów and owned by Marek Rzepka of Klikowa Arabians. Her scored of 93.6 points included five 20s for movement! In second place was Wildona (Shanghai EA x Wilda by Gazal al Shaqab), also from Michałów Stud.
Wildona
The second section was won Janów Podlaski’s Euzona (Om el Belissimo x Euzetia by Etogram), scoring 94.2 points! Behind her was the chestnut daughter of the late Pinga and the stallion Eden C, Paterna, who was Best in Show here as a filly.
Euzona
The last class of the day was for mares aged 11 and over, and we had the pleasure to see the highest-scoring horse of the show. This was a grey mare bred in Michałów Stud, born in 2002, the one and only Palanga (Ekstern x Panika by Eukaliptus). She scored 94.5 points, including five 20s for type and another five 20s for movement! Behind her in second place was Echo Bey Asila (Psytadel x Egzyna by Eldon), bred and owned by Janusz Ryżkowski.
Palanga
The Championships
Sunday’s Polish National Championships finals started with the yearling fillies. The Gold medal was won by Bogini Róż PA, Silver went to Złota Myśl, and Bronze medal to Exfaria Zalia.
The Gold medal for the Yearling Colts went to Nihil Al Khalediah, Silver to Empirial Babel, and Bronze to El Maestro. Both Gold and Silver were sons of Ghaith al Zobair.
El Maestro
In the Junior Female Championship, Gold went to Mamma Mia, repeating her success for last year; she also received the award for the Best Head of the Show. The Silver Champion was Melarosa GA, while Bronze went to El Farida.
Melarosa GA
El Farida
In the Junior Male Championship, Ferrum – last year’s Yearling Colt Champion and Best in Show – took the title without much surprise. Czaro took Silver and Pointer the Bronze.
Ferrum
Ferrum and Czaro
In the Senior Female Championship, the podium belonged to mares bred in Michałów. Palanga unanimously became the Gold Champion as well as taking the award for the Best Movement. Silver was given to Protekcja and the Bronze to El Belissima.
Palanga
There were only four stallions in the Senior Male Championship. The Gold Senior Male Champion was unanimously awarded to Paris with stablemate Erantis taking Silver. Bronze went to Belmari.
Paris
Erantis
All that was left to do was award the Best in Show for the 2021 Polish National Championships, and this coveted honour went to the mare, Palanga.
Lead photo: Paris and Erantis
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