31st DARTMOOR PONY MOORLAND SHOW Sunday 3rd September 2023
This Show at Princetown saw a Widecombe-bred stallion, Shilstone Rocks Lightning, take the Supreme Championship with Reserve Supreme Champion going to Barda Apollo, Thanks to Judge Heather Banbury and ring steward Hazel Pearse.
The 31st Dartmoor Pony Moorland Show at Princetown on Sunday 3rd September saw a Widecombe-bred stallion, Shilstone Rocks Lightning, bred and owned by Tracey Elliot-Reep, take the Supreme Championship, with Reserve Supreme Champion going to Barda Apollo, bred and owned by Lizzie Houghton from Bovey Tracey.
Lightning won the Stallion class to qualify for the Championship. Apollo had a great show, winning the Gelding class and then going into the Ridden classes where he won Best Ridden Pony and was Reserve Ridden Champion to the Champion Mr L Gilbert’s Blackertor Moorman, before going on to take the Reserve Supreme.
Last year’s Supreme Champion, the lovely mare Shilstone Rocks Countrydance, was looking after her mini jockey, 7-year-old Annabel Stratton, who was second in the Ridden Pony class and the Lead Rein class, before Annabel took her into the Child Handler class which she won – as she did last year!
In the youngstock classes, the Championship went to Kingstownmoor Hawthorn, owned by Liz Coates and Reserve was Mr & Mrs Locke’s Okeleat Wild Rose.
A special success story was local breeder from Widecombe, Mr Ken Edwards, who had wins in the Yearling class with Langworthy Little Owl, the Brood Mare class with Langworthy Linnet who also won the best Newtake Scheme class, with Little Owl second; and then gained a third with Langworthy Blue Jay in the Foal class, to take the John & Diana Coaker Memorial Trophy for the most points gathered across the classes at the event.
The Supreme Championship Trophy and rosettes were awarded by Show President Colin Sturmer who was the former Land Steward for the Duchy of Cornwall and served for 44 years, before becoming President of the Moorland Show when he retired 14 years ago.
The Silver Plate for the best Dartmoor owned and bred in the Dartmoor National Park had been kindly donated by the late Ian Mercer, past Chairman of the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council. It was won by Shilstone Rocks Lightning and the Committee was delighted that this year Mrs Pamela Mercer was in attendance and able to present it to Lightning’s owner, Tracey Elliot-Reep.
The Dartmoor Pony Society Moorland Show committee thanked the Show’s sponsors and supporters, Mr & Mrs F Martin, The Dartmoor Pony Moorland Scheme and the Duchy of Cornwall, along with Judge Heather Banbury and ring steward Hazel Pearse.
Contact: Clare Stanton, tel: 07885 699802 or email: cgs222@btinternet.com
Date: 11 September 2023