Viking Show Report 2011

The 2011 Viking Show was held on Sunday 21st August, despite torrential rain the night before we were lucky enough to spend most of the day in brilliant sunshine with a light breeze to keep the midgies at bay! With over 250 entries across the three rings the judges had their work cut out judging some big classes of good quality ponies.

Bob Griffiths puts a young exhibitor at ease.

Mr Bob Griffiths was judging the Standard ponies in Ring 1 and was impressed by the quality of ponies forward. In the mare with foal at foot class he commented on how the quality of mares matched of the Shetland Pony Breed Show mare class that he judged earlier this summer. There were 40 foals entered across the two inhand rings, after much discussion and a bit of civilised debate between Mr & Mrs Griffiths the standard filly foal Shoormal Vihansa was awarded Champion foal from the foals in the standard and miniature rings.

In Ring 2 judge Mrs Dorothy Griffiths had a busy day as this year saw an increase in the number of miniature ponies compared to 2010. The Miniature Champion was skewbald stallion, North-Wells Little Fella owned by Amanda Slater of the Breckenlea Stud with the Benston Stud’s 3 year old colt, Merrylees Nuggett taking Reserve Miniature Champion.

Wendy Mouser explains the procedure to a young handler.

Mrs Wendy Mouser judged the performance classes and was also impressed with the standard of ponies and riders. Megan Leslie was awarded the prize Best Young Handler with her pony HRE Dollar and Kira Fraser won both the driving classes and Best Driven Pony with her pony Ulverscroft Midnight Red. In the ridden classes Aimee Budge & Clothie Night Echo were Reserve Ridden Champion with Mrs Mouser choosing stallion Hollydell Hazard ridden by Arianne Fraser as the Champion Ridden Pony.

After a long day of showing and judging all three judges came together to deliberate over the championship. The big grey cloud that had been threatening to burst picked its moment and did exactly that but dried up again in time for the judging of the Overall Championship. In the end it was the island bred yeld mare, Grutness Cognax that took the title of Supreme Champion. The 12 year old mare is bred by Myrna Flaws of the Grutness Stud and owned by Sonja Flaws. The Reserve Supreme Champion was awarded to ridden stallion Hollydell Hazard, ridden by Arianne Fraser and owned by the Hollydell Stud.

We were delighted when the Supreme Champion was also gifted a rosette from the Norwegian Shetland Pony Stud Book which was kindly presented by Norwegian judge Live Enerhaugen during the championship prizegiving. The Viking Shetland Pony Show would like to take this opportunity to thank the Norwegian stud book for this kind thought which was very much appreciated. Its gestures like these that help to forge and maintain invaluable international relationships across the Shetland Pony community. As one of the judges said after the show, ‘we’re all just one big Shetland pony family’. At the end of a successful day of good-natured competition between quality Shetland Ponies there’s never been a truer word spoken!

Irvine Burgess can multitask!

A big thank you to all those who gave their time and effort to make the show a good experience for exhibitors and spectators alike. The show secretary, stewards, runners, caterers and all those who set up and tidied up the show park do a fantastic job and their contribution to the show ensures it’s continued success. The Viking Show Committee would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Supreme Champion, Grutness Cognax. We hope to see you all again next year at the 2012 Viking Shetland Pony Show.

It was a very long day!!