A visit to the British Jubilee Show

It was with no small amount of nerves that I took my place behind the wheel and carefully steered out of Stansted airport mumbling "keep left, keep left" mixed with the road numbers I were to follow: 120-11-14-1-6-426. Was this really such a good idea to on my own drive in left hand side traffic without a map reader? Was it really worth subjecting myself to such stress, only to see some Connemaras? Luckily the left hand side traffic was not as bad as I had feared and soon I could focus on finding my way to Moreton Morell in Warwickshire. I wasn't even honked at! Finding my way was also surprisingly easy. A minor wrong turn, quickly corrected and a bit of motorway back and forth in conjunction with some road works. Towards the end when finding the way was getting more tricky there were welcoming signs with BCPS showing the way.

In spite of promising weather during Thursday a fine drizzle fell the following morning. At breakfast people could be divided into three distinct categories: dark haired teenagers with backpacks - Spanish language students; adult men - farriers on a course and women of all ages - Connemara enthusiasts. Strengened by breakfast, prepared with rain clothes, but hoping for a clearing weather, the drizzle had ended and wasn't the sky a little lighter, and with the camera at hand I was ready to take on the ponies. The day began with three-, two- and then one-year-old geldings whereafter the gelding champion was chosen. This title went to Scottsway Golden Lustre (by Silver Fox Oisin out of Scottsway Shady Lady) a nice, elegant yearling. Reserve was the winning three-year-old gelding, Eastlands White Hawthorn (by Lockinge Frederick out of Hallfields White Orchid), a lad with lots of pony type.

With the geldings taken care of it was time for colts and fillies. The yearling colts made no lasting impact, but the yearling fillies impressed both in number and quality. Winner among no fewer than 13 participants was Chatterbox a harmonious filly by Stradbally Bill out of Tittlesfold Village Scandal. Runner up to her was another of Lockine Frederick's nice progeny, Lockinge Aconite (out of Gentle Annie II). After the yearling fillies came eleven two-year-old fillies and here I got lost among all the dark greys. Fist and second was two very well developed Irish imports. The winner, Rosscon Windy Lady (by Laerkens Cascade Dawn out of Winnie) was a little bit high behind, but otherwise looked more like an adult pony than a two-year-old. Here in Sweden nobody would have raised an eyebrow had she gone among three- or four-year-olds. Also Glencarrig Rebecca (by Currachmore Cashel out of Glencarrig Maria) looked considerably older than her two years, but did not have the pony type of Windy Lady.

Among the three-year-old fillies I was happy to see two familiar faces take the lead. Both the winner Eastlands Flash Favour (by Lockinge Frederick out of Bardsey Trinket) and Falfield Beeleaf (by Tiercel Woodman out of Falfield Honeybee) I had previously met as foals while working in Scotland and it was nice to see how they had developed. Both were very likable, Flash Favour (by the way a full sister of among others Eastlands Burniebrae and Eastlands Dunnielle) with plenty of pony type true to the Eastland trademark and Beeleaf a little more elegant. No two-year-old colts came forward, but Spinway Blackthorn (by Spinway Comet out of Bramble Lass) won the class for three-year-old stallions ahead of the brown, but very typey Galloon Rollover (by Murphy's Oscar out of Galoon Wind of Change) from Ireland The youngstock championship not surprisingly went to the two-year-old filly Rosscon Windy Lady with Eastlands Flash Favour standing reserve.

After lunch it was time for the adult stallions to enter the ring. Among the four- and five-year-old stallions Ardbear Spirit (by Coosheen Thyme out of Ardbear Belle) showed off to full capacity. After dancing around on his hind legs the handler decided to play it safe and left the ring, but what charisma and what a tail! Among the remaining stallions Gentle Cascade (by Laerkens Cascade Dawn out Gentle Carra) won an easy victory with his excellent type. The second victory of the day for a progeny of Cascade Dawn. The older stallions were only three. First and second was Bunowen Castle Ri (by Village Boy out of Bunowen Castle Queen) and Killary Cashel (by Cloonisle Cashel out of Killary Queen) respectively, both strong gentlemen, though Ri was the better of the two and moved well. Third, the French Gévaudan (by Tulira Cracker Jack out of Arige II) was of a lighter type compared to the other two. Leaving the ring he showed a lovely trot, a little bit too late. Champion stallion was Bunowen Castle Ri with Gentle Cascade as reserve.

As the same time as the stallions ring two opened opened with classes for "non-breeding stock", mares that hadn't been covered and geldings, but I had only time to peek briefly while the stallions were judged. Among the mares the bay Walstead Amaryllis (by Tiercel Top Cat out of Erris Gorse) won and among the geldings Canal Village Poacher (by Callowfeenish Mairtin out of Village Colleen).

When the mare classes started I was struck by a light "grey fatigue" when one typey grey after another passed by. As a Swede I also found it confusing that the mares not only were divided by age, but also covered mares, mares with foals and "novice brood mares" which if I understood it correctly were mares who had never on a first prize in a brood mare class. Some mares thus entered the ring twice and I lost track of them all. A few that stood out to me were Haselor Crystal's Surprise (by Bunowen Castle Ri out of Cloonisle Crystal) who with her nice head was third among the covered mares and Loughconeera Gaoth Anoir (by Windy's Boy out of Party Gay Girl 2nd) also third, but in the novice class, with a good type and lots of pony character.

Coosheen Lisa (by Coosheen Stormboy out of Coosheen Linnet) was only four years old and won both the novice class and the class for the youngest mares with foal at foot. She is one who will probably mature into a really nice mare given time. Second behind Lisa among the youngest mares with foal was another Irish import, Kieta (by Ruaille Buaille Bui out of Heather Glen) a great looking mare with good movements (who also stood out by not being a white grey). Only two mares between 9 and 13 came forward, but two very nice acquaintances to make. Eastlands Burniebrae (by Lockinge Frederick out of Bardsey Trinket), a full sister to the reserve youngstock champion, moved well and had a lovely pony type. Runner up Kingstown Bay Lady (by Village Boy out of Kingstown Silver) was a bit more elegant and had a lovely head. Among the three oldest mares the winner was Falfield Honeybear (by Shipton Teasel out of Sydserff Honeysuckle) with a good trot and type, perhaps with a touch of horse, ahead of Chiltern Blessing (by Hayselden Bacchus out of Chiltern Sunday) who was more the pony type with lots of substance.

The foals I didn't even try to judge from ringside. Best colt foal was Kirtle Poacher (by Castle Gizmo out of Sydserff Lady of the Woods) and the best filly foal was Wefan Saskatoon (by Elmore James out of Martinside Plum). An nice surprise in the filly class was Lockinge Jasmine (by Janus out of Loughconeera Gaoth Anoir). Swedish presence also at the British breed show!

After a long, rather wet and cold day I must admit I left the scene before the Supreme Champion had been selected in favour of a long hot shower and an hour in my room with the heater at full blast. Supreme Champion was, however, Bunowen Castle Ri with Eastlands Burniebrae as the reserve. The day concluded with a celebration dinner, complete with jubilee cake and all and awards to those who had been members for more than 40 years. Since most participants had an early morning the next day the evening finished at a very humane hour.

Saturday dawned to much better weather than Friday and an overcast morning steadily improved until the day ended in sunny and warm weather. Saturday's events, however, proved much more difficult to survey than those of Friday. Four different rings saw ridden classes, Working Hunter Pony (WHP) classes, dressage and "performance pony", a class that contained a ridden class part followed by a show jumping course where the jumping style and manners of the pony was judged. The difference between this and the WHP classes was not entirely clear to a Swedish spectator, but the fences at least had coloured poles... With everything going on at the same time it was difficult to get an overview of it all and I missed the dressage completely. Overall, however, nice, well mannered ponies with a positive attitude to jumping participated during the day.

I found a few personal favourites during the day. Millfields Sportsman (by Kirtling Tam-O-Shanter out of Millfields Solitaire) was a lovely dappled grey who did well in his ridden class. Brosna Courier (by Silver Cloud out of Brosna Starlet) was over height and perhaps lacking in Connemara type, but was of a lovely riding horse type. Innellan Sandpiper (by Spinway Comet out of Innellan Flamingo) participated in several ridden classes nicely presented by a younger rider. Another little rider was the rider of Eileen (by Coosheen Thyme out of Eileen's Favourite) and the two of them made a charming team. The gallop at the end of their individual display reminded me of what my friend and I in our younger days called "brassa"...

The open ridden class gathered a high number of both participants and spectators. 18 entries came forward. In the first ranking Bunowen Castle Ri was called in first, followed by Walstead Amaryllis. Amaryllis, however, did not quite manage to impress well enough with her individual display and fell a couple of places in the eventual ranking. Nobody could threaten Ri who won ahead of Loughfadda Best Man (by Innellan Kestrel out of Cuckoo Valley Candy), Another pony to be pulled forward after the individual part was the stallion Glencarrig Bobby (by Windy's Boy out Homeward Bound II) who ended third. A very nice acquaintance to make. At the end of the day Ri took the ridden championship with Best Man as reserve.

In between the judging of the ridden classes I tried to see some of the WHP, but it was difficult for me to get a good overview of these classes. Some ponies, however, stuck in my memory. Rockmor Impala (by Atlantic Swirl out of Chiltern Sika) had jumping skills as an antelope and a positive outlook. Ardbear Spirit now showed his good manners and used his good balance to jump in a very nice way. Sweet Mover (by Aran Flight out of Silver Granite) was another one to jump with a nice attitude. Jack Sparrow (by Ashfield Bobby Sparrow out of April Lady) was a dun gelding who in addition to the WHP also participated in the ridden class with a happily smiling rider. Champion WHP was Elaphine Murphy (by Kirtling Tam-O-Shanter out of Laetitia) with my favourite, Impala, as reserve.

Eventually it was time to conclude the show, say goodbye to acquaintances and begin the drive back east for the flight back home the following day. With my camera full of pictures and the head full of ponies there were plenty of nice memories to bring back home too Sweden.

All photos from British breed show 2007