Romsey Show held at Broadlands Estate on 13 September made the brave decision to go ahead with the show despite quagmire conditions following the previous weeks of rain. Classes were delayed to allow competitors time to be pulled into the show ground. With good entries forward in the New Forest In Hand I set about judging the first class, Yearlings, which was the strongest class of the day. My choice for first place was Ms Kate Robb's delightful chestnut colt Knavesash Alchemist exhibiting true pony characteristics coupled with quality and presence. Second was a roan colt, Burley Timelord owned by Wendy and John Adams and bred by Gill Wright. Timelord showed exceptionally free movement with a lovely frame and plenty of bone, a definite prospect for the future. There were some lovely yearlings in the remaining line up, making my judging task not an easy one.

My winner of the 2 year old class was Dorridge May Queen, a winner at this year's New Forest Show, owned by Emma Collis, ahead of June Whitham's Woodrow William.

The Youngstock Championship was won by Knaveash Alchemist with Burley Timelord, Reserve.

The 4yo old and over class was won by James Young's and Trudy Nineham’s 9-yo mare Brock Baccarat, who has had a successful season both in hand and under saddle. She is forest bred by Buckland Dragonslayer who has produced numerous winners. In second place was Howen Buttons a lovely free moving gelding, forest bred and sired by Moortown Nobby, owned by Mrs A Brooks.

It is always nice when shows have a separate brood mare class and my winner was Emma Collis's Ashley Coriander, a beautiful bay mare full of quality and type by Katric Capers, shown by Mr Collis. He commented that they are keen to get a filly foal from Coriander who has a knack of just producing colts. In second place was Jayne Pothecary's Longwater Brook, who I felt was everything a good New Forest broodmare should be, deep bodied, with a lovely square frame coupled with a pony head and I would have been quite happy to take her home. Third place was Jackie and John Lowth's delightful dun mare Burley Holly who is having a break from her usual ridden duties, having been covered and successfully in-foal to Peronne Palaver.

Collecting first prize in the stallion class was Sandra Kilford's home bred 2-yo bay colt Furzey Accolaide, by Luckingtom Sportaide. The Olympia-bound Sabina's Gold Sovereign was second with John and Wendy Adam's 2-yo Colt Hollybrooke Rambler third.

In the overall New Forest Championship, my choice for the red white and blue rosette was Ashley Coriander who was full of presence and in my opinion epitomised a New Forest Pony. It is interesting to note that Mr Collis managed to snap up Coriander at the Beaulieu Road Pony Sales as a youngster, proving the quality of ponies which can be found at the sales. My choice for Reserve spot was a tough choice between  Longwater Brook and  Brock  Baccarat, with Brock Baccarat clinching it on the day. Brock Baccarat went on to stand overall Supreme M & M Champion of the show, judged by Mr Bell from Co. Atrium.

Ridden
The small section of the ridden classes was an excellent class with lots of good ponies. Dorridge Nobleman owned by Claire Langrish won the class with Peveril Pendragon ridden by Gemma Munisamy in second. Both ponies performed well in the sticky going and had a natural balanced outline. Swapping in-hand to ridden, Brock Baccarat finished third, ridden by Vicky Palmer.

In the large section Sabina's Gold Sovereign was my choice for first place after making light of the heavy going and giving an excellent show. This versatile stallion who turns his hand from workers to ridden and is always full of presence is by Peveril Peterborough who interestingly also sired Dorridge Nobleman. In second spot was another Sabina's pony, Sabinas's Monte Carlo sired by Gold Sovereign and owned by Sally Wiggins. Monte Carlo has had a good season after winning the large ridden Championship at this year’s Breed Show.

WHP
In the workers ring judged by Gill Wright & Ann Nicholls, the NPS Top Spec qualifier for the Royal International Horse Show had a testing course with water trays complete with rubber ducks! Miss Avril Darnton's home-bred Rodlease Jubilation ridden by Suzanne Kempe jumped a clear round and was placed second on her first attempt at the Top Spec qualifier. The performance expert, Wayland Loganberry owned by Mary Bryant and ridden by Caroline Saker jumped a near perfect round to clinch the large section qualifier. Loganberry looks in excellent form for his WHP HOYS debut in 2 weeks, Good Luck Caroline and Loganberry.

Kerry Humble