The Willoway Stud from Dorset made it a 1, 2, 3 in the ridden New Forest and Connemara HOYS class at the Royal Cornwall Show on 6 June judged by M Western and Mrs D Steains. Willoway Minstral owned by the stud came up from third place after a foot-perfect show to collect the prestigious ticket. Willoway Lord of the Rings, a bay gelding owned by Mr M Pannell & Ms S Carpenter and ridden by Charlotte Harlow collected 2nd place, in front of Willoway Free Spirit taking third place.  The next day, having made the long journey from Cornwall to Ardingly to contest the same class at South of England Show, Willoway Minstral picked up 1st place again, but handed the HOYS qualification ticket to his stable-mate Willoway Free Spirit, ridden by Sam Roberts. It seems the Willoway ponies are truly on form this season and it will be nice to see some New Forest Ponies amidst the usual sea of grey connemaras at the NEC this Autumn.

The New Forest In-Hand classes at the Royal Cornwall show were well supported, with several competitiors making the long trip down from the New Forest. Mr Michael Western was the Judge and efficiently worked his way through the classes.

Miss E M Collis’ Dorridge Fifinella, a bay brood mare by Peveril Peterborough, collected 1st place ahead of Willoway Minstral in 2nd and  Miss E M Collis' Dorridge Curly Double third.

In the youngstock class for 1, 2 and 3 year olds the winner was a Forest-bred colt Brock Defoe owned by Mrs J Furse. He was a well-grown colt and held on to his first place despite exuberant behaviour. Second was a chestnut filly home bred by the Booth family from Cornwall and third was a lovely bay 3yo gelding Rushpole Goldcrest owned and bred by Mr and Mrs J Lowth.

The Champion was Emma Collis's brood mare Dorridge Fifinella who had a colt foal a foot. Later in the afternoon Fifinella contested the Cuddy Supreme in-hand qualification and was in the final six pulled forward by Henrietta Knight. Alas the award went to a Welsh A stallion, I wonder which New Forest Pony will be the first to qualify for this prestigious in-hand final held at the HOYS? Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to find out.

The Royal Cornwall Show is a proper agricultural show and is definitely worth the long drive.

Kerry Humble