HORSE TALK

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 12

HORSE TALK

Juanita Banana, ridden by Mrs Diana Bain (Hororata), added another major victory to her already impressive list when she won the centennial jumping competition for A grade horses at the recent Ashburton Show. There were no clear rounds from the 12 starters in the first round. However Juanita Banana and Miss Fiona Tosh’s Persian Shah from Otago, in both having three faults for a refusal, were required to jump-off over raised fences. Persian Shah, first to go, dropped a rail for four faults. Juanita Banana then produced a good clear round to take the $l5O first prize. Six horses were third equal with four faults in the first round. The success to date of this highly-strung 13-year-old chestnut mare by Prince Mahal and bred by Mr John Scott (Heathcote), is due to the many hours of patient schooling by Mrs Bain. The impressive winning record includes such events as three firsts at the 1976 Dunedin Circuit show in the A grade table A, “have a gamble” and Grand Prix. The following week at Waimate there were another three firsts including the Grand Prix and an equal second. Then it was three Grand Prix in a row with another win at Ashburton, a fitting finale to the 1976 South Island circuit. At the 1977 Horse of the Year Show at Dunedin, Mrs Bain won the coveted “Lady Rider of the Year” award for the second time, this being the first on Juanita Banana, and an A grade table 4 class. It was unfortunate that the mare was amiss for the rest of the circuit. Judge’s success This year’s judge of the Arab section at the Royal Show in Christchurch, Mr

Ron Males of Australia, made history for Australia when he and his wife travelled their superb Arabian stallion, Ralvon Pilgrim 20,000 km to England to compete in the British arab Horse Society Show at Ascot Racecourse on July 30. Their enterprising venture was justly rewarded when Ralvon Pilgrim won the international championship at the show,

which was devised by the World Arabian Horse Organisation in conjunction with the World Arab Horse Society of Britain to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, against entries from Spain, Sweden, America, France, the Netherlands, Germany. Austria, Poland and the United Kingdom. When judging led stock in Britain, the handler is asked to stand his horse out for the judge to examine in detail, and then walk it out and trot back. In his class for senior stallions foaled before 1971, Pilgrim excelled himself when led out by Mr Males. He moved so superbly, covering the ground is such a way that he hardly seemed to touch it, that he brought spontaneous and quite deafening applause from all the spectators. The noise, although upsetting to other horses in the line-up, did not even alter the wonderful rhythm of his work out. The first six from each stallion class went on to the championship which Pilgrim duly won. After the mare championship, the International Supreme Championship was judged from the first and second place-getters in the stallion and mare championships. Again, a brilliant workout won Pilgrim this supreme award and after the presentation when he did his lap of honour, the tumultuous applause was

indeed a unique occasion at such a show. The presentation itself would be hard to envisage in New Zealand. The magnificent Perpetual Challenge Trophy Sword was brought forward on a green velvet cushion. Then into the ring came Sheik Mustaf el Sharrif of Saudi Arabia, magnificently clad in gold-edged flowing white robes, to present the sword to Mr Males. Pony show The first Halswell Pony Club show was held 21 years ago, planned and organised by Mrs Dolly Crowther, the founder of the Halswell branch. Since then every year, the entries have increased rather alarmingly, making the show a mammoth task for the small band of workers involved. This year the show has a new look in an effort to make it more of a pony club show as well as to try and cut down the number of entries. The Halswell show is now for any hack, cob or pony which has not won a first in any open showing or jumping class, champion or reserve champion for the last seven years, at any A and P show, any pony club show or Duvanchelles show, at the closing of entries. Despite the new regulations, more than 280 back numbers have been issued, with the special restricted run for the true pony club pony again being popular. The Halswell club members will have their own section so that those members that have won champion, reserve champion or first in any open showing or jumping classes can compete at their own show. Special sashes will be awarded for the best mount (showing classes) and best working mount.