Wardendale Stud takes honours in pony ring

Press, 9 November 1978, Page 12

Wardendale Stud takes honours in pony ring

One of the oldest pony studs in Canterbury, the Wardendale Stud, owned by Mr M. E. Jenkins and Miss Beulah Jenkins, had a field day in the “led pony” ring, winning all the championship awards.

Their first success came in the pony stallion championship, which they won with Courtenay Legend. The reserve champion, Reed and Schnell’s Just So, was by Courtenay Legend. The Wardendale brood mares won all four classes, Janell winning the 137.5 cm, and the Registered Pony Brood mare classes before going on to win the championship. Wardendale Jayne was reserve champion. Success came again when Radient, after winning the two-year-old colt class, then won the Young Stock Championship. Radient was also by Courtenay Legend bred by Mrs H. Williams. Reserve Champion (young stock), was Mrs L. L. Bevins’s Gay Flight, by the imported English riding pony stallion Yealand Night Flight.

The progeny of this imported stallion were most successful, filling the first three places in the yearling class (not over J 42.5 cm), and winning the 135 cm two-year-old class. South Island ponies are significantly superior to those in the North Island, according to Mrs H. L. Allardice, who judged the section.

Mrs Allardice, who is herself from Feilding, said that if yesterday’s entries were an indication the South Island “really had something (to be proud of.” I “Where we would have (two or three entries in a class, you have 10 or 12, or (more. It says a lot for the I future of saddle ponies in (the South Island.”

i Worthv of particular menItion were the yearlings, two- | year-olds, and stallions. i Virtually nothing stood between the champion and reserve champion in the Young Stock Championship for yearlings and two-year-olds. she said. Welsh ponies The standard in this section was so high that entries in the Young Stock Championship could have won in their country’ of origin, according to the judge (Mrs J. C. Maclnnes). Mrs Maclnnes, w’ho comes from Carlisle, in England, said that ponies were “very good indeed,” and typical of the breed.

She said that she had seen Welsh ponies in various parts of New Zealand and Australia since she had arrived, and those entered yesterday were easily of the highest standard. The champion stallion, Punga Haffod, owned by Miss V. M. H. Nichols and bred by Mrs Elliot, was especially praiseworthy. A roan filly’, Clifton Roulette, owned by Mrs D. Isaac, and a mare owned by Mrs J. R. Bruce, Twyford Jolly, were also worthy of mention. Standard bred s I Although the standard of! I entries in this section was I (adequate, more attention could have been paid toi some points, according to the judge, Mr C. C. Devine. “A little bit more care in trimming of feet could have been shown. This can be the cause of potential unsoundness.” Mr Devine felt that several of the horses had come through “a long winter” very well, but many other were “very light in condition.” Arabs The young stock in this section were of particular : merit, said the judge (Mr R. I M. Gubb). Mr Gubb, from Matamata,| said the over-all entries ] were of a higher standard! I than when he was last in- ( j vited to judge, three years; I ago. However, the mares ] i were a very small class and ( (he felt that they were not (quite of the standard they! (might have been. The condition of the en-; ; tries in genera! had never-; jtheless improved, and they] (were well presented and. worked out. | The champion stallion, i (Desert Shadow, owned by! (Mrs L. L. Bevins and bred! by G. T. Greenwood, was an] {excellent example of the! (breed. “He moved particu-j jlarly nicely,” said Mr Gubb. | Led hacks and thoroughbreds Entries in this section ■ were all of good quality, and! (fully lived up to the ex-| ipectations of the judge, Mr |H. B. Jefferd.

Mr Jefferd, who travelled down to Christchurch from Gisborne to judge several of yesterday’s events, believed that the place-getters in the I five classes of this section showed much potential.

More specifically, how> ever, he was disappointed by the entries in Class Two — for stallions suitable fm breeding hacks and hunters Mr Jefferd had anticipated more entries of mature stab lions. “But I do appreciat* that good sires are heavily engaged at this time of th* year for breeding purposes." Clydesdales Mr A. Carruthers, oi Middlemarch, was very pleased with the standard oi (the Clydesdales entered in | this section. One criticism ■he did make, however, was ■that some of the exhibitor? could have taken more time ■to improve the manners of their horses. Generally, however, th* winners of all 11 classes showed the true character* istics of their breed. He was particularly pleased to se« so many young and new exhibitors with their horses this year. W orkin <T hunters Entries in the three classes of working hunters were only of good average ■ show standard, according to the judge, Mr H. B. Jefferd. I He declined to commeni further, but said that the enj tires wouid probaoiy be of : higher standard today ani I tomorrow. | Excellent entries in the ! lightweight and heavyweight sections were also lacking, he said, but the majority were also of good averag* quality. None stood out above th* (Others to any significanl degree. F.E.I. jumping Lime was the deciding factor in the A and B grad* : “Gamblers Stakes,” which was won by David Hutton I (Alexandra) riding Kahlua, I who scored 63 points in 47.2 i seconds. ; lan Bell (Rakaia) was I placed second on Vigilant* (with 63 points in 54.65, and I third was Betsy Lou. with 63 ! points in 76.65. Donkeys j New Zealand donkeys ar* ear ■ tb° •miri r,t their Australian counterparts, accordu> rue Australian judge for this section, Mrs C I Davis.