The Royal Welsh Supreme Horse Championship was won by Welsh Part Bred lead rein pony Amesbury Champagne, led by Charlotte Prosser and ridden by Ava-Mae Brown.

Amesbury Champagne
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Tom and Sprightly and Section Ds

Welsh cob brood-mare Perthog Gwenan Mai delighted owners and breeders Dorian and Michelle Lloyd when she took home the reserve supreme in-hand award and also the coveted Tom and Sprightly trophy for the overall champion Welsh exhibit, pipping the reserve, Section A champion, Islyn Sbri to the post.  The seven year old, who lifted the Prince of Wales cup secured this ultimate accolade for Welsh cobs for the second time, having already won it in 2015 as a three year old filly.  She is by champion sire, 2002 Royal Welsh champion and Cuddy finalist, Gwynfaes Culhwch, and out of Perthog Champ.

Perthog Gwenan Mai
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

She was, however, the icing on an already delicious cake for the pair who also produced both the winner of the senior stallion class and the yearling colt class.  Meirion Evans’ Lampeter supreme champion and Glanusk Section D champion, eight year old Gwynfaes Seren Wledig headed an enormous senior stallion class in the capable hands of Dorian.  The eight year old, also by Gwynfaes Culhwch and out of Gwynfaes Elliw was, however beaten to the stallion and male championships by his younger full brother, Gwynfaes Cyleddon Wledig, being an overjoyed Jesse Penfold’s winner of the junior stallion class, shown by Dex Davies.

Gwynfaes Seren Wledig
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Gwynfaes Cyleddon Wledig
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Clifford Merrick and the Merrick family also enjoyed the spoils in more than one class, with their own Brynithon Scarlet Ribbons (Thorneyside the Jackpot x Brynithon Pollyanna) heading the senior barren mare class, and Brynithon Cleopatra (Thorneyside the Jackpot x Penlangrug Davina), winner of the senior broodmare class.  Meanwhile, Brynarth Sweet Temptation (Brynithon Northern Wind x Cavyl Sweet Chariot) took the junior broodmare class for Joanne and Lee Keet.

Brynithon Scarlet Ribbons
Photograph by Equinepix

Brynarth Sweet Temptation
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Youngstock champion and the first of the three gold medals on offer in the Section Ds went to the winner of the yearling filly, London Total Temptress, who charmed the crowd and proved too great a temptation for judge Julie Evans of the Haighmoor stud.  This beautiful young filly bred by Stephanie Edwards is by the increasingly popular stock-getter Swanhill Golden Rocket, and out of Tardebigge Sea Empress.

London Total Temptress
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

It was a day for the girls, with the reserve youngstock award going to the winner of the three year old filly class, the Attrell family’s homebred Danaway Jolene, (Trevallion Black Harry x Danaway Shakira) shown by Matty Attrell.  The three year old colt class went to the German bred Aleanto Gambler (HS Lord Thomas x HS Irish Rose), owned and bred by Heinz Spiekerman and shown by Thomas Jones.

Danaway Jolene
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Aleanto Gambler
Photograph by Equinepix

The two year old classes were won by Mark Swistun’s colt, Llanmorlais Dynamo (Thorneyside the Predator x Llanmorlais Crystal), and Gareth Andrew’s filly Maesbrithdir Her Majesty The Queen (Haighmoor Orient Express x Thorneyside First Lady).  Dorian Lloyd’s third red rosette came via Rod Lewis’ Sianwood Altior (Llanarth Prince of Wales x Sydenham Oxslip), winner of the yearling colt class, bred by John James.

Llanmorlais Dynamo
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Sianwood Altior
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Section As

Section A judge Colin Tibbey of the Lacy stud certainly made his winners work for their awards, sending many of his front lines out to trot together before making his final decisions, and was not afraid to alter his placing as a consequence, much to the delight of spectators who were kept on the edge of their seats throughout.  His bowler hat was removed for a final time to crown Shan Islyn Jones’ Islyn Sbri as his overall Section A champion, having already seen her take the gold medal for the female championship.  By Islyn Hafoc and out of Islyn Asbri, the nine year old headed the senior broodmare class, shown by Dora Wyn Jones.  Dora was also thrilled to take home the yearling filly class and reserve yearling award with Islyn Cariad Gwyn (Winneydene Ewyn Emrys x Islyn Adora).

Islyn Sbri
Photograph by Equinepix

Islyn Cariad Gwyn
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Taking home their first ever in-hand gold medal were Jill Williams and daughter Kitty Bodily with male champion Pendock Paige Boy, shown by producer Justin Davis.  The seven year old son of Pendock Mirage and Pendock Flowergirl, is no stranger to the limelight, and this time headed the junior stallion class en route to the championship.  Reserve male champion went to the second placed junior stallion, Potteries Simon (Lacy Jaffa x Powys Seren), owned and shown by Shane Rogers.  The senior stallion class was won by Michelle Henney’s Penrhos Carlo (Glenwood Siarl x Penrhos Sioned).

Pendock Paige Boy
Photograph by Equinepix

Potteries Simon
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Penrhos Carlo
Photograph by Equinepix

The junior and senior barren mares respectively  were headed by Sollers Kiss Me Kate (Brynrodyn Dynamite x Glyncoch Kelly) owned by breeder Erica Summerfield, and Dukeshill Piquante (Nantdywyll Penaig x Dukeshill Passadina), owned by breeders Kathy and Joanna Sheil. Penech Barbie Doll (Rhydfelin Story x Penech Bamberlina) headed the junior broodmare class for owners and breeders Brian Thomson and Jennifer Groom, who also tasted success with Barbie Doll’s maternal brother, the winning three year old colt Penech Benvolio (Penech Romeo x Penech Bamberlina) shown by Mark Kilbey.

Sollers Kiss Me Kate
Photograph by Equinepix

Dukeshill Piquante
Photograph by Equinepix

Penech Barbie Doll
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Penech Benvolio
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Youngstock champion went to Ceri Fell’s Heniarth Sh-Boom, winner of the three year old class, ably  shown by Gemma Paxford.  She is a daughter of Blanche Montana, now resident in the USA, and out of HOYS finalist Heniarth Yippee-aye-yeah.  In reserve was Graham Roberts with Katoms Cappucino (Alyngold Solstice x Katoms Charismatic) owned by breeder Kath Owen- Lilley.  This plucky yearling colt settled to move better and better as the day went on, and also took home the award for the best yearling.

Heniarth Sh-Boom
Photograph by Equinepix

Katoms Cappucino
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Waxwing Passport (Thistledown Special Agent x Waxwing Pastille) headed the two year old colt class shown by Sam Morsley on behalf of owner Helen Dohan, whilst Gail Jeffries’ homebred Dargale Beauty Queen (Three-B Playboy x Dargale Billie-Gean) shown by Adam Fletcher.

Waxwing Passport
Photograph by Equinepix

Dargale Beauty Queen
Photograph by Equinepix

Section Bs

Tweetie Nimmo of the Duntarvie stud made a long trip south from her West Lothian base to judge the Section Bs.  Her champion came from the stallion class and male championship, Kerry Wainwright’s exquisite 12 year old previous Cuddy finalist, Skellorn Bronze Soldier (Skellorn Consort x Burside Penny Black) handled by Stuart Mason.

Skellorn Bronze Soldier
Photograph by Equinepix

Female champion and overall reserve went to Tom Best showing his own and David Blair’s homebred Waxwing Persuasion, (Eyarth Beau Geste x Cwrtycadno Perlen) winner of the junior broodmare class.  Karen Cheetham’s homebred Carrwood Summertime (Carrwood Bronzewing x Cennen Seraphine) headed the senior broodmare class.

Waxwing Persuasion
Photograph by Equinepix

The youngstock championship and reserve male award went to Sandy Anderson’s homebred three year old colt Thistledown Sherreef, shown by producer Craig Elenor.  The outstanding liver chestnut is by Mintfield Sadpiper and out of Thistledown Sheer Lustre.

Thistledown Sherreef
Photograph by Equinepix

The section B youngstock classes were otherwise tales of family affairs.  Reserve youngstock was Richard Miller with homebred Lampeter and Glanusk champion, Heniarth Arietta, co-owned by himself, Meirion Davies and Australian breeder, Wendy Trimble of the Tooravale stud, who was there to witness the moment.   Arietta is by 2015 and 2019 sire ratings champion and 2014 RWAS Section B champion Heniarth Woodwind, who is himself out of thrice RWAS champion, Eyarth Windflower.  Eyarth Windflower is also the dam of the winner of the yearling filly class, Heniarth Tickled Pink, sired by Hooravale Houston; and Windflower is also the grand-dam of the winning two year old filly, Tea Time de l’Aurore, out of Heniarth Thingamagig. This was the charming French born and owned filly’s second consecutive triumph at the Royal Welsh having also won the yearling filly class last year.  Interestingly, she is by the French based sports pony champion, Heniarth Tintagel, who is by Rhoson Adonis, a full brother to Arietta’s dam, Heniarth Anoushka.

Heniarth Arietta
Photograph by Equinepix

Tea Time de L’Aurore
Photograph by Equinepix

The remaining colt classes were also closely linked.  Steph Mansfield headed the yearling colt class with the Mansfield family’s Cadlanvalley Masterclass.  By HOYS and Royal International ridden champion Cadlanvalley Buzby, the upstanding colt is out of Waxwing Princess Royal and was sold to the family as a foal.  Second to him was the Cadlanvalley stud’s Waxwing Masterplan (Eyarth Beau Geste x Mynach Mimosa) , bought as a potential outcross in the future.  Steph Mansfield also headed the two year old colt class with the family’s homebred Janpete Class Act.

Cadlanvalley Masterclass
Photograph by Equinepix

Janpete Class Act
Photograph by Equinepix

Section Cs

The overall section C tricolour was awarded by judge Alun Lewis to the winner of the stallion class and male champion, Deryk Dykes’ Gwenllan Madoc.  The fourteen year old Parc Marvel son, out of Gwenllan Awel belied his years to give a fabulous performance and take the stallion class and male championship en route to this highest award.  Reserve male champion went to second placed stallion, Jackie and Peter Dennings’ Tyreos Aragorn (Starcrest Gold Sovereign x Tyreos Aggie Gwyn), shown by Tony Newman.

Gwenllan Madoc
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Tyreos Aragorn
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

The female championship went to Victor Moore’s Tycwm Abbey-Grace shown by his son John Moore whilst her filly foal at foot was shown by daughter Demi Moore.  The seven year old previous RWAS winner took the Paddock Dawn trophy for the best brood mare for the second time consecutively.  She is by previous sire ratings champion Moorcroft the Master and out of Tycwm Abbeyleigh.

Tycwm Abbey-Grace
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Gavin Ingram’s Royal Highland winner, Dhanak Prudence (Dhanak R-S x Dhanak Petruska) headed the senior broodmare class.  Interestingly, both the winning barren mares were sired by the same stallion.  The junior barren mare class was headed by Glen Ransom’s homebred Savoy Pearly Queen (Gellihaf Brenin x Hafodyrynys China Rose), whilst the senior class was won by Roger Davies’ homebred Hywi Ruby (Gellihaf Brenin x Annod Tywysoges).

Dhanak Prudence
Photograph by Equinepix

Savoy Pearly Queen
Photograph by Equinepix

Hywi Ruby
Photograph by Equinepix

Taking the youngstock championship and reserve female was Ceri Fell’s aptly named yearling filly, Brynseion Little Lush, by twice Royal Welsh winner, Donys Importance, and out of Laurtom Little Gem.  She also went on to take the reserve female championship, shown throughout by Gemma Paxford.

Brynseion Little Lush
Photograph by Equinepix

Reserve youngstock champion was the winner of the two year old filly class, Tom Parkinson’s Dabernon She’s Magic, bred by Peter Hussey.  By Moorcroft More Magic, she’s out of Dabernon Vanessa Mai. Taking the final filly class, was three year old Lampeter champion, Fronarth Jade Jones, owned by the Jones family and shown by Dafydd Jones.

Dabernon She’s Magic
Photograph by Equinepix

Fronarth Jade Jones
Photograph by Equinepix

The colt classes were well attended. Taking the first of the colt classes was Joe Jimmy Lee and Tommy Fountain’s Rhydeilian X-Pert (Donys Dick Turpin x Rhydeilian Seren Aur), who kicked off a succesful season standing supreme yearling at Lampeter.  In the two year old colt class, it was Clare Granger’s turn to take home the red rosette, this time with Dycott Silver Shadow who is out of Vignoles Gwendoline and by thrice RWAS driven Section C winner, Cargarsar Silver Shadow.  The three year old colt class was won by previous winner and 2019 Glanusk champion Rhoswen Tenor, shown by owner-breeder David Oliver. He is by previous Royal Welsh supreme in-hand exhibit and Cuddy finalist Rhoswen Guardsman and out of Brynmair Serena.

Rhydeilian X-Pert
Photograph by Equinepix

Dycott Silver Shadow
Photograph by Equinepix

Rhoswen Tenor
Photograph by Equinepix

Welsh Part Bred

Margie Edwards of the Nefydd stud in Debighshire enjoyed strong Welsh Part-bred classes, with a range of types forwards, being testament to the versatility of the Welsh Part-bred.

Brookvale Celtic-Isle (Strinesdale Temptation x Brookvale Cushla) returned to the ring to prove his previous win in the stallion class was no fluke by taking the class again for owners Matthew Everitt and Adrian Chapman before going on to stand overall champion. In reserve was Janette Walker’s Shillito Miss Moneypenny (Deanhills Royal Portrait x Bracon Tiara), winner of the class for barren mares and geldings under 148cms.

Brookvale Celtic-Isle
Photograph by Equinepix

The yearling classes were won by Menedh Spring Storm (Jackets Shade of Blue x Annandale Mischief) owned by Carolyn Campbell, and Hatterall Las Vegas (Lodor Ffrwlyn Llwyd x Mona De Smet), owned by Victoria Bertorelli.

The first of the two and three year old classes went to the Moorhall stud’s diminutive beauty, Moorhall Peter Pan (Stanley Grange Cocksure x Moorhall Tinkerbelle) en route to the youngstock championship.  In reserve youngstock champion was the winner of the last of the youngstock classes for two and three year olds over 148cms, Skelwith Adonis (RFS Socrates x Skelwith Gyfyichan-Cyntaf), owned by Elizabeth Launder.

Moorhall Peter Pan
Photograph by Equinepix

The 2018 supreme ridden exhibit, Penstrumbly Our Latif (Liberace x Penstrumbly Our Annie) won the class for barren mares and geldings over 148cms class for owner David Thomas.  It was the dam of the youngstock champion, Moorhall stud’s Moorhall Tinkerbelle (Ninfield Spectacular x Moorhall Catalena) that headed the brood mare class, proving herself to be as classy as her offspring.

Welsh Geldings

The gelding classes had encouraging entries this year with bumper numbers forwards on the Tuesday afternoon.  Judges Clare Willis-Burton and David Roberts had their work cut out to sort their classes.  The overall tricolour was awarded to the winner of the adult Section A class, Menai Slip-On Johnny, shown by Taylah Lee and owned by the Jones family of the Menai stud.  The seven year old, elegant gelding is by Knolton Daylight and out of Menai Slip-On.  Taking the class for youngstock Section A geldings was Abbie Dark’s lucky sales purchase, Glebedale Rock-and-Roll (Thistledown Valderama x Pendock Rumba).  He was shown by his breeder, Kitty Bodily, just weeks after his return from the marshes where he has been allowed to mature at his own pace.

Menai Slip-On Johnny
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Glebedale Rock-and-Roll
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

The Section B youngstock and adult classes were won by John and Ann James’ homebred Sianwood Wolf-Whistle (Waxwing Penny Whistle x Sianwood Antonia) shown by David James, and Christine Roberts’ Rockbury Pride (Steehorst Freelance x Cwrtycadno Pili-Pala).

Sianwood Wolf Whistle
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Rockbury Pride
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

David Roberts awarded the Section C youngstock class to Melissa Mann’s Leyeswick Master Steps (Leyeswick Casino Jack x Leyeswick Miss Pixie), whilst Donys Stand N’Deliver (Donys Importance x Rosie O’Neill) delivered the goods for breeders John and Jacky Kirk in the adult class, shown by Joanna Smith.

Leyeswick Master Steps
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Donys Stand N’Deliver
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

In the Section Ds, it was Sue James’ Crugybar JFW (Gwynfaes Culhwch x Crugybar Martha Morganna Mai) who headed the youngstock class, and Emily Corrie’s Danaway Benitez (Brookhamlodge Joseph x Danaway Priscilla) took the remaining red rosette on offer, for the best of the adult Section Ds.

Welsh Ridden Classes

The Monday morning’s ridden classes were a fine spectacle to kick off proceedings in the main ring.

The ridden Section Cs were nose-to-tail as they opened the morning’s classes, judged by Stuart Morgan and Emily Whalley.  Getting their seal of approval and taking the class was Paula Whitlock’s flashy Bodynys Kaino (Lynard Mr Tom x Blaencila Angel) under Katy Marriott Payne.  Close behind them was the reserve champion, Nicole Musson astride her own homebred mare, Corstan Penelope (Tinvaal Gaucho x Synod Lady Penelope), fresh from her recent Northleach victory.

Bodynys Kaino
Photograph by Equinepix

The tricolour and the Gorfelyn Perpetual Trophy for the overall ridden Section D champion was awarded by judges Paul Harper and Smantha Roberts to the winner of the mare class, John and Elaine Spain’s homebred ten year old, Brynfforest Anwen under producer Sophie Curry.  Better known at home as Betty, this pretty and typey mare is by Caemansel Welsh warrior and our of Abergavenny Nerys.

Brynfforest Anwen
Photograph by Equinepix

Reserve was Emma Boardman astride her own Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso, the winner of an enormous gelding class.  This stunning bay by Trevallion Picasso and out of Pennal Sian is no stranger to the top spot, being the reigning HOYS Section D winner and Olympia Best of Breed, and a previous Royal International winner.  Taking the ridden stallion class for the second time was the upstanding 2017 ridden champion, Menai Eurostar, ridden by producer Clare Fitch on behalf of his owner, Karen Johnson.   He is by Menai Superstar and out of Menai Miss Ellie.

Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso
Photograph by Equinepix

Menai Eurostar
Photograph by Equinepix

Classes for ridden Sections A and B returned to the ring after a noted absence of many years, and were very well supported.  Heading the Section B class was Kate Williams after catching a lucky chance ride on Carolyn Cox’s Eyarth Braveheart (Eyarth Tacoma x Eyarth Davita), whilst Georgia Auinger’s Ysselvliedts Nushki (Heniarth Quinell x Ysselvliedts Nuralia) took home the gold medal for the winning ridden Section A.

Eyarth Braveheart
Photograph by Sarah Hayman

Ysselvliedts Nushki
Photograph by Equinepix

Report by Bethan Simons