2018 ASHS National Show & Fountain of Youth Sale Wrap Up

Following 10 days of intense and fierce competition the Australian Stock Horse National Show once again has wrapped up for another successful year.Attracting over 470 competitors and 827 horses from across the country the event was held at the world class facility of the Australian Equine Livestock Events Centre in Tamworth NSW. Due to increased Campdraft entries the event started a day earlier on Thursday 1^st March through to Saturday 10^th March.

 

History was made when Amanda Hollis from Walcha NSW became the first female to win the Pryde’s Easi Feed Maiden Series Campdraft in its 21 years of being held with her mare KIRKBYS STUD GLITTER (HAZELWOOD CONMAN - IS HSH X KIRKBYS STUD GLEAM - HSH) following three rounds of competition.  Amanda was presented with a Killmore Custom Trophy Saddle along with a winner’s cheque of $5,000 and horse feed thanks to Sponsor, Prydes EasiFeed. The excitement continued when Amanda also won the Mavericks Western Wear Ladies Campdraft with ADIOS FLORENCE (HAZELWOOD CONMAN - IS HSH X ADIOS FLO JO – HSH) following 2 rounds of tough competition.

 

Tamworth local Rob Leach and HAZELWOOD CONGRESSMAN (HAZELWOOD CONMAN - IS HSH x DULOC MIDNIGHT RUN) won the R.M.Williams Open Campdraft for the second year in a row with an overall score of 182, consisting of an 89 and a massive 93 points on this young 6 year stallion bred by the G & K Cook Partnership. The power and high performance of Stallions at the Campdraft continued with DOONGARA MANPOWER – HSH ridden and owned by Adam Wallen becoming champions of the Performax International Stallion Campdraft while another local, John Lee and JATS BAR ADIOS ACRES (ACRES DESTINY – IS x JATS BAR RADIUMS REFLECTION - HSH) was awarded the winner of the two round Martins Stock Haulage Novice Campdraft. This Stallion was reliable through the whole competition with multiple riders where John also placed equal second in the Performax International Stallion Campdraft and young rider Katie de Jong placing equal 3^rd in the Mavericks Western Wear Ladies Campdraft.

The National Show’s featured challenge event was the National Futurity celebrating its 30^th year anniversary with 74 competitors battling it out on their 3 year old horses. Taking the win and a Trophy Saddle from Marsh Carney Saddlery following multiple sections was Glenn Frazer with DEROWIE SERENDIPITY (TAMARANG DESTINYS SERENITY x HAZELWOOD COMMA – HSH). This combination also won the title of highest scoring Fountain of Youth Sale Incentive Horse, proving that the Sale is definitely where success begins. Glenn Frazer from Playmore Stock Horses at Wollar NSW purchased the black mare at the 2016 Fountain of Youth Sale from vendors and breeders Jock and Kate Gorton from Cudal NSW. This is the second time an incentive sale horse has become a National Futurity Champion where in 2014 LONE PINE FLYN - HSH and Ken Turner took the honours.

 

Other major challenge events that offered a share in a total prize pool of $140,000 included the Rosebrook ASH Stud National Maturity for 4 year old horses with 74 riders competing for the prized Stan Bowd custom Trophy Saddle. The champion title went to Mark Field and NANDEYE DEFLECT (ACRES DESTINY x NANDEYE REFLECT – HSH). This horse was bred by the Field Family where the full sister NANDEYE DESTINYS DREAM won this event only last year. Mark’s speech thanked all involved with holding the event and to his parents Judy & Malcom Field in a very heart felt tribute.

 

The Affinity Insurance Snaffle Bit Futurity for 2 year olds saw exceptional training and temperament of these young Australian Stock Horses. Brett Welsh was awarded the Champion from a field of 98 competitors on ALLSTARS HARMONY (ACRES DESTINY – IS x GLEN LEE RIVOLI ANGELIQUE) a chestnut mare bred and owned by the Marshall Welsh Family at Kerry, QLD. Brett took home prizemoney sponsored by Affinity Insurance and a trophy saddle from Hawkesbury River Saddle Company.

The R.M Williams Abbey Open Challenge attracted large numbers with 130 competitors. The winner was Gerald O’Brien and OBRIENS OZETTE – HSH (OBRIENS VEDETTE – HSH x OBRIEN FAMILY YVEETTE – HSH). This 7 year old Stallion was consistent through all phases of the challenge placing second in the Working, equal second in the Campdraft section, equal 5^th in the Hack and 4^th in the Time Trial. Gerald was delighted to take home the Simon Gray Saddlery trophy saddle and a large share of the $10,000 prizemoney provided by long term sponsor R.M.Williams. Gerald’s wife Kyra was crowned the Champion only the year before therefore it was amazing to see their back to back team win.

Triple Crown Winner was BRANDWOOD ARIZONA ridden by Cole Moxey and owned by Nicole Barnes both from Goulburn, NSW. Their accumulative scores from the 2016 Snaffle Bit Futurity, 2017 National Futurity and the 2018 National Maturity won them a Trophy Saddle kindly sponsored by Hawkesbury River Saddle Company along with $1,400 cash by Hawkesbury River Saddle Co & Affinity Insurance Brokers.

Showing the true versatility of the Australian Stock Horse, the Dressage competition held on the brand new AELEC arenas provided great results for Sandra Langsford (JILLIBY, NSW) who was awarded the Champion Elementary and the Overall Winner of the Conquistador II Trophy on MAYBAH NUMBER FIVE. April Docherty from Upper Rouchelm NSW was in great form aboard WAYON J FORT DESTINY owned by Tydepark Performance Horses, when she won both the Champion Preliminary and Champion Novice. Madeline Brown with WAYMERE OAKS LATITUDE became Champion Young Horse 4YO & Under Preliminary.

 

The Supreme Horses of the Show once again displayed a high standard when a gelding GLENKELL JESSIE (ARCADIA LORYS LAD – HSH X GLENKELL APPLIQUE – HSH) owned by A Blomfield with handler Teena Bridge was awarded Supreme Led. Supreme Hack Horse went to BRANDWOOD ARIZONA a mare who qualified twice from her win as Champion English Attire Hack with owner Nicole Barnes and then again with Cole Moxey aboard in the 4 yr Old Champion Hack. Lastly the National Show wrapped up for another year with a strong finish when stallion DELRIO DESTINY ridden by Warwick Lawrence and owned by Helen Batterham won the title as the 2018 Supreme Working Horse of the Show.

 

The 2018 ASHS Fountain of Youth Sale was held in conjunction with the National Show on Sunday 4th March. 88 ASH yearlings and 2 year olds were offered for sale, 56 sold grossing $324,250 with an overall average of $5790. This provided a gross increase close to $80,000 on last year’s sale mainly due to the popularity of this sale attracting more sale horses. Topping the sale was Lot 75 "DAVIDSONS ACE MAN - HSH", an impressive HAZELWOOD CONMAN colt out of DAVIDSONS ROMANCE (by WARRENBRI ROMEO - IS HSH) on account of KB & DC Davidson. He sold for $14,500 to LC & NC Adams of Maffra, VIC. Mr Toby Frazer of Dunnedoo, NSW, had a strong sale with 2 of his yearling fillies selling for $13,500 to be equal top price females. Both fillies, Lot 77 "BULLSEYE LOYALTY" (GLEN LEE RIVOLI TEAK- HSH x BULLSEYE HOPE) and Lot 91 "BULLSEYE WHITNEY" (BINNIA IMPRESSIVE DESTINY X BINNIA MIDNIGHT) sold to Drummonslopes Cattle Company. Top priced gelding was Lot 32 "DEROWIE PHOENIX" on behalf of Jock & Kate Gordon- Derowie Performance Horses, Cudal. The TAMARANG DESTINYS SERENITY x ROPELEY PARK PORTFOLIO yearling gelding sold for $8,000 to the Sullivan Family. All horses purchased are eligible for the Australian Stock Horse and Landmark incentives to the value of $10,000 and exclusive classes at the 2019 Australian Stock Horse Nationals.

The Directors, Staff, Committee and Volunteers put countless hours into the National Show and are keen to build on its popularity with dates already set from 1^st to 9^th March 2019.  They are pleased to see the strength of the Australian Stock Horse breed with the quality of horses who competed at this year’s richest ASH event.