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The showing rules said it all really: "Horses to be shown sensibly - any horse or handler causing stress to other exhibitors may be asked to leave the ring; no circling, no over-stretching, and no 'decorated' whips". So our first Crabbet Show resembled the old days at Kempton Park when breeders like Pam Murray and Annette Hedley still handled their own horses at the annual Arab Horse Society championships, though the horses were often fitter than the handlers! Despite the huffing an puffing and early rain - and a few distressed lorries littering the Devon lanes - the show got off to a great start with top class judges keen to see our Crabbet horses presented in the traditional way. Popular international judge Astra Temple had flown from Australia for most of our In-hand classes. The doyenne of British Crabbet breeding, Rosemary Archer, looked after the in-hand mares and the Veterans. Grand Prix dressage rider Lucinda McAlpine judged the Dressage and Sport Horse classes (more entries next year, please), and Stephanie Turner brought her usual calm approach to the Ridden classes. It was considered a privilege to come under such expert scrutiny. However closer attention to the judges' instructions would have altered many placings, according to one judge. Overseas visitors included Jeri and Marty Kirkhuff from Arizona and Joanna Garofalo from Virginia, all members of ACABONA (Australian Crabbet Arabian Breeders of North America). They kindly brought over a special trophy for the High Points Pure Crabbet competitor, won by Shiffalia (Shiffal x Rose of Bediya) and proud owner Heather Jackson for her performance in the In-hand mares and Sport Horse classes. And Rebecca Vuillermin (last seen at the 2005 Crabbet Convention in Toowoomba four months pregnant carrying the Australian standard into the arena riding Roxborough Bandoleer), popped into our show with her new-born baby on a visit to England. The most senior human spectator - and co-owner of Magic Fire (Hachim x Nishtar) - was 93-y o Mary Griffiths. She owns the 8-year old pure Crabbet Advanced level endurance mare jointly with Joanne Holman who entered her for her first-ever Ridden Class as a Novice - and walked away with the Reserve Supreme Ridden Championship of the Show, beaten only by the exquisite Silvern Prince (Prince Sadik x Silvern Image) winner of the Open Ridden Championship and Silver Cup, bred, owned and ridden by Caroline Sussex. The Stallion Champion (for the Hanif Trophy) and Overall In-hand Show Champion for the Gadebrook Shield was the magnificent Imperial Silver Star (Shabash x Zaidah), now almost pure white, owned and bred by Geoffrey Plaister. Despite slight infirmity in the hips, Geoffrey came into the ring for the presentation, clearly delighted that his wonderful horses are still recognized for their quality and movement. Reserve Overall In-hand Champion went to the sprightly Indian Idyll (Silvern Idyll x Indian Golddust), owned and bred by Elizabeth Archer. Coppermead Alexa (Indian Diadem x Princess Alaina of Burstow) won the Female Championship title for Pamela and Sarah Nosworthy, with Heather Jackson's Shiffalia in Reserve. Umay Shikara (Shalkar x Bij Bij) won the Gelding Championship and the Reserve Overall In-Hand Championship for Emma Collins, with Gosston Sunlight (Sun Shadow x Widhill Lucaida) the Gelding Reserve Champion. The Prelim Dressage tests were both won by Emma Jane Lineham on her Desert Sayble (Saiyad x Desert Zahde) with Nicky Ghetler in 2nd place on her Sundance (Jazmir x Silver Ingot). Much of the drama had taken place outside the Blackdown Hills Cross Country Course before the show had even started. Mil Gracias and Crystal Magic, travelling the long distance from Essex with owners Pat Welfare and Gina Hunt, settled in comfortably at Michael Harris' Coombe Farm Stud a few miles away while owners (and three-year old Emily) bedded down in the horse-box - but not for long. A mass break-out of Michael's cattle at one in the morning woke the ladies and almost tipped them out of their bunks as they careered into the vehicle. So, wellies on and nighties flying, the ladies helped herd the cows back to their pasture in the pitch dark. Meanwhile, Pam and Paul Flower, stewards extaordinaire, had broken down in their lorry on the M5 and waited endlessly for the repair chap who had - it turned out - gone to the M4 by mistake. Caroline Sussex had a few moments of panic with HER lorry which arrived at the course with smoke pouring from her under-carriage (the lorry's, not Caroline's!). Not a serious problem as it turned out but hardly what you need with a stallion and a two-year old filly on board. But by evening, after a decidedly soggy "Pleasure Ride" re-routed at the last minute due to an unscheduled Clay Pigeon shoot right beside the path, the warmth, hospitality and good food provided at her home by Kay Firth-Butterfield and her family (notably husband Walter and mother-in-law on holiday from the USA) set the mood for a most congenial weekend. A huge vote of thanks to them and to all the volunteers and sponsors who made this first show such a success.
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