UK Crabbet Show, 2007    
Article by Anne Brown for "The Arabian Magazine"
 

 

With the cancellation of the National Championships at Malvern as well as some county shows because of flooding, opportunities to show off our Arabs were thin on the ground this year. So the Crabbet Show in September was especially welcome. And all the more, because it was held in the historic Walled Garden of Belvoir Castle by kind invitation of Frances, Duchess of Rutland. I can well recall Indian Diadem, Sunlight's Allegro and other stallions of the Rutland Stud using this as their turn-out paddock in the early 1980s. It also played host to one of the Crabbet Convention parades in 1985 - so a fitting setting for an old-style show.

The rules required "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". The calm presentation of the horses, the sunny weather and the beauty of the surroundings combined to produce a most enjoyable day.

Too few entries were forward in many youngstock classes - in fact no geldings at all - resulting in walk-overs in one or two cases. It became apparent early on that the coveted Sire Produce Award, sponsored by Binley Stud, would be closely contested between Imad, the eventual winner and Indian Banner, the runner-up.

But Jane Kadri had some strong horses forward, with her PHA Silvern Risalm filly, Durdana, out of Dahisha, winning the Yearling Fillies. Gina Hunt's home-bred SA Sacred Spirit by Crystal Magic won the Yearling Colts. Indian Samba by Indian Banner went from winning the Two-Year Old Colt class to standing 2nd to his full sister, Indian Jasmine in the One to Three year Old Potential Sport Horse class. The lovely Sa'ira (Indian Idyll x Sa'lilah) owned and bred by Caroline Sussex, won the Adult Sport Horse class, with Heather Jackson's Shiffalia (Shiffal x Rose of Bediya) in second place, both pure Crabbet mares.

A really strong class of nine Stallions judged by Peter Whitlow, delighted to crowd. The final placings were hotly contested with first finally going to Jane Kadri's Daas (Imad x Dancing Queen), just beating the Duchess of Rutland's dark grey 4-year old Silvern Surprise (Imad x Silvern Princess) into second place and the rich chestnut Crystal Magic (Silvern Sceptre x Crystal Lazuli) in third.

Bonny Burgess judged the ethereal Mares without Foals, placing the prolifically successful Silvern Sheena (Silvern Sceptre x Crystal Sheen) first, above Sa'ira and the Duchess of Rutland's home-bred Crowned Jewel. Just two entries were forward for the Mares with Foals - but what quality! The eventual winner - and Overall Supreme In-Hand Champion of the Show - was Indian Princess, owned jointly by the Duchess of Rutland, Mrs Rosemary Archer and Mrs Gari Dill Marlow, with Silvern Pearl (Prince Sadik x Silvern Dream), owned and bred by Caroline Sussex, a most worthy second. The two strong, refined colts retained their dams' placings in the Foal class.

In the well-filled Gelding class, Fairwinds Jedi, seemingly equally successful in hand and under saddle, beat PHA Silvern Scepris (Silvern Sceptre x Rislina), the full brother of WAHO winner PHA Silvern Rislam, into second place. Third was Al Rakka (Roxan x Russalka) whose owner, Annette Norris, had to contend with a low fly-past by the Red Arrows during her lad's individual show. The Gelding In-hand Championship went to Fairwinds Jedi with PHA Silvern Scepris in Reserve.

The Veteran class added a touch of nostalgia to the proceedings, especially the
grand sight of Royal Lustre at the age of 33, by Rafid, the last son of Indian Magic,
who eventually placed fourth. First went to the great all-round Valetta Madirigal,
a grey 18-year old gelding by Hunters Song x High Elms Mahrahna, exhibited by
Georgina Rees, second to 20-year old Rakka, and third to Ashtaris, a 19-year old
stallion by Prince Shazani x Ankartis.

It was encouraging to see the Ridden classes so well filled, and hotly contested. The
UKIAHS winner, Storm Gold, an 11-year old gelding by Imad, ridden by Kirsty Brown
was beaten into second place by Fairwinds Jedi ridden by Lorna Ewin in the Open
Geldings. The delightful pure Crabbet mare Silver Brocade, ridden by Stephanie Turner, won her Open class against strong competition from Silver Lil, ridden by Andrea Boyle, and Red House Zindarella. But just one stallion was forward for his Open class, so Valletta Hunters Moon went forward to the Ridden Championship, finally won by Silver Brocade with Fairwinds Jedi in reserve.

PHA Silvern Scepris beat Galoul into second place in the Novice Ridden Geldings. With Red House Zindarella, Rizaari and Shiffalia taking the first three places in the Novice Ridden Mares. Only Ibn Al Antoon presented in the Novice ridden stallions.

The Young Riders (11-18 years) put on a fine show with Kiri Thorogood-Le'Vell winning on Shiffalia, Becky Galloway taking second on Irexana Valentina (Idris x Irexandya) and Natalie Johnson-Cruise third on the Saker son, Spyros.

In the final championships, Dass took the Male Overall In Hand title, Silvern Princess, the Female Overall In Hand title and Overall In hand Champion to win the Gadebrook Shield. Shiffalia won the High Points award for a pure Crabbet entry, sponsored by ACDABONA, the group of North American Crabbet breeders, with Fairwinds Jedi, a worthy winner of the Best in Show High Points Award sponsored by Lakeside Arabian Stud.

Copyright: Anne Brown 2007