2nd report by Anne on the Crabbet championships held at the AHS National Show at Malvern 2009.

A DOUBLE FOR THE DUCHESS

With the sad death of WAHO-winning stallion Imad at the age of 24 last April, it was particularly poignant to see so many of his stock excelling this year - they practically stole the show!

Held for the first time in conjunction with the AHS National Show at Malvern, the four 2009 Crabbet Championship classes presented themselves before Mrs Ann Hooley, normally more at home riding and judging Arabs under saddle. But Mrs Hooley obviously liked the quiet way of going, with no poses, twirls or other tricks of showmanship. The eyes of the crowd at the main Ring A soon swivelled to Main ring B once they realised the quality of the horses parading - so much so, it is rumoured the Crabbet Championship may be invited into the bigger main ring next year.

To qualify for the four in-hand classes - Geldings; Mares; Stallions; and Youngstock - the horse had to have a minimum of 75% Crabbet blood and have won or been placed 2nd in a Crabbet class during the past three years, in hand or under saddle. So there were no tail end Charlies. The entries were consistently high, though the electric atmosphere took its toll on the behaviour of one or two colts and stallions not used to the size of the Three Counties Showground.

As judging was about to start, the ring stewards were delayed due to overrunning classes. Fortunately, volunteer ring stewards sprang into action, including Andrea Orr from the USA, Carolyn Kokta and Joanna Sweet, sister of Natalie, who was taking photos for the family firm, Sweet Photograph. The Crabbet Organisation is very grateful for their kind assistance.

The first class of five Senior Geldings, four years old and over, all winners from other shows, almost brought the showground to a stand still. These impressive high percentage Crabbets with their broad fronts and well-balanced movement did us proud. The final winner Zinjadi (Masjadi Gold Shadow x Silver Zingara) bred by Hazel Crowle in 1999 is a typical Crabbet - a big strong chestnut with a blaze and four white stockings. On this occasion he was handled by Lisa Breeze, but will be heading for the Horse of the Year show (HOYS), ridden by Bev Neill. An impressive Ibn Aboud son Astrologer out of the serene Aureme took second place with a nice run out, bringing him up one place in the final line up.

This dropped Fairwinds Jedi, led by owner/rider Lorna Ewin, to 3rd as the judge could not adequately see his long loose paces until the last few strides. In 4th place was the lovely grey, Umay Shikara, shown by breeder Emma Jane Collins, briefly back in the UK from Australia. He is now owned by Susan Gillott. Last - but certainly not least - was the dark chestnut Pilgrim's Spirit by the 2002 British National Champion Aazari.

Next, ten beautiful mares filled the Senior Females class, with little to choose between the top three. But the Zarafah Trophy (and later the Reserve Overall championship) went to the well-balanced 14-year old grey mare Redhouse Zinderella, owned by Davina Ransley, above another ethereal white grey mare, Silvern Moonlight (Silvern Sceptre x PHA Silver Heart) originally pulled in sixth. Both these mares have won prolifically under saddle. In fact, Silvern Moonlight has qualified for the ultimate ridden challenge at HOYS in October for the first time.

Jane Kadri's impressive mover Gold Elyse with her lovely foal by Daas, retained her third position, followed by the elegant Imad daughter Gemima owned by the Duchess of Rutland. Then in 5th, the pretty chestnut 4-year old Amour Etoile, followed by the generously-proportioned Maiad, a HOYS qualifier by Imad, Silver Diamond by Spirit of Silver and in 8th place Melissa Rose, who had earlier come 5th with owner Valda Angier in the Novice Senior Mares Ridden class.

Tension mounted for the stallion class, with most of the eight entries shown by experienced handlers. In this strong class, Silvern Surprise, smartly shown by Ian Woodward, fought to first and took the Hanif Trophy for the Rutland Stud. Another success for his prepotent sire Imad, who had also sired the second placed, Daas, last year's Champion Crabbet stallion for owner and breeder Jane Kadri. Daas produced a lovely run with handler Dean Ingham.

The Champion of the first Crabbet show in 2006 in Devon, the majestic white grey Imperial Silver Star was moved up to 3rd from 5th in the original line, showing the strength of the competition. This left the chestnut Silver Highwayman, by Spirit of Silver x Shirley Victoria, bred by Dorothy Matthias and owned by Patrice Morris, in 4th place but pushed Elizabeth Archer's 19-year old pure Crabbet Indian Idyll to 5th. Perhaps this supreme gentleman was just too laid back in this company.

Ibn al Antoon (Antoon x Kariszma), the pretty bay 6-year old owned and bred by Mrs Gillian Bryan placed 6th above 11-year old Crystal Magic (Silvern Sceptre x Crystal Lazuli), looking wonderful but behaving badly as he often does when out of his comfort zone at home with Gina Hunt. This left the perfectly behaved white grey 15-year old performance horse Shiroun (Ibn Shirar x Nafeesah), in 8th place, owned and bred by Mrs Audrey Davies and Abdel Maksoud.

The exquisite crystal rose bowl engraved with the famous frontage of the Crabbet Park clock tower entrance, donated by Llain Arabians for the Youngstock Champion, went to Dhay, a handsome chestnut yearling colt by Spearmint out of the Imad daughter Daleela, a thrilling win for owner Tina Bennett.

Fiona Leng's fine-boned grey Imad yearling filly Autumn Dew moved up from third place to take the second place, above the Duchess of Rutland's Charade, so far, the first and only offspring of Silvern Surprise. Sunlight's Imadge by Imad out of last year's Princess Muna Saddle of Honour winner, Autumn Sunlight who had already been in the ribbons at Malvern this year for owner/breeder Madelaine Sutherland, placed 4th, above the pure Crabbet, Crystal Sapphire (Ibn Silver x Crystal Treasure), a quality filly owned and bred by Michael and Wendy Carr.

The excitement of the occasion proved too much for prancing Silvern Lance, an impressive grey 2-year old by Spearmint out of Silvern Princess, whose behaviour on this occasion put him to the end of the line, impressive as he was.

So the Overall Championship went to the dapple grey 6-year old stallion Silvern Surprise with the winning mare Redhouse Zinderella in Reserve, and the yearling colt Dhay in Reserve Reserve. The Supreme Champion also won a beautiful in-hand bridle generously donated by Diamond Design by Melanie Waring.

The four champions were presented with engraved silver salvers kindly given by Alexia Ross - congratulations to them all. And every entrant received an Al Aryam Arabians bag of goodies.

Altogether, a fine display of Crabbet Arabians, which in the words of judge Ann Hooley: "were a pleasure to judge, with good limbs and bone, and naturally powerful movement."

A Pimms party after the Championships back at the ever-busy Crabbet tent drew crowds, including the winners of the fund-raising Grand Crabbet Draw. The generously sponsored prizes, worth over £1,000, included six stable mats from JWS, dressage boots, saddle pad, numnah and a sheepskin grooming mitten from Mattes Equestrian, a full turn-out rug from Snuggy Hood, dressage stirrup leathers from Frank Baines, two pairs of Mac Wet gloves - and a 2010 membership to the Crabbet Organisation. Heartfelt thanks go to Suzanne Cruise for organising the raffle and to Suzanne and Alexia for their sterling work in organising the Crabbet Championships.

The Crabbet tent always seems the busiest on the showground, with brightly displayed stud boards, books, videos and DVDs on sale, and a host of people happy to talk about their favourite Arabians always available to welcome visitors.

Copyright Anne Brown 2009