Hobart Royal gets on with the show despite redevelopment
THE Royal Hobart Show horse program had a bit of a shake-up this year due to continuing redevelopment works at the showgrounds.
Classes were held at the Tasmanian Equestrian Centre at Lauderdale instead of the Glenorchy site, which has been the home of the royal show since 1904 except for the past two years while work progresses on a new arena and pavilions.
Mainlanders who have seen Melbourne’s showgrounds shrink over the years will be envious to hear that Hobart’s showgrounds, 10 minutes north of the city, are, according to the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania, equivalent to a third of the size of the Hobart central business district.
The redevelopment will take three years, with the show not expected back at its traditional site until 2025.
So out on its own – other show events were held for the second year at the Regatta Grounds and the city hall in central Hobart – competitor numbers the horse section were steady, in much the same way as the mainland events, and wins were well earned.
Hobart has an especially large variety of classes with child’s novice, newcomer and size sections.
One of the most successful competitors was young Darcy Watkins with her Shetland Marbell Wallace. The pony was not only champion ridden Shetland, but also reserve champion small pony show hunter leading rein to Darcy’s other mount, the charming chestnut Welsh pony, Kawanna Park Pablo.
Tamara Lee made a quick trip across from Victoria to win champion large show hunter pony and the best novice ridden show hunter exhibit with her home-bred Tamrie Park Secret Image.
Kawanna Park Pablo was judged as the champion small show hunter ridden pony, with Rhonda Hall’s Tibooburra Tryst reserve.
Winner of the large show hunter galloway was Jess Elphinstone on Beaufort Sunshine and reserve champion was Fiona Clark on Magic Show.
The off-the-track (OTT) series is strong in Tasmania with the winning show hunter award going to Emily Jones’ Bachelor Baron.
Hayley Geary is a rider who is more familiar with competing at horse trials but her off-the-track Thoroughbred Fancy Danz won the OTT hack sash at her first royal show. Fancy Danz was also champion small hack and rounded the show out by being judged as the winner of the Colonel Pope trophy.
The trophy for the best novice open horse of the show judged from hacks, galloways and ponies went to Leanne Bell’s galloway Monrose Park Makinbg Music.
Standardbreds are also gaining recognition at royal shows and at Hobart, Lily Blundstone’s Gotta Good Reason, won the HERO trophy.
In the show hunter hack section, Rhonda Hall’s Enticing was the winning OTT horse, Jody Rybarczyk’s Oscar De La Renta champion small show hunter hack and Amy Griffith’s Dubussy the big show hunter.
Full results
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