Victoria's regional royal really is something special
- Fran Cleland
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
THE Royal Geelong Show continues to offer a gold-standard horse program, presenting a traditional range of classes for every interest over the four-day event.
As well as the popular saddle horse section, there are breed, heavy horse, harness and pony club events, plus a district category that makes sure everyone gets to compete and have fun at what is also the “local show” for the area.
With a more relaxed atmosphere than the city royals, it's a show where competitors with young horses are comfortable and they can concentrate on performing at their best.
Liv Greenwell had two novices looking to complete qualifications for the Show Horse Council’s Grand National Show next year and Geelong proved just the ticket.
She rode a tricky JD Blackwatch in a snaffle bridle to win classes for novice large show hunter galloway, amateur owner-rider and open large show hunter galloway before going on to be sashed reserve champion large show hunter galloway.
Liv put Josh Clarke aboard to JD Total Fascination to win best novice hack and reserve champion large hack.
Katie Sutton-Kouros’ warmblood Danson Hearts on Fire – aka Batman – thrilled his rider at just his fifth show, taking home sashes for the best novice hunter hack and champion large hunter hack.
The champion small show hunter hack, Brooke and Melissa Wheeler’s CJP Quay Note, went on to be awarded the Rob and Chris Kitson Memorial show hunter hack supreme championship.
Mitch and Brooke Fox travelled from Balmattum in the north of the state with a team of six horses, showing the Standardbred Kasbah Kid under saddle to win champion ridden Standardbred and Malcolm’s Rhythm for supreme led Standardbred.
They added another garland to their collection, showing Oakton Lodge Sudden Seduction to win supreme led Australian Stock Horse.
Jade Gilbert’s Lazy D Captains Shenanigan went supreme ridden stock horse and Asar Collusion ridden by owner Jane Allen won the working stock horse championship.
Once again, the partnership of Greg Gerry and Darren Telford have found yet another beautiful Thoroughbred mare to show, with Countess winning champion small hack and supreme led Thoroughbred.
The large hack championship went to Grace Pihan’s Parklane.
The H.G. Collins Memorial grand champion saddle galloway was awarded to Jenny Diaco’s Diamonds are Forever, who won the novice and open classes for big galloways.
The small galloway champion was Bec Gerber and Leanne Greasley’s Royal Rogue of Hannaley, who also won the small novice class.
The champion small show hunter galloway was Paige Heffernan’s Gentry Park Royalty (also the novice winner) and the large was Ebonie Lee’s Pick Pocket.
Ponies were strong with Cath Bradley’s Nalinga Merry Go Round best novice small pony and Hayley Sheehan’s Brayside Showman champion small pony.
In the big pony section, the best novice was Vicki Pisciotta’s Elizabeth Farm Mr Sinatra and the open champion was Bec Newman’s Whitmere Peony.
The Reimer family’s Riegal Conchita Citroen was the large show hunter pony champion and Alicia Cutugno’s Bordershow Charlemagne the small.
In the stud classes, the supreme led Shetland was Donna Irvine’s Pettavel Foxy Lad and the champion ridden Lee Purchase's Korawyn So Si Bon. Ashley Harris’ Carreg wen Bartley won the ridden Shetland championship in the open saddle section the following day.
The supreme Welsh in hand was Judy Ritchie’s Shanamon Quintessa, and Ashley and Scarlett Porter’s Vanoca Park Amity was champion ridden purebred Welsh. The Porters’ Vanoca Park Wind In The Willows was champion ridden part-bred Welsh.
Sally Murcott and her mum Nancy Miller have been showing quality horses since – well forever, and they won both the champion Australian Saddle Pony championships with Wyoming Park Willow (led) and Wyoming Park Warrack (ridden).
Jess Payne and Murraydale Park Louie were the district ridden champions after also winning best novice large show hunter pony. A win in his open show hunter height class topped a great show off for the pair.
In the busy pony club ring, the champion junior handler sash went to Jack Fried showing Riegal Fine Romance, with his sister Willow and her pony Rivington Folk Singer in reserve.
Taylah Leask was the senior handler with Wizard Town and reserve was Charlotte Calderwood and Izzy.
There were best presented combination awards for all age groups, with Millicent Gardiner riding Melody Park Dancing Queen to win seven years and under, Willow Fried and Rivington Folk Singer the eight to nine years, Luke Bakes and Bamborough Ari the 10 to 11 years, Taylah Leask and Wizard Town the 12 to 13 years and Shylah Marshall and Waymere Oaks Le Star the 16 to 25 years. (No entries 14 to 15 years.)
Luke Bakes was champion junior rider and Shylah Marshall was champion senior rider.
Willow Fried rode Rivington Folk Singer to win champion pony club mount.
The supreme driven light harness pony 10.2hh and under was Christine Anderson's Kilpara Park Mighty Mouse and Christine was also awarded champion driver.
Alice Austin’s Avlon Jewel was the champion non-Hackney Pony driven and long-time exhibitor Rodney Lane took the champion driven Hackney with Reigate Paradox.
The light harness turnout was won by Melissa Benallack driving Kilpara Park Quintanaia.
The Clydesdale and heavy horse section is always popular with the crowd and this year the in-hand champions were RB Park's recently purchased Aarunga May in the purebred class and Joanne Parke's Tap Wicht Toby in the part-bred.
In the heavy harness, Geoffrey Morrison and his pair, Warralinga Rambler and Benns John Deere, were worthy winners in classes for the most authentic vehicle turnout and champion tradesman’s turnout, and they finished their show being named the supreme delivery exhibit.
The supreme champion donkey of the show was Kim Dalton's Western Downs Montana, with Fiona Mottram's Keyso Tambo named champion performance donkey.
The champion mule or hinny was Tammy Griffin’s Hawaiki Bruce.
Grace Carbery showing Apache won the turnout and junior handler class and Renee Carbery and Speckles the encouragement award.
The champion riders for Geelong Royal 2025 were Breanna Woodman (district), Georgina Kavanagh (under nine), Madeline Bridge (nine and under 12), Charlotte Falckh (12 and under 15) Grace Baines (15 and under 18) and Natalie McKay (18 years and over).
Taylah Leask took home the Interschools primary school rider champion sash and Taya Kellas the secondary.
The interschools champion ridden show hunter was Taya Kellas' Sanlirra Drum Call, Jack Fried and Riegal Fine Romance were the ridden show horse champions and Isabelle Rudge and Shamazan The Phoenix won in the working show hunter section.
The led interschool champions were Miss Dior (Taya Kellas, show horse) and Waymere Oaks Le Star (Shylah Marshall, show hunter).
GALLERY
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All images: MANE MEMORIES
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