British National Show

British

National Championships July 29-31 • Malvern, Great Britain

By Betty Finke · Photos by Peter and Marilyn Sweet

Gold Veteran Champion, Bronze Senior Champion Mare, Supreme Crabbet Champion and Senior Female Crabbet Champion Maiad (Imad x Myah) owned

by Peter and Elaine Whitlow.

T

he British Nationals at Malvern still seem to be least affected by the shrinking number of participants afflicting shows elsewhere in Europe.

The entries in the yearling classes alone exceed the total entries of some international B shows on the Continent; and as an added bonus, the quality, at least at the top end of the lineup, is absolutely equal.

Despite being a national show, Malvern also boasts a greater variety of bloodlines than one is likely to see elsewhere. The get of fashionable international sires are certainly there, but so are those of homebred horses. And nowadays, with the Crabbet National Championships being held there too, one gets to see a good number of Crabbet Arabians at the show as well.

In the regular halter classses, there is a strong influence of imported U.S.-bred horses, most notably this year through the two U.K.-based Versace sons, Master Design GA and Vervaldee.

Master Design GA, once again leading sire of the show, is an international champion himself and one that doesn’t just look the part, but is also capable of delivering the goods. There are also

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British

National Championships July 29-31 • Malvern, Great Britain

By Betty Finke · Photos by Peter and Marilyn Sweet

Gold Veteran Champion, Bronze Senior Champion Mare, Supreme Crabbet Champion and Senior Female Crabbet Champion Maiad (Imad x Myah) owned

by Peter and Elaine Whitlow.

T

he British Nationals at Malvern still seem to be least affected by the shrinking number of participants afflicting shows elsewhere in Europe.

The entries in the yearling classes alone exceed the total entries of some international B shows on the Continent; and as an added bonus, the quality, at least at the top end of the lineup, is absolutely equal.

Despite being a national show, Malvern also boasts a greater variety of bloodlines than one is likely to see elsewhere. The get of fashionable international sires are certainly there, but so are those of homebred horses. And nowadays, with the Crabbet National Championships being held there too, one gets to see a good number of Crabbet Arabians at the show as well.

In the regular halter classses, there is a strong influence of imported U.S.-bred horses, most notably this year through the two U.K.-based Versace sons, Master Design GA and Vervaldee.

Master Design GA, once again leading sire of the show, is an international champion himself and one that doesn’t just look the part, but is also capable of delivering the goods. There are also

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Left: Silver Veteran Champion, Bronze Senior Champion Stallion, and First place Veteran Stallion Camargue Too (Carmargue x Naida), owned by A. Hallworth.

Below: Bronze Veteran Champion, Bronze Champion Senior Gelding, and first place Veteran Geldings Karizmatique (Donax x Suhan), owned by Heather Spratt.

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2010 British Nationals

Judges: Mrs. S. J. Plant; Mrs. Lynne Lidbury, Mrs. Ann S. Hooley, Mr. T. Husebye, Mrs. A. Stojanowska, Dr. M. Bancroft, Mr. Richard Mills, Mr. M. J. Harris, Mr. Stuart R. Fleming, Mrs. Brenda Williams, Mrs. Iris Mulvaney, Mrs. Jonquil Solt, Mrs. Sue Harcombe, Miss Joanna Winfield, and Mr. D. Brindley Veteran Championship Gold: Maiad Silver: Carmargue Too Bronze: Karizmatique Senior Champion Stallion Gold: Ronaldo Silver: Ruger AMW Bronze: Carmargue Too Senior Champion Mare Gold: Saszarta Silver: Porcelainna Bronze: Maiad Junior Champion Colt Gold: Reflection LA Silver: Grand Design Bronze: Dream Design Junior Champion Filly Gold: Z Areena Ameera Silver: Glamorous Bronze: Rubi Tuesday Senior Champion Gelding Gold: Zanzibar PA Silver: Emir Ibn Essteema Bronze: Karizmatique

British National Championships

several young, homegrown show-winning stallions whose get are doing well now, such as the WH Justice son AV Montoya (x Metelica) and the mostly Russian-bred Audemars PA (Kais x Asali). The latter had three daughters in the yearling filly classes, one in each, and all placed, including one winner.

This was the junior class winner Rubi Tuesday (x RL Cotton Candy by WH Justice), bred by Mr. and Mrs. Tyzack. This pretty dark chestnut with excellent movements is a daughter of the 2006 Junior Female Champion.

Vervaldee had three daughters in this class who took second, third, and fourth place, followed by the AV Montoya daughter Joy’s Goddess and Aazareena by British-bred former National Champion Aazari, all in all a superb lineup of fillies.

The Canadian import RD Feeonix (Major Jamaal x SA Magic Karma), a typey grey with a long neck and plenty of movement, bred by Pomeroy Arabians and owned by S. Alkohair, was the winner of the intermediate class, followed by daughters of two young “in” sires, ROE Ameera (QR Marc x Balenina) and GP Parys Hilton (Stival x GP Paradisa). ROE Ameera, a half sister to popular sire Psynergy, takes rather after her dam, which isn’t a bad thing either, while GP Parys Hilton is a lot like her sire, despite being grey. In fourth place was another Vervaldee daughter, the charming black Ava, out of the double Simeon Sadik mare Aziza.

The senior class was the biggest, though not necessarily the strongest. It had a superb winner in Northashdivine, an unusual bay daughter of Master Design GA, who in all other aspects than color had all the characteristics her sire is noted for. She won over last year’s reserve champion foal, KFA Love Affair, a daughter of another former National Champion, Ruger AMW. Northashdivine, who is again owned by S. Alkohair, took the Best Yearling Filly title over junior winner Rubi Tuesday.

Two Vervaldee daughters took top honors in the junior two-year-old filly class. The winner, the elegant and feminine chestnut La Stravaganza (x Kazmeara), bred and owned by Mrs. V. I. Tyler, went on to take the best two-year-old filly title. Parydise, in second place, is out of the U.S. import

Junior Champion Gelding Gold: Darcy Silver: Bow Chicka Wow Bronze: Russian Design Foal Champion Gold: Stivalery BJ Silver: Maisa Bronze: Giovarna In-Hand Classes: Veteran Stallions (5) 1. Camargue Too (Carmargue x Naida), A. Hallworth 2. Rusleem (El Saleem x Rullante), Tina Atherton 3. Edeon (Eldon x Emigrantka), P. Lindsay Senior Stallions (8) 1. Ronaldo (Kubinec x Helaliya), Janet Currey 2. Ruger AMW (Tallyen El Jamaal x HE Jiaijna), Clare Fitch & Steve McCormick 3. Krown (Ventican x Krona WMF), A. & J. Davis

Top: Gold Senior Champion Stallion, first place Senior Stallions Ronaldo (Kubinec x Helaliya), owned

by Janet Currey.

Junior Stallions (10) 1. Shamael Apal (Psytadel x SA Natsarah), S. K. Murphy 2. Aja Estrravagance (FS Bengali x G Estarreja), A. Hallworth 3. SG Latif Ibn Liana (KZ Ibreez x Liana El Shaklan), Susan George

Bottom: Silver Senior Champion Stallion and second place Senior Stallions Ruger AMW (Tallyen El Jamaal x HE Jiaijna), owned

by Clare Fitch and Steve McCormick.

Orphaned or Weaned Foals 1. Stivalery BJ (Stival x V Exotic Enchantress), Bychan Arabians 2. CS Evealoution (Krown x Simeon Susie), Mrs. J. Davis Veteran Mare with Foal at Foot (1) 1. EKA (Esplendor x Caravella), Silverdale Foals (8) 1. Maisa (Master Design GA x Mirwa), Jane Kadri 2. Giovarna (Don Giovanni J x Mirwana

Paryfar, a long-necked grey filly rather different in overall type, but no less impressive. Last year’s class winner Shams El Thahabiyya, by German import Psadisho Ibn Esstashan out of the Crabbet mare Rosaliah Gold, was placed third.

The much larger class of senior two-year-old fillies was won by ROE Layaal (Marwan Al Shaqab x ROE Lahab), another excellent filly from a highly successful family, a lovely mover who went on to win reserve best two-year-old filly. She is bred and owned by Talal Aggad, the ROE prefix standing for Round Oak Estate. The bay AA Lavinia (Psy Dream x Lowinia F) of Dutch parentage was placed second, followed by Kapayas Design (by Master Design GA) and TD Giselle (by Vervaldee).

The eventual Junior Female Champion came from the three-year-old class, of which there was only one, but an extra good one with top quality 4 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD

II), Hon. M. A. Wragg 3. Aariz (H Tobago x Red House Zinderella), D. Godwin Foals (6) 1. Avatar (AV Montoya x Aziza), Patricia Hannay 2. Mira des Alpes (Ajman Moniscione x Maya des Alpes), Otto Berg 3. Justa Princessa (WH Justice x HT Odessa), R. Georgeson Senior Mares with Foal at Foot (7) 1. Mirwana II (Mir Wan x Silvers Surprise), Mrs. M. A. Wragg 2. Red House Zinderella (Red House Faraoh x Red House Ziona), D. Godwin 3. PA Salomai (Rusleem x Siwah), Pamela Stimpson Junior Mares with Foal at Foot (6) 1. Arabella PA (Kais x Asali), Chrissie Perez-Silva 2. Maya des Alpes (Simeon Sadik x EAMT Marihuana), Otto Berg 3. MC Nahsibah (Gazal Al Shaqab x MC Khardia), Linda Hughes

Top: Gold Champion Senior Mare, first place Senior Mares without Foal at Foot, and Best Mares without Foal at Foot Saszarta (Elart x Sasza), owned by Silverdale Arabians.

Bottom: Silver Champion Senior Mare, first place Intermediate Mares without Foal at Foot, and Reserve Mares without Foal at Foot Porcelainna (Psytadel x Psierra PGN), owned by I. Sorenson (Bychan Arabians).

Best Mare with Foal at Foot: Arabella PA Reserve: Mirwana II Veteran Mares without Foal at Foot (5) 1. Maiad (Imad x Myah), P. & E. Whitlow 2. Maharani HBN (AF Damaskus x ST Polska), Andrea Ware 3. Elounda (Amal x Chadiga), Andrew Tonge Senior Mares without Foal at Foot (9) 1. Saszarta (Elart x Sasza), Silverdale Arabians 2. Naama Al Shaqab (Sabiell x Biriusa), Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al Thani 3. Shahsonata (JK Amadeus x Shahzamila), Samantha Beelex Intermediate Mares without Foal at Foot (11) 1. Porcelainna (Psytadel x Psierra PGN), I. Sorenson (Bychan Arabians) 2. Shifali (FS Bengali x G Shyamasri), Silverdale 3. Prawica (Ararat x Palmira), Cullinghurst

right down the line. The winner was the U.S. import Z Areena Ameera (Rodan LTD x Ritz N Famous), a typey bay filly linebred to Padrons Psyche with additional lines to Bey Shah, Bask, Aladdinn, and Morafic. She is bred

by J. Vaughan and C. A. Pacheco and is owned by M. Kennedy. She won the class over Blackbridge Arabians’ homebred Master Design GA daughter Glamorous (x Snow Dove), whose name says it all, and yet another fine Master Design filly, Design With Class MM (x Friskhea). Behind these came daughters of Enzo, WH Justice, and Marajj, which demonstrates the caliber of this really fabulous class. It is hardly suprising that the gold and silver champion filly both came from this class, namely Z Areena Ameera and Glamorous. The bronze title was a bit of a surprise, however, as the judge Tom 5 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD

Best Mare without Foal at Foot: Saszarta Reserve: Porcelainna Three-Year-Old Colts (9) 1. Judals Oasis (Qamar El Dine x TFA Mira), A. Hunt & J. Kent Pyrah 2. MVA Colour Me Cool (True Colors x SKF Tiaara), Bychan 3. Perfect Design LA (Master Design GA x Zou Zou Bint Zaphelia), Karen Eggleston Two-Year-Old Colts (13) 1. Grand Design (Master Design GA x Yokosuka F), Mr. & Mrs. D. Smith 2. Masters Image (Master Design GA x HT Nyasa), C. Rackley 3. Aja Hassan (WH Justice x Aja Bint Sanadina), Aja Arabians

British National Championships

Junior Mares without Foal at Foot (12) 1. Aazurrra (Aazari x Dashan), D. Gambrill 2. Baya-Victoria-FB (Padrons Kadar x PB Dark Victoria), Jill Bunn 3. Leyla (Al Lahab x Maharah), Mrs. H. Cawley

Husebye from Norway chose the reserve best yearling filly, Rubi Tuesday, over the class winner. This is perfectly within the rules, but still unusual.

The colt classes this year were big and full of quality, though with the usual more pronounced tail ends. The big winner was the smallest: Reflection LA, a well-made and very typey bay colt sired by the lovely WH Justice son AV Montoya out of the Belgianbred Psytadel daughter Alishya.

Bred and owned by Anjuli Bethell, this little guy took it all: he won the junior yearling colt class (which was also the biggest in the entire show), was named best yearling colt, and went all the way to become Junior Male Champion. And his class was already a tough one, with another superb Master Design son, Dream Design (out of Psyannah by Psynergy), in second place, also in the overall ranking. Third was the grey Sayyad, by the winning young stallion Orion OS (of Om El Arab and Russian breeding), and fourth Susan George’s very refined chestnut SG Just Djude,

by WH Justice out of the straight Egyptian Djewel.

In the senior class, British judge Sandra Plant appeared to have a harder time sorting things out, with some switching of places going on at the last moment. The eventual winner was AA Divine Dream, a long-necked chestnut with excellent movements from imported Dutch parents, Psy Dream (by Psytadel) and Labanka, bred and owned by the Smith family of Argosy Arabians. He was followed by Makisa Adaggio, a Vervaldee son with a striking trot. In third place came the horse initially pulled in first, the bay ROE Majeed (ROE Laheeb x ROE Majd), a tall bay who comes from a family of champions, and in fourth the cheerfully marked chestnut rabicano BHA Sultan, by the young sire LVA Maximus, another excellent mover.

The two-year-old class may have had a bit more of a tail end than 6 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD

Top: Gold Champion Junior Colt, first place Junior Yearling Colts, and Best Yearling Colt Reflection LA (AV Montoya x Alishya), owned by Anjuli Bethell.

Left: Silver Champion Junior Colt and first place Two-Year-Old Colts

Grand Design

(Master Design GA x Yokosuka F), owned by Mr. & Mrs. D. Smith.

Below:Bronze Champion Junior Colt, second place Junior Yearling Colts, and Reserve Yearling Colt Dream Design (Master Design GA x Psyannah), owned by M. Al-Subaie.

Top: Gold Champion Junior Filly and first place Three-Year-Old Fillies Z Areena Ameera (Rodan LTD x Ritz N Famous), owned M. Kennedy.

Bottom left: Silver Champion Junior Filly and second place Three-Year-Old Fillies Glamorous (Master Design GA x Snow Dove), owned by Blackbridge Arabians.

Bottom right: Bronze Champion Junior Filly, first place Junior Yearling Fillies, and Reserve Yearling Filly Rubi Tuesday (Audemars PA x RL Cotton Candy), owned by Mr. & Mrs. D. Tyzack.

Senior Yearling Colts (11) 1. AA Divine Dream (Psy Dream x Labanka), Mr. & Mrs. D. Smith 2. Makisa Adaggio (Vervaldee x Mardisha), R. McEvoy 3. ROE Majeed (ROE Laheeb x ROE Majd), Talal Aggad Best Yearling Colt: Reflection LA Reserve: Dream Design Three-Year-Old Fillies (13) 1. Z Areena Ameera (Rodan LTD x Ritz N Famous), M. Kennedy

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British National Championships

Junior Yearling Colts (14) 1. Reflection LA (AV Montoya x Alishya), Anjuli Bethell 2. Dream Design (Master Design GA x Psyannah), M. AlSubaie 3. Sayyad (Orion OS x Amira Kastanah), Cheryl Richards

the yearlings, but the top rankings were quite spectacular, bringing together a group of colts that have been rivals since they first competed against each other as yearlings in 2009. As often happens, the placings worked out differently this time. Last year’s best yearling winner, Aja Arabians’ excellent WH Justice son Aja Hassan, had to be content with third place. At the top stood two half brothers, both by Master Design GA: Grand Design (out of Yokosuka F) and Masters Image (out of HT Nyasa) took first and second place respectively. On their first outing, they had been placed in reverse order, but already in Towerlands, Grand Design had left his brother behind.

While both reflect their popular sire, there are differences; Masters Image is very aptly named, in that he does indeed resemble his sire very much, while Grand Design is taller, with an immensely long neck, and shows perhaps more of his Russian heritage through his dam. Grand Design is bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. D. Smith.

The three-year-old colt class was not quite as spectacular and also smaller, but again with some superb colts at the top. The winner was the grey Judals Oasis, who is by the straight Egyptian Qamar El Dine, a

powerful, masculine horse with a big trot bred and owned by Alan Hunt and Judith Kent Pyrah. In second place came the U.S.-bred, straight Egyptian MVA Color Me Cool, and in third another look-alike Master Design son, Perfect Design LA, followed by the Padrons Psyche son Macho des Alpes who can also trot up a storm.

None of these had a say in the championships, though, where yearling Reflection LA took it all. Silver went to the two-year-old winner Grand Design, and Bronze to the second-placed yearling, Dream Design.

The junior gelding classes at Malvern can be equal to the colt classes, and the top horses this year were certainly just as good as anything in the colts, if not better than some. The yearling class was headed by two real stunners from Eden C’s first foal crop. The winner was Ambition SR (x Ambeance), capably shown by his young owner Connor Buckley who had already shown him in the junior young handlers class. He did a very good job here, too, despite losing his horse once. But then, these thin show halters even break with the best of the pros on occasion. Ambition is a very typey, beautifully moving chestnut who surely would have placed well in the colt classes as well. As would the second-placed Electraafy LA (x Electraa SR), who is a bit different in appearing somewhat more masculine (if one can say that of a gelding!). The biggest junior gelding class, for two-year-olds, was won by last year’s yearling winner Russian Design, another masterpiece by Master Design GA and, as his name would indicate, out of a Russian dam. He was bred by Bychan Arabians and is owned by Karen Eggleston. The eventual junior champion, however, was the three-year-old winner, the stunning bay Darcy (Om El Mareikh x Ffiligree), a supremely typey, showy, definitely stallion quality gelding who is a great crowd favorite. He is bred by Sue Wilks and owned

by D. and L. Biles. Second in this class, and also reserve junior champion gelding, was Blackbridge Arabians’ Bow Chicka Wow, another Master Design son, out of the Egyptian-Crabbet dam Zeezeetop. His parents are the 2008 British National Champion stallion and mare, and he certainly lives up to his

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O

n her new position as president of the Arabian Horse Society, Susan George says, “I am delighted to be able to be an ambassador this exceptional breed of the purebred Arabian horse, not only for us at our stud farm, but now on behalf of the AHS. As I know most of you are aware, I am a huge horse enthusiast but my enduring passion has always been for this breed to which I am totally committed.

“I have always felt that the Arabian purebred sits on a bit of an island with regards to discovery and that a great many people are missing something very special in not knowing enough about them. The general public and, indeed, Actress and AHS President Susan George and TV personality Rolf most horse Harris drawing the raffle. enthusiasts and other horse breeders put too much emphasis on their beauty and not enough on their value as performance horses, able to compete in any discipline. It’s a given that they are exquisitely beautiful, but they are so very much more. Perhaps the biggest misconception about our breed, and the one that hurts most, is the Arabian temperament, their super intelligence so often classed as hyper-activeness and treated with adverseness rather than admiration. I hope that in my dual role as international actor and now President elect of the AHS, I may be able to reach a wider audience and continue spreading the word so that others, many, many others may become likeminded.”

Top: Gold Champion Senior Gelding, first place Junior Geldings, and Best Gelding Zanzibar PA (Psytadel x Zaneta), owned by Anjuli Bethell.

Below: Silver Champion Senior Gelding, first place Senior Geldings, and Reserve Gelding Emir Ibn Essteema (FS Bengali x Essteema), owned by C. Vincenot-Norman.

2. Glamorous (Master Design GA x Snow Dove), Blackbridge Arabians 3. Design With Class MM (Master Design GA x Friskhea), J. A. & C. A. Hackley Junior Two-Year-Old Fillies (8) 1. La Stravaganza (Vervaldee x Khazmeara), Mrs. V. I. Tyler 2. Parydise (Vervaldee x Paryfar), Donna Butcher 3. Shams El Thahabiyya (Psadisho Ibn Esstashan x Rosaliah Gold), Mr. & Mrs. Mattocks Senior Two-Year-Old Fillies (13) 1. ROE Layaal (Marwan Al Shaqab x ROE Lahab), Talal Omar Aggad 2. AA Lavinia (Psy Dream x Lowinia F), Laura Smith 3. Kapayas Design (Master Design GA x Kapaya), W. J. & P. C. Howell Best Two-Year-Old Filly: La Stravaganza Reserve: ROE Layaal

Intermediate Yearling Fillies (10) 1. RD Feeonix (Major Jamaal x SA Magic Karma), S. Alkohair 2. ROE Ameera (QR Marc x Balenina), Talal Omar Aggad 3. GP Parys Hilton (Stival x GP Paradisa), Bychan Junior Yearling Fillies (12) 1. Rubi Tuesday (Audemars PA x RL Cotton Candy), Mr. & Mrs. D. Tyzack 2. Madam Versace (Vervaldee x Maysu), Mrs. C. A. Blyth 3. CC Vienna (Vervaldee x FS Cinderella), M. Ashmore & J. Lowe Best Yearling Filly: Northash Divine Reserve: Rubi Tuesday Veteran Geldings (4) 1. Karizmatique (Donax x Suhan), Heather Spratt

heritage. The bronze medal went to the two-year-old winner, Russian Design.

While the senior gelding classes were not quite as spectacular as the junior ones, they did have excellent winners. Top honors in the junior class went to the bay Zanzibar PA (Psytadel x Zaneta), bred by Jackie Ware and owned by Anjuli Bethell. He is a royally bred horse who appears to be pretty much unbeatable and he also went on to be named senior champion gelding, if I am not mistaken for the third time in a row! Another horse of royal breeding won the senior class and the silver medal, Emir Ibn Essteema (FS Bengali x Essteema), the son of two of Europe’s top show horses. He was bred by Sax Arabians in Germany and is owned by C. Vincenot-Norman. The tiny veteran class was won by the 17-year-old Karizmatique (Donax x Suhan), bred by Allison Dursley and 9 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD

British National Championships

Senior Yearling Fillies (12) 1. Northash Divine (Master Design GA x Northash Caroline), S. Alkohair 2. KFA Love Affair (Ruger AMW x Pristeena), Mrs. W. Waring 3. CS Lelisha (Krown x G Lilja), Leonard J. Morgan

Top: Gold Champion Junior Gelding and first place Three-Year-Old Geldings Darcy (Om El Mareikh x Ffiligree), owned by D. & L. Biles.

Bottom right: Silver Champion Junior Gelding and second place Three-YearOld Geldings Bow Chicka Wow (Master Design GA x Zeezeetop), owned

by Blackbridge.

Bottom left: Bronze Champion Junior Gelding and first place Two-Year-Old Geldings Russian Design (Master Design GA x Yasmena), owed by Karen Eggleston (Bychan).

2. AL Rakka (Roxan x Russallka), Annette Norris 3. Kashish (Dhruv x Princess Roxanya), Marian Eydmann Senior Geldings (8) 1. Emir Ibn Essteema (FS Bengali x Essteema), C. VincenotNorman 2. NPA Hazan (Shaikh Al Kuran x Havannah), N. A. Armstrong 3. Shaylas Attraction (Ffatal Attraction x Focus Shayla), W. J. & P. C. Howell Junior Geldings (10) 1. Zanzibar PA (Psytadel x Zaneta), Anjuli Bethell 2. Akbar Khan (Narismma x MA Bint Azadik), Tanya Case 3. Imbuya (Aja Ben Rajah x Indikah), Jacky Gay Three-Year-Old Geldings (6) 1. Darcy (Om El Mareikh x Ffiligree), D. & L. Biles 2. Bow Chicka Wow (Master Design GA x Zeezeetop), Blackbridge 3. Sanffire GFA (Sanbinec GFA x Naazife), M. J. Sutherland Two-Year-Old Geldings (11) 1. Russian Design (Master Design GA x Yasmena), Karen Eggleston

owned by Heather Spratt, over 23-year-old Al Rakka (Roxan x Russallka), two English horses who are also former stallions. Karizmatique won the bronze medal in the championships.

During the last few years, the classes for mares without foals have been much larger than for those with foals at foot. This year was no exception, with four classes for mares without foals and three for mares with foals (of which one had only one entry) coming before Polish judge Anna Stojanowska.

Most of the winners were imports, with just two exceptions. The junior mares without foal class was won by British-bred Aazurra, a daughter of the former British National Champion stallion Aazari, a lovely balanced grey mare who beat Belgian import Baya-Victoria-FB (Padrons Kadar x PB Dark Victoria) and straight Egyptian Leyla (Al Lahab x Maharah) and last year’s futurity 10 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD

At left: From left: Gold Champion Foal and first place Orphaned or Weaned Foals Stivalery BJ (Stival x V Exotic Enchantress), owned

by Bychan Arabians; and Silver Champion Foal and first place Foals (8) Maisa (Master Design GA x Mirwa), owned

by Jane Kadri.

2. Psaravin (Psadisho Ibn Esstashan x Aravina), Paulette Weir 3. Sahir Opulence (AV Montoya x Ormmal), Mrs. A. S. Kent Yearling Geldings (8) 1. Ambition SR (Eden C x Ambeance), Connor Buckley 2. Electraafy LA (Eden C x Electraa SR), Anjuli Bethell 3. Sahir Forever (AV Montoya x Sahir Felicity), Mrs. E. German Best Gelding: Zanzibar PA Reserve: Emir Ibn Essteema Princess Muna Saddle of Honor Family Groups (1) 1. Aziza (Arastin x Sadika), with Angelikaa (by Mahaala), Ava (by Vervaldee), and Avatar (by AV Montoya), breeder/owner: Patricia Hannay

Supreme Crabbet Champion: Maiad Reserve: Red House Zinderella Second Reserve: Silvern Surprise

Crabbet Senior Male Championship (6) Champion: Silvern Surprise (Imad x Silvern Princess), Frances Duchess of Rutland Reserve: Marcus Aurelius (Aurelian x Fiesta Magica), Rowena Bertram Crabbet Senior Female Championship (11) Champion: Maiad (Imad x Myah), P. & E. Whitlow Reserve: Red House Zinderella (RH Faraoh x RH Ziona), D. Godwin

Middle left: Bronze Champion Foal and second place Foals Giovarna (Don Giovanni J x Mirwana II), owned by Hon. M. A. Wragg.

Middle right: First place Junior Stallions Shamael Apal (Psytadel x SA Natsarah), owned by S. K. Murphy.

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Bottom left: First place Veteran Mare with Foal at Foot EKA (Esplendor x Caravella), owned

by Silverdale.

Bottom right: First place Foals Avatar (AV Montoya x Aziza), owned by Patricia Hannay.

British National Championships

Crabbet National Championships

Top left: Foot and Reserve Mare with Foal at Foot Mirwana II (Mir Wan x Silvers Surprise), owned by Mrs. M. A. Wragg.

Top right: First place Junior Mares with Foal at Foot and Best Mare with Foal at Foot Arabella PA (Kais x Asali), owned by Chrissie Perez-Silva.

Bottom left: First place Junior Mares without Foal at Foot Aazurrra (Aazari x Dashan), owned by D. Gambrill.

Bottom right: First place Three-Year-Old Colts

Judals Oasis (Qamar el Dine x TFA

Mira), owned by A. Hunt & J. Kent Pyrah.

winner, the Crabbet mare Sunlights Imadge GFA (Imad x Autumn Sunlight).

Aazurra, who has done very well on the British show circuit this year, was bred

by Joan Culnane and is owned by D. Gambrill.

Several previous winners appeared in the intermediate class, including last year’s reserve champion mare Porcelainna (Psytadel x Psierra PGN), a gorgeous golden chestnut of double Padrons Psyche breeding bred by Thirteen Oaks and owned by Bychan Arabians. She proved unbeatable in her class once again, though Anna Stojanowska initially pulled the big, bold-moving fleabitten grey Shifali (FS Bengali x G Shyamasri) in first. Shifali had to move down to second after the individual showing. In third place was the imported Polish mare Prawica (Ararat x Palmira), another previous winner at Malvern and an excellent mover. A Polish mare won the senior class, though she was bred in Britain: Silverdale Arabians’ homebred Saszarta (Elart x Sasza), whose dam was British National Champion many years ago. Saszarta was in superb form and quite literally trotted away not just with the class win, but also with British National Champion Mare title. It is not very often that you get a daughter following her dam in that position. Second in her class was Naama Al Shaqab, of Egytian-Russian breeding, and third was U.S. import Shahsonata by JK Amadeus.

The veteran class was disappointingly small compared to other years, but did have an excellent winner in the 17-year-old Crabbet mare Maiad (Imad x Myah), bred and owned by Peter and Elaine Whitlow; Maiad was last year’s Supreme Ridden Champion. Second was 22-year-old Brazilian-bred Maharani HBN, who was a top show mare in her time and, while still lovely, is definitely showing her age and was rather stiff. Third was the oldest horse

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Crabbet Gelding Championship (9) Champion: Astrologer (Ibn Aboud x Aureme), Danna Ing Reserve: Zinjadi (Masjadi Gold Shadow x Silver Zingara), Lisa Breeze Crabbet Youngstock Championship (4) Champion: Stormlite Royal (Istfahan x Storm Fantasy), Teresa and Alan Sheward Reserve: Silver Bugle (Silver Highwayman x Dahshana), P. Morris Purebred Ridden Classes Open Ridden Championship Champion: ZA Karis Ibn Azal (Zircon Karismatique x Azalea), Mesdames P. E. Grant & F. J. Grant Chivers Reserve Champion: Patros HB (Psytadel x Padisha Ibn Estopa), Miss Linda C. Hughes Novice Ridden Championship Champion: Kezzan (Nazdromal x Bint Bint Kezarah), Mrs. S. E. Rhodes & Mrs. A. Starkle Reserve Champion: Karaselle (Sorrento x Kalana), Mrs. S. K. Murphy

in the show, Dutch-bred 25-year-old Elounda, a former National Champion Mare. Maiad went on to be named Bronze champion mare as well as Veteran Champion.

The best mare with foal at foot was the junior class winner, the predominantly Russian Arabella PA (Kais x Asali), bred by Jackie Ware and owned by Chrissie Perez-Silva. She is a full sister to the successful young sire Audemars PA and won over the Simeon Sadik daughter Maya des Alpes.

Both mares were winners as fillies and have lived up to their potential. Senior winner, and reserve best mare with foal at foot, was German import Mirwana II (Mir Wan x Silvers Surprise), bred by Sax Arabians and owned by The Hon. Mary Ann Wragg. She is also of mostly Russian breeding, and a big and powerful mover.

The foal classes were the best I have seen in a while, with really superb winners. The striking black colt Avatar (AV Montoya x Aziza), bred and owned by Patricia Hannay, won his class over another WH Justice

Top left: First place Senior Yearling Colts AA Divine Dream (Psy Dream x Labanka), owned by Mr. & Mrs. D. Smith.

British National Championships

Middle left: First place Junior TwoYear-Old Fillies and Best Two-YearOld Filly La Stravaganza (Vervaldee x Khazmeara), owned by Mrs. V. I. Tyler.

Bottom left: Senior Two-Year-Old Fillies and Reserve Two-Year-Old Filly ROE Layaal (Marwan Al Shaqab x ROE Lahab), owned by Talal Omar Aggad.

Top right First place Senior Yearling Fillies and Best Yearling Filly Northash Divine (Master Design GA x Northash Caroline), owned by S. Alkohair.

Middle right H-149812 First place Intermediate Yearling Fillies RD Feeonix (Major Jamaal x SA Magic Karma), S. Alkohair.

Bottom right: First place Yearling Geldings Ambition SR (Eden C x Ambeance), owned by Connor Buckley.

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Top left: First place Princess Muna Saddle of Honor Family Groups Aziza (Arastin x Sadika), owned by Patricia Hannay.

Bottom left: Reserve Crabbet National Champion and Crabbet Senior Female Reserve Champion, second place Senior Mare with Foal at Foot Red House Zinderella (RH Faraoh x RH Ziona), owned by D. Godwin.

Right: Second Reserve Crabbet National Champion and Crabbet Senior Male Champion Silvern Surprise (Imad x Silvern Princess), owned by Frances Duchess of Rutland.

granddaughter, Mira des Alpes (by Ajman Moniscione) and the Justice daughter Justa Princessa, both very pretty fillies. The second class had a very popular winner in Maisa (Master Design GA x Mirwa), bred and owned

by Jane Kadri, who wowed the audience and had them all clapping and cheering while trotting all around the ring without breaking stride once. But once again, the champion foal was the winner of the class for orphaned and weaned foals. This was Stivalery BJ (Stival x V Exotic Enchantress), bred and owned by Bychan Arabians, an incredibly typey filly who actually looks just like an artist’s model magically come to life. With her gazelle-like beauty, long neck and lots of attitude, you could hardly take your eyes off her. The reserve champion was the popular Maisa, followed in third place by the secondplaced foal from the senior class, Mirwana II’s daughter Giovarna. She is one of the first foals by U.S. import Don Giovanni J, and very promising indeed.

One of the former highlights of the show, the Princess Muna Saddle of Honor for family groups, has sadly become a bit of a sideline in recent years.

The class reached an all-time low last year, when there were no entries at all; this year a least there was one, and, even better, it was a group deserving of the win. Patricia Hannay’s homebred double Simeon Sadik mare Aziza (Arastin x Sadika) is the first black mare to win the saddle, and with an

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all-black group of offspring, too: two-year-old daughter Angelikaa (by Mahaala), yearling daughter Ava (by Vervaldee), and her latest son Avatar (by AV Montoya), who also won his foal class. Despite different sires, they were all definitely their dam’s children, so it was a worthy win in all respects, despite lack of competition.

The stallion classes were a bit smaller than last year and fairly even in quality, with few real standouts. The junior class winner was last year’s reserve best three-year-lod, Shamael Apal (Psyadel x SA Natsarah), a Belgian import bred

by Swatam Arabians and owned by S. K. Murphy, who is a superb mover. Second place went to the flamboyant grey FS Bengali son Aja Estrravagance, and third to the very old-fashioned, typey SG Latif Ibn Liana (KZ Ibreez x Liana El Shakan), beating U.S. import Angelo Re (by Enzo).

The senior class had an outstanding winner

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Top: Champion Crabbet Gelding Astrologer (Ibn Aboud x Aureme), owned by Danna Ing. Top: Champion Crabbet Youngstock Stormlite Royal (Istfahan x Storm Fantasy), owned by Teresa and Alan Sheward.

British National Championships

in Ronaldo, who was bred in Germany by Frank Spönle but is out of a British mare, Helaliya (by Crusader). Ronaldo, now owned by Janet Currey, must be one of the best Kubinec sons, but he has also inherited quite a bit from his maternal grandsire Crusader, especially his size and better conformation. In second place came former British National Champion Ruger AMW, bred in Brazil, who despite being a little overweight thought he was king of the world anyway, and a large and vocal part of the audience obviously thought the same, as he did not lack support.

Again, the veteran class was small, but it did have an excellent winner in 17-year-old Camargue Too (Carmargue x Nasida), bred by Carmargue’s breeder Mrs. Greenwood. Second was the ever popular Rusleem, who at 21 and despite a broken tail was very full of himself, though he did not show his spectacular trot to full advantage simply because his handler could not keep up with him. Nevertheless, it is always good to see this beautiful and hugely popular stallion, and he doesn’t have anything to prove, anyway. Camargue Too took the bronze medal in the stallion championships, and also the silver veteran champion title. This year, all bronze senior titles went to the veteran winners.

In the ridden classes, it was the year of the geldings. The novice champion was the gelding winner Kezzan (Nazdromal x Bint Bint Kezarah), with the silver medal going to the wining mare Karaselle (Sorrento x Kalana), a granddaughter of the late, great Crabbet sire Imad, and bronze to the novice ridden stallion winner Klassic Design

by Master Design GA, giving that popular in-hand sire his first ridden winner.

In the ridden championship, the gelding ZA Karis Ibn Azal (Zircon Karismatique x Azalea) again proved unbeatable. Ridden by Fiona GrantChivers, this horse was Ridden Champion at Towerlands last year, champion ridden purebred and overall ridden champion at Malvern this year, and in fact four weeks later, ridden Champion at Towerlands once again. This handsome eight-year-old traces to Carmargue through his sire and to Crusader and El Shaklan on his dam’s side, with a Spanish dam line. He is the horse to beat on the ridden Arabian circuit, only nobody seems to be able to! In silver position came the winning ridden stallion Patros HB (Psytadel x Padisha Ibn Estopa), imported from Germany, and in bronze position Binley Arabians’ homebred pure Crabbet stallion Silvern Prince.

After last year’s successful premiere, the Crabbet National Championships were again held at Malvern parallel to the regular show. This show is for horses with at least 75 percent Crabbet blood that have qualified by winning their classes at the various Crabbet shows throughout the year.

So these classes are not actually classes, but championship finals, with an overall championship to be won at the end. As opposed to the regular classes, the horses are deliberately shown in a natural way, as in sports horse classes.

They also get a lot of attention, with just as many spectators crowding around the ring as around the larger adjoining ring where the regular show went on much of the same time.

The youngstock qualifiers were sadly few this time, just four, with judge Michael Harris having the unenviable task of judging a three-year-old colt, a three-year-old gelding, a two-year-old filly, and a yearling filly against each other. Perhaps not too surprisingly, the champion was the three-year-old colt, the impressive dark chestnut Stormlite Royal (Istfahan x Storm Fantasy), bred and owned by Teresa and Alan Sheward. He is a grandson through his sire

Top left: Champion Ridden Open ZA Karis Ibn Azal (Zircon Karismatique x Azalea), owned by Mesdames P. E. Grant & F. J. Grant Chivers.

Bottom left: Reserve Champion Ridden Open Patros HB (Psytadel x Padisha Ibn Estopa), Miss Linda C. Hughes.

Top right: Champion Novice Ridden Kezzan (Nazdromal x Bint Bint Kezarah), owned by Mrs. S. E. Rhodes & Mrs. A. Starkle.

Bottom right: Reserve Champion Novice Ridden

Karaselle (Sorrento x Kalana), owned by Mrs. S. K.

Murphy.

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of Aurelian, one of the most successful sons of the American CMK stallion Ben Rabba, taken to Britain on lease in 1979/80 by Beatrice Paine. The descendants of Aurelian did very well indeed at these Crabbet championships, as the champion gelding was another Aurelian grandson, the 12-year-old Astrologer (Ibn Aboud x Aureme), bred by Gillian Lancaster and owned by Danna Ing. Astrologer is a very successful show gelding who has won many prizes. Last year, he was reserve champion Crabbet gelding behind Zinjadi (Masjadi Gold Shadow x Silver Zingara). This year they reversed places, with Zinjadi taking reserve. They make quite a contrast, since Astrologer is quite small and Zinjari at 16 hands very tall, but both are top-quality geldings.

The stallion championship had the same winner as last year, the Duchess of Rutland’s impressive, masculine grey Silvern Surprise (Imad x Silvern Princess). Reserve Champion was yet another Aurelian descendant, his son Marcus Aurelius (x Fiesta Magica), bred by Diana Whittome and owned by Rowena Bertram. He is a successful sports horse who does jumping, dressage, and cross-country in open competition, and is an AHS premium stallion.

The mare class was the biggest, with 11 entries. They included last year’s Crabbet champion mare Red House Zinderella, who looked superb again, but had to be content with the reserve champion title this year. The winner of the championship was the lovely 17-year-old Maiad (Imad x Myah), who had also competed last year but not placed. Her failure to make an impression last year may have been due to her doing double duty in the ridden classes, which she won, up to and including the overall ridden title. This year she was doing in-hand only and she was on top form. In fact, she was the most successful horse in the entire show, not just the Crabbet classes. She went home with no less than four titles: Crabbet Champion Mare, Overall Crabbet Champion, British National Bronze Mare Champion, and British National Veteran Champion. Keeping in mind also that she was Supreme Ridden Champion last year, it appears there is still a lot of potential in Crabbet bloodlines!

As if a Crabbet horse being the most successful competitor of the show wasn’t remarkable enough, there were two more unusual things

about the show this year. One was the fact that, unbelievably, it did not rain. Not even a little.

The other was the fall of the last taboo. A lot of things have arrived in Malvern during the past years that used to be frowned upon (and still are), including loud cheering and yelling and also some bag-waving, though not nearly as much as in continental Europe. This year saw another first: faded blue jeans in the showring, and during the championships, too. Now, this is an absolute nono and likely to get the offender complimented out of the ring by a friendly steward faster than you can say “Levis.” However, this particular pair of jeans was worn by one of the overseas judges, who obviously had not been advised of the AHS dress code. So there they were, and there they stayed. It makes you wonder what will happen next. Ring stewards wearing baseball caps instead of bowler hats, perhaps? Extremely unlikely, but after this, you never know … .

Left: Show officials and friends (from left to right): Tommy Husebye (Norway), Sandra Plant, Mary Bancroft, Susan George (AHS President), Sally Etchells (show director), Anna Stojanowska (Poland), Michael Harris, Lynne Lidbury, and Ann Hooley.

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British National Championships

Above: Show stewards (from left to right) John Fox, Phillip Jenkins, and Steve Colbourne.