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2003 Royal Melbourne
Show Garryowen Perpetual Trophy |
| 2003 saw a big change
to the running of the prestigious Garryowen Perpetual Trophy. For the first time,
the lady riders were required to wear a safety helmet rather than the traditional bowler.
From the onlookers perspective, this did detract from the usual prestige of the
Garryowen, but I am sure that the competitors felt it had little to do with the entire
day. Many riders spend a great deal of time and money preparing for this event, which is considered the most prestigious for equestriennes in Australia. The Gold Medal event of showing. Forty-five nominations were received for the 69th birthday of the Garryowen. The riders presented to the six judges - Geoff Hayes (Saddlery), Caroline Ronald (General Appearance), Jane Hallows (Riders' Costume), Norman Hubble (Riding), Don Watkins (Horse - Manners and Paces) and David Brideoake (Horse - Conformation and Soundness). Eventual winner Penny Verco riding Inferno presented a wonderful picture of elegance and style. The big bay mare worked well and demonstrated the requirements of a true ladies horse as she was required to stand whilst the press flocked around them following their win. |
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| Angela Grove presenting her lovely big moving horse, Adelante, to the Saddlery judge, Geoff Hayes. Looking on is Rider's Costume judge, Jane Hallows. Jane is standing on the "hallowed carpet" where riders are required to present for full inspection of their costume. |  |
| Claire Hawkey riding MJ Macrae's Ainsworth. Claire has been competing in both showing and dressage for many years now. A former winner of the Barastoc Working Hunter Galloway on her Dabyminga gelding. Clare is a pupil of Helen De Broughe, who would have no doubt been very pleased with her pupil's performance on the day. |  |
| The big chestnut, Boy London, owned and ridden by Penny Greenhill. A very striking combination, their workout was marred at times with resistance with Boy London deciding to stick his tongue out! Overall it was a very pleasant picture. Penny was fifth in the 2003 John Lithgow Equestrienne Turnout for Equestriennes 18 - 21 yo. |  |
| Sandra Knox riding Brookfield Providence, owned by Ms CH Knox-Morgan. Brookfield Providence was very unsettled by the large yellow flags at the end of the first trot out from the judges and unfortunately for Sandra didn't settle during the workout. |  |
| Grenadier Park Vision ridden by Jessica O'Connor and owned by Miss O O'Connor. Another victim to the nasty yellow flags, the horse was tense throughout the workout, affecting the quality of the work produced. Jessica was third in the 2003 John Lithgow Equestrienne Turnout for Equestriennes 18 - 21 yo. |  |
| Lisa Kellock riding Ms RM Sexton's lovely black hack, Harp. Lisa has many years experience in the Royal show ring and seemed completely unnerved by the big occasion. Lisa was one of the few to show a really good extended canter, the whole workout was forward and flowing from start to finish. Harp placed second in the Novice Mare or Gelding over 15 hh and N.E. 15.2 hh. |  |
| Pam Ahern and W Coyle's lovely liver chestnut Hype was definitely my favourite horse of the show. A very elegant hack with the most amazing copper iridescence that I have ever seen. Their workout had a sticky start, but ever the professional, Pam worked through to produce some stunning work and secured second place in this year's competition. Pam has previously won this competition in 1997. Pam went on to win the Esquire Turnout. |  |
 Geoff Hayes inspects Hype's saddlery. Whilst Jane Hallows inspects Pam Ahern's costume. |
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| This was certainly Penny Verco's year! Her lovely big bay mare Inferno worked perfectly to clinch the title. Winner of the Garryowen 2003. I enjoyed their workout from start to finish, although I was looking forward to a big extended canter from the combination, Penny rode on the safer side. I am sure that this mare could have really opened up! I had the opportunity to ask Penny about Inferno. |  |
| The big moving mare
was bred by the Tappner family in NSW as an eventer. She is by Woodmount Magic (Andrew
McLeans eventing stallion - sold internationally) out of Eastern Dancer.Penny has owned
and trained Inferno since she was a three year old. She has placed in the Garryowen
in the past, but this year is her first win. One of many we can only assume.
Penny was very keen to thank her sponsors during her acceptance speech - Bonnetts
Saddleworld, Nature Vet and David Quayle Saddlery. Penny travelled over from South Australia for this year's show. The home trip definitely would have been worthwhile with the Garryowen sash safely in her possession. |
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| Invic Count ridden by Fiona Course of Yarra Glen. This combination caught my eye during their warm-up. Invic Count is a big, free moving horse. Apart from a little resistance at the start of the workout, the pair worked very well. The whole picture was very pleasing and was well ridden. Well done Fiona. No doubt we will see Fiona in the placings very soon. |  |
| Kent and Jane Tolsen had a wonderful competition. This combination won the Highest Score for a first time combination and then went on to sixth place. Kent is owned by J Tolsen and N Gardner. Jane must have been thrilled with her first big G. I am sure that we will continue to see her name in the placings for years to come. Kent performed well and gave his rider the opportunity to show themselves as a combination. This combination also placed third in the Esquire Turnout. |  |
| A combination with a great deal of experience (and the 2001 Garryowen title) between them. Kings ridden by Margot Haynes, owned by Chris and Vicky Lawrie's Lyndale Stables & T Van Heythuysen. Margot rode an excellent workout and the combination placed third. Her aunt (five times winner) Helen Heagney would have been very proud of her performance. |  |
| Scholes and Beaton's Lemrac's Dancing Poet ridden by Briony Payne. Although they didn't place in the Garryowen this year, Briony went on to win the Champion Senior Rider at RMS 2003. |  |
| Madison Avenue II ridden by Sharon Wookey and owned by Mr G McCann. A striking combination, Sharon would have been pleased with her ride today. The coat and appearance of Madison Avenue II could not be faulted, especially those amazing stockings. |  |
| My Dazzling Attraction ridden by Rebecca Ingle, owned by Mrs R A Ingle. This combination produced a good workout, the horse going very kindly for Rebecca. She would have been pleased with the performance in this large field of riders. |  |
| The most perfect sox on the day. Unfortunately for Sue Thompson her horse Omar was very disturbed by the flapping flag. She decided to retire. Omar made it up to Sue by placing fourth in Mare or Gelding over 16hh and N.E. 16.2hh. |  |
| Rondda Hunt riding Opinion. A lovely horse with the most beautiful copper glow.Their workout was very polished and a pleasure to watch. This combination placed sixth in the Esquire Turnout. |  |
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 (left) Nicole's costume is inspected by Jane Hallows |
| Regal Outline ridden by Nicole Guillot. Nicole won the 2003 John Lithgow Equestrienne Turnout for Equestriennes 18 - 21 yo and was fourth in the Esquire Turnout. | |
| Fiona McIntyre riding Mrs B Richards Rio. Another horse very unsettled by the flags at the start of the workout. Today was not Rio's day to shine. The horse seemed reluctant to show good work. |  |
Becky Allen defined the true
spirit of the Garryowen and Violet Murrell. Riding her lovely grey RSB Jacky Winter, she
competed in the Garryowen, then quickly changed costume and horse to compete in the
showjumping on her super mare - Lorikeet. This horse competed in the Jumping with
the Stars at Werribee in 2002. He is pictured below being ridden by international judge -
John Cottle. |
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| Sheer Kingston ridden by Rachel Noonan. Owned by Rachel and W Copon. Unfortunately for Rachel resistance marred this workout and they were not able to perform to their full ability. The tension in the arena was immense, with many horses and riders falling victim to "Garryowen" nerves. They placed fifth in the Esquire Turnout. |  |
| Sequemus Park Mendelsohn, owned and ridden by Catherine Neill. This combination produced a good workout, with none of the resistance to the flags that many other combinations showed. Perhaps it lacked a little of the sparkle of some of the other combinations but it was very pleasant to watch and well executed. Catherine was sixth in the 2003 John Lithgow Equestrienne Turnout for Equestriennes 18 - 21 yo. |  |
| Rebecca Farrow riding Stage Idol. The combination produced a very good workout. Rebecca won this competition in 2002 riding Stage Whisper. This year she had to settle for fourth place. It seems that there is a battle between Rebecca, Margot Haynes and Penny Verco for the Garryowen title .......I wonder who will win next year? |  |
| State Occasion, owned and ridden
by Megan Bult. Megan has previously placed fifth in the Garryowen on another horse,
but I know that this year's fifth place is one of the most important to her. Megans
mentor is the master of showing, Malcolm Ansell. I had the opportunity to talk to Megan about her preparation. Her Garryowen day began at 3 am - whilst we were sleeping Megan and her support team were working hard tot prepare for their big day. Obviously the hard work paid off. Congratulations Megan for a very good performance. State Occasion placed third in Novice Mare or Gelding over 16hh and N.E. 16.2hh. |
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| WS Black Label and Caroline Wagner. A stunning combination!! Caroline is a past winner of this prestigious trophy on a number of occasions - but 2003 was not to be their year. Many within the show scene were at a loss to understand how Caroline missed out on a placing. But I guess that is showing! It all comes down to the day. |  |
| International guest - Elizabeth Ramsden rode the well performed WS Jordan. The lack of time that this partnership had with each other was evident on the day. I am sure that Elizabeth would have thoroughly enjoyed her big Garryowen experience. |  |
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