Heavy Horses at Royal Norfolk Show 2019

There was another good turnout of heavy horses over the two-day Royal Norfolk Show in 2019 with classes for all four main breeds along with Turnout, Ridden & Young Handler classes.

In-hand Day One

The first day saw the Shire breed in-hand classes in the Ivan Cooke Ring judged by Matthew Burks. The four and over Gelding class started proceedings where Eversley Shires Walton Bomber shown by Ron Brewster took the honours followed up by the Mare’s class and a win for Jackie Carson’s Nosrac Lady Jane. The Brood Mare class saw three forward with Foals at foot and here it was T.J. Yates Cowerslane Melody who took first place in the Brood Mares. In the Foals class it was Jonathan Bower’s Thames Oak Centurion in first place with Will Boulderstone’s Barnsbridge Prince Albert in second. Moving into the young horse classes the Yearling class went to Old Croft Shires Cumeragh House Judy with Arclid Lady Ann owned by Katie Butters in second. The Two-year-old class went to Old Croft Brigadier owned and shown by Anna Codling while the Three-year-old class was won by Bryan Banham’s Acle Celebration. In the Stallion classes there were was a second wing for Bryan Banham in the young class with Acle Valentina while Philip Moss’s Hillmore Trump Card took the over Four-year-old class. There were three forward for the Veteran class where Acle Ryan owned by Derek Spanton won with Penny O’Connor’s Aaron’s Billy Boy in second. Best Gelding went to Walton Bomber with Acle Celebration taking best Mare but it proved to be Philip Moss’s day as Hillmore Trump Card took best Stallion and Breed Champion along with qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show. The Shire classes ended with a strong Young Handlers class with five handlers forward. Representing Barnsbridge Shires it was sixteen year-old Amy Hornsey who took first place showing Laurel Bank Queen Victoria in her second year showing. Second place went to fifteen year-old Craig Green showing Chorley’s Commodore in his first year.

In-hand Day Two

The second day saw the remaining three breeds judged in-hand in the Ivan Cooke Ring. Well represented the Suffolk’s took one half of the ring judged by Paul Mills. A seven strong Gelding class opened the proceedings where Andrew Wager took first and second places with Lagan Oswald and Dawley Dexter of Foy respectively. Nine were forward for a strong Mare class where Florence of Easton owned by Jayne Groom and shown by Karen White took the honours. With just the one Brood Mare and Foal forward it was success for the Glocking’s with Nedging Crystal and her foal while the Yearling class went to John Fleming’s Eyke Elizabeth. Three forward in both the Two-year-old and Three-year-old classes saw wins for Trevor Hemmings Ballaseyr Mandy and Jayne Groom’s Alder Farm Charlie. Also with three entries the senior Stallion class was won by Fiona Clark’s Shotleyfield Dazzling Duke. Best Gelding went to Lagan Oswald while best Mare was won by Florence of Easton. Taking Best Stallion along with Breed Champion and the Jack Juby Trophy was Shotleyfield Dazzling Duke. In the other half of the ring it was the Percheron’s who started judged by John Peacock. With six forward for the Gelding class it was Hales Hector owned by David Curtis and shown by Emma Scotney who won the class from Hales Midas owned and shown by Mary Fuller. Sadly, there were no entries in the Brood Mare, Foal, Yearling or Stallion classes and just one each in the Mares and Two or Three-year-old classes. These saw wins for Hales Helen owned, bred and shown by Owen Garner and Grane Valley Hester owned by Sharon Morter. Best Gelding was won by Hales Hector but he was absent from the Championship due to a clash with the Two-wheel Cart class in the main ring. Best Mare and Breed Champion went to Hales Helen. Following the Percheron’s were the Clydesdale classes judged by Terry Edge with the growing popularity of the breed seeing three classes. Four forward in the Gelding class saw a win for Eversley Shires with Ingliston Heath while three were forward in the Mare class won by J.W.&M. McIntyre’s Lizzie. The Yearling, Two and Three-year-old class saw six forward and was won by Doura Eagle owned and shown by Paul Smith. The Breed Champion was Lizzie while the McIntyre’s also won the Clydesdale Horse Society Shield with Gracie making the long journey down worthwhile. The combined Suffolk. Percheron and Clydesdale Young Handler Class was won by fifteen year-old Craig Green in his first season. There was also a Novice Handler class which was won by Andrew Preston showing Nicola Read’s Clydesdale Loch Creran Clansman.

Turnout Classes

The heavy horse Turnout classes were held in the Grand Ring judged by Andrew Whetton joined by probationary judge Craig Wilkins. The first class on day one saw six teams, five trade and one agricultural, competing for the Lady Mott-Radcliffe Trophy. It was the team of four Clydesdales from J.W.&M. McIntyre driven by Ron Brewster who took the win with John Goodwin’s team of Shires second and David Mouland’s team of four Belgian’s third. Later in the day it was the turn of the pairs classes for trade and agricultural turnouts. The agricultural turnouts were up first where the Goymour Properties pair of Suffolk’s with a Norfolk Harvest Wagon won the Banham Zoo Perpetual Challenge Trophy driven by Bruce Smith with Matthew Bundock as groom. Following this it was nine trade pairs forward to compete for the King George V Perpetual Challenge Cup. Success this time went to David Mouland’s pair of Belgians driven by David with Emma Collis as groom. Day two saw an early start with the popular Two-wheel cart class with seven forward. The class was won by Batman, the Clydesdale from J.W.&M. McIntyre, driven by Margo McIntyre with John McIntyre as groom with the popular Percheron Hales Hector in second owned by David Curtis and driven by Emma Scotney. A special award for best placed Norfolk resident went to Beckie Harvey driving her own Shire Rocks Lane Thomas. The final turnout classes in the afternoon were for the trade and agricultural turnouts. Again it was the agricultural turnouts that went first with five competing for the W.C. Saunders Challenge Cup. It was the Goymour Properties owned Suffolk with the Norfolk Harvest Wagon driven by Bruce Smith with Matthew Bundock as groom that achieved the double winning the single class to add to the previous day’s pairs win. The trade class followed with nine forward, it was John Goodwin driving his Shire with Emma Scotney as groom taking first place in what was a competitive class.