Heavy horses were again a big feature at the Suffolk Show with in-Hand classes for all four of the main breeds, trade and agricultural turnouts, Two-wheel carts, implements and two classes for ridden heavy horses.

Wednesday saw the in-hand classes for the Suffolk Punch and Clydesdales breeds where both were well represented. With Clydesdales growing in popularity it was good to see thirteen horses forward in the two classes. Judged by Mr R.Flack it was the mare, Val, from J.W.&M.McIntyre that won both the four-year old and over class and the Breed Championship with gelding Peggyslea Buddy from Annette Noble taking reserve champion. In the other half of the President’s ring the Suffolk classes were taking place. As expected there was a large turnout for the breeds home County show and none other than Suffolk Horse Society President Bruce Smith had the judging duties. The gelding classes were first up where Andrew Wager won the four years old and over class with Lagan Ozwald, going on to win the Festival Perpetual Challenge Cup for best gelding while his other gelding, Samford Thomas, took reserve. A large four-year-old and over mares class went to Florence of Easton shown by Karen White and owned by Mrs J.L.Groom, also going on to win the Fred Smith Memorial Challenge Trophy for best mare or filly. Best mare with foal at foot went to Samford Tourmaline owned by George Paul, who with Samford Billy also won best mare and foal. A total of five stallions were forward, the Champion being judge to be Holbeache Olympus owned by Andrea Hoskins with the Cracknell’s Springtime Earl reserve. The Jennie Caldwell Perpetual Memorial Trophy for Supreme Champion went to the mare Florence of Easton with Samford Tourmaline reserve. Thursday saw the Percheron and Shire breeds take to the ring for their in-hand classes. By comparison to previous years it was a low number of Percherons that came under the eye of Mr R.Johnson to be judged. The largest number came in the gelding class where Hales Hector (Tim) owned and shown by David Curtis took the honours going on to also be best gelding. The barren mare class and best fe-male went to Hales Helen, owned, show and bred by Owen Garner while Grane Valley Hester won the filly class handled by Gary White and owned by Sharon Morter. The Supreme Champion was then judged to be Hales Hector with Hales Helen as reserve. The Shires were being judged by Mrs Delma Nulty and it was the geldings that started things off with Walton Bomber taking the red rosette owned by Eversley Shires. The yearling class went to Old Croft Lady Alice owned by Ben Wright while the two year olds went to Thames Oak Heavens Gift owned by Jonathan Bower and shown by Jade Evans. On to the mares where Molly Langley won best brood mare and foal with Cumeragh House Legacy and Southwood Harold while the barren mare class went to Banham’s Acle Celebration. Just the one stallion came forward, Neil Andrew’s Walton Express who took a red rosette. The Martin J. Story Perpetual Challenge Cup for Supreme Champion went to Thames Oak Heavens Gift who also took the S.T. Ward Trophy for best exhibit bred by the exhibiter and the Shire Horse of the Year Show Qualifier, reserve was Acle Celebration. Later in the day Thames Oak Heavens Gift went on to win Supreme Heavy Horse Champion with Clydesdale Val reserve. One in-hand class was multi-breed and it was arguably one of the most important, the young handlers. A good turnout of nine handlers came forward for this proving that the future for heavy horse showing could be a bright one. Judged by Mr R. Black it was Natasha Ingram (17) who won with Poppy Coy (15) second and Elliot Ticquet (16) third, all showing Shires for Kathy Ingram.

There were two ridden classes, both with a good entry as the ridden class rises in popularity. The first held on Wednesday was a qualifier for the Horse of the Year Show and saw twelve forward judged by Mr R. Black (conformation) and Miss L. Cooke (ride). The Byford Perpetual Challenge Trophy and HOYS qualification went to Clydesdale Peggyslea Buddy ridden by Ailsa Noble. The second class on Thursday saw thirteen forward judged by Mr R. Johnson (conformation) and Mr N. Colllins (ride). This time it was Shire Ruskington Owen ridden by Emillie Sanderson who took first with Nicola Read second on her Clydesdale Loch Creran Clansman.

The trade turnout classes took place in the Grand Ring and again proved popular with the public. Wednesday morning saw the trade pairs joined by the agricultural pairs but judged separately. Having completed their individual stand shows judge Mr P. Mills awarded first place to John Goodwin with his pair of Shires and bottle dray. At the other end of the ring Mr S. Ledsham had been judging the agricultural where the Suffolk pair from Banham Zoo with a harvest waggon driven by Matthew Bundock won the class along with the Adrian Bell Memorial Trophy for best pair of Suffolks. The two-wheel cart class was next up in the Trinity Ring with ten forward to be judged by Mrs E. Ross. This class is another gaining in popularity and is a good lead-in class for other turnout classes. Having won the Supreme Clydesdale Championship earlier in the day it was further success for J.W.&M.McIntyre who won the class with Margo McIntyre driving Clyde gelding Batman to success. Just four team were forward for the trade teams class back in the main ring late on Wednesday. It was David Lawless driving his team of Shires with the Young’s bottle van who won the class. Thursday saw the single turnout classes take their turn and it was more success for John Goodwin winning the trade singles as the Percheron from R.&S.A. Fuller won the agricultural class driven by Mary Fuller. With the implement class going to John Latham with his and Hazel Chapmans Suffolk it just left the Championship to decide the overall winner. The Hugh Pulham Farms Trophy for Champion turnout went to the team of Shires with Young’s Bottle Van driven by David Lawless with reserve going to the two-wheel cart driven by Margo McIntyre.

Clydesdale Album – https://www.facebook.com/pg/Snap-magcom-2061747147426100/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2416687635265381

Percheron Album – https://www.facebook.com/pg/Snap-magcom-2061747147426100/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2416695265264618

Shire Album – https://www.facebook.com/pg/Snap-magcom-2061747147426100/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2416699628597515

Suffolk Album – https://www.facebook.com/pg/Snap-magcom-2061747147426100/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2416712498596228

Young Handlers – https://www.facebook.com/pg/Snap-magcom-2061747147426100/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2416747941926017

Ridden Album – https://www.facebook.com/pg/Snap-magcom-2061747147426100/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2416720731928738

Turnouts Album – https://www.facebook.com/pg/Snap-magcom-2061747147426100/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2416727691928042

Gary Malkin