The efforts of the nine locals who represented Young in the ring events at the Sydney Royal Easter Show have been described as “amazing”.
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The town now not only has the illustrious Crane Trophy in its possession but we can also lay claim to the 12-17 years Champion Girl Rider and the Champion Show Hunter Galloway.
This success all accumulated in the past seven days.
And the cherry on top (pardon the pun) was one of our own, Bridget Sell, selected to judge the lady and girl rider classes over three days.
“Young is very strong in a lot of horse areas,” Bridget said.
The local national rep has judged at the Hobart Royal last year and the Adelaide Royal in 2012.
But it’s the first time she has judged at the Sydney Royal, which attracts competitors from all around Australia.
Bridget said it was a great privilege to be invited to judge at the show, adding that it was how those who have achieved so much in the sport were recognised.
“It was particularly great to judge the lady riders having been the 2010 Lady Rider Champion,” she said.
Bridget, yes, is well used to the competitive side and this year was no exception with two of the horses she trains also entering the arena.
But because Bridget couldn’t compete, let alone be anywhere near the horses this year due to her judging responsibilities, Young strappers David and Matthew Hall stepped in to help out.
The twins took charge of Bridget’s two entries, “Alkyra Elegance” and “Calvin Park Dark Knight”.
It was “Alkyra Elegance” who won the Crane Trophy, a class for mares 15-16 hands showing thoroughbred qualities only.
The hack also took second place in the Child’s Hack event out of 40 competitors.
“Calvin Park Dark Knight” came sixth and seventh in the Large Galloway sections.
“For a small country town of Young we sure can hold our own,” David Hall said.
“Winning the Crane Trophy, Bronwyn Parker won Champion Show Hunter Galloway and Tahlia Wells just won champion rider... it’s a pretty amazing effort all round.”
Both Tahlia and her mother Tracie Wells competed at this year’s Royal, competing in 15 classes combined and coming home with 10 ribbons between them.
Tahlia, 16 – who has recently returned home from the national titles with a third in the Show Hunter Hack over 16 hands in December – had a very successful week last week.
In her 10th year attending, the teenager was named 12-17 years Champion Girl Rider aboard her horse “Daydream Believer”.
Tahlia also came first in the Mount Rider and Equipment 15-17 years event and Open Girl Rider 15-17years.
She came second in the Child Hunter over 15 hands and Working Show Hunter over 15 hands, third in the Novice Show Hunter 16-16.2HH, fifth in the Open Hunter 16-16.2HH.
She’s been very consistent in performances having won the Reserve Champion titles for 12-17 years in 2012 and 2013.
Mum Tracie has been proudly representing Young at the Sydney Royal for 16 years.
This year she came third in the Lady Rider over 40 and fifth in the Crane Trophy, all aboard her horse “Not Telling”.
She also came fifth in the Novice Open Hack 15-15.2HH aboard “Showman” and a mother-daughter effort saw the Wells family claim second place in the parent and child event.
Local Alex Tout was instrumental in helping the Wells family and many other Young families prepare for their events.
Bronwyn and Owen Parker couldn’t be prouder with their Galloway “Midwave Resistance” – ridden by Jess Stalling from Cobbity - who was sashed Champion Show Hunter Galloway at the show.
“Midwave Resistance” also won the Ladies Show Hunter Galloway and came fourth in the Open Show Hunter Galloway.
This success comes off the back of winning the Show Hunter Galloway section at the Grand Nationals Championships two weeks ago, which is slowly becoming one of the most recognised show horse event in the Southern Hemisphere.
Eleven-year-old Elly Sabidussi made her exciting debut at the Sydney Royal aboard “Weston Magician”.
She competed in five classes in total - including Open Galloway events - coming third in the Novice Girl Rider six to Under 12s and sixth in the Open Girl Rider nine to Under 12s.
“[She did] fantastic,” mum Jo Sabidussi said.
“Yep, she was nervous but she came good in the end. Her highlight was competing against the best people in Australia.”
And the ninth rep flying the flag for Young was 13-year-old Tori Wall, competing at her sixth Sydney Royal Easter Show.
She competed in seven events over five days aboard the Smart family’s pony from Forbes “Avlon Erian”, placing fourth in the Show Hunter Pony 11.2HH and Under 12s HH.