2014 Annual Futurity & Challenge 

 

"Warm weather and very good nominations throughout the weekend, heralded a very successful 28th Annual Futurity for the Gympie Branch, at the revamped Kilkivan Showgrounds in S.E.Qld.  After having to cancel the futurity in 2013 due to yet another flood in January that year, everyone on the committee and support from competitors old and new, seemed the right formula.

Competitors came from as far north as Proserpine, west to Goondiwindi and St. George, and south to Casino in NSW, to ride before the judges, Doug and Zoe O'Neill of Charters Towers and Robert Watchirs of Gloucester in N.S.W.

The Percy Bishop Memorial Yearling Futurity saw Brian and Kayleen Sutton of Pittsworth, and their brown filly "Sheady Smart Chick" (Tassa n Smart/Jays Slick Chick) take home this award. This filly has been very consistent during the futurity series having won or placed in the 4 venues so far. Runner-up was Toneal Hoffman of Dalby with her homebred palamino filly "Love and Money" (Wallarae Dee Bar Romeo/Delgold)

The Ken Mills Toyota 2 Year Old Futurity,saw Toneal Hoffman and her palamino filly "Love Me Do" (a full sister to Love and Money), take out this futurity , after placing in all sections of this event.  Karl Dunning was runner-up with his homebred brown filly "Currahee Anniversary" (Currahee Encore/Smokin Andrea) after winning the led section and placing in the working.

In the Kilkivan Auto Centre 3 Year Old Futurity, run away winner was the bay colt, "Glencoe Craftsman",(Glencoe Abstract/Vet School Melody proudly owned by the Glasser Family of Pittsworth, and capably ridden by Jim Daley of Goomburra. This colt placed 2nd in the led, and won both the working and cattle working sections.  Next in line was the black colt "Haydon Zorba" (Techrico/Haydon Rumba), owned by Koobah Performance Horses, and campaigned by Brett Welsh of Kerry.  This colt was consistent having placed in the led, and finished off with a cracking 89 run in the cattle working.

The Ian Smith Memorial 4 Year Old Maturity saw 12 youngsters front up, with John and Gwen Lyons from St George and their grey mare "Coolum Lynette" (Kirkbys Stud Omaha/Riverview Snowette) taking out this event, with equal second in the working and a win in the cattle working with a sizzling 90 pts round.  Jim Daley was really in top form campaigning this mare too, after having a very successful run in the futurity series with 2 wins and 1 second from 3 venues.  Runner-up was the consistent bay gelding "Glen Lee Rivoli Garland" (Glen Lee Rivoli My Tech/Miltons Tequila) owned by the Brett Welshs family and ridden by him.  This gelding was the National Futurity winner in 2013, so the competition was certainly strong.

The Sullivan Livestock & Rural Services Open Challenge saw 35 horses compete for this award.  Maryanne Gough from Lowood and her much decorated black stallion "Cadabra" (Palmers Fort Abdul/Star Caddie) took out this event after winning the working, and tying for 3rd in the campdraft section .  Runner-up was "Captain Barbados" (Acres Destiny/Captains Creek Princess) a brown stallion owned by Maryannes dad Vic, and also ridden by her.  Actually this stallion was bred by John and Jeanette Elliot ,members of the committee who started the Gympie Futurity at Widgee back in 1985, so was a sentimental favourite with the locals.

The Hack Challenges proved to be popular additions to the Gympie Branch programme, with 34 contestants in the Junior Challenge and 13 in the Senior One.  In the Gympie Saddleworld Junior Hack Challenge, Karl Dunning came to the fore once more, placing in all three sections with "Currahee Anniversary", 4 and a half points ahead of Carla Baericke with "APT Stud Ebony" (Vinnie/Calamity Little Miss) a striking black mare owned by Simon Booth, APT Performance Horses from Crystal Creek NSW, after winning the hack, and placing in the utility.

The AussieWide Horse Supplies Senior Hack Challenge, saw Nathan Cusack of Chinchilla with his grey gelding "Sevenangle Neon Moon" (Kirkbys Stud Omaha/Kemmis Creek Rebecca) take out this award with a well deserved win after winning both the led and hack sections and 2nd in the utility. This duo had also won the High Point Junior Hack Challenge in the SQMC Futurity Series for 2013 so was nice to see him step up an age group.  Runner-up was Jonathan Sylvester from Goondiwindi, a newcomer to the Gympie Futurity, with a striking chestnut mare "Roxby Park Shes A Dream" (Knights Nicholas/Roxby Park Heather) owned by Maree Fields.  This mare was very consistent in all 3 sections placing 3rd in each one.

The Ambervale Performance Horses Encouragement Challenge saw 25 very keen riders come before the judge.  Winner of this event, after taking out the blue ribbon in all 3 sections, was Carla Baericke, with "APT Stud Ebony", ahead of Toneal Hoffman and "Love Me Do", with local committee member Nolene Sorley on her homebred gelding :Starfield Shivers"., taking home third place.  It was a credit to everyone in this event,as the standard is getting stronger each year.

The Youth section saw the Handford family from Casino, make it a worthwhile trip up for 13-17 years age group with Sam Handford winning with "Kelton Farm Foxtrot", with Gabe Crane of Proston on "Murrays Commando" just 1 and a half points behind, followed by Brooklyn Handford and "Kelton Farm Swagjumper) in 3rd placing.

In the 8-12 years, Bailey-Joe Keppel of Fernvale and "Pinaroo Destiny", won this age group ahead of Josh Grantham-Lines (on holidays from SA and borrowing a pony from the Boully family), with Thomas Mawhinney from Gunalda 3rd.

In the under 8's ,5 little guys had lots of fun and the eventual winner was Brooke Itel from Toowoomba with Felicity Mawhinney 2nd and Matilda Handford and Hugh Atthow tying for third.

The Youth Judging 8-12 years was won by Bailey-joe Keppel, with Jack Atthow of Kilkivan 2nd, and in the 13-17 years Brooklyn Handford took home the blue ribbon, with Sam Handford and Joanna Anderson of Proston, tying for 2nd.  Winner of the 18-21 years was Jaimie Kriesch of Tansey.

The encouragement awards for boys was Josh Grantham-Lines, with Tegan Brown the girls winner.

2 new awards were presented this year, the Ron Fisher Perpetual Trophy for most successful youth was won by Sam Handford, and the Champion Working over the 2 older age groups sponsored by Landmark, was won by "Pinnaroo Destiny" and Bailey-Joe Keppel.

Last on the programme was the Open Sweepstakes Campdraft, with cattle loaned by the Atthow family and Saxby Feedlot.  Winner was Maryanne Gough on "Captain Barbados' on 174 pts, ahead of Lindsay Anderson onEl Jay Phoenix and Brett Welsh on "The Ranch Gay Time", tying on 169pts.

President Ian Atthow had the forsight to purchase Aussie Red dairy steers for the 3 and 4 year old cattle working, which proved to be ideal for young horses.

The Coorinya ASH Stud Breeders trophy went to Toneal Hoffman and her three horses, Love Me Do, Love and Money, and Apache Kid, all by her stallion Wallarae Dee Bar Romeo and out of Delgold which has certainly proved a worthwhile cross for Toneal..

The Lyn Shea Memorial Trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor was also won by Toneal, with wins and placings in the yearling futurity, 2 yr olds, Encouragement Challenge, Junior Hack Challenge, and 3 yr olds, so  no doubt will be back in 2015..  This award was very hotly contested with various riders very close to Toneal for the final countdown.

All in all a very successful weekend, and thank heavens for the arena lighting which had to be used both days.The committee would like to thank everyone who helped in any way to making our weekend such a successful one.

 So dont forget to keep the last weekend in June free for 2015, and come and enjoy Qld hospitality.

...................................................................................................................

Mary Ann Atthow (Hon Secretary).