Beautiful warm days, along with rain falling just a week before the weekend, made for a most enjoyable 29th Annual Stock Horse Futurity of the Gympie Branch, at Kilkivan in SE Qld.

       Judges for the weekend were Ian Stark of Emu Creek, Paula and Stewart Craig of Toowoomba, sharing the futurity programme, with Max Lucht of Kilkivan doing the honours for us in the cattle working and campdraft sections.

        First event finalised was the Percy Bishop Yearling Futurity.  Percy was a past president and classifier for the branch for many years, and it was fitting that this event was judged by Ian, who has had a close connection with the futurity winning the 3 yr old in 1998 and the 4 yr old in 1999, and also is co-sponsor with Percys family, along with Judy Carsley, a branch member.  The Yearling winner was Brett and Mel Welsh of Kerry, with their beautifully presented black filly "Allstars Famous Acres" (Acres Destiny/Kirkbys Stud Impressive).  This filly had a dream run in the futurity series, winning and placing in all 4 venues.  Runner-up was Sally Palfrey and Jeff Keppels black gelding "Derowie Pilgrim" (Tamarang Destinys Serenity/Ropeley Park Portfolio).

         The Ken Mills Toyota 2 yr old Futurity, winner was Brian and Kayleen Suttons "Sheady Smart Chick" , a chestnut filly by Tassa N Smart, out of Jays Slick Chick,  and incidently won the Yearling Futurity at Kilkivan last year, so no doubt is a favourite in the Suttons Stable.

Kayleen also won the owner/rider in the event.  Runner-up was "Evanspark Royal Flush", owned by Stephanie Evans of Redland Bay,and ridden by David Wiseman.  This bay filly is by Koorala Ace of Spades and out of Condamine Ohara and was very consistent placing 3rd in all three phases of this age group.

         The Kilkivan Auto Centre 3 Year old Futurity saw the well grown brown colt "Royalle Heart Throb", win this age group for Amanda McLennan-Dehnert and Paul Dehnert of Toowoomba and capably ridden by Paul who also won the owner/rider prize.  This colt, by Royalle Heartacre out of Royalle Reflection, had won at Eastern Downs Futurity two weeks before Kilkivan so certainly was "on a roll".

Runner-up was the much decorated bay filly "Glen Lee Rivoli Angelique" for Brett and Mel Welsh.  She is by Glen Lee Rivoli Mytech, and out of Miltons Tequila, and was bridesmaid to Royalle Heart Throb at Eastern Downs Futurity.

         The Ian Smith Memorial 4 Year Old Maturity saw 'the girls' come to the fore once more, with Ian and Donna Atthows grey Kirkby Stud Omaha mare, "Sevenangle Piety", showing her versatility by winning both the working and cattle working sections in the capable hands of Nathan Cusack.  This mare is a full sister to the much decorated gelding Sevenangle Neon Moon, and are both out of Kemmis Creek Rebecca.  Runner-up was "Haydon Zorba", a black gelding by Techrico and out of Haydon Rumba , ridden by Brett Welsh and owned by Koobah Performance Horses., and has been consistent at Kilkivan being runner-up in the 3 yr old futurity in 2014 and also placing in all three phases of the Maturity this year.  Winner of the owner/rider in the Maturity was Simon Booth on APT Stud Ebony.

         The Sullivan Livestock Open Challenge saw a top line of 29 horses contest this event including open camphorses and royal and National show winners.  This year a time trial was added to this event, and pretty slick times were recorded with only 1 and a half seconds splitting the first to sixth horses, bringing 'the good old pony club novelty days out in some competitors!'   Outright winner was Nathan Cusack with his grey gelding "Sevenangle Neon Moon", by Kirkby Stud Omaha out of Kemmis Creek Rebecca.  Neon showed his versatility by placing 3rd in working, 3rd in draft and 7th in time trial.

Runner-up was the black baldy mare "Kaypehaich My Little Acre" by Acresdiny out of Oaks Cotton Candy.  This mare is also owned by Koobah Performance Horses and ridden by Brett Welsh and showed her consistency by winning the time trial and placing fifth eq. in the draft being only beated by 1.02 pts for high point so was fierce competition.

       For the first time, a weanling class was added to the programme and was well patronised by everyone.  Sponsored by the Platypus Stockfeeds of Maryborough, and supported by two keen 'girls' Vicki Camilleri and Peta McNamara with trophies which was greatly appreciated.  Winner was the neat bay filly "Toushea Trinket", (Ilalong Talisman/Koorala Keepsake) and owned by Rod and Karen Shea of Tiaro.  Runner-up was the black colt "Topshelf Flamboyant" owned and shown by Amanda Sweeper and sired by the Sweepers resident sire Koorala Black label and out of Warratunga Pretty Cool.

         22 youngsters contested the Gympie Saddleworld Junior Hack Challenge which was won by the chestnut blady gelding "Meluca Stud Dazzle", for his owner Carly Domrow.  Dazzle is by Garthowen Heritage from JR Ozzie Mystic and although only having won the hack section of the JH Challenge, was unofficially 6th in both the led and utility sections.  Runner-up was "Brightview Gambler" a bay gelding by Yandina Chief Executive and out of Brightview Petete Pearl and owned by Sally Palfrey.  This gelding showed his consistency by placing 3rd in hack and led and eq 2nd in the utility, missing out of the High Point win by just half a point.....

          Aussie Wide Horse Supplied Senior Hack Challenge which attracted 17 entries saw "Sevenangle Neon Moon" come to the fore for the second year in succession, winning the led, equal 1st in utility, and 2nd in hack,to take out this event for Nathan Cusack by 6 pts ahead of Pam Andrews and her brown gelding "Emperors Reign", with win in hack and equal first in utility, which was a great thrill for Pam who is a relative newcomer to the futurity circuit.  Emperors Reign is by Elanora Emperor, out of Pigeon and is pretty handy after a beast too....

             The Ambervale Performance Horses Encouragement Challenge saw Sam Vukusanovic taking out this event with her first ride in a futurity, with her mount Empie Bolero.  Sam works in the mining industry in WA. but hails from Toowoomba, so was a fine effort on her behalf, taking home the red ribbon in all three phases of this event, 6 and a half points ahead of Gympie Branch member, Janine Donkin with Riverdaire Reflex, who won the utility section and placed 3rd equal in the hack.

         The SQMC Youth Challenge which was held on the Sunday this time, saw Jack Atthow of Kilkivan take home the blue in the 13-17 years after also winning the youth judging with this age group, on the Saturday.  Jack rode his mums mare Sevenangle My Maria, a bay mare by Kirkby Stud Omaha, and then his younger brother Dan shortened up the stirrup leathers to take out the 8-12 yrs section also on My Maria.  Runner-up in this section was Brooke Itel on her aunt and uncles versatile mare Royalle Decedance, with Madison Dunning third and Summer Marshall fourth..  The under 8's had great fun doing novelties and prizes were shared between Hugh Atthow and Abbey Sweeper.  Of interest, Hugh rode his aunt, Holly Dawsons old Romeo mare Heathfield Jolene, whom Holly rode to win the first ever Open Challenge at our futurity at Widgee in 1993 when she was 13, and Jolene 7..........

        Special awards in the Youth Show, was the Ron Fisher perpetual trophy for highest scoring youth rider in the two older age groups was won by Dan Atthow, and the Boonara Performance Horses encouragement awards won by Hugh Atthow for the boys and Madison Dunning for the girls.

          The Lyn Shea Memorial Trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor,donated by Ron Shea and family, was won by Nathan Cusack with Sevenangle Neon Moon, Sevenangle Piety, and Baagammon Razzle, just 2 points ahead of Brett Welsh.

          The Coorinya ASH Stud Breeders Trophy, donated by Mary Ann Atthow and Holly Dawson, was won by Ian and Donna Atthow of Sevenangle ASH Stud,with Sevenangle Neon Moon, Sevenangle Piety, Sevenangle Black Velvet, Sevenangle Cleo, and Sevenangle My Maria, all progeny by Kirkby Stud Omaha.

         All in all a very enjoyable weekend had by all, committee included, who would like to thank everyone involved including the local P & C for their catering,the judges, and anyone who gave us a hand with the cattle and office work, and of course stewarding as well as the trophy donors. A big thank you.   Hope to see a good roll up for 2016 for our 30th Annual Futurity ,and bring your mates and their horses.

    

Mary Ann Atthow

Secretary/Gympie branch.