September/October 2017 WEBSITE sep_oct_2017 | Seite 24

John Wicks riding Onya
Shiney Nu Toy
2-5 August 2017
Photos: Tania Hobbs
We expect clear skies
in early August in Queensland. The
sunshine is always reliable but some
years the wind has a sting in its tail.
This year, for the first time, it didn’t
matter what the climate gods had
in store for us. We were safe within
the shelter of QSEC’s stunning new
covered warm-up area. The winter
weather was perfect throughout
the show but we were still grateful
for the comfort of a well-lit hangar-
sized second arena with ample room
for separate circling, stopping and
marshalling areas.
The show was well supported with
about 400 runs over four days. The
stabling and camping was near
enough to fully subscribed within
24 hours of opening for bookings so
QRHA knew that we were on track
for a bumper show. Thank you to
all competitors for making the
trip from as far afield as central
Queensland and the central coast
of NSW.
Judges Darren Simpson and Pam
Spokes shared their duties across
the classes and joined forces in both
chairs for the big events: Open/Non
Pro on Thursday, Non Pro Futurity
and the Non Pro Derby/Open Derby
on Friday and the Open Futurity on
Saturday. We thank them for their
care and dedication.
The show started on Wednesday
with a full day of non-sanctioned
events. This was a great test of the
new arena setup and all credit must
go to gate marshal, Glenn Muir.
He rounded ‘em up and kept them
coming with consummate skill.
This year’s Futurity and Derby
horses were out in force in the Junior
Horse. Noel Watson and Colonel
Einstein (70) won the Junior Horse
Open. Noel backed up the win with a
second place on Helen Balu’s 3-year-
old, Mighty Red Pine (69). Greg
Walker rode his Futurity prospect
Ruf N Twisted (68½) into first place
Page 24 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • September • October• 2017
in the Junior Horse Non Pro, half a
point in front of Dennis Neylon and
Wimpys Lil Miss. There were around
60 horses in the Junior Horse line
up, all of them a credit to their
owners and riders.
The concurrent Beginner Rider and
Beginner Youth classes followed.
Justine Brown took home the blue
ribbon for Beginner Rider on Wimpys
Playgirl (69). Top scorer in the
Beginner Youth, also on a 69, was
Kristy Smith on Hollywood Blue
Chip. Congratulations to the 30
riders in this draw. We hope you all
keep on riding and sliding with us in
2018.
The 40 horses in the Senior Horse
classes rounded out the long day.
Noel Watson and Einstein Flashy
Jac ran a 71½ to win the Senior
Horse Open. Kathleen Murphy and
Checkout Hollywood picked up the
Senior Horse Non Pro with their
score of 70½.