Assurances given over county show glitches

May 2 2009 The Journal

EQUINE showclass prestige will not be swayed at this year’s end of May Bank Holiday Northumberland County Show.

Show secretary Gaynor Shotton gave the guarantee following a technical rule change that means the event is no longer a qualifier for the Royal International Horse Show in two of its sections. “It’s no shock to the system either,” she added. “In a decision taken earlier in the year, the Show Pony and Show Hunter Pony classes are no longer to be qualifiers for the Royal International Horse Show.

“Show organisers were made aware of the requirement of providing two rather than one collecting rings which are now firmly in place after a visit to last year’s show by RIHS representatives, but failed to file a necessary report to the RIHS, having received no instructions to do so.

“The lateness of the said report resulted in the qualifiers being awarded elsewhere. It’s sad that this is down to miscommunication or even a clerical error.

“We may have lost them this year but that’s not to say we can’t win them back in the future. The equine section as a whole is still affiliated to the British Show Pony Society and is still a qualifier for the 2009 Championship Show at Arena UK in Lincolnshire, as well as the prestigious BSPS Blue Riband Pony of the Year, the BSPS Travel ASSN Challenge and the BSPS Black Country Saddles Best Rider title.”