The 36^th annual W.A.P.A. State Championship Show was held on Sunday 24^th February 2008 at the Serpentine Oval, Karnup Rd, Serpentine, with Judge Ms Karen Nicoletto.

The committee had been on the prowl for prizes since the last Free Halter Show in Dec 2007. One of the concepts that seem to have been welcomed by members was the all day fee for the show. Events were varied and there was plenty of choice for the new and the existing members to choose from. The Judge had quite a task to judge from all the breeds shown on the day, including QH, Warmbloods, Welsh A, Arabs, Anglo Arabs and Shetlands.

Start time for the show was 9.00 am. The first events were the Foal Futurity type events. The Palomino Foal Futurity winner was Foxwood Million Dollar Baby sired by She-Oak Shining Priority, owned and shown by Roxanne Balchin. The prizes for this event included a Perpetual Trophy and a custom printed Sash. Next on the program was the Yearling Palomino Futurity, with the winner Coliban Solid Gold sired by Three Solid Bars IMP owned and shown by Roxanne Johnston, receiving the Perpetual Trophy and a custom printed Sash.

Last for the young stock futurity events is the prized Golden Bonus event. This year the winner was Foxwood Million Dollar Baby sired by She-Oak Shining Priority out of a Warmblood mare, quite an unsual but winning combination. This event is a must be nominated type event, with the sire of the progeny being nominated for the progeny to be eligible for the class. The prize for this years winner was a beautiful flower garland and a Stallion service from She-Oak Shining Priority, both donated by She-Oak Quarterhorses. Congratulations to all the connections of the winners, great to see our youngstock being so well presented and handled on the day.

Once these events were over, it’s onto the Palomino Stud Book events. Junior Champion was Foxwood Million Dollar Baby with Reserve Junior Champion to Coliban Solid Gold. Champion Stallion was presented to She-Oak Shining Priority, receiving a prize of Mitavite feed donated by Whitby Falls Stockfeeds, who came out of retirement to show at the Championship show. Champion Mare went to She-Oak Arrum who was presented with a donated bag of horse muesli from Whitby Falls Stockfeeds with Reserve Champion Mare to Tanjoet Joyful Firefly. Champion Gelding was Chelsea Park Leonardo receiving a donated bag of horse muesli from Whitby Falls Stockfeeds and Reserve Champion Gelding to Skips Rising Sun. The eventual Supreme Champion Palomino Halter exhibit went to She-Oak Shining Priority, the sponsors She-Oak Quarterhorses donating another flower garland, a rug sponsored by Pinjarra Vet Clinic and a bag of feed donated by Whitby Falls Stockfeeds.

Next are the Appendix/Foundation and Sporting Horse events. Champion Appendix/Foundation Mare or Filly was Shining Arizona winning an embroidered WAPA halter, with Reserve Champion being presented to Look N Classy. Champion Sporting Horse to Jahmanah Kindred Spirit winning an embroidered WAPA halter and Reserve Champion Sporting Horse to She-Oak Deliberate Concent. Supreme Appendix/Foundation/Sporting Horse was presented to Shining Arizona, prizes included a flower garland donated by She-Oak Quarterhorses, a custom sash and a rug sponsored by Tandara Park Palomino Stud.

Next were the Open Halter events, which allows the full range of registered WAPA horses to compete against each other. Best Presented Palomino any age was won by Junior member Cara Tierney showing Chelsea Park Leonardo, very well done as there were about a dozen in the class and plenty of adults in the ring also. Well done to Cara. Palomino colour class went to Tanjoet Joyful Firefly who’s colour on the day was pretty spectacular, a beautiful irridescence to her coat, congratulations to Bridget as the class had 11 entries !!

The Palomino Sire/Dam progeny group and the Owner/Breeders Group of two horses were both won by She-Oak Quarterhorses with different combinations of exhibits. Junior Handler Shannara Beresi and Senior Handler Janeen McRobert both showing She-Oak Arrum to 1^st place. These two events were both sponsored by Rossman Agencies with Junior Handler receiving a lovely purple show kit and the Senior Handler receiving a pink halter and rope. Best Presented Appendix/Foundation/Sporting Horse was won by Sharon Currie showing She-Oak Deliberate Concent.

An hour break for all competitors, photographers, horses, spectators, workers, Judge, Gate Marshal and Ring Steward was next, and very gladly received by all. This allowed ½ hour to feed and water horses & riders, and ½ hour to gear them up and get out into the arena to warm up.

During the lunch break the Carriage Driving was judged, allowing the classes to be driven over a larger arena. Merle Turner and Minstral Millifleurs were the winning combination this year with the judge put them through their paces and made both the driver and horse show what they could do, with a very precise pattern required for the Open Driven Horse/Pony showing spectators how well trained this young filly was. Congratulations to Merle for such a great display of driving.

To encourage riders to show, the committee programmed a walk/trot English event and a walk/jog Western event, this was done to encourage riders to compete, which clearly worked well as Best Educated Horse/Pony had 8 riders enter the ring. Rider under 18yrs went to Shannara Beresi and Rider over 18 years went to Michelle Mason. Michelle received a book by Dr J Kohnke donated by Sharon Currie. Congratulations to both riders. Best Educated went to She-Oak Arrum ridden by Shannara Beresi, Ridden Studbook Mare/Filly went to Tanjoet Joyful Firefly ridden by Bridget De Bijl, Ridden Studbook Gelding went to the lovely Welsh A gelding Chelsea Park Leonard ridden by Cara Tierney.

The Western ridden events were the last for the day, with Handy Pony being included. Handy Pony is an English event, but gear style was optional. The winner Cara Tierney and Chelsea Park Leonardo completed the obstacles as per the pattern set by the Judge, when considering Little Gus is same height as the gate is pretty much cute !! She-Oak Arrum and Tanjoet Joyful Firefly battled it out in the Western ring, both entering the Trail, Western Pleasure and Western Horsemanship classes.

Hi Point Presentations were next, at last, the whole reason for the day !! Congratulations to all who competed on the day, the weather being good to show off the Palomino to perfection. The green grounds, the cloudless blue sky and the golden Palomino’s looked stunning on the day, and I am sure the photographer took plenty of pictures that will be bought by happy owners.

Thanks must go to the Committee: Bridget De Bijl for organising sponsorship, Wayne & Debbie Owen for working so hard on the day doing anything that was needed as well as classifying horses, Sue Benthien for chasing sponsorhip and donating as well, Janeen McRobert for trophy and show secretary duties, Merle Turner for canteen duties and working hard on the day, Glenda & Peter Edmiston for organising the ribbons and manning the office all day doing paperwork duties. Thanks to Karen Nicoletto for Judging the show and for all her constuctive comments and encouragement during the day, Debbie Tucker for donating her one day a week off to Ring Steward for us (she doesn’t even own a Palomino!!), Shelley Benthien for Gate Marshal duties, keeping the flow happening all day, the WAQHA for the loan of the trail gear for the day.

Hi Point presentations were awarded and prizes given out by the President of the WAPA – Sue Benthien. Champion Performance Palomino Mare She-Oak Arrum, Reserve Champion Performance Palomino Mare Tanjoet Joyful Firefly, Champion Performance Palomino Gelding Chelsea Park Leonardo and Reserve Champion Performance Palomino Gelding Skips Rising Sun were presented with WAPA custom printed sashes. The Supreme Champion Performance Palomino She-Oak Arrum received a rug and trophy. Grand Champion Palomino She-Oak Arrum also received a garland donated by She-Oak Quarterhorses, a rug sponsored by Tasmin Taylor, a WAPA custom sash and a WAPA perpetual trophy.

The Hi Point Appendix/Foundation Horse Minstral Millifluers, Hi Point Sporting Horse Jahmanah Kindred Spirit, Hi Point English Horse, She-Oak Arrum, Hi Point Western Ridden She-Oak Arrum all receiving WAPA trophies. Hi Point Carriage Driving Minstral Milliflues received a trophy and a WAPA embroidered cap. Hi Point Junior Member Shannara Beresi received a trophy and a WAPA embroidered saddle pad. And the Encouragement award was selected by the judge and presented to Cara Tierney receiving a trophy and a WAPA embroidered cap.