AQHA Magazine January / February 2019 AQHA March / April 2019 | Page 16

2019 TASMANIAN
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Photographer: Ev Lagoon – Victoria
Hunter Under Saddle Feature won by Carol Ahern riding QXH Sweet Dreams N Lies Q-82047
On the 9th and 10th of February
the Southern Tasmanian Quarter
Horse Association hosted the
Quarter Horse State Champion-
ships at their Pontville arena, with
competitors coming from all over the
State to compete at this prestigious
event.
2 Years & Over Halter Maturity –
Winner:
My Certain Valentine Q-75585 – Susan Gittus
Open Showmanship Feature –
Winner:
Susan Gittus, showing
Clairveaux Model Q-74936
Every second year the STQHA has
the privilege of hosting the State
Championships, and every time on
that particular weekend since 2009,
it has rained on one of those days.
The 2019 event kept up that
tradition, with competitors
competing in the trying conditions
late Saturday afternoon. All Age Hunter Under Saddle Feature
Winner:
QXH Sweet Dreams N Lies Q-82047 –
Carol Ahern
Our International Judge was Mr
Dave Young from New Zealand, who
still kept smiling through the rain as
well. All Age Western Pleasure Feature
Winner:
CP Gunnuhavsumfun Q-75449 –
Annette Green
Over the years the numbers of
Quarter Horses competing have
been low, and more so at the State
Show. This year however it was
great to see 21 horses and 23 com-
petitors vie for wins and Hi Point
Titles. All Age Ranch Riding Feature –
Winner:
Zipped in Rhythm Q-77725 –
Michelle Phillips
There were six Feature Events
on the program all Sponsored by
David and Sandy Simons, and
lovely garlands sponsored by
Leanne Hughes.
All Age Trail Feature –
Winner:
Springvale Gold N Rule Q-61264 –
Georgia Weavell
As always the Hunter In Hand
classes were very popular with
competitors, with large numbers in
both the Junior and Senior class.
The Winner of the Junior Hunter
in Hand was QXH Sweet Dreams N
Lies Q-82047 shown by Carol Ahern,
and runner up Cowboy Code Q-85316
shown by Annalise Kettle.
16 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • March • April• 2019
Feature Ranch Riding, Zipped In Rhythm
Q-77725 ridden by Michelle Phillips with judge
Dave Young (NZ)
The Senior Hunter in Hand had 11
competitors with the eventual
winner being, My Certain Valentine
Q-75585 shown by Susan Gittus,
and Susan’s other horse Clairveaux
Model Q-74936 coming second.
The Hunter Under Saddle classes
were also big this year. Both the
Senior and Junior classes were won
by Carol Ahern riding her senior
horse, Annlee Top Shot Q-59943 ,
to the win in that big class, then fol-
lowing up on her Junior horse QXH
Sweet Dreams N Lies Q-82047 , who
also won the All Age Hunter Under
Saddle Feature.
This year we saw the return of Geor-
gia Weavell and her gelding Spring-
vale Gold N Rule Q-6126 after having
a two-year break. Georgia just picked
up where she left off winning the All
Age Trail Feature, which she won
the last time she competed at the
State Show.
After the trails, we went onto the
Western Pleasure classes. The Senior
Horse Western Pleasure was won
by Youth rider Rachel Robinson on
her gelding, Doin It Downunder
Q-72782 , with the Junior Horse won by
Annalise Kettle riding Cowboy Code
Q-85316 . The ever-popular gelding CP
Gunnahavsumfun Q-75449 took out the
All Age Western Pleasure Feature
ridden by Annette Green.