Showjumper Balou Star recognised at the inaugural Competition Stallions Awards presented at the British Stallion Event
Thursday 14 January 2016
The inaugural Competition Stallions Awards were presented at The British Stallion Event on 9th January to the top sires of progeny assessed by the British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity Evaluations 2015.
The awards are the brainchild of Jane Skepper, Director of the Competition Stallions Guide. “We felt it was now the time to start developing an Award Scheme for British based stallions to continue to help promote high quality stallions standing in the UK”, said Jane. “We wanted to start to start this year with Awards for the Leading Sires of Futurity presented in 2015, but we look forward to developing these awards up through the ranks into leading Sires of competing stallions in the various disciplines in future years”, she added.
The Awards will take place annually, based on the results of progeny presented at the British Breeding/BEF Futurity Evaluations in the single year. “This should result in stallions that are actively having progeny presented and getting good results having a chance of winning, and the criteria for the Awards have been developed to represent this”, said Jane. To be eligible for an award the stallion must be based in the UK and must have had at least 5 progeny forward at the Futurity Evaluations in the year. The highest average score determines the winner and awards are made in each discipline: Dressage, Endurance, Eventing, Show Jumping & Sports Pony as well as an innovative Newcomer’s award.
The Dressage Competition Stallion Award went to Woodlander Wild Child, who is currently training in Germany and was represented by his sire, Woodlander Wavavoom. Wild Child, out of the world champion 5 and 6 year old, Woodlander Farouche, is himself a graduate of the Futurity, achieving an Elite score as a foal and top dressage 2 year old. Owner and breeder, Lynne Crowden, said “We have had the rankings for years, and it is wonderful now to get these stallions recognised”.
The Eventing Stallion Award went to Future Gravitas, by the successful eventing stallion, Grafenstoltz, out of the proven performance producer, Justwith Genoa, making Future Gravitas a half brother to Olympic silver medallist and WEG gold medallist, Winsome Adante. A Futurity graduate, Future Gravitas was the top ranked of all the eventing stallions, as well as being the top UK based eventing sire. Julia Hodkin of Future Sport Horses, paid tribute to the mare owners for giving young stallions a chance. “It is time for breeders to choose British stallions because they are as good or better than you can find abroad”, she said.
To ensure that young stallions are not overlooked, there is also an Award for the leading Newcomer. To be eligible, stallions must have between 3 and 5 progeny forward across all disciplines in the year, and must not have had more than 5 progeny presented in total over a number of years in the Futurity Evaluations.
The Newcomers award went jointly to Elite Stallions’ Balou Star and Catherston Stud’s Timolin. The young show jumping stallion, Balou Star, produced the top show jumping yearling in 2015 and demonstrated that as a competition horse, he is a little powerhouse. Ridden by Millie Allen, he was 2nd in the U25 Grand Prix at the recent Liverpool International Show, took individual and team bronze at the Young Rider Europeans in 2015, and is regularly winning at 1.45m level. “He is coming into his own now and will be stepping up this year. He is perfect to handle, and has such a good temperament”, said Millie’s father, Peter Allen.
The Totilas sired Timolin demonstrated his impressive paces shown in hand for the presentation, and his impeccable temperament as people crowded his box to view the 5 year old stallion. “He has a super temperament. I can ride out in the fields at home, and he is lovely to train. He has a fantastic canter to sit on. It is lovely that young stallions with foals coming through can be recognised”, said Lizzie Murray.
“We feel it is very important that Sports Pony stallions are recognised as well and have an award for the leading Sports Pony stallion in each year; the only difference is that their scores will be the highest average across all disciplines”, Jane explained.
The Pony Stallion award went to Penny Walster’s dressage pony, Bathleyhills Monet. An Elite graduate of the Futurity himself, he is now producing high scoring foals and yearlings as well as competing in dressage. His part-bred arab and part welsh bloodlines carry the cream gene, so he can produce palomino progeny. “I am delighted with the award”, said Penny. “He got an Elite score and highest yearling in the Futurity, and the SPSS Certificate of Merit for the leading pony sire as a 3 year old. He is super athletic and really trainable, but he can be left for a month and we just pick him up again”, said Penny.
“We are very thankful to British Breeding and the BEF for allowing us the use of their Futurity Evaluation data for the results and also for letting us present the award at the Stallion Event so that the Stallions have a chance to receive their awards in front of an audience in person or by an equine representative (Progeny or Sire)”, said Jane
All of the stallions were present or had progeny or sire present to receive their awards and the audience were appreciative of the demonstrations by these award-winning sires.
Competition Stallions has now produced its 5th Edition of the Guide for Graded & Approved Competition Stallions. For further information and to obtain a copy of the directory, visit http://www.competition-stallions.com.
2015 Competition Stallion Awards – Results
Dressage - Woodlander Wildchild (2011), Sire: Woodlander Wavavoom (Hann), Dam: El. Woodlander Farouche (Hann) - Furst Heinrich (West)
Showjumping - No stallion had 5 or more progeny forward. However, Balou Star had the highest average score and was also the joint top newcomer.
Eventing - Future Gravitas (2010), Sire: Grafenstolz, Dam: Juswith Genoa (Elite) - Bohemond xx (HIS Premium)
Endurance – No stallion had 5 or more progeny forward.
Sports Pony - Bathleyhills Monet (2008), Sire: Casino Royale K, Dam: Mona - Matcho
Newcomer - joint winners:
Balou Star (2005), Sire: Balou de Roulet, Dam: Quenada Z – Quick Star;
Timolin (2011), Sire: Totilas (KWPN), Dam: Samira (Old) – Sion (KWPN)
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