Annual Horse of The North, Charters Towers

On the 23rd – 29th May 2019, the Horse of the North Challenge took place at the Charters Towers Dalrymple Equestrian Centre for another year. Each year we wonder how the next year will be better than our last but once again the calibre of horsemanship and the quality of horses has made 2019 an outstanding event.

The PA system came to life with the words of "Welcome to the 2019 Horse of the North, and let’s get the show underway!”, and we knew with the impressive line-up of competitors and quality horses, we could expect nothing more than a great show over the coming 3 days.

The Horse of the North Challenge is a ‘must do’ event on your performance horse calendar and this is reflected in the number of competitors that come back each year and the rising number of new competitors that are experiencing the event for the first time.

The Landmark Open Challenge is a genuine display of the talents of a horse and rider combination. The competitors in this section show spins that captivate us all, master effortless control of their horses, glide through flying changes and slide further through their stops. Just what you would expect from an Open Challenge!

Nathan Wilson won the Landmark Open Challenge with ROYALLE DOUBLE YOUR MONEY 530 followed by reserve champion Cody Stevens with DESTINYS FANCY PANTHER 487.5, 3rd – Nathan Wilson with AMAROO DIAMANTINAS LAST, 4th- Leah Read with WOOD B STYLISH, 5th – Cody Stevens with EL PASCOL CZAR, 6th Matt Stanger with SMART LITTLE TASSLE, 7th – Morgan Webb with CONTRACTOR, 8TH – Joshua Smith with WILDTHING, 9th – Nathan Wilson with ACRES LIMITED EDITION, 10th – Hayley Scott with FRECKLES.

The highest score in the dry work section of the Landmark Open was Nathan Wilson with AMAROO DIAMANTINAS LAST on a score of 95.5 and they took home a Diamond MS Sketch donated by Melissa Salmond. The highest scoring cattle work score was Leah Read with WOOD B STYLISH with a score of 91 to receive one full-service fee FLYIN PEPTOS, kindly donated by Jason & Jamie Linders. The highest scoring Australian Stockhorse in the Landmark Open Challenge was won by Nathan Wilson with ROYALLE DOUBLE YOUR MONEY.

The MAGS Droughtmaster Classic Challenge was won by Des Burns with SCARLET CHISUM 350.5, followed by reserve champion Jessica Hoffman with STARELLA TEQUILA 346.25, 3rd- Emma O’Shea with ROYALLE TIME TO FLY, 4th- Scott Shoo with IM DUN DOUBLE, 5th – Des Burns with MISS GENISIS, 6th – Leah Read with MONSAL SMARTY PANTS, 7th – Leah Read with MAID OF HONOUR, 8th – Matt Stanger with STYLISH PEPTABOON, 9th – Andrew Stallman with MOZZIE, 10th – Kelly Shann with NIBBEREENA AMAROSA.

The highest score in the MAGS Classic dry work was won by Andrew Stallman with RHONDHU CRACKER DUCK with a score of 92.5 and he received a Diamond MS Sketch sponsored by Melissa Salmond. The highest score in the cattle work received one full-service fee to Boonara Mentor, kindly donated by Huon & Colleen Smith, which was taken out by Jessica Hoffman with STARELLA TEQUILA. The highest scoring Australian Stockhorse in the MAGS Classic Challenge was won by Jessica Hoffman with STARELLA TEQUILA.

The highest scoring Australian Quarter Horse from the MAGS Classic Challenge was won by Des Burns with SCARLET CHISUM.

The Jessamine Stockhorses Champion Breeder Buckle, kindly donated by John and Katrina Paine, is awarded to the breeder of the horse of the MAGS Classic Challenge Champion, and this was won by *D BAR QUARTER HORSE Stud, Jan Dunn *with SCARLET CHISUM.

The Highest scoring sale horse in the MAGS Droughtmasters Classic Challenge was awarded to RHONDU TRU LENA owned by G & D Fry and ridden by Matt Stanger.

The Gold City Motorcycles Beginners Challenge Champion was strong competitor JAMES MOORHEAD with BRADMAN on 170.5 followed by reserve champion on 165.5 Cody Spencer with DIAMOND ACT, 3rd- Tamara Herrod with DJANGO DUAL REY, 4th – Ashleigh Fairbrother with HAZELWOOD CONTERFEIT, 5th/6th – Jessica Spoor with THREEMOONSMOKINASH and LOUIS MOULIN-GORDON with LENNY. Corinne Anderson took home the highest score award for an under 25 years competitor in the Open section with ROYALLE SARGENT with a score of 153.5.

The Ernest & Robin Bassingthwaighte Under 25 Years Challenge was won by Jontti Arnold with Lethal Effect with a score of 313. Reserve Champion was Jack Baldwin with Bargain on 300.75. 3rd- Darby Ryan with Henry’s Genuine Lilly, 4th – Jessica Spoor on GIFT, 5th – Gina Hamilton with RESPECT.

The champion of the Bolt & Fodder Shop Rookie Challenge was Rohan McLean with TASSA’S HOE DOWN 348. Reserve champion was Gina Hamilton with PEPTOCAT 338. 3rd was Michelle Atkinson with ROANIE REIGN N DANCE and 4th was Darby Ryan with MASTER LUCK KEWAH, 5th – James Moorhead with BRADMAN, 6th – Kelly Shann with NIBBEREENA YOKO ONO, 7th – Zoe Oneill with MT.OWEENEE ZAIRE, 8th - Rebekah Tasker with LOGAN, 9th- Cody Spencer with DIAMOND ACT, 10th – Tamara Herrod with DJANGO DUAL REY, 11th – Gina Hamilton with WOOD B STYLISH.

The All Souls St Gabriels Juvenile Challenge was won by Darby Ryan with MASTER LUCK KEWAH 162, reserve champion was also Darby Ryan with COLLINGWOOD ACRES OF ELEGANCE 128, 3rd – ALICIA STANBROOK with TAFFY 125.5.

The Boonara Classic Challenge Plate, kindly donated by Huon & Colleen Smith from Boonara Performance Horses was awarded to a rider that has not won or placed second in one of the major Classic Challenges. The plate was awarded to the highest placed person eligible, and this year was Rob Carn with MUSTBE KEVIN.

The Gun of the North Shoeing Competition has taken on its own reputation at the Horse of the North event and this year the standard was very high. Thanks to Equine Solutions for organising the Stockmans Supplies Gun of the North competition for 2019.

We must acknowledge and thank our cattle donors for the event, The Mann Family. The lovely line of cattle made for a successful event and without your contribution the event would not be possible. A special thanks to our 2019 Platinum Sponsor, Curley Cattle Transport, and our gold sponsors Landmark, MAGS Droughtmasters and Gold City Motorcycles.

The Horse of the North Finals create an atmosphere and comradery that is hard to find anywhere else, but when the last ribbon has been presented and the PA system is turned off for another year, we the committee members take a moment to take it all in. We measure success of the event not in how much work our committee does, but we feel success is due to our sponsors, cattle donors, volunteers, judges and competitors that make this event possible and put it on the calendar of performance horse events.

This year we gave special recognition to Ernest and Robin Bassingthwaighte for their dedication over the last 13 years to the Horse of the North. They were presented as Inaugural Horse of The North Life Members.

Congratulations to all winners, placegetters and competitors and thank you for your support, see you all next year at the Horse Of The North 2020.

Photo Credits: Mel Bethel Photography