Sundown Lodge 1^st & 2^nd at the EKKA

15^th August 2007

Wednesday 15^th August was Show Day Holiday in Brisbane and People’s Day at the Royal Queensland Show, better known as the EKKA.

Although crowd numbers were low this year the atmosphere in the Energex Oval was electric as the Irish Draught and Sport Horses entered the arena. There was information aplenty being announced over the tannoy and the carnival mood of the fair ground overflowed into the arena. Our horses felt the atmosphere too but we recovered some of their composure before the judging began. 

Sundown Lodge had two nominations for the day, both in the Led Gelding Class:

Horse                    Owned By           Shown By            By                                      Out Of

Tier Na Nog        Barb Hatcliffe     Jimmy Hatcliffe   Star of Clintvara ID         Fortunate TB

Cu Roi                 Tania Marsh       Tania Marsh       Conqueror King ID        Nikita Girl TB

Once again Tier Na Nog and Cu Roi were washed, groomed and plaited and looked absolutely gorgeous for the big day

Jimmy used his handling expertise to show Tier Na Nog off to his finest and they were justly rewarded with a First Place Blue Ribbon.

I delved deeply into my past experience of two shows to exhibit Cu Roi to his best advantage and we were very pleased with our Second Place. OK, the victory would have been sweeter had their been more entrants, but second is second.

The EKKA is a great Brisbane tradition and the organizers do a super job within the tight confines of the Show Grounds. With so many entrants it’s amazing how smoothly the event ran – and to time too!

As first time exhibitors Cu Roi and I found the stabling area a little claustrophobic. With the grand assistance from my strapper, Bec and Barb, Cu Roi and I, together with Tier Na Nog and Jimmy, had a splendid time.

A Grand Day was had by all who were there at the EKKA.

Sundown Lodge at the Mt Gravatt Show – 29^th July 2007

It was a crisp mid winter’s morning in SE Qld as the team from Sundown Lodge rugged themselves up and braved single digit temperatures to get to the 92^nd Mt Gravatt Show. (Apologies to IDSHS Members from southern states, but it was cold by our standards!)  By mid morning the Queensland sun had warmed us into the mid 20’s, the Show Grounds were dry and dusty. As the Ring Master called for the Irish Draught and Sport horses to report to ring 4 the last of the clouds disappeared and left us a beautiful blue sky to perform under.

Sundown Lodge had three nominations for the day:

Class	Horse	Owned By	Shown By	By	Out Of
Led Gelding	Tier Na Nog	Barb Hatcliffe	Jimmy Hatcliffe	Star of Clintvara ID	Fortunate TB
Led Gelding	Cu Roi	Tania Marsh	Tania Marsh	Conqueror King ID	Nikita Girl TB
Under Saddle	Cu Roi	Tania Marsh	Tania Marsh	Conqueror King ID	Nikita Girl TB

Tier Na Nog was delightfully presented and with Jimmy’s skilled handling, Tier did all that was asked of him, trotting out with pride, more than deserving his Second Place.

Cu Roi looked pretty good too, even though I do say so myself. As I asked him to trot on he took shy to a merry-go-round and the trot was not one of his best and I was more than happy with my Third Place.

The under saddle class was next on the agenda and the judges kindly let us warm up in the show ring, allowing us the opportunity to accustom the horses to the sights and sounds of it’s neighbouring attractions. Cu Roi performed with such self-esteem and gained his first ever First Place.  

We had a fantastic day – Thank you Mt Gravatt – See you next year.