Golden Ticket for Bronze Soldier
Kerry Wainwright’s Skellorn Bronze Soldier trounced all others in the final battle for a place in the Price Family Supreme final line-up at Notts County Show. Remarkably, this will be his fifth visit to HOYS competing in this prestigious final, and he’s also narrowly missed out on a spot in reserve on a further four occasions. He was shown by usual handler Stuart Mason, who also showed him to lift the ultimate accolade for a Welsh breeder in 2019, standing section champion at the Royal Welsh. Last season, he proved that sometimes handsome is as handsome does, jointly topping the coveted Royal Welsh sire ratings.
The sixteen-year-old Welsh section B is out of Burside Penny Black and is Skellorn Consort, meaning that he is a fourth-generation homebred pony.
Soldier now makes up an elite trio, with we believe just two others equalling his record for qualification: Castle Emperor and Rosslyn Sweet Repose who qualified five and six times respectively.
Photo by Lauren Barnes Photography
In reserve at Notts County and occupying that tantalisingly close spot was producer Simon Charlesworth leading the hunter breeding champion, Plas Pennant Master Morris, owned by Peter and Kathy Bowdler. He was bred by Derek Walker and Nick Davies, and Derek was judging at Builth Wells in 2019 when he began chatting to Peter, who runs the show-jumping ring at the Royal Welsh Spring Festival. When Peter mentioned that he was searching for a foal, Derek informed him that he had just the foal. That was Plas Pennant Sir Sidney, who was succsefully shown last season by Simon to stand champion at Three Counties, the Royal Welsh and SHB GB’s Championships. Peter and Kathy returned to the stud two years later in 2021 to purchase two-year-old Master Morris. “We are absolutely thrilled with the result,” said Kathy.
