Wellington Country Park
Heavy Horse Spectacular

Mr Batt's 'Casper' - winner of the harness class. This horse has appeared in the Lord Mayor's Show for the last two years.

However, only one man is close enough to check every link in the chains, inspect every brass has been cleaned front and back, and that is the judge. This class is so difficult to choose a winner nowadays because the standard is so high - the slightest mark on a brass, the minutest amount of dirt between the chain links, can move you down the line several places. Mr Batts, who had already enjoyed an exceptionable day, continued his winning streak by taking top honours with Casper. Medstead Royale a very close second and Brigidier, owned by Mr Peters, an unlucky third.

The main ring was the venue for the turnout classes and our judge, Peter Tribe, ex-head horseman for Young's Brewery, took his position in the centre of the ring. The first class to join him was the single farm turnouts, sponsored by our organiser Ray Franklin. Each vehicle was inspected and each piece of harness individually checked for fit and condition. After lots of deliberation, Brian Withers' 1939 Hampshire boat wagon, driven by son Andrew, narrowly beat Mr Peters' Norfolk wagon into second place. Mr Ryan's Vanguard pulled a 1930 tip cart, Gypsy, a bay roan Clydesdale mare, to a hitch cart completing an interesting class.

Andy Withers driving 'Lawrence and 'Alfred' hitched to the Hampshire boat wagon

Single trade was not so interesting with Bill Clark an easy winner with his barrel dray over Jane Wordsworth's four-wheeled exercise vehicle. This class would have been more interesting if Randy Hiscox had attended with his Railway dray but, as previously mentioned, he was making hay while the sun shone.

As in the previous class our hosts, the Wellington Country Park, sponsored the trade and farm pairs. Three entries forward battled for honours and an impressive drive by Bill Clark with Duke and Earl on the pole won the day. Mr Clark is one of the top independent turnouts on the show circuit and must be congratulated for taking on the big company teams with all their money, and standing at the top of the line with them. Mr Withers' Alfred joined Lawrence in the Hampshire wagon to add more horse power, but did not quite catch the judges eye this time and had to be satisfied with second place. Jane, with her uninteresting but functional exercise vehicle, receiving the third place rosette.

The grand parade was well planned with champion and reserve holding front centre stage, class winners flanking these horses, with the other exhibitors giving a splendid back drop with vehicles towering over the rest at the back. The pony club games competitors who entertained the crowds throughout the lunch period joined their heavy weight cousins in this final appearance. I thoroughly enjoyed my day at the Wellington Country Park. It was well organised, plenty of quality horses and a wonderful site to spend a day with all the Park's usual amenities included in the entry fee. The next Spectacular will be held on 9th July 2000 and I for one will be there.

Ex-Whitbread horse 'Nobby' with Doreen Turner taking part in the Grand Parade