The Suffolk Horse Spectacular – September 3rd 2023
The Suffolk Horse Spectacular was – quite simply – spectacular!
The event took place at the Food Museum in Stowmarket, Suffolk, and approximately 40 horses were present. The highlight of the day, as with every Spectacular, was the Supreme Suffolk Championship. The competition is open to any registered Suffolk horse which is eligible to enter any of the affiliated shows throughout the season. Twelve horses competed for the Supreme Championship Trophy, judged by a panel of three judges: Mrs R Baker, Amy Nichols and Peter Bundock, with a commentary by Peter Crockford.
The 2023 Supreme Champion is Colony Eli (pictured below), bred and owned by the Suffolk Punch Trust. The 2023 Champion Female is Eyke Elizabeth, bred and owned by John and Fiona Fleming. The Champion Gelding is Samford Billy, owned by John Latham & Hazel Chapman.
Visitors to the Spectacular were entertained throughout the day with a busy ring programme which included in hand harness classes, young handlers’ competition, horse drawn vehicles, ridden, logging and agility demonstrations, an in hand parade, and a parade of other heavy horse breeds. One of the highlights of the day must be the Fancy Dress Parade. With a theme of “Story Books” there was no limit to the ingenuity and imagination of all those who took part – Humpty Dumpty, the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, Big ears and Noddy, Shrek, War Horse and 101 Dalmatians.
The Suffolk Horse Society President Mrs Mary Ryder-Davis presented the awards in the Grand Parade at the end of the afternoon, and thanked all competitors, exhibitors and everyone who had helped to make the day successful and memorable.
