What a fantastic day! With 174 Entries in the ASH Classes alone, 14 registered horses competing for the Pentathlon and a big increase in numbers for the Non-ASH Pentathlon a great day was had by all! Sponsors provided great prizes for our competitors and we look forward to supporting these gernerous companies, business' and individuals.

The ASH Led Class was well supported this year with 5 ASH Horses lining up to be judged. The Breed Judge was a Ms Kerry Murnane. In the Led she placed Bruce & Tanya Guaran's ASH Youngster First (Bruce & Tanya have just moved to Drumborg Vic from the Melb. Branch ASH), with Claire Fennell's 'Koolatoo Beau Elle' placing second & a lovely Black Show hack placing third. The Ridden Stock Horse was Won by Claire Fennell's 'Koolatoo Beau Elle' with Chari-Lee Hoad from Adelaide coming Runner Up with her 'Chalani' stock horse. Chari-Lee also placed second in the Junior 6-Bar Showjumping with her lovely Stock Horse and also competed in the Junior Whip-cracking. Great to see one of the Central members at the Mt Gambier Show.

The SE of SA Branch of the Australian Stock Horse Society will celebrate it’s 25th Anniversary Pentathlon Challenge at it’s Show & Pentathlon Challenge on the 19th November at the Penola Pony Club Grounds, this is one of the longest running ASH Challenges in Australia. The Australian Stock Horse is often referred to the ‘Breed for every need’ and with over 9,500 members and 160,000 registered horses, this versatile horse which featured in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony will be on show. Renowned for it’s toughness, endurance, resilience and strength, these fine working animals also display a cat-like speed & agility which have produced the world’s best at work and play. The Society was established in 1971 in Scone (NSW) and the local SE of SA Branch was to hold it’s first Stock Horse Pentathlon Challenge 10 years later in 1981. ‘Pentathlon’ meaning 5 events, the first Challenge was held in Kingston and was a competition for registered Stock Horse Stallions, events covered Led, Ridden, Working, Handy Hunter (Jumping) and Stock Horse Trial. These events were to test the Versatility of both Horse and Rider, the Overall results were as follows: Stallion Pentathlon Results 1981 1st Junior Jet / Des Castine 2nd Mobile Duplicate / Barry Murphy 3rd Comara Tic Tack / Marg Allen 4th Hillenview Black Panther / Alan Johnson 5th Nyakkie / Gary Gurney 6th Geehi High Noon / Bruce Caulfield Keen to Promote the Australian Stock Horse Society, the Branch is also offering a Pentathlon Challenge to NON-ASH Competitors from Under 13’s through to Open Senior sections with some great prizes up for grabs. Some 25 years later the Pentathlon Challenge is continuing to grow in strength and we now see many Stockman type challenges being run through- out the state & country. The Branch is looking forward to a great day of competition, invitations have been sent to the SA Central ASH competitors and the Victorian Branches. Hosted at the picturesque Penola Pony Club Grounds (South of the township on the Riddoch Hwy) it will be a great day of competition for spectators and everyone is welcome to come and see theses versatile Horses compete. Competition will also include a Full Stock Horse Show Program covering events from Led, Working, Educated, Pleasure and more. Come along and celebrate in this Anniversary Event. Further enquiries to Claire Fennell on (08) 8725 7617 or Jane Allen (08) 8762 4789.

The Penola Hunt Club exceeded any-ones expectations with a fantastic event for everyone! It was great to see so many little kids on ponies enjoying themselves in the Encourage ring and everyone went home with a ribbon. The Junior unmounted whip crack was well supported with some huge talent from these little cowgirls/boys! The Challenge had good entry numbers and our ASH Members ranked well in each event and overall. Included in the day was also Barrel-racing, Hunters Challenge & Showjumping. Well done to Linda Field and Belinda Fairchild who were kept busy all day and did a fantasticc job organising this event along with the other members. It was great to also see some of the SW Vic ASH members come to compete in this event and we hope to see them back for some of the upcoming challenges!

A Training day was held in conjunction with the Penola Hunt Club at Mooreview with Barry Murphy instructing. It was a great day and well supported with several ASH members in attendance as well as Hunt Club members who are ASH members as well. Barry did a great job with exercises covering: side-passing over poles, backing around drums, correct gate opening, stock horse workout, working towards Haunch turns and use of the mechanical cow. Well done Barry, it was great and very informative and we all went home with plenty of Homework!