EFA Show Horse and Rider Championships

National Champion Galloway in 2005 and 2006, Tess Hughes and her hugely successful 'Janevelyn Jazzman' (Chippenham Jaguar/Janevelyn Elegant Lady) had to be content with the Runner Up award in 2008.

South Australia dominated the Lotus Institute National Galloway awards with Kelly White claiming the 2008 National title with her own and Alyssa Guistozzi's 'Mirinda Versailles' (Ninfields Minks Supreme/Whiteheaven).

Queensland combination, Laura Widdowson and 'SLM High Profile' worked well, receiving much favourable comment during the Omega Feeds Small Hack Championship.

The National Hack Championships were very much a family affair. Francesca Christie rode her own and Stephen Merry's absoutley beautiful 'SLM Mind Games' to claim the Decron National Large Hack Championship. Just over a half and hour earlier, Francesca's daughter, Courtney took out the Omega Feeds Small Hack Championship with her own and yes Stephen Merry's much talked about mare, 'Magnifique'.

Although he does not look it (Chris Lawrie does not give much away), he was "thrilled" to take out the National Large Hack Runner Up award with his 'Black Tie'.

Representing Victoria, Abby Heffer took out the National Junior Rider Championship Runner Up award.

Annabell Mulready from NSW has had a sensational 2008 National show. She claimed the National Show Hunter Galloway title yesterday with her 'Farleigh Lytton' and today with the help of the good working Galloway, took out the National Junior Riding Championship.

Naomi Karutz was the second of the South Australian representatives in the National Intermediate Rider Championship.

An elegant Lauren Tomasi represented NSW in the National Intermediate Rider Championship riding Bridget Sell's 'Universal Law'.

Outstanding Queensland rider, Beau Cunning was National Junior Rider Champion In 2005 and 2006. Beau came back after the EI gap year to take out the National Intermediate Rider Championship riding 'Charming' owned by the 2006 Champion, Alexandra Berwick.

Victorian, Stephanie Barrington rode Katrina Ritchie's 'LA' beautifully to take out the National Intermediate Rider Runner Up award.

Successful NSW young rider, Rebekah Bennett produced a good workout riding Kim Adby's 'Mondiso Park Watch Me' (Langtree Jubilee/Mondiso Park Fairytale) in the National Small Pony Championship..

Representing Queensland, Elyse Douglas rode her lovely 'Langtree Jazzman' (Fairley Temptation/Kelvin Grove Joanne) to claim the National Small Pony Championship Runner Up award.

It took the Shaw family four days to get to the Nationals from their home in the Northern Territory. Nine year old Sally Shaw made the most of the trip producing a polished workout riding six year old, 'Andlyn Park Fashion' (Kinarale Klassique/Fairlight Acres Natasha).

Amelia Lawrence from Tasmania won the crowd over with her delightful, 'Barjack Mr Bojangles' (Barjack Mr Markham/Cern-On Park Courtesan) during the national Small Pony Championship.

With sophistication well beyond her nine years, Grade Hill produced a foot perfect workout riding the Mc Mahon and Mc Cormick families beautiful, 'Silkwood Angel Wings' (Silkwood Babbling Brook/Silkwood Seventh Heaven) to claim the National Small Pony Championship. Angel Wings was National Leading Rein Champion yesterday. The outstanding Small Pony of the moment claimed the National title for WA in 2004.

Queensland combination Jordan McDowall and her successful 'Westlake Hummingbird' (Rothwell Toytown/Willowcroft Hillsong) won the unofficial music award for their Mary Poppins medley during the National Large Pony Workout. Jordan changes the tempo of the music to suit the movements of the pony.

Tasmanian combination, Hannah Wright and 'Tungarra Gay Forever' (Jackets Bluebird imp/Tungarra Gay Design) put their best foot forward during the National Large Pony hack Championship.

Graham Elliott's outstanding 'Kolbeach Promise' had been claiming Championships since she was born almost. The beautiful pony by Fernleigh Fine Print out of County Cover Girl ridden as always by Linda Hayes was declared National Champion Large Pony.

Margot Haynes and 'Holly's Spring' representing South Australia took out the National Runner Up Large Pony award. Angie Penalurick and Chris Lawrie's lovely pony is by the imported Camargue Tribute out of the also imported, Holly of Springtime.

Lisa Jones was one of two Queensland representatives in the National Senior Rider Championship.

Danielle Zeizer rode her 'Hyde Park' for Tasmania in the National Senior Rider Championship. Later in the evening Danielle rode the multi Championship veteran in the Decron Large Hack Championship, after which the undoubtedly classy hack, still, is to be retired from the show ring.

Nineteen year old Courtney Christie came to the nationals with high hopes for her own and Stephen Merry's 'Magnifique'. The well named mare was at short odds to claim the Omega Feeds Small Hack Championship. Courtney and the beautiful mare lived up to all the hype and rode away with the 2008 National Small Hack Championship and some history..

A rider is said to be in the correct position on a horse if a straight line can be drawn from the rider's elbow through their hand to the horse's mouth and again from the rider's shoulder through their hip to their heel. This photo of Margot Haynes demonstrates those lines to perfection. Margot sits beautifully, correct and soft and horses go well for her. Not surprising then that she claimed back to back National Senior Rider Championships. It now makes it four Senior Rider titles in all for the South Australian, pictured aboard he 'Grazier'.

2005 National Senior Rider Champion, Briony Payne had to be content this year with the Runner Up award for Victoria. An always gracious Briony looks delighted with her award.

Tinesha Carey representing New Zealand made a very good impression during her National Intermediate Rider workout.

Anna Humphries riding 'Secret Agent' during her National Intermediate Rider Championship workout. This Championship was "a tough class",

Brooke Langbecker with her mother, Letitia's 'Mondiso Park Just A Dream' (Falconhurst Boy Blue/Mondiso Park Julia) represented Queensland in the National Small Saddle Pony Championships.

New Zealand combination, Kelsey Duncan with her mother, Shona's 'Langtree Autograph' (Wedgenock Coffee Pot/ Rothwell Forever Regal) during the National/Trans Tasman Large Pony Championship.

Champion Intermediate Rider, Beau Cunning with Sally George's beautiful Queensland Large Pony representative, 'Rathowen Scarlet Ribbons' (Courtland Boy Blue/Rathowen Russet).

During the Saturday evening programme the enthusiastic audience was treated to a fashion parade courtesy of the Metro Modelling Academy. The students are given instruction in," posture, skin care, make up, wardrobing, etiquette and manners, public speaking and modelling skills". Sounds good.

Rebecca Lockhart and 'Rathowen Storm Warning' (Courtland Boy Blue/Kirreway Skye) represented NSW in the Lotus Institute National Galloway Championship.

Kelly Bond and 'Confusions of Rathowen' (Courtland Boy Blue/Thoughtful Miss) representing Queensland make their way past the dinner guests and 'mixed zone' during the Lotus Institute Galloway Championships.

NSW representatives, Emma Corrigan and 'She's A Celebrity' during the Omega Feeds Small Hack Championship.

Western Australian combination, Annabella Drexel and 'SLM Flirting' worked beautifully to take the National Runner Up Small Hack award back to the West.

Aaron Woolard's 'Highmont' , formerly ridden with success by Victorian, Jess Barton, represented Queensland in the Decron National Large Hack Championship..The Queensland Large Hack of the Year was a little overcome by the atmosphere in the arena, however Aaron did a good job to reassure the hoses and encourage him to continue.