2013 Melbourne Royal Show

The stands may have been deserted on the cold and very windy Melbourne morning, however there was world class driving to be seen on the Coca Cola Arena. Vince Corvi is pictured at the reins of Hackney Pony, 'Woodhurst The Count' that is out of the great Woodhurst Countess, on his way to claiming the Hackney/Hackney Type Pony Under 14hh Championship.

We are more used to seeing Stuart Ryan with his beautiful white Australian Ponies, however he drove his Hackney Pony, 'Stillbrook Festive' to take out the Hackney/Hackney Type Pony Under 14hh Reserve Championship.

No one can ever accuse Elsa Avery of not going forward. The talented and fearless reinswoman is pictured at the reins of her own and M Wickham's, 'Eyrie Diaghilev' that won the class for Hackney/Hackney Type Pony 12.2-14hh.

Desiree Stewart drove her, 'Denzildon Buster Boy' to win the class for Clydesdale Gelding Driven in Reins, Collar and Hames and went on to take out the Clydesdale Driven In Reins etc. Championship.

Josh Taylor drove Mr B Taylor's, 'Mcmurchie Blair' to take second place in the class for Clydesdale Gelding Driven in Reins, Collar and Hames. They went on to take out the award for Reserve Champion Clydesdale in Reins etc.

Melbourne Royal mounted steward, Steve Peters was decidedly pedestrian this morning. Steve is pictured with Doug Kefford's, 'Meadow Lane Jackson' that took third place in the class for Clydesdale Gelding Driven in Reins, Collar and Hames.

Erica Quinn is pictured with the Yanco Agricultural High School's, 'Petreiie Tess' on their way to winning the class for Clydesdale Mare Driven in Reins, Collar and Hames. (The "Hames" are the two metal protrusions coming up from the collar).

Terry Cowan is pictured at the reins of the super, Corvi Beggs and Cowan Hackney, 'Hudson Vamoose' that won the class for Hackney/Hackney Type Over 15hh. Vamoose was declared Reserve Champion Hackney/Hackney Type Horse Over 14hh.

The maestro was sadly playing to an empty house this morning. Vince Corvi drove the Corvi,Beggs and Cowan nomination, 'Hudson Valentina' to win the class for Hackney Horse 14-15hh and take out the Hackney/Hackney Type Championship. Interestingly Hudson Valentina and Hudson Vamoose are full siblings, as both are by Dunolly Nureyev out of Dunolly Golden Maid.

When did the Bending Race become Speed Weavers? A two heat mounted Games contest amongst Victoria, NSW and South Australia got under way this morning. The first race was the Bending or Speed Weaver race. A Victorian rider is pictured, however SA won the race.

Victorian Team member, Billie Pearson lines up the post during the Mounted Games Mug Race. The idea is to put the mug on the post at the gallop, having already taken it off an earlier post.

Matthew Marriott is pictured at the reins of the super moving Murroka Clydesdale's, 'Beereega Culross' that was declared Champion Clydesdale in Harness and Supreme Delivery Horse.

Esme Rheinberger is pictured at the reins of her own and Dean Rheinberger's, 'Benwerrin Park Cabe' that took fourth place in the class for Clydesdale Gelding/Mare In a Two Wheeled Vehicle.

Extreme weather over the second half of the show cause all sorts of problems. One day of showjumping was cancelled, the small tent attached to the members dining area for members to sit and watch the ring events blew away and ended up in a tree and many of the clydesdales had to move during the night as the windows in the historic Clydesdale pavilion started to blow in.

The Smith and Cantwell nomination, 'Larvistryn Archer' took sixth place in the class for Clydesdale Gelding/Mare in a Two Wheeled Vehicle.

Jackson Keir drove the Keir Family's, 'Canberra Park Manhattan' to win the class for Junior Driver, Pony Under 14hh.

Marjorie Walter from Ripplebrook in Victoria is pictured with her Reserve Champion Harness Pony 12hh and Under, 'Fontain Navahar' that today won the class for Lady's Harness Pony 12hh and Under.

Kim Cooke drove Lynleigh Cooke's, 'Penbayr Tijuana' to third place in the class for Lady's Harness Pony 12hh and Under.

Denise Reynolds drove Mrs T Coster's, 'Wooleen Mozart' to sixth place in the strong class for Lady's Harness Pony 12-14hh.

Joanne Bensley drove the Bensley Family's, 'Stillbrook Tiger Lily' to claim the Harness Pony 12-14hh Reserve Championship and today they took out the class for Lady's Harness Pony 12-14hh.

Julie Bullivant drove Neil Shipard's, 'Lakevale Zipper' to second place in the class for Lady's Harness Pony 12-14hh.

Elsa Avery showcasing a new stable of harness ponies drive her, 'Burrowa Du Ceinder' to win the class for Harness Pony 13-14hh.

Brooke Keir drove the Keir Family's well performed, 'Canberra Park Velvet Queen' to claim the Harness Horse Over 14hh Reserve Championship and today they took out the class for Lady's Harness Horse Over 14hh.

The Murroka Clydesdale make a perfect mirror image during the judging of the class for pair of Clydesdale Mares of Geldings in Vehicle.

The AT Marriott and Sons pair are pictured during their workout with Andrew Marriott at the reins and L-R Mark and Claire Marriott.

Amanda Ragg is pictured with the Ragg and Proctor nomination, 'Glenwood Silk-N-Ize' that earlier in the show was declared Champion Harness Pony Under 12hh.

Andrew James drove the Corrine Collins and Vince Corvi nomination, 'Riverlodge Light Magic' to claim the Harness Pony 12-14hh Championship and the Supreme Harness Pony award.