2007 Royal Melbourne Horse Show and VASL Saddle Horse Championships

VAS Ltd Rising Star Large Pony Finalist, 'Uhavta Bossie Boots' with owner/rider, Hannah Tempany.

A delighted Victoria Gorst with her Reserve Champion Rising Star Large Pony, the Tasmanian bred 'Fairfield Bolshoi'.

What a sensational show for the debutante, 'Kolbeach Promise'. Exhibited by Graham and Sue Elliot and ridden very well by Linda Hayes, Promise, by Fernleigh Fine Print out od County Cover Girl, was declared Champion First Season, Champion Rising Star and Reserve Champion VAS Ltd Large Pony.

Jordie Wright rode Ms A Carter's 'Thorwood Royal Scandal' to make the Finals of the Large Pony Rising Star Championship.

Yesterday the heat and dust and today a little rain, but not as much as everyone wanted. It did get very cold (relative to 40 degrees) and was quite a contrast to yesterday, but it is the Summer Royal after all.

Paige Harris rode Cristy O'Sullivan and Clint Bilson's 'Langtree Gemima' by Jackets Blue Bluebird out of Pinehurst Gemma to claim the Rising Star Small Pony Championship. Pictured here with sponsor and Leanda Stud Principal, Barry McMahon.

Lisa Kropman from the Romsey Riding Club took out the HRCAV Level 4 Ridden Mount Championship.

Madeleine Tabak rode the eye-catching shewbald Shetland, 'Daniel Park Morgan' to make the Finals of a very tough VAS Ltd Ridden Shetland Championship.

David Warde rode Miss P Summers', 'Mirinda Versailles' by Ninfield Minks Supreme to take out the Rising Star Galloway cHampionship.

L-R Champion Ridden Shetland, 'Otway View Playboy' ridden by Charlotte McCutchen and exhibited by Mrs V and V Maurice-Smith and Reserve Champion, Brook Gargan-Young's 'Araylon Heritage ridden by Elizabeth Hoy. The Shetland Championship was outstanding with Judge, Nicole Morrison declaring that "they work like big horses now" and "you don't see Shetties like this anywhere else in Australia".

Briony Payne rode Kurt Crowther's 'Harrington Park Bo Peep' to add the VAS Ltd Reserve Champion Small Pony title to her First Season Championship won yesterday.

Samantha Demmler rode Megan Hughes' 'Haddon Park Calypso' to make the Finals of the VAS Ltd Small Pony Championship.

Laura Shaw and 'Doncasvan Doulton' demonstrated the quality of work needed to make the VAS Ltd Small Pony Finals.

The judges huddle. Nicole Morrison, (Shetlands) Joanne Bensley, (Hacks) Suellen Dean, (Small Ponies) Mike Smith (Galloways) and John Petty (Large Ponies) discuss the VAS Ltd Small Pony Championship.

Jan Langley's 'Langtree Evening Star (ridden by Tamara Lee) by Fairley Temptation out of Brierdale Eloquence was declared VAS Ltd Small Pony Champion.

Briony Payne rode Rose and Lily McEvoy's very well performed 'Mirinda Touch of Mink' by Ninfield Minks Supreme out of Mirinda Dresden to claim her second VAS Ltd Large Pony Championship (2005). Mink was Reserve last year.

Rose McEvoy with her successful Large Pony Finalist, 'Dickens of Wyuna'.

Simon Deleeuw rode his own and the Rothwell Show Stables' 'Wundurra Scottsdale', an Australian Stock Horse by Wundurra Schyloe to take out the VASLtd Reserve Champion Small Galloway award.

Francesca Christie was just getting warmed up with the Small Galloway Championship riding Christine an Brian Frost's home bred Elmdale Park Ambiants by Kirreway Ambition out of Yarramie Ant's Pants.

A meeting of generations. Sarah Dempsy has matched up with the Devrome Family's successful Galloway, 'Dresden Park Matrice', a former multi Royal Champion, to make the Small Galloway Finals.

Emma Marie rode 'Willowcroft Garland' to make the VAS Ltd Small Pony Finals.

Rochelle O'Connor rode Kara Woolcock and Narelle Munday's eye-catching 'Bojinda Lilly Rose' to claim the VAS Ltd Rising Star Shetland Championship.

Michael Christie rode Michelle, Bruce and Prue Chamberlain's 'Sanlirra Just Glitter' to take out the Large Galloway Reserve Championship.

Back to back Large Galloway Championships for Bree Petrie and her Melbourne Royal Champion Galloway, 'Willowcroft Chance Encounter', by Urubula Regal Promise out of the TB Petite Equees, demonstrating here just how they did it.

Michael Christie rode Caroline Ried's 'Flirting' to claim the VAS Ltd Small Hack Reserve Championship.

After being Reserved Champion for the last two years, the 2006 Victorian Horse of the Year, 'Elmdale Park Poise' exhibited by Christine and Brian Frost and with his usual rider, Francesca Christie in the saddle, the beautiful hack at last claimed the VAS Ltd Small Hack Championship.

Stephanie Barrington rode her 'Vader' to make the Finals of the Over 16hh Hack Championship.

Well-known and successful showing personality, Pam Ahearn took out the Rising Star Hack Championship with her own, Warren Coyle and Howard Morris' "Surely' and also made the Open Large Hack Finals.

Francesca Christie almost at the end of her "best day ever" rode Stephen Merry's 2006 VAS Ltd Champion Hack over 16hh, 'LA' to claim back to back Championships.

Phillip Bobic got into his mentor, Francesca Christie's successful act by taking out the Large Hack Reserve Championship with Christine and Brian Frost's 'Elmdale Park Cosmopolitan'.