Despite lorry parking conditions which resembled the 'Battle of the Somme' following the torrential rain the New Forest Pony competitors were keen to show off their exhibits as the prestigious Royal Show at Stoneleigh. Mr John Adams had well filled classes with a very high standard of pony. It was disappointing though that the organisers moved the New Forest Classes from the equine arena to make room for the show ponies who were not able to handle the deep going in the grand ring, following which the New Forest classes were then moved into the collecting ring.

In the Stallion and Colt class John Adams had Mr & Mrs Humble's free moving Lovelyhill Uplift in top spot (last years winner) followed by Sabine Andree Parsons young stallion Sabina's Gold Nugget in second place. Third was Mr and Mrs Youngs delightful grey Farriers Fingerprint. The 2yo Mallards Wood Saint Peter owned by Penny Bevill was 4th.

In the mare and gelding class, it was nice to see 3 broodmares with foals at foot. The winner was Mr Collis's lovely bay mare Ashley Coriander who went on to the take the overall New Forest Championship. Ashley's Corrianders colt foal won the foal class with James Young's forest bred colt foal second.

In the 2 & 3 year olds John Adam had a lot of nice ponies to choose from and his eventual winner was Paul Knowles and Jackie Josey's homebred Bay mare Buttslawn Fantasia, second Mr and Mrs Bailey's Applewitch Roan Fantasia. In third was Mandy Key's Kauri Inspiration a 3 year old filly by Wayland Loganberry, although smaller than many of the ponies in the class was showing very good type.

In the Yearlings class John Adam's winner was the very mature and well grown Sabinas Gold Dust, winner at the Three Counties and NPS Area 24. This upstanding colt went on to take the male Championship. Second in the yearling class was a bay filly owned & bred by Mrs K Penna, by Applewitch Pure Magic. It was also nice to see a younger show competitor, Luke Blomfield making the trip up to the Royal with his own Sway Mister Moon, a yearling colt by Longcopse Elton who took 5th place in the yearling class.