Southland Welsh Show 2025
November 30, 2025
The annual roadie to Gore to attend the Southland Welsh Championship Show.
Having two mares due to foal nearly derailed the trip, but luckily both of them decided to foal just a couple of days beforehand! Hollybank River of Dreams aka Matilda had a great show, coming home with Champion Section B Youngstock, Runner-up Supreme Purebred Exhibit and topped it off with winning the Best Overall Movement Sash. Once again the biggest thanks to chief pony handler Sophie Burkin and fellow roadie/helper/entertainer/supporter Catherine Williams for making the trip down and making it a very enjoyable weekend!
Southland Welsh Pony & Cob Club always put on a great show with a lovely friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Methven A&P Show 2026 was Hollybank Ring of Fire’s time to shine.
Hollybank Riviera attended her second and final show for the 2025/26 season, the 2026 Canterbury Welsh Show held in Leeston.
A beautiful sunny day for the South Island All Welsh Show, after a massive thunderstorm a couple of nights beforehand resulted in some of the ponies breaking through fences on the farm in the middle of the night.
NZ Royal Show 2025 hosted by Canterbury A&P Assn. After cracking days both before and after, we picked the worst day to attend, a day when you might question your sanity for even getting out of bed at 5am.
A lovely day out at the Canterbury All Breeds Foal & Youngstock Show with Hollybank Snow Man (Nawarrah Park Lady’s Man) and Hollybank Peek-a-Boo (Hollybank Antonio).
Nawarrah Park Lady’s Man is now 22 years old and has had a stranglehold on the Gunthwaite Trophy for the NZWPCS Section B Sire Ratings since 2012.
From George Howe, Nawarrah Park Stud - Hollybank Chantilly (NZ) - Victorian All Welsh Show, Champion led Welsh Mare under judge Beate Reipen (GER).
In a joint effort to help with the improvement and numbers of the Section B welsh ponies in the North Island, one of Hollybank Stud’s imported stallions, Imperial Messiah, has made the long trip up to Auckland where he will be on lease to Fleur Kern for the next three years. He will also be available to outside mares during this time.
For the 10th year in succession Hollybank Stud’s resident stallion Nawarrah Park Lady’s Man has won the Gunthwaite Trophy for the NZWPCS Section B Sire Ratings. Lady’s Man has held this award continuously since 2012, with there being two years of no competitions during covid in 2020/2021. This year he was represented by 4 progeny, Hollybank Crusader, Hollybank Wee Whisper, Hollybank Justin Time and Cedar Park Regal Man. Homebred stallion Hollybank Antonio also finished 3rd in this competition, his first year of being represented by progeny at ratings shows.
The beautiful Hollybank Blue Belle, a partbred welsh mare by Nawarrah Park Lady’s Man, flying the flag for Hollybank Stud at the 2024 Horse of the Year Show in Hastings. Owned by Holli Parker and Lillie Wallace, Blue Belle and Lillie were hugely successful in many sections, including winning 4 title classes Led Partbred Welsh Exhibit of the Year Best Presented Led Partbred Ridden Partbred Welsh Exhibit of the Year 48cm Saddle Hunter Pony of the Year Junior Rider of the Year 15-16yrs Hollybank Stud is extremely proud of Blue Belle and Lillie and their numerous achievements.