THE 78th Hawkridge Revel enjoyed sunshine as the forecasted cloud melted away unexpectedly allowing for a beautiful day on its Exmoor hilltop site.

The event went without a hitch - a large crowd enjoyed the all day show jumping, showing classes, the dog show, antler display and competition, the delightful Mountain and Moorland classes and all the busy sideshows and stalls. Ice cream sales went through the roof.

As ever, a large entry for the children’s mounted fancy dress drew the crowds to the ringside, wonder-struck by the sheer ingenuity of the outfits. How many small ponies would consent to plod around a large ring and stand still for ages wearing an all-enclosing boat? And how many two-year-old dragons are there bold enough to give a mightily convincing roar into a microphone?

Foot events followed and retained the crowds as ambitious ‘threes and under’ poured to the line. All the children’s races were full to bursting and although the adults proved shyer, they did eventually emerge to run a challenging 400m.

The gymkhana provided the usual thrills and some spectacular riding which turns one thoughts to the 2032 Olympics. The very popular Dog Show produced many charming moments as toddlers demonstrated dog handling - and even training - during judging.

The services of the patient paramedic were not needed and entry to the show by donation produced some remarkable displays of generosity. Profits will be shared between Hawkridge Church, village hall and local charities.

The power of these small shows to attract and retain supporters is deeply impressive. Exmoor residents and fans need to convince the relevant authorities that housing and retaining local young people is an urgent priority.

Community cohesion, as shown by traditional events, will die out with the shrinking groups of older adults now organising them, along with all the businesses essential to rural life and tourism, now closing for lack of staff, as younger people are forced out by inappropriate and out-dated planning and housing policies. 

HORSE SHOW

Champion of Show

Alice Menon on Darry

Reserve Champion

Lacey Binding on Picalo

Leading Rein Pony

1st Lacey Binding on Picalo, 2nd Phoebe Latchford on Rooney, 3rd Grace Underhill on Annie

Best Childs Pony 

1st Florence Eames on Saucy, 2nd Scarlett Cooper on Cossie, 3rd Lacey Binding on Picalo

Show Hunter Pony

1st Alice Menon on Mr Berry, 2nd Amelia Webber on Ginny, 3rd Florence Eames on Saucy

Hunter Class 

1st Alice Menon on Darry, 2nd Imogen Berry on Archie, 3rd Lizzie Little on Samuel Whiskers 

Mountain and Moorland In Hand

1st Vanessa Moody with Anchor Kryptonite, 2nd Fay Davies with Duke, 3rd Olivia Shean with Hanky Panky

Mountain and Moorland Ridden

1st Gwenda Bassett on Prince, 2nd April Watts-Little On Anchor Kryptonite, 3rd Scarlett Cooper on Cossie

Champion Mountain and Moorland

Vanessa Moody with Anchor Kryptonite

Reserve Mountain and Moorland 

Gwenda Bassett on Prince

Exmoor Pony 4yrs and over

1st Vanessa Moody with Anchor Kryponite 2nd Fay Davies with Duke 3rd Lloyd Parry with Maid

Exmoor Pony Yearlings 2 and 3yr olds

1st Gemma Parry with Iolight

Champion Exmoor Pony

Vanessa Moody with Anchor Kryponite

Reserve Champion

Gemma Parry Iolight

Veteran Class

1st Imogen Berry on Archie 2nd Bertie Binding on Picalo 3rd Emily March on Honey

MOUNTED FANCY DRESS

1st  Harry Harding - ‘The Pirates’

2nd Olivia Shean – ‘Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm’

3rd Molly Stenner - ‘The Stenner Family Travelling Circus’

SHOWJUMPING

Nursery Stakes (Led) 

1st Angus Neate-Burke on Charlie, 2nd Angus Neate-Burke on Rosie, 3rd Evie Plume on Spikey

Nursery Stakes (Not Led)

1st Khalib Neate-Burke on Belle, 2nd Jack Plume on Mini, 3rd Molly Stenner on Milton

Novice Jumping 

1st Khalib Neate-Burke on Belle, 2nd Florence Eames on Saucy, 3rd Mia Carpenter on Caddy

Open Jumping 70cm 

1st Abigail Knight on Vinnie, 2nd Alice Menon on Mr Berry, 3rd Josie Low on PJ

Open Jumping 80cm. 

1st Abigail Knight on Vinnie, 2nd Alice Menon on Darry, 3rd Imogen Berry on Archie

Open Jumping 90cm

1st Abigail Knight on Vinnie, 2nd Harriet Griffin on Peaches, 3rd Alice Menon on Mr Berry

GYMKHANA CUPS

8yrs and under

George Selley&Storm

12yrs and under

Charlie Selly&Storm

Open

Caleb Weston&Jasper

Bending Race 8yrs and under

1st George Selley, 2nd Lacey Binding, 3rd Edie Plume

Bending Race 12yrs and under

1st Esme Leonard, 2nd Amelia Webber, 3rd Charlie Selly

Bending Race Open

1st Katie MacKeith, 2nd Sian Woodland, 3rd Caleb Weston

Mug Race 8yrs and under

1st George Selly, 2nd Khalib Neate-Burke, 3rd Lacey Binding

Mug Race 12yrs and under

1st  Charlie Selley, 2nd Esme Leonard, 3rd Amelia Webber

Mug Race Open

1st Caleb Weston, 2nd Mia Carpenter, 3rd Sian Woodland

Bran Tub 8yrs and under

1st Khalib Neate-Burke, 2nd Lacey Binding, 3rd George Selley

Bran Tub 12yrs and under

1st Esme Leonard, 2nd Amelia Webber, 3rd Charlie Selley

Bran Tub Open

1st Caleb Weston, 2nd Mia Carpenter, 3rd Sain Woodland

Potato Race 8yrs and under

1st Khalib Neate-Burke, 2nd George Selley, 3rd Jack Plume

Potato Race 12yrs and under

1st Charlie Selley, 2nd Hattie Alford, 3rd Raffles Plume

Potato Race Open

1st Caleb Weston, 2nd Isla Smith, 3rd Amy Wadsby

Sack Race 8yrs and under

1st Khalib Neate-Burke, 2nd George Selly, 3rd Lacey Binding

Sack Race 12yrs and under

1st Charlie Selley, 2nd Esme Leonard, 3rd Hattie Alford 

Sack Race Open

1st Caleb Weston, 2nd Emily Payne, 3rd Amy Wadsby

CHAMPION OF DOG SHOW

Nicky Johnson and Woody

RESERVE CHAMPION

Hebe Edgar and Sybil

CHAMPION OF ANTLER SHOW

Chris Summersgill

RESERVE CHAMPION

Rob Follett