The second annual Carolina Welsh Classic, sponsored by the Carolina Welsh Club, was held at the Carolina Horse Park Oct. 3-5.

Eighty ponies turned out to make the show a Gold sanctioned Welsh Pony and Cob show. Exhibitors traveled from as far away as Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, New Jersey and Virginia. Judges Milly B. Welsh from Maryland and Jon Bates from New York presided as judges in the Welsh breeding classes.

Brianna Ek (Eleanor Gallagher's granddaughter), a rising junior driver, drove Bet Lar Sydney to win the Welsh Cob pleasure driving championship. Mary Alice Farina took reserve with Dilwyn Holiday Skye. Sara Brown rode Bet Lar Mike, owned by Eleanor Gallagher, in the half welsh English pleasure and was reserve champion.

Deborah Branson drove her pair of Welsh mountain ponies Foxbrush U.S. Favorite and Foxbrush U.S. Cleo in the WPCSA small carriage driving divisions and small pleasure driving divisions.

Deborah won reserve champion in the small pleasure driving division. Deborah's Odyssey Pocket edition took reserve champion in the half welsh pleasure driving division.

Leslie Grieve drove her half Welsh Alice's Brass Ring in the WPCSA med/large carriage driving division and half Welsh pleasure driving divisions. Alice's Brass Ring won the championship for the half Welsh English pleasure division.

Andrew Diemer, a young rider team silver medalist in NAJYRC eventing, rode Dilwyn Dalwhinnie in the Ridden Classic known as the "ridden Cob class." Mary Alice Farina won the ridden Cob riding Dilwyn Islay to take the victory gallop with Andrew taking third.

Frank Rowley of Farincroft Farm, Jackson Springs took his stallion Stonecroft Dilwyn's Finest (a.k.a. Tank) out of retirement to win reserve Grand Champion Cob in the halter division. Five-year old Matthew Rowley showed his Welsh pony HHH Pennant's Royal Rain in the lead line division. Annick Rocherolle of Appleton Show Ponies rode Rain in the Ridden Classic for A&B ponies. Stephanie Underwood, who trains with Mike and Alicia Rosser of Reynard's Ridge, rode several ponies for Farincroft Farm in the hunter divisions including Stonecroft Dilwyn's Finest, HHH Pennant's Royal Rain and Dilwyn Dalwhinnie.

Tank won the Reserve champion Cob hunter while Mary Alice Farina rode Dilwyn Islay to win the championship for the Cob hunter.

For full results, go to the web at www.carolinawelshpony.org