First staged at Melbourne’s Olympic Park dog track in 1970 as a “fill-in” event for the showjumping championships, Barastoc HOTY has since gone on to become one of the biggest shows in the country. While the event has seen many changes over the years, one thing has remained constant: the naming rights sponsor, Barastoc. The feed company is synonymous with the event and has been along for the ride from the get-go, with the sponsorship continuing for 57 years through five company ownership changes. A remarkable feat, and the longest running continuous sponsorship in the Australian equestrian industry!
Incorporating the Equestrian Victoria State Titles, the 2026 edition of Barastoc HOTY also included owner-rider, off-the-track, newcomer and novice classes, as well as a new section for non-state title children’s ridden events.
State title judges were Tanya Croker (WA), Angela Skyring (QLD), Lucy Taylor (NSW), Toni Harper-Purcell (QLD), Robert Ralston (VIC), Janelle Karmalich (SA), Howard Morris (VIC), Anne Randell (NSW), Danielle Beattie (NSW) and Anne McMinn (TAS).
Success for the Richardsons
It was certainly a show to remember for Emma Richardson and daughter Annabelle.
Following on from their many successes at the EA Australasian Show Horse & Rider Championships (4-6 December) and the Show Horse Council of Victoria’s HOTY (24-25 January), the Richardsons were involved in seven major titles.
Annabelle rode Emma’s Royalwood West End to Champion Small Hack, Nottingham Royal Highness to Champion Medium Pony, Brandyhollow Boy Band to Champion Large Galloway, and Merricks Fiore to Champion Small Show Hunter Hack and Champion Child’s Small Show Hunter Hack.
Emma’s Roseden Toy Boy also won Champion Small Pony with Stella Gilmore in the saddle, while Annabelle also took out the Champion Child’s Large Galloway riding Royalwood Excite for owner Kurt Crowther. Annabelle was also awarded Reserve Champion Small Show Hunter Galloway with Emma’s Contredance.
Open State Titles:
Champion First Ridden Show Pony: Whitmere Royal Palace, ridden by Chloe Backman and owned by Tamara Lee
Champion First Ridden Show Hunter Pony: Bordershow Charlemagne, ridden and owned by Ella Cutugno
Champion Small Pony: Roseden Toy Boy, ridden by Stella Gilmore and owned by Emma Richardson
Champion Medium Pony: Nottingham Royal Highness, ridden by Annabelle Richardson and owned by Emma Richardson
Champion Large Pony: Kolbeach Holy’s Choir Boy, ridden by Sabrina Kaylock and owned by Sabrina Jaeschke
Champion Small Galloway: KT Fine Design, ridden by Briony Randle and owned by Kerry Armstrong
Champion Large Galloway: Brandyhollow Boy Band, ridden by Annabelle Richardson and owned by Emma Richardson
Champion Small Hack: Royalwood West End, ridden by Annabelle Richardson and owned by Emma Richardson
Champion Large Hack: Regalia, ridden by Ali Kent owned by Greg Gerry and Darren Telford
An off the track Thoroughbred, Regalia raced as Aunt Bridge and her journey from track to show ring started three years ago when owner Greg spotted her “unmistakable Thoroughbred quality”.
Following a short spell and a carefully structured retraining process, Regalia has proven to be a natural show horse. Started at home before progressing to accomplished rider Ali Kent (née Berwick), her transition into the show ring has certainly been successful – with this latest win adding another significant title to her record.
Champion Small Show Hunter Pony: Imperial Benevolent, ridden by Ruby-Rose Eurell and owned by Tamara Lee
Champion Medium Show Hunter Pony: Avlon Hello Dolly, ridden and owned by Sophie Belcher
Champion Large Show Hunter Pony: Daisy Patch Olivia, ridden by Briony Randle and owned by Jenny Diaco
Champion Small Show Hunter Galloway: Riegal Manolete, ridden and owned by Emily Murray
Champion Large Show Hunter Galloway: Lyndhurst Connery, ridden by Briony Randle and owned by Kerry Armstrong
Champion Small Show Hunter Hack: Merricks Fiore, ridden by Annabelle Richardson and owned by Emma Richardson
Champion Large Show Hunter Hack: Global PPS, ridden by Steph Barrington and owned by Sue Thompson
Found by Greg Mickan and Terry Van Heythuysen as a yearling from Parnell Park, Global PPS is by the well-known dressage sire Fürstenball out of PPS World On Ice (Weltmeyer x Thoroughbred). On the lookout for her next Garryowen mount, Steph purchased him. After some time in the paddock to mature, he was started under saddle by Greg – who also introduced him to the world of showing.
During a very successful 2024 season, Sue Thompson took over ownership following Sydney Royal. With Steph in the saddle, Global PPS took out the Garryowen just a few months later at only six years of age. Sue has also ridden the gelding with success and he is certainly a show ring star who is still only young.
Children’s State Titles:
Champion Child’s Small Pony: Whitmere Royal Palace, ridden by Ruby-Rose Eurell and owned by Tamara Lee
Champion Child’s Medium Pony: Nottingham Royal Highness, ridden by Stella Gilmour and owned by Emma Richardson
Champion Child’s Large Pony: Wideacre Harry Winston, ridden and owned by Sabrina Gilmour
Champion Child’s Small Galloway: KP Dance On Air, ridden by Annabelle Richardson and owned by Emma Richardson
Champion Child’s Large Galloway: Royalwood Excite, ridden by Annabelle Richardson and owned by Kurt Crowther
Champion Child’s Small Hack: SLM Fascination, ridden by Sabrina Croston and owned by Fiona Mardling
Champion Child’s Large Hack: Parklane, ridden and owned by Grace Pihan
Another off the track Thoroughbred, Parklane raced as raced as Vital Verse. Sourced directly off the track, he was given six months of foundational retraining by Greg Gerry and was then campaigned by Ali Kent. Park Lane has flourished in his second career – both with Ali and now Grace, who has owned Park Lane for around 18 months.
Champion Child’s Small Show Hunter Pony: Bordershow Charlemagne, ridden and owned by Ella Cutugno
Champion Child’s Medium Show Hunter Pony: Avonmore Llewellyn, ridden by Madeline Bridge and owned by Madeline Bridge and Britt Holmberg
Champion Child’s Large Show Hunter Pony: Daisy Patch Olivia, ridden by Stella Gilmour and owned by Jenny Diaco
Champion Child’s Small Show Hunter Galloway: Riegal Manolete, ridden by Grace Baines and owned by Emily Murray
Champion Child’s Large Show Hunter Galloway: EBL Ben Hur, ridden by Sabrina Gilmour and owned by Brooke Wheeler
Champion Child’s Small Show Hunter Hack: Merricks Fiore, ridden by Annabelle Richardson and owned by Emma Richardson
Champion Child’s Large Show Hunter Hack: Fairways Danciniro, ridden by Stella Gilmour and owned by Emma Parlevliet
Rider State Titles:
Champion Rider 5 and Under 9: Georgina Kavanagh (Kenda Park Truffle)
Champion Rider 9 and Under 12: Madeline Bridge (Dance On Air BHI)
Champion Rider 12 to 14: Stella Gilmour (Mandaley Silks Emperor)
Champion Rider 15 to 17: Sabrina Gilmour (CJP Quay Note)
Champion Rider 18 to 25: Ebonie Lee (VP Rascal)
Champion Rider 26 and Over: Natalie McKay (Danson Hearts On Fire)
Peter Gahan Trophy (riders aged 12 to 15 years): Zoe Medley (Rathowen Dressed In Black)
Owner-rider class winners:
Medium Pony Hack: Artsworth Park Love Story, ridden and owned by Charlotte Fleming
Large Pony Hack: Malibu Park Top Design, ridden by Chloe Backman and owned by Jenna Backman
Small Galloway Hack: Beechwood Bells, ridden and owned by Susan Bufton
Large Galloway Hack: Manorvale Show Me, ridden and owned by Jazmine Roberts
Small Hack: Staughton Vale Henley, ridden by Susan Bufton and owned by Hannah Buften
Large Hack: Just Benjamin, ridden and owned by Adele Andrews
Small Show Hunter Pony: Rivington Folk Singer, ridden by Jack Fried and owned by Willow Fried
Medium Show Hunter Pony: Eagle Park Playing In Vegas, ridden bv Amber Wilson and owned by Amber Wilson and J Sharp
Large Show Hunter Pony: Morningside Debonair, ridden and owned by Briah Baker
Small Show Hunter Galloway: Gentry Park Royalty, ridden and owned by Paige Heffernan
Large Show Hunter Galloway: JD Blackwatch, ridden and owned by Olivia Greenwell
Small Show Hunter Hack: Danson Black Metallic, ridden by Shelley Howard and owned by Shelley Howard and Dianne Banks
Large Show Hunter Hack: Revelwood Stedfast, ridden and owned by Georgia Greenwell
Leading rein class winners:
Champion Leading Rein Show Pony: Swanreach Flirtatious, ridden by Piper Randle and handled and owned by Briony Randle
Champion Leading Rein Show Hunter Pony: Bordershow Charlemagne, ridden by Eva Robinson and owned by Ella Cutugno
Off The Track classes:
Supreme Champion Ridden OTT: Chorus, ridden and owned by Daizi Plumb
Supreme Champion Led OTT: Countess, led by Reece Lawson and owned by Greg Gerry
Led classes:
Supreme Champion Led Show Horse: Royal Court, led by Greg Gerry and owned by Andrew Whalen
Supreme Champion Led Show Hunter: Louvont, led and owned by Brent Bennett
For full results, including OTT, Led, Newcomer, Barastoc Supreme Performer and Intermediate Children’s (Children’s non-state title) class winners, click here.
