He who faces Pianissima stands no chance – the National Championship in Janów Podlaski proved this yet again. The mare received six consecutive “20s” – for type, as well as head and neck, which gave her a total score of 95 points! The choosing of National Champion Mare was only a formality. “Our national treasure” – in such a way one of the many followers of Pianissima described her. The mare, as though she understood the unleashed around her frenzy of screams and applause, neighed happily during the playing of the national anthem.
However all this took place at the end of a very long, intensive day of the 30th Polish National Arabian Horse Championships. Prior to that horses of three age categories (junior mares, senior mares and stallions) competed in their classes. First to come were the yearling fillies – class IA turned out to be extremely strong. The top four horses received more than 90 points! The class was won by a recent champion from Białka – the Janów-bred daughter of Enzo – Palabra, this time shown by Greg Gallun, with a score of 91,33, besting Pasterna by Ekstern, bred and owned by Lech Błaszczyk, who was evaluated at 91 points. Third was another Ekstern daughter, this time of Janów breeding – Atma (90,33). This class also saw the first “20” of the show, for movement, awarded to Michałów’s Galba daughter – El Saghira. However the final result – 89,17, did not secure her a place in the Top Five.
The second series of the yearling fillies’ class (IB) belonged to Dębowa Łąka – a daughter of Gaspar, bred by Michałów Stud. The filly scored 90,83 points. Behind her placed: Melody by Psytadel bred and owned by Małgorzata and Józef Pietrzak (90,5), the full sister to Pianissima – Passionaria (90,00), Espinilla by Al Maraam (Michałów, 89,83) and Bajaderka by Złocień of Agricola Farm (89,33).
Next to be presented were the two year old fillies. Among the nine contenders of the A series of this class the best turned out to be Janów’s Bohema by Ekstern (91,17), who was awarded with two “20s” for movement. Second place went to Wasa by WH Justice, bred and owned by Falborek Arabians (90,17), third – to Alabama, a Gazal daughter from Janów (89,5). The Top Five closed off with one more daughter of WH Justice, also bred by Falborek – Sotika (89,5) and Elfera by Psytadel, bred and owned by Lech Błaszczyk (89,33).
The second series of the two year old fillies’ class (IIB) turned out to be especially tough. Here, to be able to make it into the Top Five, one had to have over 90 points! This was a meeting of strong, fantastically moving rivals: Espiria by Psytadel (bred and owned by Lech Błaszczyk), Wołogda by Ekstern (bred and owned by Janów Podlaski), Pentra by Poganin (bred and owned by Michałów), Espinezja by Psytadel (bred by Leszek Jarmuż, owned by Falborek Arabians) and Golteria by Galba (bred by Michałów). The latter came out the winner with a total score of 92 points, before Wołogda who was awarded a “20” for movement (91,33) and Espiria (91,17). Closing off the Top Five were Pentra (90,67) and Espinezja (90,17). The daughter of 2007 Polish National Champion Palmira – Parsua (bred by Michałów, owned by Małgorzata and Józef Pietrzak), did not follow her dam’s footsteps, scoring only 87,5 points.
The last junior fillies to be shown were the three year olds. The entire victorious threesome (there were six contestants) achieved over 90 points. First was Eksterna, a bred in Falbork daughter of Ekstern (91,33), second – a Janów-bred Gazal offspring in the shape of Altamira (90,67), third – Białka’s Ekstern produce – Herlina (90,17). Eksterna’s win soon resulted in an even larger success – the Reserve Champion title! And so both junior reserve titles found their way to the hands of private breeders: Małgorzata and Józef Pietrzak (Minnesota Arabians) and Krzysztof Goździalski (Falborek Arabians). This is undoubtedly a huge success for Polish private breeding.
Polish National Champion Filly, as could have been expected, became the winner from Białka, Janów’s Palabra, while the Top Five consisted of: Dębowa Łąka, Bohema and Melody.
Together with the appearance of the older mares in the arena (4-6 years old, class VIIA), the “prodigality” of the judges, restrained until this time in terms of giving out higher scores, clearly increased. This class was a parade of Gazals. Only one out of ten participants was not his daughter. The class began with Perolia (Białka) and 91 points. She was quickly bested by Ejrene (Michałów) with a score of 91,83, who was succeeded by El Medina (Michałów) with 92 points. In this situation the humble 90,33 of Formia (Michałów) seemed like a decrease of quality. However right after Norma (Michałów) achieved 92,5, with one “20” for movement. The next three “20s”, for head and neck and movement, were awarded to Pinga (Janów Podlaski), which resulted in a fantastic total score of 93 points and a class win. Pistoria (Michałów), with a score of 92,33, placed just third, behind Norma and before El Medina and Ejrene.
The second series of the 4-6 year old mares class (VIIB) belonged of course to Pianissima. Behind her placed: another Janów-bred Gazal daughter Belgica (92,5), their stablemate and half-sister (also by Gazal) Etnologia (91), Wizga by Ekstern (bred and owned by Leszek Jarmuż (90,5) with one “20” for movement and Białka’s Emigrant daughter Egira (89,83). And so the first places were once again taken by Gazal Al Shaqab daughters, with the undisputed queen of modern Polish breeding – Pianissima – in the lead.
The leader of the 7-10 years old mares class was Michałów’s Emesa by Laheeb, who with a „20” for head and neck gained a score of 92,67. Second place was taken by Monogramm’s Emmona (91,67), third – Białka’s Emika by Eldon (91,5), fourth – Michałów’s Elgina by Ekstern (91,33), fifth – Janów’s Andaluzja by Sanadik El Shaklan (91,17).
The oldest mares’ class (11 years old and above) was dominated by Monogramm daughters, just as the 4-6 year olds were dominated by Gazal. The rules were set by the first contestant, Espadrilla (Michałów), who gained three “20s” for type and head and neck, which gave her a score of 92,5. In this class all mares achieved over 90 points, so the next were : Egzonera (Michałów) – 92, also Michałów’s Embra (91) and their stablemate Georgia (91) and the only non-Monogramm in this group – Eutona by Etogram from Janów Podlaski (90,83). Outside the Top Five was such a well known mare as Pilar by Fawor (Janów Podlaski).
In the championships the only uncertainty concerned the places behind Pianissima. The Reserve went to Espadrilla, while the Top Five was made up of: Emesa, Pinga and Belgica.
Very interesting was the class of 4-8 year old stallions. It was won by Michałów’s Gazal Al Shaqab son Drabant (92,17, including two “20s” for movement). Second was his half-brother and stablemate Eryks, who also presented fantastic movement with the suspension phase (91,17, including a “20” for movement). Third place went to Janów Stud, or more precisely speaking to Pegasus (91,17). Fourth came El Azem by Gazal Al Shaqab from Janów, who nearly flew across the arena and his impressive movement (“20”) gave him a total score of 90,67. Among the State Stud stallions fifth place belonged to Etnodrons Psyche by Padrons Psyche, bred by Stanisław Redestowicz, owned by Paweł Redestowicz (90,5). Entered into this class was also Esparto, a no-show, though many people surely wanted to see this international star on the Polish arena.
The last, shown at dusk, were the 9 year old and older stallions. The winner was Grafik by Eukaliptus, bred and owned by Michałów (92,33) and it was him who grabbed the title of National Champion – after being the Reserve for four times, he deserved this title like no other stallion. The Reserve this year went to Drabant, third place in the championships belonged to Eryks, fourth – to the second in the oldest stallions class Piber by Pamir, bred and owned by Janów Podlaski (91).
Due to the late hour the choosing of Best in Show was postponed to Sunday, which also featured the Parade of Champions and Special Awards. And later of course – the sale!
Results:
Polish National Champion Filly
Palabra (Enzo – Palmeta/Ecaho), bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud
Polish National Reserve Champion Filly
Eksterna (Ekstern – Emanta/Pamir), bred and owned by Falborek Arabians
Polish National Champion Colt
Kabsztad (Poganin – Kwestura/Monogramm), bred and owned by Michałów Stud
Polish National Reserve Champion Colt
Lord Bey Shah (Psytadel – Lady Aphrodite/Padrons Psyche), bred and owned by Minnesota Arabians
Polish National Champion Mare
Pianissima (Gazal Al Shaqab – Pianosa/Eukaliptus), bred and owned by Janów Podlaski Stud
Polish National Reserve Champion Mare
Espadrilla (Monogramm – Emanacja/Eukaliptus), bred and owned by Michałów Stud
Polish National Champion Stallion
Grafik (Eukaliptus – Gaskonia/Probat), bred and owned by Michałów Stud
Polish National Reserve Champion Stallion
Drabant (Gazal Al Shaqab – Demona/Monogramm), bred and owned by Michałów Stud
See the photo gallery from Janów by Katarzyna Dolińska
Read about the first day of the Nationals: The National Championship for Kabsztad
