Albuquerque, New Mexico - the Welsh Pony & Cob Society (WPCSA) Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, NM, included a Youth Luncheon showcasing the 2010 achievements of our junior members and honored winners in Child’s First Pony, Leading Rein, English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Hunter, Short Stirrup, Trail, Pleasure Driving, Showmanship and Equitation. High Point Youth awards were presented for 12 & under participants – Erica Hall, Kaitlin Hofer, Riley Boyd and Darby Hyde - and 13– to 17-year-old participants – Kristy Wilkinson, Margaret Gill, Sydney MacWhorter and Sierra Haglund.

The Evening Awards Banquet paid tribute to National Champions from all of the WPCSA breed and performance divisions. Special Awards were awarded to a growing list of Welsh ponies and cobs, and their offspring, that accrue points from shows. Order of the Dragon (OD) awards for sires were awarded to Gayfields Call The Cops LOM/AOE/OD; for mares to Mary’s Melody LOM/AOE/OD, and *Okeden Honeysuckle LOM/AOE/OD, both owned by Gerald & Jackie Verkuyl, and to Farnley Tenby AOE/OD owned by Sally Steinmetz. A Breeder/Owner Order of the Dragon was awarded to Gerald and Jackie Verkuyl, Goldhills Welsh, Herald, CA.

Individual Awards of Excellence (AOE) were awarded to 8 ponies and cobs that have accumulated 4,000 points in their lifetime; Legion of Merit (LOM) awards were awarded to 5 sires whose progeny accumulated 2,500 points, 9 dams whose progeny accumulated 1,500 points and 20 individuals that have accumulated 1,500 points to date.

The Half Welsh Award of Honour (AOE) was presented to 1 sire and 6 individuals. To round out the evening, the 2010 Sire of the Year Award was awarded to Section B Stallion, *Wedderlie Mardi Gras, owned by Family Partners Welsh Ponies, Riddle, Oregon. Plans are already underway for an equally enjoyable annual meeting in 2012.

Please visit the WPCSA website for more details at www.welshpony.org.

ENDS