The Clydesdale Cup will reside in Wynyard for the next year after a win by ‘NC Laura’ Thursday at the Grain Millers Harvest Showdown in Yorkton.
Since its inception three years ago Clydesdales that were chosen champions at a series of designated shows in the summer have ended up in Yorkton where they go head-to-head for the Cup.
This year the winning animal, a five-year-old mare was exhibited by Neil Campbell of Wynyard.
“I’m very pleased, very excited,” he said of the win. “It’s a wonderful feeling to put a breeding program together and raise a champion mare.”
‘Laura’ qualified for the Cup winning a championship in Austin, MB. this summer, as well as being chosen best Canadian mare at a show in North Battleford.
So is the mare Campbell’s best.
Maybe not, at least in his own mind.
“Not necessarily, no,” he said. “I have a number of quality mares (among his herd of 20).”
But the win is still huge in Campbell’s mind too.
“They were all very high quality horses in the class,” he said.
That quality made it a difficult job for judge Reg Madsen of Hamiota, MB.
“They were equal to be here as they qualified,” said Madsen. “It’s just too bad they can’t all be first.”
But Madsen had to pick what was essentially the champion of champions for Clydesdales shown by Saskatchewan producers in 2019.
“I picked the big mare because she was just a little more finished,” he said, adding it helped in that regard that she was a mature mare, where some others in the final were younger animals with their potential not yet fully realized.
Madsen said the mare he picked was a fine example of the Clydesdale breed, one that would stand up in any show ring.
“I was just down at the Toronto Royal and saw some awfully good Clydesdales down there,” he said, adding looking at the five finalists in the ring Thursday evening “I think we should be darned proud of the Clydesdales horses that were shown today.”
As for his champion Madsen said, “she’d have done very well down there ... She’s what you want in a Clydesdale mare.”
The win by Campbell breaks a mini streak in terms of the Saskatchewan Clydesdale Cup which was won in its first two years, 2017 and 2018, by entries from Linda Banga of Canora.
For additional Harvest Showdown coverage check out; Farmer Recognition Award winner, chore team competition, Clydesdale Cup winner, students tour event, unique jams and jellies, commercial cattle show, Council herds sheep, horse pulls
