Hazel Ison’s eternal enthusiasm and encouragement for all competitors was sadly missed, however every local showie family will remember Hazel with great affection.

Knowing Hazel’s great interest and dedication to horses and ponies, the Ison Family have presented trophy rugs in her memory for the Champion Pony Hacks covering the two height classes.

A significant percentage of tiny tots and junior riders took to the ring in clothes or a pony provided by Hazel. Thanks to Sharon Frew for the following story dedicated to Hazel Ison, and for those who knew and loved Hazel, a fitting tribute to a wonderful woman, a true Shoalhaven pioneer, a great horsewoman in her own right, dedicated to giving sound advice and encouragement.

The ponies vying for the trophy rugs would have found her approval as they were superior quality and it is appropriate her son Owen, supported by his wife Thelma presented the champion and reserve sashes and the Hazel Ison Memorial Trophy rugs.

Sharon Frew writes:

“FOR most, the Nowra Show is an event that comes and goes each year, a family attraction, an event where you can catch up with a friend, grab a treat, go on a thrill ride, buy a show bag, relax by the ringside, watch equestrian events or stroll through the pavilions.

For many others the Nowra Show and other shows alike are a weekly occurrence and a way of life; people dedicate their time to preparing their horses to be ready for an event, for five minutes in the ring for horse and rider to shine.

Many travel for hours, and yes most complain, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

For Hazel Ison, it was a way of life. She had attended the Nowra Show for over 60 years and if you knew her, you knew exactly where to find her, she would be ringside from start to finish, rain, hail or sunshine.

Hazel was born in Nowra in September 1918, at Edman Hospital, one of 12 children of Albert and Mary Hughes, of Illaroo Farm. She went to a one-room school at Burrier.

Hazel had a rural social life of country dances and met the love of her life, Frederick Ison from Cambewarra, at Ted Hughes farm.

They were married in 1938 at All Saints Church of England in Nowra and soon became proud parents of two boys, Bobby and Owen, who both became keen horsemen.

The family would travel from Sydney to Bega, Melbourne and western NSW to attend agricultural shows and the Royal Sydney Show.

Hazel rode at the picnic races with great success and loved the sporting events.

She was often seen giving advice to both newcomers and more seasoned horsemen, taught many children to ride and was a founder of the Nowra Pony Club.

If there was a show on, she would be there, never far from ringside, Hazel would always be shining up some rider’s boots or lending a child a horse or gear to get them into the ring.

She knew every child’s age and appropriate classes and made sure they were there in the right ring at the right time.

In the sporting and rodeo arenas Hazel was known for her favourite words “hook em” which was always her advice to those she knew needing to be egged on to go a little faster.

“Hook em, Owen” was heard on every occasion when son Owen Ison was in the sporting ring, though she encouraged every other rider in the same and other rings in a similar manner.

Hazel had many ponies and galloways in her life, sporting, jumping and show horses. It didn’t matter what they did, as long as they were good at it.

Some of her horses and ponies were the most successful prize winning equines of our area in the various rings.

Ponies such as Cactus, Georgie Girl and Tiddles and more recently two Australian ponies known as Lilly View Blue Denim (Lady Dapples) and Sir Dapples, and as their names would suggest, were both dappled grey ponies, her favourites, both champions in hand and under saddle.

Hazel passed away on Monday, January 9 at the age of 93 at the David Berry Hospital and will be sadly missed by her family and all those who knew her.

Until 2011, Hazel still lived in the family home in Yalwal Road with assistance from family and friends.

As a tribute to a wonderful woman, the Ison family sponsored the Champion Pony Hacks at Nowra Show this year and will continue to do so each year as a memorial event in Hazel’s name.”

Under Judge Kylee Cowgill, Brampton Royal Whispers ridden by Chelsea John-son of Dapto won the champion pony n.e. 12.2 hh and Sandra Henry of Numbaa riding Gordon Park Hot Gossip won the champion pony over 12.2 hh n.e.14hh.

A beaming Sandra Henry said “It’s the absolute highlight of Nowra Show for me to win the Hazel Ison Memorial Rug.

Sandra is no newcomer to showring accolades, but like all of us who held Hazel Ison in such high regard, was truly appreciative of the Ison family’s ongoing gesture of recognition of outstanding pony hacks in Hazel’s name.

• More great photos from this year’s Nowra Show will appear in Horse Talk with Merri Apperley in Friday’s South Coast Register.