BHDTA Newsletter - Carriage Horse

Chairman’s Notebook – Autumn 2004

A very successful and eventful season was brought to a close by an enjoyable National Championships, organised by Jill Holah and her team. Our thanks to all for their most productive efforts. Event Organisers and their volunteer helpers produce many showcase events for our enjoyment, often under extreme conditions, as recently seen at Alnwick, where the magnificent and tireless work of Barry Hunter and Pat Hall and their team salvaged two excellent days' competition in a park at times resembling a flooded battlefield.

Autumn is now upon us and we have a full programme of Clinics throughout the closed season, covering all aspects of our sport. I look forward to the Conference and Dinner Dance in November at the new more central venue in Coventry and trust a good attendance will ensure productive and informative discussions at all the meetings.

See you there.

Tom Pettifer, BHDTA Chairman

Editor’s Introduction

I know it’s a perennial topic: it’s difficult to find good judges for driven dressage, but a driver new to Novice Qualifier classes recently commented that getting a score that was unexpectedly almost twice their typical club dressage score was a bit tough, almost to the point of being a turn-off. As I’ve been driving in a few National and club events this year, my experience has been variable but, if anything, marks at club events have been marginally more generous while still being acutely observed and fair.

It is a big step from club to Novice Qualifier classes. These are the drivers who need the most support, because they are the people we want to hear saying: “I’ve been driving at Nationals for 27 years and…” at the AGM of 2030 (just as someone did at this year’s AGM).

What can we do? Perhaps the Midlands and a few other clubs have the right idea in encouraging newcomers to enter a Pre-Novice class? And judges could get a bit tougher or more consistent across classes - or Novice drivers’ training needs to be better focused and, possibly, more supportive, with dressage tests more suited to new drivers’ abilities? Certainly, there seems to be renewed interest in training now – but where is everyone in March and April? Your views?

Bring yourselves to the Conference at the Coventry Hilton on Saturday, 13 November, and share ideas. Bring your glad rags for the Dinner Dance and have a really good time. Book your room soon, though – see Office News.

Fiona Powell, Suffolk
01473 735732, editor@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk

Office News Office News Office News

ANNUAL BHDTA CONFERENCE & DINNER DANCE
Hilton Coventry Hotel, Paradise Way, Walsgrave Triangle, Coventry.

Timetable:

Saturday 13 November

11:00 Affiliated Club Representatives Meeting (by invitation)
11:00 Stewards Seminar (open to volunteers who have or wish to steward at events)
14:00 MEMBERS CONFERENCE / OPEN MEETING – immediately followed by International Competitors’ Meeting
19:30 for 20:00 Annual Dinner Dance

Sunday 14 November

11:00 Event Organisers Meeting (by invitation)

Dinner Dance tickets are available at a cost of £33.50 per person from the BHDTA office.

Accommodation can be booked direct with the hotel on 02476 603000, quote BHDTA for discount rate or visit their website at www.hilton.co.uk

How to get to the Hilton Coventry Hotel

The Coventry Hilton is located at Junction 2 of M6 motorway and the M69 interchange, 20 minutes from the Birmingham NEC.

Do join us for what promises to be a most entertaining weekend. Complete the application form and return it to the Office.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The Chairman has received notice of various comments regarding the current selection procedure in use for both the World Combined Pony Championships and the Horse Pairs Championships. As the selection process has begun for these two events, it cannot be changed mid-process. If members wish to make proposals for amendments to the selection process for use in the future, they must be submitted in writing before the conference. They will then be placed on the agenda for discussion at the International Competitors meeting.

NEW SCORING SYSTEM

Trials of the new event administration and scoring system are now complete. The systems will be available under licence to clubs and events from 2005 onwards. All those interested should notify the office with a view to sending proposed new scorers to clinics which will be held throughout the closed season.

2005 CLINIC DATES

All clinics at The Unicorn Trust, Stow-on-the-Wold

15/16 January - Scorers Training Clinic
5/6 February - National Course Designers Conference
19-20 February - Club Course Designers Clinic
19-20 February - National and Club Technical Delegates Clinic
5/6 March - National Judges Clinic

Dates and venues for Club Judges and Steward Training Days will be confirmed both here in forthcoming newsletters and on the BHDTA web site.

2005 BHDTA YEAR BOOK ADVERTISING

Yes, it really is that time of the year again! Last year, as well as the usual advertising opportunities, we started the ‘Mini Directory’ or ‘Yellow Pages – BHDTA Style’ section in the 2004 Year Book. The thinking behind this initiative was to offer affordable advertising to our members which would in turn assist those looking for services, giving them a wider choice. Headings in this directory will be:

1. Alternative Therapies
2. Animal Feeds/Nutrition
3. Bed & Breakfast/Accommodation
4. Carriage Manufacturers/Sales
5. Driving Accessories
6. Events.
7. Harness Manufacturers
8. Insurance
9. Trainers/Training Centres
10. Other Related Services, i.e. Equine Dentists, Farriers, Lorry Conversions, Clothing, Hats, etc.

This is a purely lineage section listing service offered, name and contact details. Regular advertisers who take full or half page adverts will receive an entry in the relevant section of the directory free of charge. We hope to be able to expand this section – so if you have a service to offer please contact the office for a booking form, the fee is only £15.00.

WITHDRAWALS FROM EVENTS

Will competitors please take notice of the procedure for withdrawals as set out under Article 918 (BHDTA rule book, page 34). There have been occasions this season when the correct procedure has not been followed. Specifically, it is incumbent on the competitor to notify the Organiser (not the PoJ/TD/Vet etc) that they intend to withdraw from their event.

OFFICE NEWS: DRUG TESTING UPDATE

Drug testing has been carried out at a number of National Events throughout the year.

We have taken 14 samples, all the animals were chosen at random and ALL samples taken were clear with no prohibited substances found.

All Single Horse Drivers…

Paul Chambers is now the new class representative. All issues applicable - ring Paul 07831 271462.

* There will be a working lunch Single Horse Meeting on Saturday at the Competitors’ Conference, Coventry (13 November) at approximately 1.30 pm. Any ideas in person or on paper are welcome!

* Hopefully, in February, we plan a Lecture/Demonstration on Point of Balance in the Driving Horse by the leading osteopath for the World Endurance Great Britain team, Gavin Schofield, to be held at the Unicorn Centre, Stow-on-the-Wold (possibly on a Friday). Details, date, etc, to be confirmed later. Anyone interested, please contact either Paul Chambers or Marilyn Harding - 07713 509631.

* If you have any ideas or would like to VOLUNTEER for future demos or lectures please ring Paul (pictured right)!

200 Club Winners

August 1: Betty Way, Brockham Harness Club, Mrs Blumire, Joyce Simpson August 2 Alnwick: Rachel Nelson, Verna Matthews, Di Hayes, Jim Ainsworth September: Yvonne Johnson, Irene Parr, Suzie Marcell, Carol Boswell

Thanks to Sheila Hawking of the BHDTA Supporters Club.

STOP PRESS!

The British Equine Event is being held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 6 and 7 November. Call 0870 730 0960 for information and booking or book online at www.yourhorselive.com Lots of demonstrations, stands and performances. Tickets £12 in advance or £14 on the door; discounts and family tickets available.

Dalmatian Sensation

Congratulations to Denise Taylor for her home-trained Dalmatian, Kenmillone Deeza, winning the Fenix Carriage Dog Championship after extensive trials at Tenantry Farm, Rockbourne in July. See www.carriagedog.org for super pictures – David Taylor’s tandem included - and an explanation of the competition and results.

Craghoppers National Carriage Driving Championships 2004

A highly competitive and unpredictable driving trials season reached its climax at the 2004 Craghoppers National Carriage Driving Championships.

The enjoyable three days of competition took place as usual on Queen Victoria’s Review Ground in Windsor Great Park by kind permission of Her Majesty The Queen, 10-12 September. Each class in the championships was wide open this year and no clear favourites could be identified before the weekend’s competition began.

The surprising discovery of a large trench across the planned layout of the dressage arenas precipitated a rapid redesign of the showground. But Jill Holah and her efficient organisation coped admirably with everything the weekend could throw at them and, along with John and Sarah Bates of Batesound, and a quick bit of lateral thinking – came up with a new layout that met with everyone’s approval.

Dressage day began drenched in an ominous downpour that had everyone reaching for their waterproof clothing and preparing for the worst. But luckily that was the last we were to see of the bad weather, for which people who had ‘enjoyed’ Åstorp and Alnwick were exceedingly grateful. The three rings ran smoothly thanks to the tireless work of the stewards – including two stalwarts who provided half-time entertainment with a routine resembling Little and Large meets Laurel and Hardy.

Over one hundred competitors set out on the cross-country marathon around the Great Park and, with the help of TD Philip Bateman and his team, managed to avoid being held up by herds of wandering deer and wedding guests along the way. A good crowd of spectators witnessed one of the most thoroughly entertaining marathon competitions seen at the Nationals in recent years. Competitors seemed to agree that obstacles 1 to 4 flowed and drove exceptionally well this time while obstacles 5 to 8 were still a little tight and technical for most people.

With my commentator’s hat on, it was great to watch competitors really battling to beat the fastest times through the obstacles it gives us something to shout about and certainly makes the day pass quickly. This year, we tried a bit of music for the marathon, which seemed to go down well. It was entertaining for us watching spectators bopping along between obstacles 1-3 and, Barry (young man) Capstick, YMCA coming on as you drove into obstacle one was purely accidental, honest! Requests will be taken for next year.

There were a few surprises along the way this year. But no-one could have been more surprised than Sarah Garnett’s Dutch Gelderlanders, Plod and Julius, who found themselves in the lead of the defending champion’s four-in-hand. Even though they are already familiar with Mr Exell, they must have been wondering what the ambitious Australian has in store for them next. (We hear on the grapevine, by the way, that Jimmy Robson’s Welsh cob, Duke, always gives a nervous, sideways glance when he hears an Antipodean accent these days.) But, of course, Plod and Julius were in good hands and ended up marathon winners again.

However, the weekend in horse fours definitely belonged to Karen Bassett. George Bowman’s dressage was a memorable highlight that left most observers transported back to recall medal-winning teams of the past. But a superb all-round performance sealed with a championship-winning double-clear left Karen and her Trakehner team celebrating a well-deserved fourth national title. Let’s hope they can maintain their current form in the run up to the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen.

Closer to home, British medal hopes for next year’s World FEI Combined Pony Driving Championships at Catton, were boosted by some sterling performances in the pony divisions. Anna Grayston bounced back from her early season dramas to secure her first national title in pony fours. Jo Rennison overcame stiff opposition from Rachel Stevens and Chrissy Nash to take a third title in pony pairs and Emma Burge emerged as a first-time champion, defeating world championship hopefuls, Sue Denney, Sue Corlett and Sara Howe.

The future of the sport looked exceedingly healthy to anyone following the fortunes of the contenders in the Novice Championships. 21-year-old Andrew Corbett looked like a seasoned campaigner, in only his second national event, winning the Novice Championship in the pony class. The top three drivers, Andrew, Nigel Chandler and Phillipa Howe, pushed each other all the way and produced a thrilling competition. In the horse division Steven Manyweathers was crowned National Champion to add to his tally of successes this year following his silver medal at the IPEC World Championship for drivers with disabilities.

The Dodson and Horrell Single Horse National Championship supplied its usual intense contest with competitors so closely matched and highly motivated. Paul Sidwell soared up the rankings with a well driven cones round, but in the end two former champions Di Hayes and David Matthews fought for the honours with Di the worthy champion retaining her title.

Although down on numbers this season the tandem classes still provided some twists and turns. Danielle Twitchen was outstanding in pony tandems matching times set by the singles and pairs through the obstacles and winning the National Championships by quite some distance in the end, while Pat Cooper denied Rene Schoop the win in Horse Tandems and regained her national title.

John and Jo Attenborough rounded off a remarkably successful season by becoming National Champions in horse pairs only after making their supporters sweat right to the very last set of cones.

Reflecting on the success of this year’s championships, it is as always the people behind the scenes that enable an event to run so smoothly. Amanda Hill and her team, let out of the office for a change; Anneke Wallace, returning the favour of the help she received at Hopetoun; and the ever present Derek Holah whose expertise often goes unnoticed; and a personal thank you to Sheila Hawking and her crew who know that with the amount of coffee I drink I would not survive an event without the supporters tent. Huge thanks to Craghoppers, the main sponsors, who seemed to enjoy their weekend. Nigel Dipple’s partner Phyllis even made a Craghoppers Birthday cake for Joyce McNamara. Craghoppers’ MD Jim McNamara certainly enjoyed his ride from his Windsor hotel up the Long Walk with Georgina Frith’s new horse four. Well done to Nigel for looking after the sponsors so well and for continuing to come up with new ideas and ways to promote our sport.

Report by Andrew Cowdery

Private Driving Classes

While the marathon was in progress in the park for the recent Craghoppers National Championships, a high-class field of Private Driving competitors were contesting the Voice Products classes in the arena. Reg Chapman and his lovely hackney Vienna Charm took the Open Private Driving Championship, while the Concours d’Elegance, sponsored by local fashion house Nicki’s was won by David Baker driving an elegant pair of Morgan horses.

The Voice Products Novice Horse/Pony Championship was won by Christine Sadler (mother of Anna Grayston’s groom, Anna) with Gellihaf Heulfryn. Qualifiers for this championship came from all driving disciplines, and in second place was regular HDT competitor Rosemary Neale* with Ruckham Chester who finished ahead of well-known Private Driving personality Gary Docking and Hamewith Lochnagar. The highlight of the afternoon was the Voice Products Meet of Champions, to which all this year’s top County Show winners had been invited. The honours (and £400 first prize) went to Janice Clough driving Beatrice Potter’s Halloughton Hallmark who had qualified in the Gig class at the Hackney Horse Show.

While the Private Drivers were out on their park drive, an impressive line-up of Light Trade turnouts contested a class sponsored by Carriage Driving Magazine. Sarah Rouse provided an interesting commentary for the many spectators drawn to this fascinating class, and Cynthia Haydon finally chose as her winner Clive Fountain and his Welsh Cob Regency Rocky Boy driven to a London trolley.

Many thanks to all the sponsors, but particularly to Voice Products plc, whose generosity was rewarded with a wonderful spectacle of top-class Private Driving.

Report by Jill Holah

Fenix “Quick Change” Challenge

The BHDTA National Championships at Windsor saw the inaugural running of the Fenix Quick Change Challenge. Conceived by Mark Broadbent to show how a team of horses should be unhitched and then hitched correctly, with the added twist of the clock ticking (think Ferrari pit stop for tyre changing in the British Grand Prix!). It provided great entertainment on Sunday in the main arena, its popularity evident by the increased number of spectators during the lunch hour when it was held.

Three plucky contenders came forward to test their skills against each other and the clock, Bob Alexander, Terry Selway and John Carter. With a running commentary by Mark informing the packed crowd round the ringside of every step in the proceedings, with a bit of coaching history thrown in, it was both educational and very amusing.

The idea was for each coach, one by one, to go through the start timer and pull up inside a marked box. Grooms and passengers leap off and, under the watchful eyes of Mark, Anthony Cooper, John Parker and Richard James, the horses are unhitched and then led round the Ssangyong car in the arena and hitched up again. Everyone has to be back on the coach before it leaves the box and they must pass through the timer again to finish. Returning to the box, the judges add ten seconds to the time taken for every incorrectly attached piece of harness.

Although the horses looked a bit surprised by the operation, grooms and passengers showed Olympian athleticism as they ran. Richard James, however, must take the thirty metre sprint gold with a chivalrous dash for Terry Selway’s passenger Jacqui Clarke’s escaping headpiece, a daringly large-brimmed confection in black to contrast with her pastel pink jacket (actually, Richard had been wearing the hat after its previous bid for freedom in the playful breeze…). Tony Clarke’s running style was slightly hampered, meanwhile, by having to stop to tuck in his horse’s flotsam of traces and reins to avoid losing points, but he was encouraged by the enthusiastic crowd and Terry Selway’s team looked very competitive on time.

Onlookers held their breath before the announcement, and the winner was… Bob Alexander with his team of Gelderlanders - who beforehand had made the most excuses NOT to do the competition through lack of practice. He and his handlers were slick, quick and very proficient.

John Carter, with his team of Hackney crosses came second, with Terry Selway and his team of Gelderlanders a creditable third. As all the drivers had to remain in the driving seat throughout, it was with much frustration that Terry had to watch as his handlers untangled a mass of traces and reins. What we will do to entertain the crowd!

Find out more: www.fenixcarriages.co.uk and about the Ssangyong range from www.syukcars.co.uk

Burnt Barns, Normanhurst – 31 July & 1 August

The “new look” Normanhurst at Derek Isaacs’ Burnt Barns Farm was, once again, a most enjoyable success over the weekend of 31 July and 1 August. Naturally, the fine weather arrived as ordered by Dick Carey and his band and, although a surprisingly heavy mist greeted people feeding their horses in the early morning on Sunday, it soon burned off to reveal clear blue skies. About 50 National entries and 20 club competitors enjoyed driving some exciting dressage arenas and a junior Alton Towers’ ride of a cones course followed by, on Sunday, a not-for-the-faint-hearted roller coaster through the woods and tracks around the beautiful Sussex countryside. The seven well-built and attractively decorated obstacles perhaps offered a few choices of route but they were a pleasure to drive nevertheless.

The Novice Qualifiers and club class competitors’ arena certainly separated the biddable, well-trained sheep from the “I don’t do uphill rein-back” goats (like me) and, I was told, the FEI Test 7 extensions were rather thrillingly full-on downhill. Grooms clung like limpets round the challengingly rolling cones course, although, even so, a few looked like they might involuntarily bale out over the Indoor Driving wooden bridge as time was very tight. A well-known National competitor was heard to complain how easy it was, the width being set at 165 cms…

An impressed spectator was amazed at the speed one of the obstacles was re-built, having been half-demolished, it was ready for the next competitor without a hold-up, such was the efficiency of the course builders – most of whom were part of the Indoor Driving team.

Mr Isaacs hospitably greeted many of us as he walked the site, asking after our animals and taking an obvious interest and delight in the success of the event. The “new” stable field site is spacious, on the top of a small rise but flat, and is well provided with water points and the multitude of well-placed Portaloos bore convenient witness to his son’s hire business. Mr Isaacs has plans for a water obstacle, too. An excellent catering van was on site all weekend, wafting the irresistible smell of bacon butties of a morning. A “do” after the Competitors' Briefing on Saturday with free drinks for all added to the sociability of the event, were more needed.

Overall, it was a very good-humoured, friendly and efficiently run event for National and club class drivers. Sarah Owlett and many others gave their time and sponsorship most generously: I hope they feel proud of themselves for putting on such a good show for such a wide range of drivers. If you’ve given Normanhurst a miss in recent years, come in 2005 and find the difference. FP

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Sarah Owlett, joint BDS Area Commissioner (with Sara Howe), Bradbourne Harness Club Liaison Officer and mainstay of Normanhurst Driving Trials sponsorship, who has broken her leg – not carriage driving, I’m told.

International Event Report

Diary of a millionaire international sports writer

Ian Russell’s accounts of his experiences as a “pre-novice” HDT reporter can also be read on the BHDTA website. Just in case you haven’t looked there recently or have chosen to stick to more traditional means of communication, here’s his report, in full, from the 2004 World Four-in-hand Championships at Kecskemét, Hungary.

There’s nothing I enjoy more than a top-class driving trial, but the horse teams world championships came –for me at least – at a tricky point in the season. Arriving at Stansted airport at five a.m., I was already at the fag end of exhaustion, following a writing frenzy. I’d spent three 14-hour days covering driving, showjumping and showing at the New Forest and another two at Normanhurst driving trials. All five days had been written up for an excruciatingly tight deadline. I was square eyed and my head ached with information overload. As a result, my travel plans were neither complete nor very clever. I would fly to Budapest, get a train to Kecskemét (wherever that was), and er… figure it out from there. I’d had a few goes at schmoozing the Hungarian press office by email but they were always hugely busy, so I reckoned to sort things out on arrival. The journey began well, however, with a short flirt. Badly unshaven and felling rather groggy, I handed my papers to a pretty uniformed blonde girl at check-in.

“Business or pleasure?” she asked. When I explained my mission, she smiled and said – “Ah, you are an international sports writer!”

My grogginess vanished at once. I practically danced into the departure lounge. International Sports Writer. So that’s what I was! Wow. I don’t know why I never thought of that before! I spent the entire flight designing new business cards in my head, but came back to earth at Budapest with a bit of a bump. Queuing to get off the plane, a baby was sick on my shoe. The uniformed lady at passport control looked like a Samurai warrior and made no flattering comments at all. However, when I changed a wad of pounds into Hungarian cash at the airport Bureau, they gave me several million Forints, and as I’ve never had a million anything before, I felt a whole lot better.

I usually get a bit confused abroad, and waste whole hours in pointless attempts at getting organised. This trip was no exception. I spent my first afternoon in Hungary blundering round the airport collecting maps, bussing into town, buying spicy things to eat in the street, and getting lost. On the plus side, I shed a reasonable amount of weight dragging luggage to the wrong places. I also lost a large amount of patience begging for help in sign language and accepting lots of useless advice. In the end I managed to board a train heading south to the driving championships. Three sweaty hours later (I decided to walk from the station into town – bad idea) I tottered up to the reception desk of the biggest hotel in Kecskemét, gasping “Have you a room?”

They did not, and neither did anyone else. The receptionist shook his head in pity -

“I’m sorry sir, but it’s the world four-in-hand championships this weekend…you could try the Hotel Bastardo down the road…”

Nobody had a room anywhere. By ten p.m. I was getting very hungry, and Hungary was getting very dark. Beer can sometimes be a wonderful help in times of crisis, so I hauled my bags into a bar and necked three long ones. For appearances sake, I added a steak to keep them company. I spread a few large pictures of horse teams on the tabletop and made extravagent hand gestures suggesting an important connection between myself and the world championships. I was hoping someone would shout – “Look! He is an international sports writer! Quick, Gregor, tell grandfather he must sleep in the chicken coop tonight– we have a guest!”

Instead, the waiter remarked – in rather good English – that the driving competition was way out of town and every room for miles around was taken months ago. I shuffled back into the street, looking and feeling like an international bag-lady. I began wondering if it was warm enough to sleep in a church doorway. Fortunately, after one last mile of pavement patrol, the receptionist in the last chance saloon – the Hotel Central – came to my rescue.

“Yes. We have one room left, for tonight only.”

Five minutes later I was in bed watching highlights of the first day’s driving action broadcast by the local TV station. Driving trials on the telly! I drank the entire mini-bar in celebration. Cor, I was thinking, televised dressage, how about that. There was a full hour of coverage on channel 14, so I guessed the Hungarian public must have a powerful appetite for carriage driving. (Judging by the content of channels 15, 16, 18 and 20 they have an equally powerful appetite for hard-core pornography, but that’s another story.) I went to sleep full of brandy and optimism.

The following day was yet more dressage, and I arrived bright and early at Kecskemét stadium in a clean white shirt. The security guards were impressive, although I had not anticipated that weight-lifters with truncheons would be needed to defend a horse-driving trial. These were the kind of blokes you would hire if you were planning to open a lap-dancing club in Baghdad. A short bout of grovelling got me past them –it wasn’t half as hard as blagging your way into Royal Ascot, take my word for it - and in no time at all my photograph had been taken and attached to a laminated card to hang round my neck. This is the traditional method of humiliating journalists, but you always have to smile and say thankyou, exactly as if your greatest wish is to walk around all day with a naff yellow photocard bouncing on your chest at the end of a yard of crimson ribbon.

I emerged from the players’ tunnel into the soccer stadium and blinked at the crowd basking in fierce sunshine. Britain’s very own Dick Lane was due in the ring in five minutes and I wanted to figure out the best vantage point. One of the Belgian squad was doing his routine for the judges, so I followed my nose to a long, rather attractive marquee at the far end of the pitch. Inside were around 20 tables laid for lunch, and at each end there were heaps of the kind of delicious-looking food that you know right away is heading for the tummies of people other than yourself. But it costs nothing to look, so I pulled up a chair near the front to watch Dick steering his Lipizzaners through the FEI routine.

On the subject of dressage, I believe I’m getting better at sussing out what’s happening, but only slowly. When I first attended driving trials I thought everyone’s dressage was super unless a groom fell on his head or a horse got loose, but I like to think I’ve moved on a bit since then. I thought Dick did well, and the judges weren’t too hard on him either. I stood up to clap as he exited the ring, which attracted the attention of Jozef, a nearby waiter. He zoomed in, intending, I assumed, to throw me out of the marquee for drooling near forbidden food. But I was wrong. Jozef wanted nothing more than to bring me a succession of chilled lagers. Then he invited me to help myself to consume anything else that might take my fancy. So I did.

* (Note to BHDTA – any officials wishing to read flattering comments about themselves in UK magazine articles may wish to consider the potential benefits of supplying journalists with limitless food and drink at British driving trials, starting at Brighton next spring. Many thanks!)

The afternoon’s dressage passed in something of a daze, not least because of the surreal beauty of the horses orbiting the ring hour after hour. I have seen many thousands of horses at close range, but had never witnessed the spectacle of the world’s finest driven teams collected in one place. Throw in the marquee of milk and honey, and you have one very happy journalist.

Around five o’clock I began running around with my dictaphone chasing quotes. I interviewed the overnight leaders – Felix Brasseur, Chester Weber and Boyd Exell, attended the press conference, collected the results and the following day’s schedule, read it all in 35 seconds and grabbed a Coke, conscious that I still hadn’t arranged anywhere to sleep that night. Unfazed by my late request for help, the press office came up trumps with a room overlooking the following day’s marathon course.

It was so close that on Saturday morning I could have crawled to the obstacles on my hands and knees - and I very nearly had to, thanks to the company of a couple of jovial BHDTA fellows that I met in the bar on Friday night.

The marathon, as usual, was crunch-time for all concerned. I had a good idea of the layout, because I’d walked the obstacle course – alongside a lot of competitors – at nine p.m. on Friday and again at seven a.m. on Saturday. (And if my editor at Horse & Hound magazine should happen to read this, I sincerely hope she appreciates what amazing lengths I go to for our loyal readers.)

The drivers had scouted the routes, but I had been hunting for good positions from which to take photographs. Around 40,000 spectators were anticipated, which had me worried that I might not be able to see anything at all, let alone take pics. Committing eight likely-looking spots to memory, I nipped back to the hotel for breakfast, reasoning – correctly, as it turned out – that I’d be stuck out on course all day. This time, there would be no miracle marquee to sustain me.

The crowds were streaming in by eight o’clock. There were thousands of cheerful Hungarians and groups of polite Dutchmen wearing orange wigs. In the cafes were gangs of excitable Italians, well-behaved Belgian families, and a few Yanks. And everywhere there were vast mobs of Germans equipped with everything money could buy. They had scarves and baseball caps and jumbo flags. They had cameras, binoculars, picnic hampers, shooting sticks, collapsible chairs, extending ladders and stopwatches. They had full-colour catalogues, carriage-shaped pastries and luminous 3D course maps. Some had global positioning devices in their shoes. And they had made camp in every spot I had chosen for myself - at every one of the eight obstacles! It was incredible. It was as if the Germans had sent someone out the night before to look for…but, silly me. Of course they had. There was nothing for it but to fall back on traditional British virtues, so I yelled at the Hungarian TV crew –“Let me through, I am an international sports writer!!” and elbowed a couple of elderly female stewards out of the way. Now, if I stood on tip-toe, I had a clear view of obstacle six.

The Brits and most of the superstars weren’t scheduled to go early, so I’d decided to work backwards through the hazards as the day wore on. I snapped away at six until around ten a.m., when two of the TV camera crew leaned against me to balance while snogging, which I took as a cue to move.

Unfortunately, as I attempted to cross the park from six to four, a horde of excited fans began sprinting from four towards six. It was like a cartoon cavalry charge, with flags swirling, voices chanting, and one specific idiot running in the wrong direction until he was knocked flat and trampled. When the dust settled, I got up and made a universally understood gesture of contempt involving a traditional arrangement of fingers.

I limped over to the water obstacle. I liked it there, and stayed for an hour. When it got too hot - about every twenty minutes – I could wander into the lake to cool off, and it’s always fun watching the horses crash through the water. Boyd Exell came crashing along and got hooked on a post for a while, prompting some desperate hoots of encouragement from the Aussie fans in the grandstand. Incredibly, it rained, and then the sun came glaring right back. Steam came off the damp crowd. The Germans switched on their portable hair driers.

It’s a frustrating aspect of the job that you can’t possibly see all the vital action. You long to dash from hazard to hazard to catch your drivers of choice, but it’s just not practical, particularly when there are thousands of equally fanatical people rushing around with their own agendas. And it was hot the way a sauna full of sumo wrestlers is hot. I made it to six of the eight obstacles in all, purple-faced from running and shoving and arguing in four languages. It was, as usual, crazy trying to keep track of the leader board, with times coming over the tannoy from obstacle two at the same instant as the current trail-blazer entered number seven. I was determined to get a decent shot of whoever won the marathon, and ended up climbing a fence to squat on the bank of the final hazard, where I snapped a nice shot of the ultimately victorious Ybrands Chardon powering out of the last gate.

Karen Bassett - Kecskemét 2004, World Four-in-Hand Championships Photo: Axel Zogbaum

Around six pounds lighter than at breakfast , I trotted a mile back to the lorry park, where I found Dick Lane in a contemplative frame of mind. He’d had a gruelling afternoon, and while he was clearly glad of the experience, I could tell he’d been hoping for a better round. In the stadium, I found Karen Bassett appealing against a penalty the judges had saddled her with - a disputed whip offence. She gambled 50 quid on the appeal, and got the verdict – cue whoops of delight, and rightly so. This lifted her from 18th to 12th in the marathon placings, a performance that confirmed her international standing. It would have been nice to catch up with Adrian Puddy or Wilf Bowman-Ripley, but it was time for another press conference, another dozen sheets of statistics, a chat with the new names on the leader board, another three-page schedule, and then, as on Friday, a long award ceremony in the stadium. I don’t mind going 13 hours between meals – well, I can stand it– but I admit I was pooped by Saturday night. I fell asleep fully clothed on the bed. The last thing I remember was the sound of a local pop group in the bar downstairs singing ‘Yellow Submarine’ in Hungarian.

Sunday got off to a difficult start, with two different versions of the marathon results kicking around the press office. Unless you’ve got three separate brains, you cannot assess the performances of thirty-odd contestants from memory, so these are vital statistics. Everyone on the organisational end was getting pretty ratty – it had been a long week for them – and the atmosphere was tetchy, like kids on the last day of term.

But out in the stadium, the cones contest was delivering top-class entertainment. A huge crowd turned up to watch, the sunshine was remorseless, the horses gleamed.

Both the individual and team titles hung in the balance to the very end. Between times, the applause that rang out for Karen Bassett, the only female competitor at the championships, was rather moving. At the climax I joined a little clump of Brits by the trackside, and stood chatting with English horse-pairs doyen Sarah Garnett. We watched Michael Freund’s superb double clear round, and oohed and aahed with the spectators as Ybrands Chardon cracked under the pressure, handing a fourth world title to his German rival. When the Hungarians realised they’d bagged the team title, there was an outbreak of civilised mayhem, involving lots of hugging and jigging.

I retired to the press office to play international tabletop rugby. This involves the press of all nations wrestling with crumpled bits of paper and grunting like hogs and demanding hard facts and not getting them. Another press conference and another lengthy award ceremony followed, with round two of the tabletop rugby not much more illuminating than the first. Then the organisers wanted to ship all the journalists out to a mystery address in the Hungarian countryside for yet another reception. But I had work to do, and was soon locked in my third hotel room of the week, gobbling crisps, listening to taped interviews, charging batteries, making notes, prodding words into my laptop, and wondering how on earth I was going to catch a plane out of Budapest at 6:30 a.m. the following morning.

I wasn’t, of course. As it turned out I woke up at four to find my torso resembling a sheet of bubble wrap. A platoon of fat mosquitoes lay burping on the pillow. After a short and messy series of killings, I slept for three more hours. Knowing I’d missed the plane, I got up late and walked into town, where I bribed a teenager to translate for me at the internet café from which I eventually sent my copy. Job done, I sighed with relief.

When I finally I got back to Budapest it was near midnight, inky dark, and the station was getting spooky, what with the junkies and hookers forming colonies in every corner. Right on cue a wheel fell off my suitcase and suddenly my lap-top seemed to weigh about three stone. Making an idiotic mistake, I allowed myself to be hustled by a Turkish taxi driver who will, I hope, spend eternity roasting in the flames of hell. This joker took me on a monstrously expensive tour of the city while actually transporting me around 800 yards. And he dumped me outside a hotel which was fully booked. He was not at all typical of the country’s inhabitants, as most Hungarians I had met were extraordinarily nice.

My last stop in Hungary was a motel near the airport. I checked in at two a.m. scowling and sober as “ Ian Russell from Horse and Hound magazine.” The receptionist smiled as I ordered two beers in quick succession. She gave me a bar bill for 870 Forints (about £1.50). I gave her a thousand and told her to keep the change. You can do that when you’re a millionaire. She glanced at the register where I’d signed in.

“Horse and Hound?” she said, quizzically. “Like Hugh Grant in Notting Hill?”

“Yes, I suppose so,” I preened, and hoisted the kind of confident smile you’d expect to see on the face of an international sports writer.

“Your head is covered in terrible mosquito bites,” she said, and handed me an aerosol spray.

© Ian Russell September 2004

Well done, Single Horse Drivers at Åstorp

A report on the British Team drivers at the World Single Horse Championships at Åstorp, Sweden, 21-25 July, 2004, by Jill Holah

Final placings: Individual - Di Hayes 6th, David Matthews 9th, James Robson 22nd

Team - Great Britain 5th There were 63 competitors

The British team results at Åstorp may appear to be disappointing on paper, but infact all three drivers put up magnificent performances - what a pity that so few British single horse drivers took the opportunity to witness a magnificent competition of the highest standard - and see what we have to do to win medals in the future.

The whole event was dogged from start to finish with appalling weather. Torrential rain greeted our drivers on arrival at the show site, and there was no way that they could park on the minute area marked out by the organisers for them. Horses unloaded and safely stabled, a long wait at the accreditation office was rewarded with the allocation of a prime flat parking site near the main building, with their our own water supply, electricity and loo!

Although the rain abated for Tuesday giving everyone an opportunity to relax before the competition (some even went swimming at a nearby pool), the rain returned on Wednesday forcing the opening ceremony into the indoor school. The British horses looked wonderful as they set off for the first vetting, but were sadly damp with dirty legs by the time they came before the judges. We presented four horses including Fred and Beryl Pendlebury’s ‘Janton Flame’ who went as the spare horse and all passed with flying colours.

Luckily for the survival of the event, the warm-up arena was on a gravel area with a very thin covering of sand, and it was agreed to run the two days of Dressage on this arena. The two grass training areas were waterlogged, so there was very little schooling area, but everyone was anxious to help the hard-working organisers and so a compromise was necessary. Once again the Dressage judging was controversial. It was difficult to see exactly what the judges were looking for, especially when they marked up horses showing very little change of pace. Jimmy Robson performed one of his best ever tests with ‘Duke’ on the Thursday, and indeed Tjeerd Velstra gave him the second best mark of the competition, but sadly Jimmy’s final score was anchored by some fierce marking by the judges from Austria and Sweden. Di Hayes was second to go on Friday with ‘Hamewith Culmellie’ (‘Mel’) and she, too, excelled herself (she eventually finished eighth in this phase). Expectations were high when David Matthews entered the ring with ‘Carnwallon Boneddwr’ (‘Rosco’), but sadly it was not his day and a slightly flat test relegated him to 19th place, two places behind Jimmy.

There was initial criticism of the short marathon with a flat Section A of less than 6 km, but inspection of Richard Nichols’ obstacles in Section E revealed that they were going to be extremely testing with lots of gradients, water and bridges/ramps. To add to the demands on the horses, all the obstacles (which were in the last 5 km of the section) were approached off a narrow track around the perimeter of the small showground and, never out of the atmosphere and tension of the competition, the drivers found they were unable to give the horses a breather. Obstacle walking was somewhat hampered on Thursday by the rising water-level in obstacle 5 which left only the letters on top of the posts above the water, but luckily this was only due to a blocked outlet and was soon rectified! Jimmy was early off on Saturday and completed an excellent round to give the Brits a good solid start. Team Trainer Boyd Exell was helped by some excellent British “spotters” who watched all the drivers and gave invaluable information on the quickest routes, and a change of plan in the water obstacle helped David Matthews to improve on Jimmy’s time. Sadly ‘Rosco’ lacked the power of the warmbloods in these particular obstacles, but he soldiered on bravely to knock some 8 penalties off Jimmy’s marathon score. Even ‘Mel’ ran out of steam towards the end of the course, but Di completed a good round to finish in 11th place at the end of the day. David was in 15th, with the team moving up one place to 6th.

All three horses passed the ‘in harness’ vetting on Sunday morning, although ‘Flame’ was once again plaited up and ready to perform if required. The cones course, in the main grass arena at last, was extremely tight but flowed with only a couple of tricky turns. It quickly became obvious that the time was very fast, and Jimmy’s clear round with only six time penalties put him right up at the top for a long time. David then drove a beautiful double clear to go into the drive-off. Sadly the heavens opened just before Di’s round, and her confidence was not helped when the French driver before her turned over (in his two-wheeler) on the last turn. But Di drove a superb round to go clear and join David in the drive-off. As the weather deteriorated, conditions became very difficult for the last few drivers, but the Swedish girls showed their class when former world champion Cecilia Qvanstrom, driving the spare horse, went clear with only two time penalties, and team-mate Marie Kahrle got only four time penalties to clinch both the team gold and the individual gold. Interestingly, Sweden would have lost the gold if Cecilia had not been able to drive the cones as they would not have been able to count her excellent Dressage score and in any case needed a second good cones result. Sadly the overnight leader Henrik Hoper (Denmark), who was outstanding on the marathon, scored 13 penalties in a tense cones round which dropped him down to 8th.

The two Brits joined the three American drivers (what a good cones performance by them!), plus one each from Holland, Finland and France in the drive-off over a shortened course, but they could not catch quick Fred Merriam (USA) with David finishing second and Di third. Di eventually finished in a very impressive 6th place overall, David was equal 9th, and Jimmy was 22nd. The excellent cones performance took the British team up another place to fifth, only three marks behind the Germans and eight marks away from the bronze medal. So close, but so far, but what a good performance out of a total of 20 teams.

Boyd Exell played a very important part in the success of the team, and thanks are also due to team vet Stuart Easby. It was very much a group effort with a lot of people helping in the background, particularly the team 'Chef de Cuisine' Sheila Hawking.

There is certainly plenty of food for thought before the next Single Horse Championship at Pratoni, Italy, in two years’ time, but in the meantime we should be very proud of the performance that our drivers put up in Sweden.

Jill Holah

IPEC Hopetoun - Thanks to sponsors

Owing to an editorial oversight, this article was omitted from the last newsletter. Apologies: here’s a flavour of it. You can read the full article on the website.

Team results: Gold Germany 257.94; Silver Great Britain 287.07; Bronze Sweden 290.29
Individual Bronze Judi Ralls Grade 11
Pairs Individual Silver Carol Porter
Pairs Individual Gold Brenda Hodgson

The wrap up ceremony was in wonderful Scottish sunshine and made extra special for our foreign fellow competitors, when HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presented the medals to the Teams and individuals. One British pony received both a team silver and an individual bronze medal, having been in the Silver medal winning team for the third time, and is now retiring gracefully. Wonderful that Britain won a gold and silver in the new pairs class too. Gold, Silver and Bronze! Can’t be bad!

Much debt is owed to Margaret Brockie, our Team Chef d’Equipe, who has guided the squad through training and selection and given so much of her time and support, freely and willingly, and to our Trainer Rachel Stevens, whose experience and friendship has been so valuable and is an example to all of us. Both these ladies are very special and the British Team would not have succeeded to be in the medals again, without either of them.

Thanks to the wonderful organisational abilities of Anneke Wallace and her Committee, Lord Linlithgow, the generous owners who leased their horse, tireless volunteers and amazing Sponsors, this IPEC World Championships is deemed the best so far! Emulate that if you can, whichever country bids for the next Worlds, in 2006! We were proud to be the host nation at such a prestigious event.

The British Squad would like to thank the many generous Sponsors who supported the Team and Individuals, in particular those known in the driving world were:

Calvert Carriages; South Downs Harness Club; Carriage House Insurance, Clifton House Trust; Cumbria Harness Club; Dodson & Horrell; NEDTL; NWDTL; Voice Products; Martin Top Farm; De Ferranti Trust; BHDTA; Escrick Park Sponsored Drive; Hampshire BDS

Junior Championships Report

Escrick Park, Yorkshire, 25-26 September 2004

Kind weather helped to make the first Junior Championships a success at Escrick Park in Yorkshire. Competitors from all over the UK and Ireland came together in a wonderful atmosphere. Barry Capstick had arranged for seven young drivers to come over: that must be one of the largest Irish entries at any mainland event! Ten juniors came down from Scotland and 15 from England, although we had three withdrawals.

The Junior Championships were open to any driver aged 10 – 21 years old, provided that they have completed two Club Events since April 2002 without elimination or have been assessed at the Summer Camp. The classes were:

* Class 1 10 - 12 yrs
* Class 2 13 - 14 yrs
* Class 3 15 - 17 yrs
* Class 4 18 - 21 yrs

Dressage was judged by Caroline Musker, Jill Holah and Philippa Thompson, all of whom were delighted by the standard and enthralled by some of the ponies. Carol Meredith produced a super course of cones with the right amount of tests, only three drivers managed to go double clear - the girls from Scotland!

The marathon course through the tracks and woods at Escrick was laid out by Douglas Strachan, who knows the area well and worked very hard for the event. Being flat helped all the competitors to come into the final phase with plenty left in the tank.

There were six obstacles, two being the permanent ones used by the North East driving club and four built for the occasion. Andrew Hewat had lettered the obstacles with a view to having as many options as possible and allowing the course to flow smoothly with the chance to take a tight route if desired.

All competitors came home safely and smiling! They are now looking forward to next year.

Amanda Saville

Members’ Letters

Please send your letters by email or by fax or post to the BHDTA Office. I look forward to publishing them.

Normanhurst’s new site a big success!

I want to send a big thank you to the organisers of this year's competition at Normanhurst. The new venue offered greatly improved access to the horsebox field, the obstacles were beautiful to look at and enjoyable to drive, the route on section A was exciting and challenging, the free drinks were welcome and the sun shone.

Special thanks must also go to the Owlett family who worked tirelessly to raise most of the money needed for the event. I am looking forward to competing at Normanhurst again next year, but please make it three days instead of two.

Sue Starnes

Most readers will be aware that Normanhurst in Sussex is the only two-day National event and holds a parallel Club event. If we want more people to support National events or to start on “the circuit”, is this the way to go? What do you think? FP

Carriage Horse Editorial Policy

This publication has an independent editorial policy and provides an open forum for all BHDTA members.

All letters and reports from members and clubs of the BHDTA are welcomed and will be published where possible, although some editing may be necessary.

Letters have the right to reply in the same issue if it’s considered appropriate. Please give your name and contact details, including nearest town, when you submit a letter or article by mail, fax or email. Provide a credit for the photographer with photos, if you wish.

Unless the contrary is stated, the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the BHDTA or its Council.

Thoughts on Novice Presentation

Taking note of your comment in the last edition of Carriage Horse saying that you have not had any letters let me open the account.

Having had what must be the worst score we have had for Standing Presentation, I'd like to know, why do novices have to submit themselves to the whim of the alleged "Great and the Good" of the driving world?

I have come to the view that now is the time for novices to be treated the same as everyone else and their presentation mark to be given during the Dressage Phase. No one at any other level (I understand even in international competition) are subjected to such an ordeal.

What is the point of Standing Presentation?

Rule book Article 936 1.2 states "The object of Full Presentation (Novice Class only) is to judge turnout, cleanliness and general condition and impression of the driver, groom, horse, harness and vehicle. The class is judged at the halt."

Presentation on the move is covered in Article 943 6.1 which states "Appearance of driver and grooms, cleanliness, fitness, matching and condition of horses/ponies, vehicles and harness."

There is no mention of Safety so it can't be SAFETY. Anyway every novice competitor has had to have a green card signed signifying they have completed three events without incident, elimination or retirement and therefore by default be considered competent to compete. There's no check on the harness or vehicle used in the marathon arguably the most hazardous phase. Carriages and turnout still have to be clean and smart when viewed on the move.

So far this year we have had scores ranging from 0.2 to 3 for the same turnout! The latter "Judge" didn't have the conviction of his comments to write them on the score sheet for us to consider. ALL the novices took comfort from the Judges score of 25 in the cones phase of the same event...

Other comments from another Judges are "I really must accept these modern carriages and harness idea's".

It's really confusing at times. A point in case being. should I present our spares open to the Judges to inspect or not. We have had a Judge criticise us for not and another tell us not to bother as there is no requirement to look at them?

We've learnt to say "Thank you for your comments and we will bear them in mind for our next time."

The way forward!

Presentation on the move as with everyone else (preferred)

Everyone at every level to submit to such close scrutiny. (I can hear the cries already.)

Another option would be for the Presentation element to be done as if a showing class with the "Judge" able to look at all the competitors at the same time and able to compare each turnout on the merits of each over the other. (I want to do driving trials not showing...)

Come on, BHDTA, let’s have a level playing field for all competitors.

Martyn Willis, Southampton

Reply to Martyn’s letter from Caroline Musker, Judges Committee Chairman

In reply to your letter about anomalies in presentation, we are planning to have a session on presentation judging at the next judges clinic so hopefully the problems experienced by Novice competitors in the past will be addressed.

Letters recounting any contentious incidents to Caroline Musker please, so we can sort out all the problems before next season. I do personally think that presentation judging for novice competitors can be very useful as the condition and fit of the harness and vehicle can be discussed with the competitor and reasons for particular styles and methods can be explained.

Caroline Musker, Norfolk

Trip to Hungary

First of all congratulations and 'Well Done' to our competitors namely Karen Bassett, Dick Lane, Adrian Puddy and Wilf Bowman Ripley who represented us in the World 4s Championships in Hungary. We were very pleased and proud to be there to support them. We didn't arrive in time for the opening ceremony but attended both dressage days. The weather was very hot and must have put a strain on our competitors while competing. There was a big crowd watching each day the arena being an ideal setting. Marathon day was a little cooler and we found we were able to move to three of the obstacles to watch our competitors through that was if you didn't get crushed by the Hungarian supporters rushing from one obstacle to another looking very impressive I might add in the supportive shirts they were wearing perhaps something for the British supporters to think about next time. Then on to cones day very, very hot with no seats available so we stood at the back of the stand where it was a bit cooler and we were also able to watch the competitors warming up for the cones in the collecting ring. We cheered our competitors into the closing ceremony which is a magnificent sight with all the different flags flying but a bit scary seeing all those horses so close together in the arena. We were disappointed we were unable to be in contact with the competitors but with the security of the stable area it unfortunately is not possible. We were very proud to have the one only Lady Driver and even more pleased when she was presented with a special prize which she deserved. We were asked by a Dutch supporter as to where George Bowman was which proves you were missed, George, so get that new team going ready for 2006.

On to the social side of the trip: thanks must go to Joe and Doreen for all their hard work in organising the trip not forgetting Margaret Blackburn for helping counting the money! The hotel was just as good as ever with plenty of food and drink flowing. Some of the party were known as the Saga Group: I will leave you to guess why but with having our posing rep. Tommy Thomlinson I need say no more - a laugh a minute. Two of us were called Saga gnomes I just wonder if it was the hats we wore!

The entertainment was good both on the coach and in the hotel and believe you me if Tommy and Edmund don't get good dressage scores next year after chatting two lady dressage judges up, who will remain nameless, Linda and I will want to know why. I even tried to bribe Ray Brown back on the panel with a piece of fruit cake but to no avail - a private joke between us. Well, here's to the next trip, Joe.

Joan and Edmund Goodwin

Members’ News

Membership Office and how to join the BHDTA

Please note that the Membership Office is now at our Office in Stoneleigh.

Anyone who is interested in carriage driving, particularly if they wish to compete, should consider joining the British Horse Driving Trials Association. Among many membership benefits are - Members' Personal Liability insurance cover, eligibility to drive or groom at National driving trials, information-packed yearbook and quarterly newsletters, BHDTA clinics with the country's top driving experts and help, advice and information from the BHDTA driving committees.

See our website for more information or contact Amanda and Gaynor at the Office - 02476 293760

News wanted!

Please send us your news, club newsletters – photos, amusing, informative, opinions, facts. All grist to the mill that is your Carriage Horse: gratefully received.

Please send paper and faxes to the office and emails to the Editor.

Indoor Driving

Just when you thought it was safe to clean the harness for the last time this year and relax in front of the fire, it’s the indoor driving season again.

Anne Chambers’ event on Sunday, October 17, at Tickhill, near Doncaster, kicks off a season of over 60 events in England and Wales which culminate with the Finals at The College EC, Keysoe, Bedfordshire on 2 – 3 April. Scotland now has its own events in October, November and March with their Finals at Dabbs EC on March 27.

Proving grounds for some of our new and established drivers, indoor driving also provides a great opportunity for people to start competing. Ponies as small as nine hands – “pocket rockets” - and drivers who’ve scarcely started GCSEs can compete with horse pairs and people with dog-eared bus passes on equal terms.

If you haven’t already seen an event, see the schedule and go and watch one near you. There’s a buzz and an instantaneousness that’s difficult to catch outdoors and you can watch and learn from other drivers at close quarters.

Sponsors are still being sought for some classes and for £20 you can join the sponsorship draw of six chances to win monthly cash prizes throughout the indoor season.

See www.indoordriving.co.uk for the event schedule, Precision and Paces Test 10, entry form and joining details, or write to Rita Bundock, Secretary, 15 Hollow Lane, Canterbury, Kent. CT1 3SB, with an SAE, for more information, or phone 01227 768769.

Club Reports

Borde Hill Two-day Event

Whether you were at Brockham Harness Club's Two-Day at Borde Hill for the taxing competition or for pure fun, both were on offer in generous measures. Brockham can really organise a brilliant event and certainly know how to party.

With a large entry of 60, there was a fair proportion out for a perfect last outing before the Nationals. Andrew Simmons had again excelled himself with the six marathon obstacles, providing a good choice of routes from the very tight to the longer flowing ones. And their position in glorious countryside ensured that the visitors to the concurrent Borde Hill Country and Angling Fair could thrill to the skills on display.

Fifteen contenders in the Open Pony class didn't deter Fiona McOuat who led from the start. Driving her Welsh Section C pony Jack she took the Best Dressage overall, as in the previous two years, and the Horse Health Best Brockham Member trophy. Class marathon winner Felicity Ruffe chased her all the way finishing just 0.6 behind.

The Best Marathon overall came from 15-year-old Phillipa Howe (Bradbourne Driving Club) with mother Sara's 13-year-old Morgan mare Priceless, securing the Novice Pony Qualifier plus the Best Junior Trophy. Athleticism from Bradbourne secretary Ann Davey was rewarded with the Colbourne Cup for Best Marathon Groom. Fortunately Derek Colbourne didn't have to present the cup to himself! For the third successive year wife Mandy won the Open Horse saying, "It was anybody's in any class. It was a good top class club event with enough of a challenge to be bordering on a National without the added pressure."

Note that just 0.2 separated Phillipa tackling the flowing routes and Mandy taking the tight ones.

"We just go there for a lovely time - its unfortunate we have to take the ponies with us," said 'veteran' Len Coward (Weald Harness Club). However 21-year-old Foxey and 14-year-old youngster Pepa made sure he won the Pony Pairs. Unfortunately last year's winner Martin Holgate was eliminated while leading, courtesy of a missed flag almost at the end of the marathon that caught a number out. In fact the whole of the Club Novice Horse came unstuck on B!

GB Silver Team member at the IPEC Championships, Steven Manyweathers convincingly won the Novice Horse Qualifier on top throughout, while Sally Callingham dominated the Club Novice Pony.

Although Georgina Frith and Pippa Bassett added to the national flavour of the Multiples, Julia Liles not only secured the win but gave a representative of title sponsors Creaseys a safe introduction to the suicide seat!

Amid the universal praise there was the general comment that section A with its terrain, a distracting stretch through uncut 'bursting' crops plus final uphill haul was tough!

The essential and generous sponsorship, from Creaseys Chartered Accountants and various companies including UBM Hire, Bellcrown Carriages, Gatwick Group, Brachers Solicitors and Claire Worcester BHSAI, ensured that Borde Hill proved to be a well run, first class club event that promises to get even better. And next year watch out for more combined obstacle/cross-country fences as eventing returns to Borde Hill.

Full results: www.brockhamharnessclub.co.uk

North Eastern drivers shine under the sun

The last club competition of the North Eastern Driving Group season was held last weekend at East Keswick. The cones course which incorporated features from the recent international event in Hungary proved impenetrable for all except Jill Williams of Lincoln who drove the only double clear. Talented Alec Jeffrey of Easingwold drove the best dressage of the entire competition, but threw away the advantage by eliminating himself in both cones and marathon. Glenys Ellis of Flockton (Novice Pony), Vicky Dawson of Alnwick (Novice Horse) and Pat Cooper of Bardsey (Tandem) all put themselves beyond reach after sparkling dressage tests to win their respective classes.

Scorching sunshine put the stamina of the horses to a stern test during the marathon over the rolling fields made available by local farmer and supporter Nigel Lupton, with half of the entire field incurring time penalties. Glenys Ellis achieved an unusual feat in the marathon by driving five out of six obstacles in the same time of 44 seconds. Alan Wilkinson of Skirlaugh took the Open Pony class having been the fastest through the tricky water obstacle and Patti Atkinson of Durham at last achieved a win in the Open Horse. A close contest in the Pairs saw Ken Walmsley of Risplith take a winning lead in the marathon, and Susan Hall of Durham on debut sneaked a close win over Belinda Rees-Evans of Leeds.

At the close of the club season the winners of the North Eastern points championships are:

Novice Pony: Glenys Ellis
Novice Horse: Alec Jeffrey
Open Pony: Judy Hilditch
Open Horse: Paul Stringer
Pairs: Ken Walsmley
Tandem: Pat Cooper.

The next regional event will be the Northern Inter-Club Championships at Armathwaite in Cumbria on 18/19 September. This is preceded by the National Driving Championships at Windsor weekend where ten North Eastern Club members have qualified and are expected to excel. Already Pat Cooper of Bardsey has won the national points championship in the tandems, Carol Johnson of Morpeth has gained second in the Single Horse, Sue Corlett of Bride has won the Single Pony with Judy Hilditch of Flockton fourth.

“Farewell to Dounhurst” One-day Event

Brockham Harness Club held a farewell one- day event at Dounhurst Carriage Driving Centre on 10 October, the last time at this popular venue. Tom Mursell has sold the farm and the new owners will not continue to run it as a carriage driving facility.

Brockham has been involved at Dounhurst since its inception and will certainly miss the use of all the facilities that Tom has built over the years. See the club’s website for results:

www.brockhamharnessclub.co.uk

p.s. Minta Winn has decided to stay in the Dounhurst area and has a couple of promising possibilities under review…

All about Wolverley & District Driving Club

Wolverley, near Kidderminster in Worcestershire, has been the home of WDDC since it was formed in 1977. The format has changed little over the years, but the emphasis these days is more towards trials and eventing than rallies and showing as in years gone by.

Created in 2000, the Millennium Cones Competition runs throughout the year, and competitor’s best four scores from six rounds count towards the final result. This has been a great draw to events, and helps to maintain a healthy entry list.

The Club has the privilege of having National Technical Delegate, Tony Bache as a member, and together with his wife Gill, they have been a great help to fellow members in obstacle training and long- reining sessions – tandem a speciality!

Like the world over, Wolverley members need help in dressage and the general ‘way of going’ of their equines. They have been fortunate to secure the services of Karen Bassett at three clinics this season. Two were held indoors early on in the season, and the third on grass as the weather got warmer (and more predictable?) The organizers are most grateful to the BHDTA following the award of a training grant, which served to keep the costs at a reasonable level.

WDDC continues to cater for all sizes, from Shetlands, small ponies, to full size, and even the less fit. At the recent one-day event at Enville Hall, a shorter Section A enabled the ‘diddies’ to arrive at the obstacles with (hopefully) plenty of steam left.

Following a Members’ Driving Weekend away in September in deepest Worcestershire, there begins a busy social winter calendar.

The aim of WDDC is to provide something for everyone, whether hoping to compete at National Events, bringing on a young horse, or just out to enjoy carriage driving for pleasure, and they are doing just that!

For more information on WDDC, contact the Hon. Sec. Linda Sprosen on 01562 824350

Stolen vehicle:

Carol Porter’s specially adapted Fenix Flyer single vehicle was stolen during the August Bank Holiday weekend. It’s six years old; adaptations include a fold-down piece at the driver’s side of the seat. It fits 14.2hh, has just been serviced and probably has copper grease on it. Any news, please contact the Office or www.brockhamharnessclub.co.uk

Buyer beware

Clare Wigmore, LHHI, offers some useful advice and tips to help you buy the right horse. Part 1 covers how to find one worth viewing.

Over the years I have gained a lot of experience of both buying and selling horses for myself and friends, making both right and wrong decisions. Ten years ago with this knowledge and enjoying offering advice and guidance it was therefore not surprising that I started an enterprise known as ‘Carriage Link’.

I would like to share some of my experiences and offer the following advice to you when either buying or selling a horse.

Advice on buying a driving horse or pony

The purchase of a horse or pony can be very time consuming and quite frustrating. We can drive hundreds of miles to find that the vendor’s description is entirely different to what you see in front of you, i.e.

* The horse is not sound on the preliminary inspection.
* On looking in his mouth he resembles a 20 year old rather than 10 as advertised!
* The vendor stated clearly that he was 15hh, just what you needed to match an existing – with your measuring stick in hand you confirm that he is 14.1hh – quite a difference, say no more!
* You clearly asked ‘Any Sweet itch’? To be told no – only to be confronted with half the mane missing and a tail representing a loo brush, only to be told that he must have been eating through the fence!
* Finally to be told that the horse was sold 1 hour before you arrived.

Yes, sometimes vendors can be more of a waste of time than buyers!

Where to we begin: make a list of exactly what you want in terms of ability, breed, experience, age, size, etc. It is very easy to get carried away with a stunning photo and conveniently ignore your basic requirements.

Hence I would recommend the following line of action:

First of all spread the word that you are in the market to buy, tell your driving club secretary, BDS Area Commissioner, Carriage Link and driving friends know exactly what you are looking for. The perfect horse can be on your doorstep and is often sold by word of mouth, before getting on to the open market.

Secondly, try placing a wanted advertisement with all of the above plus ‘Carriage Driving’ magazine. You will be amazed how many people will not advertise themselves in fear of their horse falling into the wrong hands, but by reading what you have to offer will gladly respond.

Thirdly, scan the ‘For Sale’ columns of your favourite horsey magazines plus read all the ads in your club newsletters. Please be careful as it is often what isn’t said that is far more important than what is – example:

‘Loves to work, has endless energy’ – doesn’t sound as though this would be suitable for the weekend or pleasure driver.
‘Likes to Live Out’ – Why? Maybe has an allergy or vice or gets too hot when stabled.
‘Prefers Men’ – possibly strong/spoilt/bargy/un disciplined.
‘Good to box, shoe, catch, clip, load’ – what about traffic, has that purposely been excluded?
‘Forward going’ – does this mean strong with no brakes?
‘Plenty of Character’ – could be that he tries to kill you when lose out in the field or that he uses his strength against you!
‘Prefers Women’ – maybe he has been mishandled/beaten
Does drive but cannot be shown to you in harness – why, has he gone wrong?

Last but certainly not least, contact a dealer that is well known and that has a good reputation, if they haven’t got what you are looking for they will often put themselves out to find it!

Initial Enquiry

This would usually be by telephone.

Tip - when asking all the relevant questions have a checklist close by and write the answers down for future reference.

These questions should include the following:

* Confirmation of price and if negotiable
* Reason for sale
* How long in present ownership
* Previous history/form
* Any vices, to include sweet itch, dust allergies etc
* What does he not like?
* Has he ever gone wrong, had an accident in harness

Tip: Ask around - is the vendor well known? There are people who will happily sell a ‘sharp’ horse to a novice without a pang of guilt.

However, word travels fast in the horse world and reputations are hard won and easily lost, a point there also to note if you are selling!

Photos

Following the above conversation and if still interested request at least a photograph, preferably in harness and if ridden under saddle also. Better still a video. This is not an unreasonable request especially if you are expected to travel some distance to view/try. Do state exactly what you would like on the video, i.e. harnessing up/put to/driven/mounting /ridden/driven in company/in a school (on a circle).

Remember to return the video straight away so that other interested purchasers can also view it.

Tip - Before agreeing to travel some distance ask someone whose opinion you respect i.e a judge/LHHI/A.C to go and try the horse for you, but please remember to offer at least expenses for this privilege and then please listen to their advice!

Clare Wigmore.

Clare’s advice continues in the next issue of Carriage Horse: how to view and try out your potential buy.

Brockham members star at Merrist Wood

Over the next few months Guildford College are presenting a series of lecture demos in their Equestrian Arena. These will include evenings with Jennie Lorriston-Clarke and her dressage horses and William Fox-Pitt explaining eventing.

Brockham Harness Club will open the series with a Driving Extravaganza on Wednesday, 13 October, starting at 7.30pm.

Sarah Garnett, Dick Lane, Jo Rennison, Pippa Bassett and Georgina Frith are among those adding their style and experience to the evening display.

The evening will cover all phases of competitive driving, training tips and advice, and will include a question and answer session with the experts.

Tickets for all the lecture demos are available by calling Event Secretary – Kerry Clarkson on 01483 884147 or for more information log onto www.guildford.ac.uk or see www.brockhamharnessclub.co.uk

Training Events Diary 2004

Send us details of your driving training events.

Single Pony Training: find out more from Julie Camm – 01454 415050 – Novices are welcome, too!

EACDG – Training at Ashfields Carriage Driving & Polo Centre, Great Canfield, near Stansted, by invitation of Wilf Bowman-Ripley. Wilf and Karen Bassett offer 45-minute training sessions in dressage or obstacles, 30 & 31 October. Please call Jo Meech - 01376 325158 for more details. Members and non-members welcome.

CARRIAGE HORSE NEWSLETTER
All items to be sent to BHDTA Office or preferably e-mailed to: bhdta@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk

This publication has an independent editorial policy and is intended as an open forum for BHDTA members. All letters and reports from members and clubs of the BHDTA are welcomed and will be published where possible, although some editing may be necessary if space is limited. Letters will have the right to reply in the same issue if considered appropriate. Anonymous, defamatory or objectionable letters will not published. Unless the contrary is shown, the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the BHDTA or its Council.