There are currently 10-15 countries widely practising the sport. This number is not yet enough to apply for the discipline to be included in Equestrian Paralympic Sport. With encouragement increasing from the FEI carriage driving organisation, it is hoped that it will not be long before many more countries are entering their disabled drivers in both national and international competitions. Drivers at the Championships are divided into two classes depending on their degree of disability; each team has to include one member who is a grade 1. Drivers are profiled according to the limbs that work and are used whilst driving. Thus depending on their profile they are graded 1 or 2 – Grade 1 being the more severe disabilities.In 2002 after the success of two previous World Championships and International Competitions for drivers with disabilities, the CDSGdd (Carriage Driving Sports Group for Drivers with Disabilities) was formed.
The group consists of disabled people from all walks of life from around Britain catering for drivers keen to improve their driving skills and providing a structure for the selection and training of members wishing to compete as individuals or in teams, both nationally and internationally.
All British drivers who’ve put themselves forward for selection for this year’s Para-Equestrian World Driving Championships at Greven in Germany 27-29 June 2008 are members of the national Carriage Driving Sports Group for drivers with disabilities and, under the auspices of their Chairman Margaret Brockie, they will be involved in a series of training sessions and following a suitable training programme.
Great Britain has remained at the top of its sport having retained Team Silver at the last four World Championships and individuals returning with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. All drivers are self funded and rely solely on the support of family and friends and training expenses and the cost of sending a team to the championships rely on fund raising and donations to the sports group. The Group holds a number of training days around the country to help disabled drivers fulfil their potential and is eager to encourage and welcome new members.
If you feel you can help in any way or are interested in sponsoring the team, further information can be obtained from Margaret Brockie on 01204 531301 or margaretbrockie@talktalk.net
Visit our website at www.cdsg-dd.co.uk
RESULTS FROM
PARA-EQUESTRIAN WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
St Martin Greven-Bockholt in Germany
on 27-29 June 2008.
10 May 2008
Ripley
Castle hosted the final team training and selection for the
Para-Equestrian World Championship hopefuls from 30 April through to 4
May.
Despite news that there would not be a pairs class at the World Championships this year, Brenda and David Hodgson still joined the team and in their usual enthusiastic style demonstrated outstanding team camaraderie throughout.
The past months has seen every single driver and horse improve enormously in ability and confidence, making the final selection of these Grade 1 and Grade 2 single horse and pony drivers by no means straight forward.
The
team has now been finalised and will comprise two drivers with excellent
World Championship track records - Lindsey Tyas (Grade 1), driving her
experienced Welsh Cob, London Flash Jack and Judi Ralls (Grade 2),
driving Glenmead Flashman – plus newcomer to the World Championship
scene, Margaret Lupton (Grade 1), driving her very impressive Welsh Cob
Ilar Barry.
Terry Kirby will back them up as team reserve, driving Welsh mare Holgar Lady Megan, and Heather Clark driving her own coloured trotter cross, Barney will compete as an individual.
Huge thanks go to the North East Driving Trials Group and to Sir Thomas Ingleby for their generous provision of grounds and facilities at Ripley Castle.
The
selected team and individuals will be training and competing at Escrick
Park at the end of the month, with a final training clinic at Ashfields
in mid June before heading over to Greven, Germany for the World
Championships, 25 – 29 June.
Photos (from top):
Judi Ralls at Ashfields (photo: Mike Watts)
Lindsey Tyas at Ripley (photo: E. Tyas)
Margaret Lupton at Ashfields (photo: Mike Watts)
Ashfields 17 - 20 April 2008
Outstanding training, competition and social facilities were provided by Zoe Morgan and Wilf Bowman-Ripley, accommodating an intense training programme on the Thursday and Friday, followed by a specially devised class where competitors went head-to-head as part of the selection process.
Lynn Winder, Chris Van Reen and Rachel Stevens headed up the training programme and the team where once again ably supported by sports psychologist Jennie Killilea and team vet Viki Edmondson.
The team will be selected based on inclusion of one Grade 1 and one Grade 2 competitor, the third team member being either a Grade 1 or Grade 2 driver. There will also be two individual places available. The Pairs class is not yet confirmed, which has been agonizing for poor Brenda Hodgson, but she is continuing, regardless with the invaluable training programme, this year with a different pony pair from the previous World Championships.
Team hopefuls are:
Heather
Clarke Grade 1 Single Pony
One of the most admired and talented drivers on the circuit. Diligent, dedicated and preparing herself well - one to watch.
Brenda
Hodgson Grade 1 Pony pair
A proven World Championship track record with her well known Duns. This year with a new turnout showing loads of potential.
Margaret
Lupton - Grade 1 Single Pony
Missed out at the last Worlds at the last minute, due to an unfortunate accident. Now with a new pony, showing great improvement. A determined competitor with natural talent.
Lindsey
Tyas - Grade 1 Single Horse Another extremely accomplished and
experienced World Championship competitor, showing consistent
improvement year on year with this horse.
Photo by Malcolm Parnell
The selection of the team and individuals will be made following Ripley, taking place 1 – 3 May. There will then be two training camps prior to the World Championships which will be held in Greven, Germany, from 26 – 29 June 2008.
The team is self funded and relies wholly on generous donations from individuals and small businesses. Should you like to be involved in supporting this potentially Gold medal winning team of talented drivers, competing at the top of this sport notwithstanding significant disability, please get in touch with Judi Ralls (01252 850330) or Lindsey Tyas (07721 833730)
Terry KirbyTerry suffered a tumour on the spine 14 years ago leaving him paralysed from the chest down. A natural all round sportsman, Hull-born and Chesterfield-based Terry has also represented Great Britain at ice sledge-hockey and golf. During his 5 years of driving he has swept up at several National Novice Single Pony events, including the prestigious Sandringham Horse Driving Trials. If selected, this will be Terry’s second time as a member of Team GB having been part of the silver medal winning team in Holland and he’ll be driving his partner and support team Rowena Coldwell’s Welsh Cob Megan. Terry aspires to be World Champion 2008!
Lindsey TyasLindsey who’s from Norfolk, was paralysed down her right side as a result of a road accident at the age of four and despite the advice of her doctors she was determined to continue to ride. She took up driving when she was 14 and experiencing the thrill and adrenalin rush has never looked back. She has significant driving experience to fall back on, having represented Great Britain five times including the First World Championships at Wolfsburg in 1998 and Hellendoorn in 2006 where GB won team Silver. Lindsey drives her own Welsh Cob Jack. She is supported by her family and partner Gordon Paice. In 2007 she was voted Inspirational Sports Person of the year in the Norfolk Sports Awards and subsequently appointed as Patron of Norfolk Disability Sports.
Judi RallsJudi developed Chronic Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis at the age of 10. She rode side-saddle until finally giving up (aged 22) as the disease progressed. Since then Judi has had six multiple hip replacements and two sons! She competed at three previous World Championships with her renowned Welsh pony, Freddie bringing back both Individual and team medals. Judi who’s from Farnham in Hampshire and is Chairman/Organiser of Stella Hancock RDA Group, won team and individual silver - posting the best dressage score of the World Championships - at Hellendoorn in 2006 driving Angela Flanagan’s horse Charlie Cash.
Margaret LuptonMargaret from Dumfries & Galloway was born with abnormalities of the lower spine and limbs but has let nothing get in her way. An active rider with the Annandale and Eskdale RDA she was introduced to driving as a teenager and has since gone from strength to strength. It was as a result of watching the World Championships at Hopetoun in 2004 that she aspired to drive for her country. With the back up of Catriona Murray she has competed with Tartan (pictured) at club events all over Scotland. She is supported by her husband and daughter Hannah. This year Margaret will be bringing out her new 14.2hh Welsh pony Baz.
Heather ClarkHeather Clark (46) hails from Leeds and was born virtually without limbs due to the effects of the Thalidomide drug. She wears artificial legs and occasionally use of her teeth to compensate for the lack of arms – one-teethed circles caused raised eyebrows for one or two dressage judges! She trains with Tandem driver Pat Cooper and is an active member of the North-Eastern Driving Trials Club. Heather drives her beloved Irish Cob x Trotter Barney and in her quest for selection is being supported by Debbie Dale (groom) and the Poulter family.
Elaine Schaschke Following a serious riding accident in 2000, Elaine Schaschke from March in Cambridgeshire took up carriage driving with encouragement from Tom Farmer. She started out with a 2-wheel exercise cart bought from a Gypsy and only became fully involved with Horse Driving Trials in 2007. She’s a member of the East Anglian Carriage Driving Group and is very grateful for all the help and guidance she has received from fellow members. Elaine drives a chestnut Welsh Section C mare and is keen to gain more experience and progress up the ladder.
Brenda HodgsonBrenda from Workington in Cumbria has been paralysed from the waist down as the result of an operation for a congenital heart defect at the age of 11. Since taking up carriage driving over 20 years ago Brenda has competed with Single, pair and team at national level and has been 7 times Scottish Points league champion in the small pony class. Ably supported by her husband David, Brenda drove her pair Goldy and Rush to Gold medal position at the World Championships at Hopetoun in 2004 and bronze in Holland. This year she’ll be driving her new pair of 12.2hh Hackneys.
Rachel StevensRachel has been team trainer for the para-equestrian team for the past four world championships. She has herself competed for the British team in the Combined Pony World Championships 2005 and 2007 with her pony pair and is reigning Pony Pair National Champion. She was three times national champion, points league champion and Royal Windsor Grand Prix champion with her prolific Dun Connemara pony, Buttons, before moving on to Pony Pairs with her current Bay Welsh Section Cs Glenmead Flashman, Pontadawye Lord Lucan and Westonian Little Joe. Similarly she has been three times national champion, and is the current title holder of the British National Championships and of Royal Windsor, as well as team Bronze medallist at the 2005 Combined Pony World Championships. Rachel from Northamptonshire took up driving at 18, after a riding accident when she broke her back. She competes at National, International and World Class level in mainstream BHDTA and FEI competition.
The
Carriage Driving Group for Drivers with Disabilities promotes competitive
carriage driving for disabled people in Britain.
CLICK HERE to visit
their website.
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