2010 Summer Camp at Ashfields
My first summer camp with the British Young Driver at
Ashfileds was a wonderful learning experience as-well as being a lot
of fun. Even if it did rain a lot there was still loads to do and
the weather certainly did not dampen anyone's enthusiasm.
I met plenty of new people all into driving and of varying ages, all
who went out their way to be friendly. The instructors I trained
under were Sarah Jane Cook and Sara Howe but advice was also freely
given and greatly appreciated by Wilf bowman Rilpey we also had a
one off schooling demo from Anna Grayston which was full of useful
tips some relevant to my own pony's situation.
There was a trip to Baileys horse feeds which was most informative.
The majority of the days were made up of sessions of dressage, cone
and hazards training and on the last day we all took part in a
friendly derby made up of a course that was part cone and part solid
hazard , we where split into groups of equal experience and took it
in turns to complete the course. It really was brilliant fun!
although I had never done anything like it before I felt under no
pressure and my instructors guided me through it at my own place.
The water hazard turned out a little more exciting than I had
anticipated but thanks to my groom (who got his feet wet) and gentle
coaching from the two Sarah's we all finished on a high and I know
my pony benefited from the experience
I really recommend the Summer camp to any new comers to the sport
with all the friendly knowledge and experience available you cant go
far wrong even if your pony has never seen anything like it before
its not a problem because you can go at your own pace. Thanks to
everyone who made this possible with all their time and effort, I'm
now looking forward to next year.
Many thanks
Charlotte Connolly
P.S I'm gonna get a bigger tent!!!!!!!!!!!!
Young Drivers Selection
Ashfields Carriage and Polo Club, Great Canfield
Essex
Ashfields Carriage and Polo Club hosted a successful Selection
Event this weekend for the British Young Drivers wishing to be
selected for the Junior World Trophy in Hungary. This afternoon the
team squads were announced - One for England and one for Wales, -
the teams consist of....
| England |
Wales |
| Grace Smith
Kirsty T-D
Jack Thorne
Michael Hodgeson
James Gambs
Charlotte Snow
Amber O'Neill
Harriet Bradford
Rosanna Walter-Symonds
Hannah Kelly |
Jay Snow
Fleur Snow
Ashleigh Jones
Emily Ham
Alice Pritchard
Joanna Bassett |
The Selection Weekend at Ashfields
The British Young drivers on the list for selection had a very
useful weekend’s training at Ashfields.
On Saturday we each spent half an hour training for our FEI dressage
with Wilf, who had the challenging task of teaching us how to get
our ponies to do the medium trot that is crucial to our test. We are
all used to working, collected and extended trot but this was a new
challenge! Only Kirstie and Grace, who being younger had a different
test, were spared ! Wilf was very helpful and patient . We then
drove our test for Anna who marked it, discussed it and got us to
drive it a second time so we could improve ready for the event the
next day.
Later we walked the cones and the Derby course, met up and chatted
and finally dispersed to get our ponies extra clean and gleaming for
the trot up with Anna the vet who also checked our horse passports.
Parents and helpers had cooked a great supper which was wolfed down
and much appreciated! Then we all discussed the exciting plans for
Hungary and for the event the next day.
Sunday morning was a whirlwind of activity – sprucing up ponies,
sprucing up ourselves into our smart presentation outfits and
mentally driving our dressage test over and over while waiting to go
in. Charlotte Snow was the convincing dressage diva on this occasion
but everyone had something they were really pleased about – for me
it was a 9 for Jack’s halt in contrast to the 4 he had got at our
last event here – the Channel Cup – when he decided to show off with
airs above the ground in a display of stallion enthusiasm!
After dressage – the precision and challenge of the cones with only
four double clears - Mike . Rosanna, Jack Thorne and Amber.
Then after lunch everyone’s favourite bit – the Derby. The obstacles
at Ashfields are tremendous and the Derby was fast, furious and fun.
There were plenty of tricky pairs of cones to catch us out in
between. Mike’s nippy little Shetland Brownie flew the course in the
fastest time of 27 seconds with my Jack , who loves his obstacles ,
not far behind on 30.20.
At the end of a fabulous event the final scores were given out.
There were some close results but overall James was the worthy
winner on 80.47 with Charlotte chasing close behind on 80.83. Grace
took the honours for the younger drivers with Kirsty just two
penalties behind.
Then the moment we had all been waiting for – the teams were
announced for Hungary.
Anna the vet was kept busy giving out the vaccines the ponies would
need and Sara gave us extra ice to keep the doses chilled on our
long journey home. Poor Jack – a jab seemed a poor reward for all
his hard work!
We are all very excited about competing in the World Trophy and very
grateful to Mary Jane , Sara , Trainer Anna , Wilf , Anna the Vet
and all the parents who made our selection weekend a success.
Emily Ham. |
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Easter Clinic for Young Drivers
5-7 April ant Unicorn Trust Equestrian Centre
With the Young Drivers clinic being so close to the National indoor
championship at Keysoe there was expected to be a slightly lower turn out
than usual. Our expectations were wrong with 30 Young drivers ranging from
beginner to National competitors travelling from all over the country to
train with the talented trainers we were lucky enough to have.
The clinic began with all Young Drivers that had competed at a national
level coming a day early so they could have a focused day of training with
Sarah Garnett. These National competitors were able to take the time to
watch each others lessons which allows them to learn from each other and the
trainer.
Monday came around very quickly and brought with it a very large group of
Young Drivers all eager to begin training and hone themselves and their
ponies. The trainers were Anna Grayston, Sarah Howe, Carol Boswell and Anna
Saddler. All of which did an amazing job of teaching each Young Driver with
their individual needs and capabilities in mind.
Mark Broadbent, owner of the world renowned Fenix Carriages, came all the
way from Claydon in Devon to give a speech on carriage maintenance. This was
very well received by all and may help to solve some squeaks being emitted
from their carriages. Sarah Jane Williams also did a session on limbering up
the drivers and had them all forming human chains and then trying to unwind
themselves.
After supper Frank Campbell gave an inspiring and educational talk on
progressing through the sport, he is both an indoor and outdoor National
champion. Rosanna Walter-Symons also gave a talk on how to manage
responsibilities such as school/college/uni as well as carriage driving.
With these talks signalling the end of a very long day the Young Drivers
headed off to check ponies and then to bed.
Tuesday saw a new addition to Young Driver clinics, the Pony Club. It is
hoped much will come from the interaction between the two organisations. The
pony club riders were partnered with a National Young Driver for the day so
they can learn about carriage driving and gain their carriage driving badge.
This was deemed a success by all that took part.
On Wednesday everyone had a go at driving an obstacle and had a final
lesson before a late lunch and the usual round up of thank yous and hand out
of progress reports to all the participants to take home and keep in their
portfolios.
Thanks to everyone concerned and all at Unicorn Trust, and especially
Sydney Smith for making this all possible.
Article by James Gambs, photo by Tim Bradford
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British Young Drivers South East Training
with Anna Grayston and Sara Howe
Woldingham, Surrey, 18 Feb 2010
It’s
always and enjoyable experience to take part in a training day with your
friends and fellow competitors. Thursday morning was looking very promising
but unfortunately the bad weather had set in for the whole day, which is a
true testament to the dedication of Anna Grayston and Sara Howe for teaching
all day outside. Despite all odds, including broken down lorries and
borrowing carriages we still had a full schedule of eight drivers. (Marissa
Pinock, Alice Pritchard, Joanna Bassett, Harriet Bradford, Anne Wrigley,
Millie Bradford and Tori Bradford)
Each driver had a 45 minute lesson in the morning and in the afternoon,
tailored to their specific needs in each discipline. Anna worked with us on
our flatwork focusing on straightness, rhythm and our indoor dressage tests.
This allowed us to get an idea what we are aiming for and allowed techniques
to be highlighted that will enable us to improve. Sara’s lessons were based
on cones and obstacle driving getting many of us to find a speed at which we
could find accuracy and balance. Sara set up a hexagon of cones of which we
had to drive in and out of making various shapes without losing impulsion or
letting the ponies fall around the corners.
Lunch
was very kindly prepared by Samantha Kelly and was a delight to come in and
eat something warm and delicious after being out in the wet.
The day overall was successful and I think we all picked up some new
techniques to improve our driving. I especially enjoyed my lessons as I was
using a horse that was only broken to harness a few months ago who needs
confidence and vital experience.
I hope everyone has gained something from the day and I am looking
forward to planning the next! A big thank you to Anna Grayston, Sara Howe,
Samantha Kelly and the whole team at Warren Barn Farm.

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Young Drivers
Clinic with Di Hayes
Shrewton, Wiltshire 13th-14th Feb 2010
The Young Driver Clinics are
always events I look forward to and the Di Hayes clinic was no exception.
Saturday morning was a cold start, with lessons starting at 9.30 am.
Each
driver had a 45 minute lesson which was mainly based on flatwork and
tailored to individual needs. Some Drivers worked on their Indoor Tests, or
generally letting the ponies settle in to the new surroundings, which were
quite noisy due to the large military operations on nearby Salisbury Plain.
The afternoon lessons were
again 45mins, with drivers improving and practicing skills learnt in the
morning and then furthering these skills to really push both drivers and
ponies.
Di shared lots of her valuable
experience, which really helped in trying to improve any issues. She also
explained things from a Judge’s point of view and how to gain extra valuable
points that can make such a difference. Lessons finished at 4.30 and after a
quick break Di gave us an interesting talk about shoeing and the importance
of balance in horse’s feet and the vital relationship between vets and
farriers. She had several examples of horses on her yard, which gave us the
opportunity to see the possible methods of balancing.
On
Saturday night we all ate in Di’s house, which was very kind of her. The
food was made by Louise Hogdson, who did a fantastic job. Di showed us a few
videos of the advanced dressage test, which gave us an idea of what we
should be aiming towards! Also some very useful goal setting sheets, set on
a week by week basis, which gives training purpose and drivers can see
progression over the weeks.
Sunday morning was slightly
warmer, with an earlier start of 9am. There was a mixture of individual and
joint lessons. We all mainly focused on cones driving, starting with a
course and then focusing on the more technical elements; first thinking
about accuracy and then building in the speed, while maintaining the rhythm.
The joint lesson was really
good, and gave a sense of competition and a little bit of pressure, added by
Di’s loud speaker! At the end of our joint lesson we swopped ponies, which
was really interesting to experience a different challenge. After our
lessons Di couldn’t resist having a go at the course, with her pony Troy.
Overall the weekend was a great
success and everyone learnt lots! I would like to thank Di very much for her
hospitality and a fantastic weekend of training.
Rosanna
W-Symons
Photos - Top: Amber O'Neill,
above: Mike Hodgson |
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CHDTG Juniors Making Their Presence Felt!
Junior numbers are continuing to grow at North West events, along with
the quality of the driving. We now have five young drivers who are making a
lot of seniors sit up and take notice. And that’s a 500% increase on what it
was in 2008!
Charley Fitzpatrick enjoyed a very successful summer outdoor season in
2009 driving Heather Hulme’s (grandmother) Buttons. The pair also took part
in club training before Charley’s return home to Spain and back to school –
with her red rosettes! We miss her at the indoor events.
Emma Jones (aged 14), driving club Chairman Colin Walmsley’s Joshua in
her first indoor season, has dominated the IHDT Novice Pony classes so far …
and the partnership just keeps getting better. Some very fast obstacle times
have helped Emma to win at every one of her outings this winter. Emma and
Joshua are currently honing their dressage skills and will surely be a force
to be reckoned with at the Finals in April.
Megan Wheeldon, at only 8 years old, is also competing in IHDT Novice
Pony driving her wonderful pony Skippy. With quiet, sensitive driving and
growing confidence with each trip, Megan and Skippy are steadily laying down
the foundations for what will surely prove to be a successful combination.
Despite their long journey, Megan and mum Tracey are already keen and
helpful competitors.
This season, Hayley Nickson (aged 15) has been unbeatable in the ‘Club’
class, probably to the relief of some of the Keysoe hopefuls! Hayley drives
club member Trudie Benest’s Phoebe and despite major problems earlier in the
season with laminitis, Phoebe is now thankfully 100% sound and going
superbly. Like Emma and Mike, Hayley and Phoebe have won each time out in
Club Novice Pony having turned in some spectacular times in the obstacles.
Mike Hodgson, (aged 14, but now the ‘veteran’ of the CHDTG juniors!) is
having a busy season driving Brownie in IHDT Open Pony where like the girls,
he has won each time out. Also, adding Blackie as leader, he is competing in
the Tandem class where they continue to grow in confidence with each outing.
And in his spare time … Mike is getting to know Mister D’Arcy, a new
addition to the squad. If only Mike could remember the dressage test!
Chester Group are now looking at new ways of supporting their juniors
with possible training clinics and a Junior Page on the club website. Things
are definitely on the up.
Louise Hodgson
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Channel
Cup 2009
1-2 August 2009, Ashfields Carriage Driving Centre, Great Britain
An
international event for young drivers aged 7 to 25 years. It is a 3
phase arena based competition run under International Collective for
Kids driving (ICKD) rules. This is a selection event for
anyone hoping to be part of the UK team for the Junior World trophy in
2010.
FULL
RESULTS
Photo: The winning English
team - Frank Campbell, Mike Hodgson, Harriet Bradford, Grace Smith, Mark and
Katy Bell and Roseanna Walter-Simmons with Sara Howe.
Photo by Tim Bradford.
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2009 Easter Clinic at the Unicorn Trust
27 Young Drivers,
ranging in ages from 8 to 20 years and including 6 newcomers,
attended the recent Easter Clinic at the Unicorn Trust which was
generously sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds. A special
demonstration, by Gillian Higgins of Horses Inside Out, was
sponsored by the Unicorn Trust for the young drivers to learn
about the skeleton structure by painting the bones on their
ponies. Sara Howe, Anna Grayston, Carol Boswell and Anna Sadler
were the instructors.
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Junior Clinic at Unicorn - Easter
2009
by Jay Snow
This was my fifth
Easter camp at Unicorn. My sister Fleur and I go every year and
the whole family looks forward to it. The instructors are very
friendly and get you driving better straight away.
This year we had
two sessions with an instructor every day to work on our
dressage, cones and obstacles. Then on the last day there was a
competition and prizes not just for the winners but for the most
improved, the best newcomer and even the pony the instructors
most wanted to take home.
Every Easter
clinic we learn something new. This time it was how a horse
moves. We spent an afternoon painting bones on some patient
ponies who stood still for hours. Then we watched how the bones
moved when the ponies were walked and driven. Knowing what's
going on under a pony's skin will help us drive them better.
Last year we learned about how to feed our ponies to get them
performing better. Our sponsor, Baileys, sent a nutritionist to
advise us and everyone had lots of questions.
There's always
lots of fun at Unicorn too. It's good to meet up with old
friends and make new ones. There's always someone to talk to and
play with. And if you like food there's a very good cook (Fran's
brownies are excellent). And on the last night there are team
games where everyone joins in.
I'm already
looking forward to next year's Easter clinic but before that
it's summer camp at Ashfields and that will be great too.
Jay
Snow, Age 10 |
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Click on the
photo for a larger picture. The horse is called Kevin who likes
to help out on these occasions (and he doesn’t know he’s
plastic)

Kirsty Thompson-Dowes,
aged 10 years, driving Lightning. |
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ICKD
meeting and Junior World Trophy 2010Sara Howe and Anna Grayston recently visited Turin as representatives of
the BHDTA, to be part of a meeting of delegates involved in the Junior World
Trophy.
Read more ...
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Talented
young drivers to benefit from TASS Scholarships |
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JUNIOR WORLD TROPHY 2008
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REPORT ON TEAM GBR
FINAL RESULTS
TEAM GBR PHOTOS IN THE PHOTO ALBUM |
British Young Drivers travel to Austria for the
Junior World Trophy competition on 23-27 July 2008.
READ MORE
ABOUT THE TEAMS |
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TWO BROTHERS AWARDED TASS SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE DISCIPLINE OF
DRIVING
1st April 2008
Two brothers from Devon, Frank and Roger Campbell have been awarded
Talented Athlete Scholarship Schemes, the first brothers to receive this
funding, and also the first in the non-Olympic equestrian discipline of
Driving.

The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is a Government funded
multi-million pound scheme that is in its fifth year of operation for
Equestrian Sport in England. The overall aim of TASS is to assist Great
Britain’s most talented young athletes, who wish to optimise the
effectiveness of their sport and their academic programmes.
Frank and Roger compete in the sport of competitive Horse Driving Trials,
which consists of three very different phases or stages. Modelled on the
ridden three-day event, a Horse Driving Trials is a triathlon for
horses/ponies, which tests the overall versatility of an animal in harness.
The brothers began driving at the ages of 11 and 12 years of age
respectively, after being introduced to the sport by their Grandmother.
Roger (18) drives a single horse with a Bennington carriage and presently
is based at Hartpury College, Glos where he is studying for a diploma in
farm mechanisation, which means a one-way 3hr train journey most weekends to
receive regular training for this season’s forthcoming national qualifiers,
hopefully leading onto the National Championships that take place in Windsor
Great Park. Last year, Roger won a number of novice horse classes, and was
the highest novice placed horse at the National Championships.
Frank (16) drives a single pony and two horses and is still at school and
therefore based at home. His aims for 2008 are to represent GB at the Junior
World Pony Driving Event that takes place in Austria in July, driving a
13.2hh Dartmoor x Morgan, owned by Trisha Luxton, to compete at the National
Junior Championships and also to groom for Boyd Exell at the World
Four-in-Hand Championships taking place in The Netherlands later this year.
Boyd Exell is one of the world’s top carriage driving competitors and
instructors, who lives in Leicestershire and who both Frank and Roger
regularly receive training from, with Frank also working for Boyd in the
summer time to broaden his experience and improve his driving abilities.
Sarah Armstrong, BEF TASS Manager says, “ For two brothers who compete in
the non-Olympic discipline of Driving to be recognised with a TASS
scholarship indicates the sporting talent these brothers are demonstrating,
and hopefully with this funding it will assist them towards success on the
world stage”.
Both Frank and Roger are thrilled to be recipients of the TASS Award and
say, “Being awarded the TASS funding is fantastic as it will mean being able
to receive further training with Boyd, as well as financing travel costs to
competitions, both necessary in our quest to compete at the top level”.
TASS is a working partnership between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),
Further Education Colleges (FECs), National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB’s)
in this case the British Equestrian Federation and other sports
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Junior Clinic - 15/16 March
2008
The
first Junior Clinic at Di Hayes was held on the 15th & 16th
March with 6 British Young Drivers, the awful March weather
didn't stop us hardy Juniors from having great fun: Day one
covered dressage practice with those of us going to Keysoe
having a chance to practice the new test, with Di (and various
spectators!) giving us hints and tips as we went round.
During the evening, we went round to Di's house
for supper. Mary Jane cooked a Lasagne with BRITISH Beef (grown
on their farm I believe) Julie brought a pizza for us fussy
people and Emma provided the puddings for every one. After
dinner we watched lots of driving videos and with our vast
knowledge of driving criticized all the top drivers telling them
loudly how much better we could drive the course!!
Day
two covered obstacles and cones set out in a style similar to
Austria which we practiced then drove timed. Poor Di got soaked
again but managed to keep smiling despite looking quite blue at
times. The best bit about the weekend was the flexibility,
because it was only a small camp it didn't matter if the lessons
over ran a bit and we could choose our running order to suit the
needs of everyone. Everyone had a wonderful time and we all we
went away knowing we had learnt loads and what we needed to work
on.
Thanks to Frank Campbell for organizing the
clinic, the kind people who kept us fuelled and most of all to
Di for giving up her time to make this all happen.
Amber O'Neill. |
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