2009 Show Special - British Driving Society
2009 Show Special - British Driving Society 2009 Show Special - British Driving Society
British Driving Society BRITISH Inside this Issue: News Towerlands page 5 Carriage Foundation page 6 Show Reports page 9 onwards DRIVING SOCIETY Issue No. 338 August 2009 www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk Area News page 14 onwards Dates for Your Diary page 18 & 19 2009 Show Special
- Page 2 and 3: British Driving Society HORSE PASSP
- Page 4 and 5: Photo courtesy of Paul Orchard Brit
- Page 6 and 7: British Driving Society Swiss Ingen
- Page 8 and 9: British Driving Society Driving Cla
- Page 10 and 11: British Driving Society Bristol Hor
- Page 12 and 13: British Driving Society Leicestersh
- Page 14 and 15: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 16 and 17: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 18 and 19: British Driving Society | Driving A
- Page 20 and 21: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 22 and 23: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 24 and 25: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 26 and 27: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 28 and 29: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 30 and 31: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 32 and 33: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 34 and 35: British Driving Society | Area News
- Page 36: British Driving Society A charge of
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> BRITISH<br />
Inside<br />
this<br />
Issue:<br />
News<br />
Towerlands<br />
page 5<br />
Carriage Foundation<br />
page 6<br />
<strong>Show</strong> Reports<br />
page 9 onwards<br />
DRIVING SOCIETY<br />
Issue No. 338 August <strong>2009</strong><br />
www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
Area News<br />
page 14 onwards<br />
Dates for Your Diary<br />
page 18 & 19<br />
<strong>2009</strong> <strong>Show</strong> <strong>Special</strong>
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
HORSE PASSPORT<br />
CHANGES<br />
From 5th July all equines over<br />
six months of age, not already<br />
in possession of a passport, will<br />
by law have to be signed OUT of<br />
the human food chain. All new<br />
equine passport applications<br />
require the animal to be<br />
microchipped. The application<br />
form must be accompanied by<br />
two microchip bar code stickers.<br />
The new application forms can<br />
be found on the BDS website.<br />
Don’t Forget<br />
the Dragon<br />
Drive<br />
in the Heart of Wales<br />
26th & 27th<br />
September <strong>2009</strong><br />
It is now approaching the well<br />
established Eighth Dragon Drive in<br />
Mid Wales.<br />
Don’t miss this wonderful<br />
opportunity to enjoy two spectacular<br />
days of off road driving and a relaxed<br />
atmosphere. Views to blow the mind,<br />
forest tracks, tranquil lanes and old<br />
drovers tracks. Singles and Multiples<br />
welcome. Equine and human<br />
accommodation arranged for you.<br />
Perfect for getting away from all that<br />
traffic. Experience the tranquillity<br />
that this secret part of Wales has to<br />
offer.<br />
Why not take the opportunity<br />
of staying a few more days to drive<br />
other routes or tour and see more of<br />
this beautiful area.<br />
A few places remaining but, be<br />
quick. Contact Emma Stevens (A.C.<br />
Mid West Wales) tel: 01591-610515<br />
BDS News | page 2<br />
North Norfolk Traditional <strong>Driving</strong> Group<br />
The North Norfolk Traditional <strong>Driving</strong> Group was<br />
formed recently to organise social events and regular<br />
pleasure drives on our quiet Norfolk country roads with<br />
traditional type vehicles, there is at present a small but<br />
growing membership and non-members wishing to attend<br />
occasional drives are very welcome. The Group’s first<br />
drive of <strong>2009</strong> took place on Easter Sunday starting from<br />
Chairman Tony Gladden’s Primrose Farm at Roughton,<br />
five well turned out traditional turnouts braved the bitter<br />
easterly wind and sea fog as the route went through the<br />
scenic North Norfolk countryside before stopping for a<br />
short break on the grassy clifftop car park at Cromer where<br />
the Lady Mayoress met the group members and then<br />
enjoyed a short drive through the town to Cromer Hall,<br />
home of Mr and Mrs Cabell Manners, in a Lawton tennis<br />
car driven by Tony Gladden. Everyone enjoyed a sherry or<br />
port and fruit cake at the hall before the turnouts headed<br />
Sponsored Drive<br />
This is the second sponsored drive that we have<br />
organised on behalf of the Lackham RDA <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Group from Manor Farm, West Overton. The long Drive<br />
is about 12 miles and can be quite demanding in places<br />
but there is no time limit so everyone can go at a pace that<br />
matches their turnout. Sadly we had fewer entries than<br />
last year, so missed our target of £1500 by a long way, with<br />
a total of just over £500 compared with £1000 last year,<br />
a sign of the times I expect, or may be the Saturday date<br />
was less convenient. It was a very blustery day, as I soon<br />
found out with my starter’s check list nearly taking off,<br />
but the rain held off thankfully and everyone came back<br />
saying how much they had enjoyed themselves and then<br />
there were some very leisurely picnics in the lorry field<br />
with friends meeting up and having a good chat. It never<br />
ceases to amaze me how helpful drivers are to one another,<br />
it so happened that one of the turnouts cast a shoe on the<br />
way to the drive and who just happened to arrive at the<br />
same time as another member who is a farrier and who<br />
You may remember from the last<br />
report I wrote that Stephanie<br />
was at that time travelling with<br />
Roger and her husband John, to<br />
complete a major chunk of the<br />
Counties from the South-East right<br />
up into the borders of Scotland,<br />
and then back through some of<br />
the Counties in the North West. In<br />
all Stephanie has now completed<br />
Stephanie in Devon<br />
43 counties which include 5 in<br />
Scotland and 4 in Northern Ireland. Stephanie is hoping to<br />
complete a further 4 or 5 drives in Wales and the remainder<br />
in England. If anyone can help with lorry parking for a few<br />
hours in South Warwickshire and Hereford\Worcestershire<br />
back to Primrose Farm where delicious home-made soups<br />
and other refreshments were kindly provided by Mrs<br />
Jean Gladden. A big thank you must go to Mr Stephen<br />
Eagle and Ms Fiona Davies. who acted as stewards along<br />
the route and of course to our hosts for organizing a very<br />
enjoyable day out.<br />
Late <strong>Show</strong> Affilliations<br />
Wragby <strong>Show</strong> and Country Fayre, Wragby, Lincolnshire<br />
Sunday 6th September<br />
Contact Mr G Brown on 01522 810821.<br />
Classes include Private <strong>Driving</strong> with a Road Drive,<br />
Concours d’Elegance and Pleasure <strong>Driving</strong>.<br />
carries his tools with him – new shoe popped on - problem<br />
solved! The bluebells were particularly stunning this year<br />
in the West Woods near Marlborough, we had obtained a<br />
permit from the Forestry Commission to drive through the<br />
woods. This year despite having Stewards we managed<br />
to lock two turnouts in the wood! As previously arranged<br />
they had taken a picnic and had just turned off the main<br />
track, the last turnout that started had told the stewards<br />
that they were the last but unfortunately they had not<br />
checked their list that everyone else had passed through<br />
their checkpoint. Fortunately the picnickers spotted a local<br />
resident who knew the gate combination and was able to<br />
let them out, which was very fortunate as the mobile phone<br />
reception turned out to be a bit iffy in the woods. All the<br />
entries received a certificate to say they had completed the<br />
drive together with a Commemorative rosette for both the<br />
whip and the groom.<br />
Hazel Woodbridge (AC)<br />
Stephanie Dale – 50 Counties at 50<br />
border areas please can you contact<br />
Stephanie direct, and she would<br />
love your company if you are able to<br />
join her on one of these drives.<br />
I think she should be<br />
congratulated for her achievements<br />
to date and hopefully by the next<br />
time I write the challenge will have<br />
been completed.<br />
Please don’t forget if you would<br />
like to contribute to Stephanie’s<br />
nominated charities. Either call her on 01666 505051 or go<br />
to www.justgiving.com/stephaniedale or www.rda.org.uk<br />
Hazel Woodbridge<br />
Urgent Plea to New Forest Carriage Drivers<br />
We have been asked by the Forestry Commission, again, if we will please<br />
remind all our members to drive only on the gravel tracks and not to use<br />
any other parts of the Forest unless special permission has been given<br />
for certain events. We have had several requests denied us this year due<br />
to the Forest now becoming increasingly busy , so please could we urge<br />
you all to stick to the rules and not let the minority spoil things for the<br />
majority. Thank you.
Young Drivers Programme<br />
Courtney Worrell,<br />
13th May <strong>2009</strong><br />
How would you like the chance<br />
to become a young driver, and<br />
learn loads about horse care and stable<br />
management? Well a group of us<br />
got the chance through a Big Lottery<br />
Awards for All grant to learn from some<br />
very experienced mentors.<br />
After some great lessons in driving<br />
with David Baker, we were able to go<br />
to Tanya Howard, who spent a lot of<br />
time helping us to further improve our<br />
driving skills and teaching us all about<br />
caring for horses and ponies.<br />
The horse care was great. After<br />
having the details explained, and<br />
watching examples, we always had the<br />
chance to do everything ourselves. We<br />
learnt about the grooming kit, what the<br />
equipment was for, why we needed<br />
it, and how to use it. We even got to<br />
make our own wisps! We got to do<br />
loads of things, like mucking out (we<br />
did a lot of that), bandaging, grooming<br />
and loads more things.<br />
Oxford and<br />
Wiltshire joint Trec<br />
Eynsham Park was again the<br />
venue for our joint Spring BDS<br />
Trec. Karen Harvey, Assistant Area<br />
Commissioner for Oxfordshire, and I<br />
found a new route which proved to be<br />
very popular with everyone as not only<br />
did it increase the off road content but<br />
it was also a little less bumpy. All the 20<br />
turnouts drove the same route which<br />
made the marking out easier, with<br />
different times given for the smaller<br />
ponies. After lunch the Skills course<br />
was driven, and to keep everyone<br />
occupied whilst they waited their turn<br />
we had also set up two Cones Courses<br />
one timed and one accumulator. It<br />
really was a great day with everyone<br />
helping at the end to help pack up,<br />
so by the presentation time the field<br />
was just heaps awaiting to be loaded<br />
to be taken home. We presented<br />
rosettes to each of the two groups and<br />
then an overall placing of the top 6<br />
with a Champion and Reserve. Those<br />
honours this year went to Peta Guest<br />
and Charlie with the reserve Heather<br />
Franklin with Pebbles. The results are<br />
published on the web site.<br />
One of the things that was really<br />
great was the fact that we learnt<br />
about the safety and care needed<br />
with horses. We also looked at what<br />
precautions to take, and what was more<br />
suitable for each event. We looked into<br />
good fencing and poisonous plants.<br />
Even down to average temperatures,<br />
respiration rates and symptoms for<br />
illness and injuries.<br />
I made some excellent friends and<br />
we all helped each other. There was a<br />
small and a bit challenging test at the<br />
end, but even that was great. We all<br />
passed and received our BDS Young<br />
Drivers Horse Care Certificate. So well<br />
done everyone.<br />
The tutors were fab! They made<br />
everything fun and enjoyable for all<br />
of us. It made the learning so much<br />
easier with all the support and help.<br />
On behalf of all of us, I would like to say<br />
a great big ‘Thank You’ to Tanya and<br />
everyone that helped. You were great.<br />
Mr L. John Stevens<br />
Memorial Service<br />
The office has just been<br />
informed of the sad death of Mr L<br />
John Stevens LVO MBE who died<br />
peacefully at his home in Somerset<br />
on 27th June <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
John has been a member of the<br />
BDS since the early 60’s.<br />
There will be a memorial<br />
service at Sherborne Abbey on<br />
October 2nd <strong>2009</strong> at 2pm and the<br />
family would like to extend a warm<br />
invitation to any member who<br />
would like to attend and celebrate<br />
a rather amazing life well lived.<br />
Carriage<br />
Foundation Dates<br />
F ollowing the visit to Denmark<br />
in April 2007, members of The<br />
Danish Carriage <strong>Society</strong> are to visit<br />
England on September 15th – 18th.<br />
They will make their base in Bakewell,<br />
Derbyshire and I have helped<br />
them make arrangements to visit<br />
Red House Stables, Calke Abbey,<br />
Shugborough & Beamish Open Air<br />
Museum. Anyone wishing to join the<br />
group and renew old acquaintances,<br />
on one or all of the visits, will be very<br />
welcome. Please let me know as soon<br />
as possible.<br />
The annual autumn visit, over<br />
the weekend of October 17th &<br />
18th will be to Charlecote Park, Nr.<br />
Wellesbourne on Saturday morning,<br />
followed by Ragley Hall, Alcester in<br />
the afternoon. After Bed & Breakfast<br />
at a local hotel we shall move onto<br />
The Black Country Museum, Dudley<br />
where a full day is planned at this<br />
open-air museum where history<br />
comes to life.<br />
A visit to Northern Germany is in the<br />
pipeline for April 18th – 25th 2010<br />
and if anyone has ideas of places to<br />
visit here we shall be pleased to hear<br />
from you.<br />
These trips are interesting and<br />
great fun, giving members the<br />
opportunity to visit many venues not<br />
available to the general public.<br />
Let me know if you are interested<br />
in receiving details of these or any<br />
future trips.<br />
Caroline Dale-Leech, Hon Sec.<br />
Red House Stables. Darley Dale,<br />
Derbyshire. DE4 2ER.<br />
Tel/Fax: 01629 733583.<br />
email redhousestables@hotmail.co.uk<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
Copy Deadline<br />
for November<br />
Newsletter is<br />
1st October <strong>2009</strong><br />
Please send your contributions to:<br />
The Editor, BDS Newsletter,<br />
222 Trallwn Road,<br />
Llansamlet, Swansea, SA7 9UG<br />
Tel: 07966 515325<br />
michelle467@btinternet.com<br />
CARRIAGEHOUSE INSURANCE<br />
‘The Predictable helping you with the Unpredictable’<br />
Whatever driving or riding you do, whether for<br />
pleasure or competitively we can help you by:<br />
- discussing your individual insurance needs<br />
- providing a full quote, then arranging your<br />
policy<br />
- finally assisting you with any claims you<br />
may have to make<br />
We have policies that provide cover for:<br />
horse(s) or donkeys - carriage(s) -<br />
harness - tack - grooms/employees -<br />
trailers or horse boxes - liability for<br />
commercial carriage driving<br />
www.carriagehouseinsurance.co.uk<br />
B.D.S. Office<br />
Tess Styles, Executive Secretary,<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong>,<br />
83 New Road, Helmingham,<br />
Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6EA<br />
Tel: 01473 892001<br />
Fax: 01473 892005<br />
email@britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
Cover page picture:<br />
BDS President, James Corbett at the<br />
BDS Annual <strong>Show</strong> <strong>2009</strong> presenting to<br />
HM Queen Elizabeth II.<br />
Call us on<br />
01206 337388<br />
You can now get a quote, take<br />
out policies and renew online<br />
page 3 | BDS News
Photo courtesy of Paul Orchard<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
BDS News | page 4<br />
Private <strong>Driving</strong> and<br />
Light Trade Classes at<br />
the BHDTA National<br />
Championships <strong>2009</strong><br />
Plans are well under way for this year’s BHDTA National<br />
Carriage <strong>Driving</strong> Championships at Windsor in<br />
September. In addition to the 16 National Championship<br />
classes, the event is again hosting some valuable Private<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> classes in the arenas on Saturday 12th September,<br />
while the marathon for the Championships is in progress<br />
in the park.<br />
It is hoped that the Exercise Vehicle and Pleasure<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> classes will again encourage some of the more<br />
local competitors. These will be followed by two Private<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> classes that include a show drive around the lovely<br />
Windsor Great Park.<br />
The Concours d’Elegance, to be judged this year by<br />
talented artist, Virginia James, is sponsored by Bruce and<br />
Rita Blundell who have been tremendous supporters of the<br />
Private <strong>Driving</strong> at these Championships but who will be<br />
finally retiring as chief stewards after this year’s event.<br />
While competitors are out on their drive in the park,<br />
Richard Wiggins will be judging the popular Light Trade<br />
Turnout class.<br />
In addition to prize money for each class, there<br />
are some generous prizes in kind (each worth £160)<br />
of a photo-shoot and a print presented by Centaur<br />
Photographic to the first two in all the show classes, and to<br />
the first six in the Concours.<br />
Entries close on 21st August (late entries at double<br />
fees until 31st August). Schedules available from Mrs J<br />
Holah, Dykelands Farm, Whenby, York YO61 4SF or off the<br />
website www.windsordriving.co.uk.<br />
Spectators are very welcome at the National<br />
Championships where admission is free on Friday, and<br />
£8/person on Saturday and Sunday. Caravan parking<br />
is available at £40 including admission for the whole<br />
weekend (£20 to BHDTA members). There is also the<br />
opportunity to purchase ‘day membership’ for the Victoria<br />
Enclosure overlooking the competition on Saturday and<br />
Sunday, where members will have coffee on arrival, a<br />
buffet lunch, and afternoon tea. Details from Jill Holah as<br />
above.<br />
National Championship programme:<br />
Fri 11th National Championships Dressage<br />
Sat 12th National Championships Cross Country<br />
Marathon<br />
Private <strong>Driving</strong> and Light Trade Turnout<br />
classes<br />
Also: Dog Agility Competitions<br />
Sun 13th National Championships Cones and Prize<br />
Givings<br />
Also: Windsor Classic Vehicle <strong>Show</strong><br />
For more details about the Championships log on to<br />
www.windsordriving.co.uk.<br />
Lincolnshire BDS Musical Drive<br />
After months of talking about a musical<br />
drive, Carole Davenport put together some<br />
choreography to Abba’s Money Money Money,<br />
although we used the Royal Philharmonic<br />
version. Then weeks of training, well four<br />
actually, and one was without music, we got our<br />
first booking. Team Rambo stepped in to cover<br />
for holidays.<br />
The Lincolnshire BDS Musical Drive Team<br />
were to perform at Burghley House Living<br />
Heritage Game and Country Fair over the late<br />
May bank holiday weekend.<br />
We had a last practice at Elms Farm EC on<br />
the Thursday prior to the event. Friday was<br />
spent cleaning horsebox, carriage and tack. At<br />
05.00am Saturday we woke to brilliant sunshine<br />
and set off at 07.00am for Burghley House in<br />
Stamford, Lincolnshire.<br />
After a slight detour around all the burger<br />
bars, fairground etc we found someone who<br />
knew where we should be, and there amongst<br />
the trees was Carole Davenport’s lorry, with<br />
David Faulkner and Sarah Braybrook alongside.<br />
Jill and Jocelyn Smith soon arrived and the team<br />
was complete.<br />
During the week before the event I had been<br />
to the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance offices and<br />
collected some display boards and banners and<br />
collection tins etc. so that we could support<br />
them alongside our BDS display. We walked the<br />
mile from the box park to the ring and paced<br />
out the arena, and marked the corners with<br />
silver paint ready for our display, and then set up<br />
the display in our tent. Our display spot was at<br />
11.30am so we returned to the vehicles to tack<br />
up and by the time we made our way back to the<br />
ring the horse walk fencing had been finished<br />
and we had a short wait until the Lurcher demo<br />
was complete.<br />
Disaster, just as we entered the ring the CD<br />
player broke – a musical drive without music,<br />
so David Faulkner told the audience about each<br />
turnout as we did a show demo. Then it was<br />
decided to do the display without music which if<br />
I am honest lacked something vital – the music!<br />
We returned to the vehicles and sat down<br />
disillusioned that we may have to do the second<br />
display without music. Then great news, the<br />
sound system was being repaired. Feeling better<br />
we tacked up and proceeded to the ring, where<br />
this time we hoped to do the display to music.<br />
We lined up, the music started and we set off,<br />
several circles, cross-overs and waterfalls later<br />
we came to a stop and the music ended. Our first<br />
public display had finished and our timing was<br />
nearly perfect. We even collected some money<br />
for the Air Ambulance.<br />
With Saturday over we all relaxed in the box<br />
park. Sunday did not seem so daunting now, as<br />
long as the weather held out…….<br />
Sunday duly arrived and we had full sunshine<br />
all day. Our display in the morning went without<br />
a hitch and we collected about £30 for the<br />
Air Ambulance. The afternoon display was in<br />
the full heat of the day but there were lots of<br />
spectators and we collected over £80 for the<br />
LNAA. The box park was entertained by the<br />
Scurry <strong>Driving</strong> Association on Sunday evening.<br />
Carole Davenport loaded her flat bed trailer with<br />
bales and nearly the entire box park climbed<br />
aboard to be taken to the show ground where<br />
evening meals were available. After ‘dinner’<br />
it was back to the box park for some ‘wellie<br />
wanging’ and then a game of rounders. As the<br />
evening progressed and the wine diminished the<br />
box park got louder with laughter as the comics<br />
emerged from the shadows. [allegedly, because<br />
we drove home and missed it all]<br />
Monday morning we arrived back at camp<br />
at 8 o’clock when life began again and around<br />
the ‘camp fire’, David Faulkner’s motor home,<br />
the kettle was on and the banter began. Our first<br />
display was at 10.30am, which for our charity<br />
fund raising was not a good time but they were<br />
generous at Burghley and our buckets were not<br />
empty despite the generator stopping, which<br />
meant David Faulkner had to shout. The electric<br />
was not off for long and the show continued.<br />
Our Last display of the three days was a bit<br />
different, the music started before we were<br />
ready so I speeded Rambo up, difficult in itself,<br />
and we then got ahead of the music in the<br />
serpentine, Joss and I slowed it down again in<br />
the last phase and we stopped in time to the<br />
music – brilliant, no one was any wiser. David<br />
gave his commentary as we each did our bit; Me,<br />
Sue and Rambo took the opportunity to show<br />
off more than the others but we had a very good<br />
collection to end our first 3 day event Musical<br />
Drive.<br />
Over the three days we collected over £200<br />
for the Air Ambulance.<br />
Our thanks to the team. Joss & Jill Smith,<br />
Sarah Braybrook & Heather Moir, Helen &<br />
Molly Faulkner & Ann Chapman, Duncan &<br />
Sue Seth-Smith, Carole Davenport for the idea<br />
and choreography, Anya Mower for grooming<br />
and the stories, Anna & Robin Mann for their<br />
‘vintage vehicle’, Jeff Davenport & Mr Moir [ring<br />
team] and David and Kathleen Faulkner for the<br />
refreshments.<br />
Look out Sledmere & Sandringham country<br />
fairs.<br />
Duncan Seth-Smith
Sponsors Call For Towerlands<br />
On Saturday and Sunday, October<br />
3rd & 4th <strong>Driving</strong> Towerlands hosts<br />
its 3rd year and is presenting again a two<br />
day show in what has become a hugely<br />
successful, tried and tested format.<br />
The show could not take place<br />
without the support of our sponsors and<br />
our sport is hugely indebted to these<br />
supporters year on year that allow us all<br />
to enjoy our Carriage <strong>Driving</strong>.<br />
This is therefore a call to you, our<br />
members, for sponsorship to ensure the<br />
financial success of <strong>Driving</strong> Towerlands<br />
<strong>2009</strong> and to secure its place in the<br />
calendar for future years.<br />
Sponsorship packages are available<br />
from as little as £100 to sponsor a<br />
class and range to corporate packages<br />
which can be tailored to suit individual<br />
company requirements. Big is always<br />
beautiful but for those pony drivers<br />
amongst us, small is also beautiful<br />
and generally more achievable, so we<br />
welcome all potential sponsors big and<br />
small.<br />
So please put on your thinking caps<br />
and try to encourage that local company<br />
to sponsor our event and enjoy the<br />
spectacle that is Carriage <strong>Driving</strong>. Or<br />
alternatively dig deep yourselves on<br />
behalf of your sport and sponsor a<br />
class for £100 to ensure that we can all<br />
continue to enjoy the Carriage <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Festival Weekend that is <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Towerlands.<br />
Richard Lanni: Finance Chairman<br />
e: r.lanni@kelvinkbb.com<br />
Tel: 01236/784401<br />
Contact: Charlotte Lawson<br />
e: mail@charlotte-lawson.co.uk<br />
Tel: 01379/586686<br />
BDS Fun Day/Trec<br />
Red House Stables, Darley Dale<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
On Sunday, 24th May <strong>2009</strong>, a BDS Fun Day/Trec was held at Red House<br />
Stables, Darley Dale by kind permission of Caroline Dale-Leech and<br />
husband, Peter Leech. Amidst beautiful scenery and blessed with glorious<br />
sunshine, fifteen competitors set off at ten minute intervals to enjoy a three<br />
mile Treasure Hunt Drive, partly off-road, returning to the field to negotiate<br />
eleven skill-testing obstacles, including a stream crossing and a timed cones<br />
course.<br />
Delicious refreshments were provided by the hosts and the proceeds of a<br />
raffle were presented to Scropton Riding & <strong>Driving</strong> Centre for the Disabled.<br />
All competitors enjoyed the day and results of the three phases are as follows:<br />
Treasure Hunt: 1st. Carol Wilkson ( Jack) 2nd Sally Cowan(Tweenie) 3rd<br />
Ann Stubbs (Joe). Obstacles: 1st Carol Wilkson. Equal 2nd Russell Andrews<br />
(pair of Shetlands), Ann Stubbs (Joe) & Chris Toyne (Bobby). Cones : 1st Rob<br />
Hutchinson. 2nd Carol Wilkson. 3rd Robert Andrews (pair). The Mike Watson<br />
Trophy Presented to the overall winner went to Carol Wilkson driving Jack.<br />
The Pardner Trophy presented to the best Groom was won by 11 year old<br />
Isabelle Cowan. The Caroline Dale-Leech Trophy for the best Junior Whip was<br />
won by Natasha Pritty.<br />
page 5 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
Swiss Ingenuity Impresses Carriage Foundation<br />
The landscape offers a clue to<br />
the adaptability of the Swiss.<br />
Anyone who lives in such vertical<br />
neighbourhoods must develop a<br />
greater sense of three dimensional<br />
space than most of humanity.<br />
The carriage collections viewed on<br />
the Foundation’s April visit bore witness<br />
to the ingenuity required to cope with<br />
mountain and valley. Braking systems<br />
are frequently doubled up, traces attach<br />
to swingletrees by rope connectors for<br />
greater flexibility, teams of five are more<br />
prevalent in some areas than four and<br />
even the mail coach may be narrowed<br />
to a meter wide with the passenger<br />
cabin facing sideways to cope with<br />
mountain pathways.<br />
With a round trip of more than<br />
3,000 miles this is the furthest flung<br />
venture so far for the Foundation. The<br />
main body set out from Darley Dale<br />
at a horrendously early dark hour to<br />
reach Dover by 9.30 am. It was here<br />
that your less than intrepid reporter<br />
joined after exercising his senile railcard<br />
for a civilised daytime run followed<br />
by a decent evening meal, a luxurious<br />
night’s sleep and a slap up <strong>British</strong><br />
breakfast to set him up for the ferry<br />
and the long haul through the Verdun<br />
battlefield to Metz. It is an unintended<br />
benefit of these expeditions that the<br />
route to the collections frequently takes<br />
us through areas and cities which the<br />
normal tourist might not see. Although<br />
Metz crops up frequently in history as<br />
the seat of powerful bishops and the<br />
location of medieval summits it is not a<br />
destination city. Nevertheless it proved<br />
to be full of interesting Germanic<br />
architecture and to boast some most<br />
acceptable restaurants.<br />
Monday brought another long<br />
haul, noticing Swiss Customs only<br />
because we stopped there to enable<br />
a mysterious exchange of packages<br />
with the Niederbergers’ car – Susan<br />
sourcing fabrics for her restoration<br />
work? Beat and Susan were to be<br />
our indispensible guides and hosts in<br />
Switzerland. Their work brings them<br />
into contact with most of the main<br />
collectors in Europe and here on their<br />
home territory they had lined up access<br />
to private collections rarely displayed<br />
– as one collector put it “because<br />
all they (the public) want to know is<br />
the price of everything...” With an<br />
introduction from Susan and Beat and<br />
our genuine interest and knowledge<br />
such reservations were soon set<br />
aside and we found all our collector<br />
BDS PROFICIENCY EXAM DAY –<br />
October 27th <strong>2009</strong><br />
Red House Stables, Darley Dale,<br />
Derbyshire. DE4 2ER.<br />
Tel 01629 733583<br />
BDS News | page 6<br />
hosts happy to share their pleasure in<br />
and knowledge of their vehicles and<br />
accoutrements.<br />
Having skirted Basel and crossed<br />
most of Switzerland we arrived at<br />
Amriswil and the collection of Herrn<br />
Robert Sallmann, a major figure in the<br />
Swiss carriage world. His collection<br />
ranged from family vehicles such as an<br />
American style buggy, a picnic wagon<br />
and sleds to a landau expanded to<br />
act as an omnibus for the Interlaken<br />
Hotel. Here we were introduced to the<br />
Swiss post coaches in their distinctive<br />
black, yellow and red livery, each with<br />
its own registered number. Unlike the<br />
<strong>British</strong> post system which ran with road<br />
coaches of a single basic style, the<br />
Swiss utilised whatever vehicle might<br />
be most suitable for its particular task<br />
and route. So they came in all shapes<br />
and sizes but a common theme was<br />
essential simplicity of construction to<br />
enable repairs by local blacksmiths.<br />
The larger vehicles would be hauled by<br />
hefty Frieburger horses. The harness<br />
would be of the typical Swiss type with<br />
pointed wooden hames and traces<br />
connected to swingletrees by rope<br />
adjusters. Splinter bars were, and are,<br />
used only as supports from which<br />
swingletrees hang on broad, sturdy<br />
leather straps. The national postal<br />
system was established in 1848 and<br />
many of the post coaches continued in<br />
use well into the twentieth century. The<br />
livery has carried forward to the current<br />
motorised fleet.<br />
In the room for family style vehicles<br />
we noted the utilisation of work<br />
vehicles for family use on Sundays with<br />
convenient convertibles. A style which<br />
became most familiar was that of the<br />
small wagonette or dog cart with the<br />
rear seats so configured that they fold<br />
to create a small compartment to keep<br />
the shopping or sale goods protected<br />
from the weather.<br />
In the basement we found special<br />
purpose vehicles, some of which<br />
caused some head scratching before we<br />
ascertained their uses. The fire engine,<br />
ambulance and hearse were easy but<br />
the variety of muck and slurry spreaders<br />
was less familiar and the leather apron<br />
attachment for the bowser to spread<br />
water to the land was novel to all. The<br />
wooden snow plough was massive and<br />
required a six horse team. Also in the<br />
basement we found an ancient Sicilian<br />
two wheeler highly decorated in the<br />
bright south Mediterranean style.<br />
Tuesday morning found us in<br />
Appenzell at the collection of Herrn<br />
Daniel Fuchs with a discerning selection<br />
of vehicles for all levels of society but it<br />
was the higher echelons who drew the<br />
interest with Colin Henderson called<br />
upon to explain how the gradations<br />
of European aristocracy are imparted<br />
through their family crests so often<br />
displayed on carriage doors. It is,<br />
apparently, all about balls. The more<br />
you have the higher you rank. Once<br />
you are really up the hierarchy you<br />
modestly show only half your balls. And<br />
there are some lowly characters with no<br />
balls at all.<br />
The Appenzell region is what we<br />
all imagine Switzerland to be. Green<br />
hillsides dotted at all altitudes with<br />
decorated wood built farmhouses,<br />
cows with substantial and musical bells,<br />
massive snow capped rocky mountains<br />
providing the backdrop. The village is<br />
beautiful and tantalised as it offered<br />
what was to turn out to be the only<br />
shopping opportunity of the trip – but<br />
the Swiss adhere to the view that<br />
lunchtime is for lunch so all shops close.<br />
The afternoon produced another<br />
disappointment (rather to your trepid<br />
reporter’s secret relief) as the clouds<br />
surrounded the peak of Säntis rendering<br />
an ascent by cable car pointless – the<br />
televised picture of the view from the<br />
top showed 360 degree grey. The silver<br />
lining lay in a return to St Gallen just<br />
in time for Susan to lead a small group<br />
of the still active on a brisk walk to<br />
the Abbey of St Gall and the Baroque<br />
Library Hall. Set now in the tranquillity<br />
of an United Nations World Heritage<br />
Site this Library had its origins in the<br />
solitary cell founded by the Irish monk<br />
Gallus in 612 and developed under St<br />
Otmar into a Benedictine Abbey after<br />
719. It went on to become one of the<br />
major centres of learning protecting<br />
the knowledge of the ancient world<br />
through medieval vicissitudes and even<br />
now is a scientific lending library open<br />
to the studious public. The Hall itself is<br />
an artefact of great beauty in the early<br />
baroque style with a patterned inlaid<br />
wooden floor, elaborate columns and<br />
decorated ceiling. The tomes lining the<br />
walls are redolent with names familiar<br />
to students of medieval scholarship.<br />
The exhibition in the displays was of<br />
the curriculum of the school setting out<br />
the seven liberal arts – a curriculum<br />
which stood for centuries. A brief<br />
pause for contemplation in the vast<br />
Abbey Church – another example of<br />
the best of baroque while it retained<br />
classical restraint – ended this peaceful<br />
interlude.<br />
Colin Henderson shared his<br />
memories of coaches he has known<br />
that evening demonstrating his depth<br />
of knowledge and almost total recall<br />
of vehicles, horses, whips and even<br />
passengers.<br />
Herrn Ivo Huber’s collection<br />
of mainly Swiss vehicles, gathered<br />
together on a hillside location drawing<br />
the bus onto tracks unknown to<br />
sat-nav, is the result of a horse lover<br />
acquiring carriages to suit his horses<br />
then finding himself becoming<br />
sentimentally attached to the vehicles<br />
for the memories they hold. For us it<br />
was an opportunity to compare the<br />
styles of several Swiss coachbuilders<br />
with examples from Kaufmann of Basel,<br />
Geissberger of Zurich and Heimberger<br />
of Basel. There were also locally built<br />
wagonettes put together by blacksmiths<br />
or, in at least one case, by a saddler.<br />
From similarities in the metalwork your<br />
reporter surmised that there was a<br />
thriving mail order industry in carriage<br />
parts in the nineteenth and early<br />
twentieth centuries. Some modern<br />
country vehicles offered comparisons<br />
and demonstrated the adaptions<br />
suitable for the Swiss environment<br />
with strong braking and provision for<br />
sheltering goods.<br />
On to Einsieldeln for lunch but<br />
unfortunately no time to visit what may<br />
be the oldest working stud in the world<br />
at Einsiedeln Abbey. We are here to<br />
view Herrn Zachi Kalin well presented<br />
group of vehicles representing many<br />
styles with a strong emphasis on Swiss<br />
builders. A classic comparison was a set<br />
of three landaus, one from Kaufmann of<br />
Zurich, one from Hohener of St Gollen<br />
and the last from Binder Frères of Paris.<br />
With carriages from New York, Brussels,<br />
Newhaven, Connecticut, London and<br />
Paris it was possible to see the influences<br />
travelling among builders. There was<br />
particular interest in a “Coupe” or<br />
Bow-fronted Brougham built in Riga for<br />
Tsar Nicolas II. Zachi also fosters current<br />
craftsmanship by commissioning scale<br />
models of examples from his collection.<br />
Thursday was a special day as we<br />
were guests of Sattlerie Niederberger.<br />
Many of us have come to know and<br />
cherish Susan who has accompanied<br />
us on our forays for some years<br />
always enlightening us with her<br />
profound knowledge of the fabrics<br />
used in old vehicles and igniting us<br />
with her enthusiasm to know more<br />
and to find sources for such fabrics<br />
for her restoration work. Now we<br />
were in her lair to see how it was all<br />
brought together to weave the magical<br />
revivications of carriage interiors and<br />
hammer cloths. Susan demonstrated<br />
the re-upholstery of a vintage Thorn<br />
car with traditional button back leather.<br />
Wherever possible the original fabrics<br />
are recycled but if new is needed it<br />
is sourced from the most authentic<br />
resources. As for the horsehair, Susan<br />
emphasised that the best comes from<br />
a blonde, preferably live, horse. Beat<br />
demonstrated the rolling of the straw<br />
into a collar and explained some of<br />
the mechanics of building a saddle.<br />
Meantime the young ladies of the<br />
Sattlerie worked patiently sewing<br />
leather and textiles as if the invasion<br />
wasn’t happening.
continued ➢<br />
The Niederbergers have their<br />
own small collection of vehicles<br />
and work sporadically on them.<br />
This is an occupation where time<br />
is far less important than accuracy<br />
and authenticity and a project may<br />
lie for months until Susan and Beat<br />
are satisfied that they have the best<br />
solution. This perfectionism pays<br />
off when the major collectors seek<br />
restoration work. Lunch was a fun<br />
buffet in the Sattlerie garden with<br />
the atmosphere enhanced by the<br />
triumphant return of one of the<br />
Niederberger sons having just passed<br />
his driving (car) test. He received an<br />
ovation which also expressed our<br />
gratitude to Susan and Beat for their<br />
hospitality both here in their home and<br />
workshop and throughout Switzerland.<br />
On to Bern where, by coincidence<br />
the Equestrian Centre was holding<br />
a “Drivers’ Challenge” event so the<br />
horses vied with the Carriage Museum<br />
for our attention. There was no<br />
Achenbach (“English Coaching Style”)<br />
here. It was all two handed action<br />
leaving your reporter somewhat baffled<br />
at how reins could be shortened in a<br />
hurry.<br />
The Centre began as cavalry<br />
barracks and the Carriage Museum<br />
is under the capable charge of Herrn<br />
Herman Most who started here as<br />
stable lad forty years ago. This is a very<br />
tidy display of private carriages, many<br />
donated by former cavalry and artillery<br />
officers so they had been maintained<br />
to high standards. One coupe in<br />
particular stood out for its excellent<br />
condition, especially the interior which<br />
is a reference for fabric specialists such<br />
as Susan. It had been donated by a<br />
cavalry officer in 1950. Cavalry General<br />
Clavel who had been instrumental in<br />
developing the Bern museum was also<br />
responsible for setting up the Carriage<br />
Museum at Bruglingen in the grounds<br />
of his country house. Here we found<br />
the narrowed post coach. Among<br />
many interesting vehicles your reporter<br />
was taken by a very good example<br />
of a basket weave vis-a-vis with a<br />
canopy. We had seen several of these<br />
but this was in the best condition and<br />
evoked Impressionist picnics of the late<br />
Victorian and Edwardian eras.<br />
The Museum is set within botanic<br />
gardens and many members found<br />
relief from museum pounding in a<br />
leisurely stroll by the stream to the<br />
orangerie.<br />
Lunch at the very, deservedly,<br />
popular ZumSchützenhaus, a former<br />
shooting lodge now sadly surrounded<br />
by Basel suburbia, then on to a tour<br />
of the premises of Settelen, a firm of<br />
furniture removers and warehousemen.<br />
In 1907 these were built to<br />
accommodate 120 French cold blood<br />
heavy horses and 85 grooms. They are<br />
still in use, converted for motorised use,<br />
but showing how they were operated<br />
in the heyday of horse haulage. Only<br />
one room was heated and that was to<br />
keep the muscles supple on horses who<br />
had completed one journey and were<br />
awaiting the next.<br />
On again to M. Trapp’s collection<br />
just over the border in France. A<br />
Wendover Coach with original interior<br />
and original but unusual boot boxes<br />
– the drawer for wine glasses at the<br />
Introduction to <strong>Show</strong>ing<br />
a Success<br />
Mr. Stuart Johnstone<br />
Over a period of three months<br />
starting in March, we had<br />
introduction to showing sessions, and<br />
what fun we had learning how to show<br />
an exercise and pleasure turnout, the<br />
first one we even had a fashion show<br />
on what and what not to wear, and<br />
we all tried on some super hats. Our<br />
judge, Caroline Douglas explained<br />
about harness and all the accessories,<br />
should we have lamps, what about the<br />
whip, holly or not? The list was endless.<br />
The second one in April we were<br />
lucky enough to have a fine evening<br />
and I was the guinea pig to show a<br />
turnout completely all wrongly put<br />
together to be picked to pieces by the<br />
future competitors. In May on a bright<br />
Saturday afternoon, four brave people<br />
brought their turnouts prior to attending<br />
the Cadnam driving show in June. Many<br />
thanks to the Cadnam show committee<br />
for allowing us to have the special<br />
class for those that have attended the<br />
Lowhill sessions, culminating in Mr<br />
Stuart Johnson being presented with<br />
the Grayswood Carriage <strong>Driving</strong> Centre<br />
shield. Congratulations to him and all the<br />
other competitors. Stuart was heard to<br />
say after the class it was nerve racking,<br />
and didn’t get much sleep the night<br />
before, worrying if he had remembered<br />
to put everything in the lorry.<br />
At tea on the last day someone<br />
suggested we next had an introduction<br />
to pairs, and hopefully, at the end of the<br />
session, a have a go at pair driving, so<br />
watch your newsletter if interested, sure<br />
it will be an entertaining afternoon<br />
Very many thanks to Caroline and<br />
should we do it again next year, would<br />
anybody be interested?<br />
Roger Page AC<br />
bottom, not the top – much expert chin<br />
stroking. An omnibus with unusual<br />
round ended side windows built in<br />
Newcastle-upon-Tyne by Atkinson &<br />
Philipson in the late 19th century for<br />
Lord Lonsdale in original condition and<br />
in need of a careful clean-up. A very<br />
knowledgeable collection, described by<br />
the lady of the house (his daughter- inlaw)<br />
as an obsession, spreading through<br />
many sheds but not the last to which<br />
the ladies shepherded us which turned<br />
out to be a cod Mexican estancia where<br />
we found sparkling wine and delicious<br />
cake, both savoury and sweet.<br />
Saturday morning and in a suburb<br />
of attractive timbered houses we<br />
find the farm of Jacque Butz with yet<br />
another intriguing collection where<br />
the un-catalogued and unorganised<br />
accoutrements to carriage driving<br />
created an atmosphere of discovery<br />
– Kevin delighting in his find of a<br />
World War II horse gas mask in perfect<br />
condition. The coach horn with a<br />
mouthpiece too large for Caroline<br />
to blow. We learned that the Butzes<br />
regard Geissberger as the most<br />
authentic Swiss coachbuilder. We<br />
inferred that others such as Kaufmann<br />
were regarded as compilers of foreign<br />
kits rather than as original builders<br />
in their own right. But there was no<br />
prejudice against the genuine foreign<br />
article for here was a splendid Tandem<br />
by Guiet of Paris – best described by M.<br />
Trapp who arrived just as your reporter<br />
was gazing at it “Superbe, Ha?”<br />
Also attracting all was a gentleman’s<br />
road coach built in the late nineteenth<br />
century by Joseph Cockshot & Co<br />
of Manchester. We had seen several<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
coaches which the experts had<br />
considered “interesting” but this was<br />
described as “the coach which has<br />
everything it should have and it’s all<br />
there”. It also had electric lighting and<br />
a flushing loo and wash-hand basin,<br />
with the added original refinement of an<br />
indoor snib so that one might complete<br />
one’s ablutions in the assurance of<br />
privacy. The roof chest was complete<br />
and the opportunity was taken to open<br />
it up to demonstrate its use as a rooftop<br />
table. There can be no better way to go<br />
to the races. This was a very enjoyable<br />
collection to complete our tour.<br />
There was the added attraction of the<br />
Confisserie 50 yards down the road. It<br />
was good to learn that Herrn Butz’s son<br />
had decided to continue as a lawyer for<br />
three days a week to fund the remaining<br />
days devoted to the collection. Then we<br />
crossed the Continent for a stopover at<br />
Reims – no time for the cathedral and<br />
no we can’t even drive round it in the<br />
morning as the area is pedestrianised.<br />
FOOTNOTE<br />
This was the most ambitious<br />
venture to date by the<br />
Foundation. We covered over<br />
3,150 miles Sunday to Sunday.<br />
We visited 10 establishments.<br />
We saw an amazing array of<br />
carriages and kit. We were<br />
doing 12 hour stints. We had<br />
swollen ankles and cramping calf<br />
muscles... Yes we’ll be back for<br />
more next year when we hope to<br />
visit north Germany, but maybe<br />
we’ll allow ourselves the odd<br />
moment to, literally, get our feet<br />
up?<br />
A Mighty Fine Victory<br />
for HorseHage and David Boyd<br />
The record books were again re<br />
written at this year’s Royal Ulster<br />
<strong>Show</strong>. For the first time ever a four<br />
year old hackney harness pony won<br />
the Supreme Championship.<br />
On this his second ever show,<br />
David Boyd’s new American bred<br />
Champion Hackney Pony, Heartland<br />
Mighty Fine, stepped to glory in what<br />
the show commentator described as<br />
one of the finest performances by a<br />
hackney pony ever seen at any Royal<br />
Ulster <strong>Show</strong>.<br />
Bred in Iowa by Darren and Sandy<br />
Kolkman, Heartland Mighty Fine<br />
simply blew away the opposition to<br />
give David Boyd his 9th Supreme<br />
Royal Ulster title in eleven years.<br />
David Boyd hit the record<br />
books by being one of only a few<br />
trainers in the illustrious history of<br />
the Royal Ulster <strong>Show</strong> to win the<br />
Supreme Hackney Championship<br />
with four different animals.<br />
Firstly, he won it with the mare<br />
Forwood Tara Maiden, then on<br />
five occasions the pony stallion<br />
Sunbeam Venture took the colours.<br />
The exotically named Pot Pourri<br />
Farm Comin Thru took the title<br />
for two years and now the four<br />
year old stallion Heartland Mighty<br />
Fine has added another Supreme<br />
Championship to David Boyd’s<br />
Chestnut Hill Stables.<br />
For Champion Trainer, David<br />
Boyd there is simply nothing that<br />
comes near to the thrill of winning the<br />
Supreme Championship at the Royal<br />
Ulster <strong>Show</strong>. The Co. Down man<br />
tells us “Many trainers strive to win<br />
the Royal Ulster once in a lifetime, to<br />
win on nine occasions sets something<br />
of a record of which I am very very<br />
proud.” The Supreme Championship<br />
will be coming home to the<br />
Castlereagh Hills for yet another year.<br />
page 7 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
<strong>Driving</strong> Classes<br />
for Friesian<br />
Horses<br />
On 20th September <strong>2009</strong> the<br />
Friesian Horse Association of<br />
Great Britain and Ireland (FHAGBI)<br />
are holding the official Friesian<br />
horse inspection at the Laurel View<br />
equestrian centre in Ballyclare.<br />
Some of the finest Friesian horses<br />
in Ireland will be on display in the<br />
morning, being inspected by Jury<br />
members of the Friesch Paarden<br />
Stamboek in the Netherlands. The<br />
afternoon program includes, for<br />
the very first time, driving classes<br />
specifically for Friesians. Anyone<br />
wishing to enter their horse in the<br />
driving classes should return the<br />
entry form no later than the 1st of<br />
September, together with an entrance<br />
fee of £6 per horse (members) and £8<br />
per horse (non-members)<br />
The classes are not only open to<br />
Friesian horses belonging to members<br />
of FHAGBI, but are also open to nonmembers<br />
with Friesian horses and also<br />
open to un-registered Friesian horses.<br />
There will be classes for exercise<br />
/ pleasure driving, private driving and<br />
multiples (pairs / tandem/ 4 in hand).<br />
E-mail:fhagbi.events@btinternet.com<br />
Website: www.fhagbi.co.uk<br />
Tel. 00 44 07740305267<br />
To be held at Laurel View<br />
Equestrian Centre, 18 Knowehead<br />
Road, Templepatrick, Ballyclare, BT39<br />
0BX. Sunday 20th September <strong>2009</strong><br />
commencing 3.30pm approx<br />
Horseboating <strong>Society</strong><br />
It is unusual nowadays to see horseboating on the English<br />
canal system but the recent activities of The Horseboating<br />
<strong>Society</strong> has enabled the public to see such activities with<br />
events at Standedge and more recently at the Crick Boat<br />
<strong>Show</strong> when the horse Bilbo Baggins towed the boat over<br />
twenty miles to the next booking on the Grand Union Canal<br />
at The Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum Gala Event where<br />
demonstrations were given of horseboating through the<br />
flight of locks and boathorse harnessing.<br />
The next few days will see the return journey to<br />
Braunston where an appearance will be made at the<br />
Historic Working Narrow Boat Celebration<br />
BDS News | page 8<br />
The Art Of Carriage <strong>Driving</strong><br />
What a resounding success the largest ever event<br />
staged by BDS N. E. Wales was. April 12th was<br />
bathed in wall-to-wall sunshine from dawn to dusk at<br />
Maelor Equestrian Centre where over 250 BDS members<br />
and friends attended.<br />
The full day’s programme featured various examples<br />
of carriage driving and preparation never before seen at a<br />
single event in North Wales. These included a Long Reining<br />
Display given by Dilwyn Lloyd and Junior Whip, Rachel<br />
Thomas.<br />
Pairs driving saw BDS Wales Chairman Modris Kesans<br />
and Michelle Reid demonstrate the skill of driving a pair<br />
of horses.This was repeated using a tandem with John<br />
Wilmot of Prestbury, Cheshire. Different vehicles for<br />
driving classes and preparing to show were demonstrated<br />
and explained by BDS Judge, Modris Kesans. Thanks to<br />
the following for bringing their turnouts; Elizabeth Brown<br />
with groom John Brown and their exercise vehicle, Janet<br />
Williams with her pleasure driving turnout, AAC Medina<br />
Dicks for her Private <strong>Driving</strong> turnout, Robert Parry Snr. with<br />
his 1935 Pickering Float built in Liverpool for a Stockport<br />
fishmonger & used around Manchester until the outbreak<br />
of the war. This vehicle achieved many first class awards<br />
at the London Harness Horse parade. The float was pulled<br />
by 8 year old Welsh Section D Ty Brook Flash Jack bred<br />
by Robert Parry, Morfydd Greatorix BDS AC for N.W<br />
Wales brought her Victoria Carriage built in Poland which<br />
she uses for weddings. Her groom was husband, Michael<br />
Greatorex. Mongarnedd Morgan a 10 year old Section C<br />
cob pulled the Victoria carriage. Modris Kesans explained<br />
to the large audience the different types of vehicles being<br />
demonstrated and the various classes and examples<br />
of disciplines in the show ring a turn out is expected to<br />
display together with what to wear. The Dalmatian as a<br />
carriage dog was demonstrated by Avril Pluck who put Spin<br />
through various disciplines and explained the history of the<br />
Dalmatian as a carriage dog.<br />
The final display was the Erddig horses who gave a<br />
magnificent and entertaining example of log pulling on the<br />
Estate at Wrexham, Steve Griffiths Countryside Manager<br />
with fellow Erddig staff Bryn & Dave were seen putting<br />
Duke a coloured cob and Jerry the Shire, through their<br />
Moving<br />
through<br />
Brockhall<br />
spinneys<br />
paces using various logging vehicles and Scandinavian<br />
harness used for logging. Steve explained the other duties<br />
of the horses on the estate could include harrowing,<br />
harvesting and giving carriage rides.<br />
The main attraction of the event was the arrival of<br />
the 140-year-old Lonsdale Park Drag Coach. The coach<br />
is owned and driven by Mark Evans and pulled by a team<br />
of four black Friesian stallions. Six passengers had been<br />
lucky to secure seats on the upper carriage. Prior to setting<br />
off, Mark Evans explained the traditions of coaching. The<br />
post horn blasted the off and the coach departed on its<br />
way to the Llyndir Hall Hotel & Spa the first stop watched<br />
by hundreds on the roadsides. On arrival at Llyndir<br />
Hotel nr Rossett a huge crowd had assembled to witness<br />
the coaches’ arrival. The management had kindly set a<br />
lounge aside for refreshments for the travellers while the<br />
coachman and his staff of five waited in the car park, again<br />
the coach horn sounded the off to the pleasure of the hotel<br />
guests and huge numbers of onlookers.<br />
The coach then headed through the Flintshire<br />
Countryside to the 2nd stop at the Swan Inn, Higher<br />
Kinnerton, again huge numbers of people turned out<br />
on hearing the various calls of the coach horn. The<br />
management of the Swan provided refreshments to both<br />
passengers and coachmen with large crowds gathered<br />
around the coach. At the blast of the horn set off on the<br />
final leg of its 12 mile journey back to Hope, again large<br />
crowds had gathered on the way. What a thrilling site the<br />
coach made with ten people on its upper deck.<br />
On arrival back at 3.00p.m all passengers exclaimed it<br />
had been the trip of a lifetime.<br />
Organiser of the event, BDS North East Wales Area<br />
Commissioner Janet Williams of Bwlchgwyn thanked<br />
Awards for All Wales for funding to make The Art Of<br />
Carriage <strong>Driving</strong> Event possible. Hope and Flintshire<br />
County Council tourism were also thanked for their<br />
assistance with funding the event. Also, thanks were<br />
expressed to everyone who had taken part in making the<br />
event such a success, and to the 250 who attended the all<br />
day event. Local Charities supported by The Art of Carriage<br />
driving were Nightingale House Hospice, Wrexham and<br />
Clwyd <strong>Special</strong> Riding Centre, Llanfynydd Flintshire.<br />
Maythorn Ralli returns to Biggleswade<br />
On 23 May, a former resident made a welcome return to Biggleswade together with his pride<br />
and joy, an antique horse drawn vehicle itself made in the town. The vehicle, a Ralli car, was<br />
made by Maythorn of Biggleswade around the early 1900s and was originally commissioned for Lady<br />
Freeman of Freeman Hardy Willis (shoe retailers) fame. Looking to buy a suitable vehicle to show<br />
with their new pony, driving enthusiasts Lesley and Colin Hurd agreed their search was over when, in<br />
early 2008, they found the Ralli car resting in a barn in the New Forest. But before they could take to<br />
the road, a large amount of work was required to ensure the Ralli car was safe and sound. Colin and<br />
Lesley sent the vehicle for a complete overhaul to Richard Wheelwright, well known carriage restorer<br />
and painter in Birmingham. Nine months later, the Ralli car was returned in its original colours of dark<br />
green and black. Maythorn were once the largest industrial employers in Biggleswade with over 200<br />
craftsmen employed in the manufacture of an extensive range of carriages. They occupied a site of<br />
over three acres close to the market square. Extensive advertising encouraged clients to take the<br />
train to Biggleswade where they would be collected to visit the works and see their own carriage in<br />
production. After a serious fire at the factory just before the Great War, the factory was closed and the<br />
operation taken over by the London carriage and now car body makers of Mulliner. Colin and Lesley<br />
made the long journey from Lavant, West Sussex, where they now live, to show the vehicle at the<br />
Spring <strong>Show</strong> of the <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire branch)<br />
on 23 May in Biggleswade.<br />
Colin said, “Having once lived in Biggleswade, I am pleased to have had the opportunity to<br />
return the Ralli car to its original home and show the complete turnout.” The Ralli car, named after a<br />
gentleman called Ralli, is a two-wheeled country vehicle, popular at the beginning of the last century<br />
because of its adaptability.<br />
Further information on this press release from Linda Swain, BDS area commissioner,<br />
07850 706978
<strong>Show</strong> Reports<br />
BDS Annual <strong>Show</strong> <strong>2009</strong><br />
Competitors travelled from far and wide to get to Smith’s Lawn for the<br />
45th Annual <strong>Show</strong>, some very long distances; all were rewarded with<br />
a glorious mid-summer day under the sun and some winning that precious<br />
red rosette. Most notably, Jonathan Carnduff with Ulisha who crossed<br />
the Irish Sea to first take the Crestwood Fittings World & Rare Breeds and<br />
then the Brewin Dolphin BDS Supreme title and a qualifying ticket for<br />
the Horse of the Year <strong>Show</strong>. This was Ulisha’s first visit to the show and<br />
Jonathan was justifiably proud of his handsome grey horse.<br />
BDS President James Corbett travelled down from the Isle of Mull<br />
to drive Jill Burns’ pair in the Truckbusters Concours d’Elegance. Penny<br />
Henderson, the hard working secretary of Royal Windsor Horse <strong>Show</strong>,<br />
swapped roles and judged this popular class. It was no easy task and<br />
her eventual winner was Clare Wigmore driving her own Winston &<br />
Victor. One Concours competitor, namely Carlo Mathias with Gasper,<br />
had travelled all the way from Belgium and the show was delighted to<br />
welcome him.<br />
There were only three rings at the <strong>2009</strong> show, but when compared to<br />
the previous year’s schedule only one class had been lost to achieve the<br />
new configuration. As a result the show had a more intimate atmosphere,<br />
with activity in all rings right up until the move over to the Polo Ground<br />
for the parade. It also meant that there<br />
was none of the lengthy wait which<br />
competitors had had in the past. The<br />
BDS was delighted that once again HM<br />
The Queen presented the famous BDS<br />
Sashes to the <strong>Show</strong> Champions, one of<br />
whom was a proud 14 year old Lauren<br />
Mackenzie, winner of the Kelvin Young<br />
Driver prize. HRH Prince Philip spoke to<br />
all the champions, some of whom he had<br />
watched in the rings earlier in the day.<br />
He also congratulated Rodney Ousbey<br />
on his winning the <strong>Driving</strong> Award of the<br />
Worshipful Company of Coachmakers &<br />
Coach Harness Makers.<br />
The long distance travellers did not have it all their own<br />
way – local family (in fact so local they could almost see the<br />
showground from home!) the Wards, took the Supreme Hackney<br />
title with Westbourne Hi Tech. Hackney classes at the show<br />
were particularly well supported and Perthshire judge, Roly<br />
Connolly had a hard task to find his winner out of 50 entries.<br />
Continuing his very successful season, Jeff Osborne won the<br />
Binder Country Vehicles with his coloured horse, The Poacher,<br />
eventually going on to take Reserve Supreme Champion. This<br />
immediately followed an identical placing in the Electrolux Light<br />
Trade Championship, won by Terry Burgess with Cledlyn Sam.<br />
And one of the busiest competitors on the day was Minta Winn<br />
responsible for entries in 10 classes; coming out top was Mike<br />
Clarke’s Thorneyside The Foreman who she drove to take the<br />
Victoria Foods Welsh Cob Championship.<br />
It was indeed a busy day for everyone; <strong>Show</strong> Director,<br />
Barrie Luck and his team were delighted with its success<br />
and our grateful thanks to all – sponsors, stewards,<br />
officials and competitors who made it all possible.<br />
William Semmens’ Miniature Horse Team<br />
Brewin Dolphin Supreme <strong>Show</strong><br />
Champion, Jonathan Carnduff<br />
and Ulisha<br />
HM The Queen with Moya Bangham and Saltmarsh Buccaneer,<br />
Crestwood Fittings Welsh Pony Champion<br />
Wallace Binder presents Jeff Osborne with his trophy in the<br />
Binder Country Vehicles<br />
Terry Burgess, Electrolux Light Trade<br />
Champion<br />
Winning Donkey, Jill Oliver’s Mixandmatch<br />
BDS Vice Chairman, Richard Lanni<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
HRH Prince Phillip with Rodney Ousbey and<br />
the Worshipful Company of Coachbuilders<br />
Commentator Carey Knox, interviews<br />
Ring Guard, Colin Pawson<br />
page 9 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
Bristol Horse <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Club <strong>Show</strong> 24/05/09<br />
Building on the success of last<br />
year’s show at Keynsham Rugby<br />
Club’s ground it was of no surprise<br />
it was again the venue chosen by<br />
Bristol Horse <strong>Driving</strong> Club to hold<br />
their Annual <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Show</strong>. It was a<br />
fantastic day with brilliant sunshine<br />
and not a cloud to be seen anywhere<br />
which certainly contributed to the<br />
record entries experienced this year.<br />
The Judge, Vanessa Neal, had the<br />
difficult task of deciding which horse<br />
would make the best Ride and Drive<br />
and eventually her choice went to<br />
the stunning Welsh ‘Gwarcoed Black<br />
Henry’ ridden and driven by Jackie<br />
Bennett. The following class, the<br />
Devon Area BDS<br />
<strong>Show</strong> 12th July <strong>2009</strong><br />
Having put up the show at Crealy<br />
Adventure Park, just outside<br />
Exeter on the Saturday under gloomy<br />
skies, and heavy rain overnight, we<br />
were blessed with a beautiful day<br />
on the Sunday. Our Judge was Mr G<br />
Mitchell who came all the way from<br />
Swansea and, hopefully, enjoyed his<br />
visit to Devon.<br />
Classes for non-traditional<br />
vehicles were well supported by our<br />
Devon members, and the Novelty<br />
Cones Competition, put on during the<br />
Judges well deserved lunch break,<br />
NEW SHOW<br />
BDS Dorset Area<br />
<strong>Show</strong>, Motcombe,<br />
Dorset<br />
Sunday 7th June <strong>2009</strong><br />
With shows being lost from the<br />
calendar, Dorset Area of the<br />
BDS bucked the trend when they held<br />
their first ever Area <strong>Show</strong> on Sunday<br />
7th June. The excellent facilities at the<br />
Turnpike <strong>Show</strong>ground, Motcombe<br />
and the hospitality of the Gillingham<br />
and Shaftesbury Agricultural <strong>Society</strong><br />
provided the perfect venue. As Alison<br />
Trevett, show organiser and Dorset<br />
AC, highlighted ‘We hold a range of<br />
events for our members, but this is<br />
the first year that we have hosted a<br />
show, and I am very pleased with the<br />
support that members have given us,<br />
with many of them venturing into the<br />
show ring for the first time’.<br />
Sue and Peter Douglas from West Knoyle<br />
with their pony, Treacle<br />
BDS News | page 10<br />
Novice Driver was awarded to ‘Toddy’<br />
very capably driven by the young<br />
Rhian Ralph, who also took the Junior<br />
Whip Class and the Joyce Rogers<br />
Trophy for the best novice horse<br />
and novice whip, a pair with a very<br />
promising future in driving events.<br />
‘Gwarcoed Black Henry’ and<br />
Jackie Bennett kept up their winning<br />
ways by taking the Exercise Vehicle<br />
Class, which again had the largest<br />
entry of 10 competitors, whilst The<br />
Style and Performance Class, a new<br />
class introduced to the show this year,<br />
was won by ‘Rangeview Princess’<br />
driven by C Davies.<br />
The Light Trade Class was won<br />
by ‘Jack’ pulling a milk cart containing<br />
a highly polished milk churn with<br />
Maggie O’Connor dressed as the<br />
was most popular<br />
with competitors<br />
and spectators alike.<br />
We have very few<br />
members in Devon<br />
who are interested in<br />
showing traditional<br />
vehicles, perhaps<br />
Under the watchful eye of BDS<br />
panel judge Mrs Jo Halnan-Blackwell,<br />
the classes began with an In Hand<br />
class for driving horses and ponies,<br />
where Lynda Rowland of Bere Regis<br />
triumphed with her Shetland Fusilier<br />
of Duntish. The Ride and Drive class<br />
followed, and having been pipped to<br />
second place in the ride section by<br />
Hilary Miles, riding Margaret Cuff’s<br />
Champion Geoff Allen with his 15 year old<br />
coloured cob, Jethro<br />
traditional coloured cob Free Spirit,<br />
Ivan Smith’s Freisan, Jelte, driven as a<br />
pair with another Friesian,<br />
took the drive section<br />
and hence was the class<br />
winner. Sue Douglas of<br />
West Knoyle enjoyed an<br />
excellent day, winning both<br />
the Newcomer Whip class<br />
and the hotly contested<br />
Exercise Vehicles, with<br />
her and husband Peter’s<br />
Dartmoor pony Treacle.<br />
hardworking milk person!<br />
Another Class new to the show<br />
this year was the Disabled Drivers<br />
Class. This class was won by the well<br />
behaved ‘Millie’ very capably driven<br />
by Yolanda Hanford.<br />
After lunch ‘Tyrpentre Daffydd<br />
Ddu’, the stunning black Welsh<br />
cob driven by Ann Townsend won<br />
the coveted Private <strong>Driving</strong> Class<br />
and Ann also took the overall show<br />
Championship from the young Rhian<br />
Ralph with Toddy finishing in Reserve<br />
Champion place. ‘Llansantfraed<br />
Black Jack’ and P Evans was a truly<br />
creditable second in the Private<br />
<strong>Driving</strong>. He also was Debbie<br />
Needs choice of the horse with the<br />
biggest ‘WOW’ factor earning him<br />
a trophy and £25. Joyce White with<br />
it is the expense and the distances<br />
we need to travel, so entrants in<br />
these classes were sadly thin on the<br />
ground and several of our Osborne<br />
Qualifiers went unclaimed. Our<br />
Non-traditional Champion on the<br />
day was Mrs Sheena Jacobs with<br />
her lovely chestnut Flashdance who<br />
has come back so well after serious<br />
The morning’s classes concluded with<br />
the Novice Horse or Pony, where Sue<br />
Courtney’s Welsh Section C pony<br />
from Hampshire headed the line.<br />
Melanie Vyse and her family<br />
made their stop-over on their return<br />
trip home from Royal Cornwall <strong>Show</strong><br />
worthwhile, when, with her Hackney<br />
pony Glenshane Playboy, Melanie<br />
won both the Concours d’Elegance<br />
class and the Private <strong>Driving</strong> class for<br />
13.2hh and under ponies. Dorset<br />
based animal portrait painter Colette<br />
Fowler-Marson had a hard task<br />
separating the contenders when she<br />
judged the Concours d’Elegance class,<br />
but the honours finally fell to Melanie,<br />
just ahead of Dorset Area member<br />
Geoff Allen. Mr Allen’s coloured cob<br />
Jethro, driven to a Stratford Cart built<br />
over 100 years ago, took the over<br />
13.2hh Private <strong>Driving</strong><br />
class, and then he<br />
went on to secure the<br />
Dorset Area members<br />
Championship, ahead<br />
of Ivan Smith’s pair<br />
of Friesian horses.<br />
The overall <strong>Show</strong><br />
Yvette Cheeseman, groom<br />
Hazel Lappin with Polly, making<br />
their show ring debut<br />
Championship was<br />
a four way contest,<br />
where Glenshane<br />
Ann Townsend and Rhian Ralph<br />
‘Splash’ successfully negotiated the<br />
complicated Pleasure Drive course<br />
and won the Class. Pauline Holcome<br />
successfully caught Frances Philott’s<br />
eye, the guest judge, in the Concours<br />
d’Elegance and took the honours<br />
with her elegant part bred Hackney<br />
Westbourne High Flyer.<br />
Well done and thank you to all<br />
spectators, competitors, grooms and<br />
their helpers for a making this show a<br />
fantastic success.<br />
illness last year. The Traditional<br />
Champion, Mrs Ann Townsend,<br />
travelled from Wiltshire with her<br />
Welsh Section D Tyrpentre Daffydd<br />
Ddu. As she had already qualified for<br />
the Victoria Foods Championship,<br />
that honour went to the Reserve<br />
Champion Mrs Ann Williams with her<br />
charming spotted Dartmoor hill pony<br />
Corndonford Footloose.<br />
Finally, many thanks<br />
must go to the wonderful<br />
team of helpers on the day<br />
who made the whole thing<br />
happen.<br />
Judy Green, Devon AC<br />
Melanie Vyse driving Glenshane Playboy,<br />
winners of the overall <strong>Show</strong> Championship<br />
Jelte and Joris driven by Ivan Smith. BDS<br />
Dorset Area members Reserve Champions<br />
Playboy won through.<br />
Alison Trevett said ‘I am thrilled<br />
that we have been able to welcome<br />
some of the country’s top private<br />
driving turnouts to our inaugural<br />
show, but equally I am delighted<br />
to see so many of our local BDS<br />
members, with pleasure and exercise<br />
turnouts, participating and enjoying<br />
the show’. Afterwards Geoff Allen<br />
commented ‘It has been an excellent<br />
show, to be proud of and I hope it will<br />
become a regular annual event’.<br />
Photos: Allison Cooper of Mark Coutts Photography.
Hereford <strong>Show</strong> springs<br />
into action...and what<br />
a spectacle!<br />
The members of the Hereford<br />
and District <strong>Driving</strong> Group have<br />
managed to pull off yet another<br />
major success with the Hereford<br />
Spring Carriage <strong>Show</strong>, this year held<br />
at the Racecourse in the centre of<br />
Hereford City. Sponsored by Stirling<br />
Hereford, the main Suzuki and Hyundai<br />
dealership for the county, the show<br />
managed to attract<br />
even more diverse<br />
turnouts, tradestands,<br />
and a healthy<br />
attendance gate of<br />
around 1000 people.<br />
“This year’s show<br />
flew in the face of<br />
adversity defying all the odds to create<br />
a stunning spectacle for all the visitors<br />
and exhibitors on the day” states<br />
show director, Lester Dagge “ We are<br />
eternally grateful to Sterling Suzuki for<br />
their generous support for this show<br />
and the previous years’ events, both in<br />
advertising and supplying event cars for<br />
the day. Unfortunately we suffered a<br />
number of unplanned constraints which<br />
made life challenging. The threatening<br />
outbreak of Mexican Pig Flu and the<br />
cold weather had a bearing on an<br />
anticipated gate attendance. We would<br />
have liked more visitors given we were<br />
in a central city location. Finally the<br />
constraints imposed by the racecourse<br />
had a detrimental effect on our<br />
exhibitor numbers with entries down on<br />
previous years. Given all these issues, it<br />
was quite remarkable to see the event<br />
enjoy such incredible success”.<br />
The show has expanded<br />
significantly in recent years, building<br />
on popular ring displays such as the<br />
various private driving classes, the<br />
heavy horses, the donkeys a fun dog<br />
show and the return of the Harness<br />
Goat <strong>Society</strong>. The major attraction was<br />
given to the appearance of the two Park<br />
Drag road coaches provided by Mark<br />
Evans and Modris Kesans, both from<br />
West Wales. They were escorted on a<br />
short road drive along the Roman Road<br />
by cars supplied by Stirling Hereford.<br />
To add to the flavour of the event,<br />
members of Herefords Classic Car<br />
Club provided a stunning display with<br />
Northern Counties<br />
Pony Association<br />
Maelor Branch Annual<br />
<strong>Show</strong> Gredington<br />
The annual NCPA Charity was held<br />
on Sunday 12th July within the<br />
magnificent Gredington Park at<br />
Hanmer by kind permission of the<br />
Gredington Estate. The classes were<br />
awards for best turnout awarded to a<br />
home restored vintage tractor.<br />
With regards to the main business<br />
of the day, despite entries being<br />
down slightly on previous years<br />
classes were well supported with<br />
an improvement of standards over<br />
previous years. Newcomers and<br />
novices were particularly of a higher<br />
standard, a positive response to the<br />
continued exposure and promotion of<br />
the diversity of carriage driving to new<br />
competitors. This years Supreme <strong>Show</strong><br />
Champion was club member Emily Ham<br />
and her outstanding<br />
Welsh Section C<br />
Stallion, Crossfield<br />
Glory. Emily swept<br />
the board during the<br />
day winning both<br />
the Private driving<br />
championship, the<br />
Concours d’Elegance, The Victoria<br />
Foods Qualifier, The BDS Wales<br />
Qualifier and the Hereford Members<br />
Points Championship. With so many<br />
rosettes attached to the front of the<br />
carriage, poor old dad ‘Hammy’ will<br />
now have to have extensions made<br />
for the rein rail for the Liverpool Gig.<br />
Success is not an unusual experience<br />
for Emily and her multi talented<br />
pony Jack, they<br />
represented Wales<br />
as part of the Junior<br />
squad for the World<br />
championships in<br />
Austria Last year. This<br />
pair are certainly stars<br />
of the future to watch<br />
out for! Hard on the<br />
heels of success was ‘Team Reddock’<br />
from Monkland. Mandy Reddock and<br />
her family enjoyed phenomenal success<br />
with their pony Mosshill Ben James<br />
after winning the first National Exercise<br />
vehicle championship at Burleigh.<br />
The family have a new addition to<br />
their stable with their 15hh Hackney<br />
/Cob cross ‘Just Jasper’, and true to<br />
form, their immaculate turnout and<br />
honed driving skills allowed them to<br />
achieve the coveted Exercise vehicle<br />
championship again at Hereford. Not<br />
content with being upstaged, this time,<br />
hubby Tony was given the reins and<br />
scored a well deserved first in his first<br />
ever novice driving class... (seems there<br />
may be some trouble ahead fighting<br />
for the box seat!) Our honoured judges<br />
well supported and held in excellent<br />
sunny conditions. The Private <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Victoria Foods National Qualifier and<br />
Overall Champion went to AW Spencer<br />
driving Welsh Cob, Fron Bertie. Reserve<br />
Champion was Avril Pluck driving Louis.<br />
DCPA Maelor Chairman Karen<br />
Manning thanked N.E Wales <strong>British</strong><br />
<strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> for organising the<br />
classes and running the driven<br />
Caroline Dale Leech, Araminta Winn<br />
and Sarah Wildy worked hard during<br />
the days 24 classes. Minta even roped<br />
her son, Rupert, into stewarding on<br />
the day, giving him some first hand<br />
experience from<br />
the other side of the<br />
shafts whilst under<br />
the watchful gaze<br />
of veteran Chief<br />
Ring Steward Andy<br />
Nicholson. This year’s<br />
notable concours judge was celebrated<br />
carriage driving correspondent for the<br />
Horse and Hound, Kerry Bowness.<br />
‘Hereford’ has an exceptional<br />
reputation for being well organised<br />
with classes run to time and stewards<br />
working to computerised records<br />
provided by hard working IT expert<br />
Chris Laing, you just had to look at the<br />
steam coming out of his mobile office in<br />
the caravan!<br />
‘Hereford’ is particularly proud<br />
of the diverse driving classes which<br />
offer competitors the chance to try<br />
new things. This year saw the debut<br />
of Debbie Street with her team of<br />
donkeys put to a Bellcrown Wagonette,<br />
a remarkable achievement at the best<br />
of times, but an astonishing polished<br />
performance from the ‘Queen’ of<br />
the Donkey world.<br />
Likewise the Carriage<br />
dog class saw Avril<br />
Pluck driving her<br />
pony Louis and liver<br />
spotted Dalmatian<br />
‘Spin’ show the world<br />
how it should be done<br />
properly. Her stunning<br />
turnout and perfect performance from<br />
Spin was inspirational, so much so that<br />
show director Lester Dagge took time<br />
out, hitched a ride with Emily Ham and<br />
entered his 6 month old Dalmatian<br />
puppy, Buttons into the class! With<br />
much heel nipping and merriment from<br />
the crowd, they stood 3rd to an equally<br />
polished performance from <strong>British</strong><br />
Carriage Dog <strong>Society</strong> stalwart, Jane<br />
Friend and her dog Merlot. Needless<br />
to say, Buttons is undergoing plenty<br />
of driving experience at home in rural<br />
Wales! The show tried something new<br />
again this year and offered competitors<br />
the chance to have a go at combined<br />
driving with dressage and fast paced<br />
cones, disciplines used in rudimentary<br />
schooling of all driving horses. Sadly,<br />
section at Gredington.<br />
Judge John Dobson commented<br />
how impressed he was with the<br />
numbers of turnouts forward and the<br />
friendly atmosphere at Gredington.<br />
Area Commissioner, Janet Williams<br />
welcomed large numbers to the BDS<br />
Marquee, where for the first time<br />
full use of the latest state of the art<br />
video and audio equipment was in<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
only 9 competitors came forward for<br />
this debut class, but still saw a team<br />
of Shetlands and the team of donkeys<br />
battle for first position!, Needless to<br />
say Julie Wedgbury’s skilled Shetland<br />
team won the day, with<br />
Shelly Osborne and Emily<br />
Ham taking the other two<br />
classes. The show also<br />
recognises the efforts of<br />
hard working competitors,<br />
with the Tapp ‘boys’ from<br />
Pontypridd winning the Endeavour<br />
award. The public are invited to cast<br />
their votes on their favourite turnouts,<br />
with the most popular competitor<br />
receiving the coveted People’s Choice<br />
Award going to local disabled driver<br />
Susie Allcoat and her adorable Welsh<br />
Pony, April. Susie has benefited<br />
tremendously in recent years with her<br />
carriage driving achievements with<br />
mum Jane being inspired by Susie’s<br />
incredible progress. “Carriage driving<br />
is one of the few pursuits where people<br />
of all abilities, ages and backgrounds<br />
can compete on an equal basis” Despite<br />
the stature of the show rivaling those of<br />
much larger events the show is run on<br />
a fraction of their operating budgets.<br />
However, due to the pressures involved<br />
in attracting much needed sponsorship,<br />
manual support, securing suitable<br />
venue locations and the mountain of<br />
pre-show organising, <strong>Show</strong> director<br />
Lester has decided that the final curtain<br />
will be called for the last time at the<br />
Hereford Spring Carriage show in its<br />
current guise. “It’s best that we bow out<br />
at the top and leave a great legacy to<br />
the driving world and to the people of<br />
the County of Hereford.” states Lester<br />
“in the last few years, we have managed<br />
to resurrect and promote several long<br />
forgotten or endangered skills such<br />
as the Sporting Tandem, the Carriage<br />
Dog, coaching, heavy horse turnouts,<br />
best shod, breeders awards as well<br />
as improving the scope for disabled<br />
drivers, exercise vehicles, donkeys,<br />
miniature ponies and even harness<br />
goats. For all these achievements, I<br />
am immensely proud, but most proud<br />
of the camaraderie and support given<br />
by the members of the Hereford and<br />
District <strong>Driving</strong> Group, for without<br />
them, it would have never happened.”<br />
Further information about the club<br />
and pictures from the <strong>2009</strong> show can<br />
be seen online at www.hddg.co.uk<br />
use allowing professional displays<br />
and information on carriage driving.<br />
Thanks were expressed to both The<br />
Association Of Voluntary Organisations<br />
in Wrexham(AVOW) and to Flintshire<br />
Local Voluntary Council(FLVC) for<br />
assisting the BDS in North East Wales<br />
obtain the A/V equipment through<br />
funding streams they manage for<br />
voluntary groups.<br />
page 11 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
Leicestershire &<br />
Rutland BDS <strong>Show</strong><br />
bright sunny day greeted us all at<br />
A Springbridge for our annual show<br />
of the Leicestershire & Rutland BDS<br />
on Sunday 14th June. This was earlier<br />
than other years, and the date proved<br />
to be a success. Dennis and Bob had<br />
worked hard preparing the ground,<br />
making separate rings for showing,<br />
Obstacles, Long -<br />
Reining and also<br />
Style & Performance.<br />
The entries were<br />
up on 2 years ago<br />
and the standard<br />
was extremely high.<br />
All the horses and<br />
ponies had been<br />
beautifully prepared and turned<br />
out ready for the Judge of the day,<br />
Trevor Teague who had some difficult<br />
Combined driving<br />
skills lead the way at<br />
Malvern...<br />
BDS News | page 12<br />
Heather Miles driving Jack in a<br />
Fun Bug<br />
The driving classes at this year’s<br />
Three Counties <strong>Show</strong> set a new<br />
precedent at a major County show<br />
with the running of both conventional<br />
private driving classes and the debut of<br />
combined driving classes run under the<br />
IHDT rules.<br />
Under the direction of Senior<br />
Carriage <strong>Driving</strong> Steward Lester Dagge,<br />
the Three Counties show provided an<br />
excellent venue for the various private<br />
driving classes on the eve of the BDS<br />
National show at Smiths Lawn. “It is<br />
always a risk clashing<br />
with other events, but<br />
with strong classes,<br />
we managed to secure<br />
an exceptionally high<br />
standard of quality<br />
entries.” states Lester.<br />
“Our esteemed judge Jo Adams<br />
for the private driving,<br />
Richard James with probationary<br />
judge Roger Page shadowing, worked<br />
hard with an eclectic mix of turnouts<br />
under his scrutiny”. The exercise cart<br />
class saw some great entries with<br />
previous National Champion, Mandy<br />
Reddock doing well with her promising<br />
new contender Just Jasper winning the<br />
two wheel class whilst driving trials<br />
enthusiast, Lindsay Doran taking the<br />
4 wheel class. Claudia Bunn with her<br />
chameleon like mare Elektra, Emily<br />
Ham and her Cob Crossfield Glory<br />
and Ann Staniland with her tandem<br />
took the respective Private driving<br />
class honours. The days sport was<br />
topped off with Richard test driving<br />
the line up of championship qualifiers<br />
first hand and helping him to secure<br />
his chosen champion Mrs D Evans’<br />
decisions to make. He was extremely<br />
thorough in his examination of<br />
members, ponies and vehicles, giving a<br />
lot of helpful advice to all concerned.<br />
First with a red ribbon was Sybil<br />
& Martin Atkinson for the ride and<br />
drive. Martin rode Jamie, with Sybil<br />
driving him. He then went on to take<br />
second place in the Private <strong>Driving</strong>,<br />
1st in Long-reining, and the Concours<br />
De elegance cup which was judged by<br />
local artist Ruth Marshall.<br />
Ruth was treated to a lap of<br />
honour with Sybil & Martins<br />
horse Neneside Sir James.<br />
Jamie had a great day doing<br />
his best as always, winning<br />
the Style & Performance<br />
as well. (Manners maketh<br />
horse). The Under 13.2<br />
private driving included a Tandem this<br />
year expertly driven by Anna Mann,<br />
always a great supporter of our show.<br />
Llansantffraed Black Jack, a stunning<br />
Welsh Cob stallion, followed in reserve<br />
with Emily Ham and Crossfield Glory.<br />
Mrs Evans went home<br />
with a dashboard full of<br />
rosettes including the<br />
Osborne Refrigerators<br />
and Victoria Foods<br />
qualifiers as well as the<br />
Three Counties special Emily Ham<br />
award for Welsh Section<br />
D Cob. Meanwhile it was fitting that<br />
Claudia Bunn retain her title as winner<br />
of the Concours for a second year<br />
running, despite the sad loss of her<br />
father, the indomitable Douglas Bunn, a<br />
few days earlier. Our sympathies go out<br />
to her and the Bunn family.<br />
The second day of<br />
driving saw the ramping<br />
up of excitement with<br />
the debut of Combined<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> classes. This<br />
was in response to the<br />
growing interest in <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Trials and the availability<br />
of a prime time main ring slot in front<br />
of an enthusiastic Three Counties<br />
audience. With guidance from Mary<br />
Nicholson and her husband, Andy,<br />
(indoor driving ‘officionados’ normally<br />
hidden behind a scoring sheet and<br />
directing competitors)<br />
Lester approached<br />
Tony Bache, chairman<br />
of the BHDTA with the<br />
idea of bringing driving<br />
trials to the public.<br />
Snapping up the offer,<br />
Claudia Bunn<br />
Tony suggested we<br />
work together including the Indoor<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> Trials company and the local<br />
driving club at Wolverley to present<br />
the Three Counties with this exciting<br />
new opportunity. With all the troops<br />
motivated and an action plan deployed<br />
with military precision helped by David<br />
Anna impressed the<br />
to a four wheeled fenix<br />
judge and took the<br />
exercise vehicle, all<br />
1st with Eric Mills<br />
going together perfectly.<br />
and his lovely Welsh<br />
Julie Goodwin and her<br />
pony 2nd. The pony<br />
new turnout, Jack a<br />
tandem also took the<br />
Reserve Champion.<br />
Sybil and Martin Atkinson, winners<br />
of the Ride & Drive Class<br />
coloured cob driven<br />
to a coach painted<br />
Janice Clough brought<br />
Bennington Buccaneer<br />
along her impressive Welsh cob<br />
came 2nd in the over exercise class<br />
Blaengwen Wayne Rooney providing and took the 2 wheeled exercise<br />
us with some eye catching action Osborne Qualifier. We look forward<br />
and something for us to aspire to. He to seeing them out at other events<br />
took home the over 13. 2hh private this year. The Qualifier for the pairs<br />
driving cup and the Championship exercise went to Helen Faulkner with<br />
as well. Freda Martin driving Smarty her Mum as groom driving Spit & Fire,<br />
took the under 13.2hh exercise class a pair of black Shetland ponies. Some<br />
with Smarty, and second in the Style of our other members enjoyed the<br />
& Performance, as usual Freda had cones and obstacles and long reining,<br />
turned Smarty out immaculately.<br />
with Tess Naylor ensuring there was no<br />
Congratulations to Andrew Wright cheating in the Hazards. We would like<br />
(known to most as Biff) who took the to thank everyone that helped and all<br />
over 13.2 exercise class with Blue IV,<br />
his eye catching coloured cob driven<br />
the members that supported the show.<br />
Smith and Tony Gregory, an exciting<br />
days sport was produced with a large<br />
collection of competitors from all<br />
around the region.<br />
The combined<br />
driving took full<br />
advantage of the ideal<br />
conditions within the<br />
remit of the showground,<br />
with all three disciplines<br />
with their obstacles<br />
laid out in immaculate order. The<br />
running of this ‘inside out’ competition<br />
offered new challenges with the turf<br />
surface, (indoor trials is nearly always<br />
done under cover<br />
and on sand, whilst<br />
conventional driving<br />
trials is done on a<br />
larger scale over turf)<br />
this time the horses<br />
had to adapt and<br />
drivers compensate for<br />
the mixed conditions. This was made<br />
increasingly evident with the main<br />
ring display where slippery conditions<br />
underfoot offered the competitors a<br />
bit of a challenge... with an equally<br />
eager audience enjoying the thrills<br />
and spills of the various turnouts.<br />
Mary Nicholson’s informative<br />
commentary was<br />
well received by the<br />
public whilst the ever<br />
popular ring steward,<br />
Andy, conducted the<br />
competitors in his usual<br />
exemplary efficient and<br />
orderly manner.<br />
The five classes for singles,<br />
multiples and juniors saw 22 entries<br />
judged by Judith Broome and offered<br />
some nail biting excitement with the<br />
ever fearless Jo Adams winning both<br />
the main ring and multiples classes<br />
with his pair of Welsh ponies. This was<br />
Llansantffraed BlackvJack Champion<br />
hotly contested by audience favourite,<br />
Julie Wedgbury and her amazing team<br />
of Shetlands. The single pony class<br />
was the most popular class of the day<br />
with Dawn Tebbett and her Welsh<br />
mare Katy snatching victory from<br />
Lindsay Doran, whilst Claudia Bunn<br />
secured the horse class and Jo Phelan<br />
in reserve. The Junior class was won<br />
by Chester group member Michael<br />
Hodgson and his incredible Shetland,<br />
Warford Brown Sugar, with Emily Ham<br />
coming second.<br />
It has to be said that this was a true<br />
testament to the skill of the carriage<br />
drivers craft and a<br />
credit to the number<br />
of competitors<br />
who excelled<br />
in both private<br />
driving and driving<br />
trials. Interestingly,<br />
in all cases, the<br />
non-conformist crossover between<br />
the style and calm obedience of the<br />
private driving classes on Saturday<br />
and the skill and exhilaration on the<br />
Sunday stood those ‘multitasking’<br />
competitors in very good stead.<br />
Lindsay Doran, Emily Ham, Julie<br />
Wedgbury and Claudia Bunn all<br />
competed in both disciplines and it<br />
is remarkable that all do well on both<br />
sides of the ‘driving divide’.<br />
The debut of the Combined<br />
driving at the show certainly<br />
raised awareness of the sport with<br />
tremendous interest shown by the<br />
public and other competitors. With<br />
much appreciated support from the<br />
Wolverley club and the generous<br />
cooperation from the Three Counties<br />
Agricultural <strong>Society</strong>, hopefully this<br />
debut will have helped draw much<br />
needed new members to this exciting<br />
sport.
BDS N.E.Wales 2nd<br />
Annual <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Show</strong><br />
The weekend of May 9th & 10th<br />
saw the BDS show take place<br />
on the magnificent Erddig Park<br />
Dressage Arena by kind permission<br />
of the National Trust. The Carriage<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Show</strong> was a huge success<br />
with increased competitors forward<br />
compared to last years event.<br />
Saturday May 9th saw Mrs King of<br />
Derbyshire step into the ring to judge<br />
the classes, that went ahead in windy<br />
but dry conditions. The Novice Long<br />
reining attracted 4 entries with Sue<br />
Cole of Weeping Cross, Stafford in<br />
1st place handling Valcq Redwood<br />
Reflection. The long reining saw 9<br />
entries with the winners ribbon going<br />
BDS South Yorkshire<br />
and Nottinghamshire<br />
Area <strong>Show</strong><br />
30th May <strong>2009</strong><br />
Eric mills and his<br />
17 year old Welsh<br />
Section C, Galtress<br />
Raffles made the<br />
most of their wealth<br />
of experience to<br />
emerge champions<br />
over Cindy Moreau<br />
and her 7ry old novice<br />
hackney Wentworth<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
<strong>Show</strong> Champion Eric Mills with<br />
Galtress Raffles being presented<br />
with trophy by judge Claudia Bunn<br />
to Rachel Thomas of Penmaenmawr<br />
driving Gorsehill Jenga who also took<br />
both the Long Reining & Novice Whip<br />
Championships, the Grooms Class and<br />
Junior whip class. The lady whip class<br />
was won by Sue Cole driving Valcq<br />
Redwood Reflection, as did the Ride<br />
& Drive class. The Gentleman Whip<br />
class was awarded to Tony Tharme<br />
of Penmaenmawr driving Wally.The<br />
Open Disabled <strong>Driving</strong> Class was won<br />
by Jackie Claydon of Dolwen,Conway<br />
driving Llynhelyg Tomos<br />
Sunday May 10th was the formal<br />
show day under the watchful eye<br />
of BDS Judge Mr AF King also from<br />
Derbyshire and again drew excellent<br />
entries. Sunday’s weather was ideal<br />
for <strong>Driving</strong>.The small exercise vehicle<br />
class went to an ‘on a roll’ Rachel<br />
Minstrel at this prestigious event now<br />
in its fourth year. Superb weather and<br />
excellent facilities, with larger than<br />
ever entries made for a fantastic day.<br />
Raffles remained fresh throughout the<br />
day despite the blazing sunshine to add<br />
the championship title<br />
to earlier wins in the<br />
mountain and moorland<br />
and 13.2hh and<br />
under class. Reserve<br />
champion Cindy<br />
Moreau was pleased<br />
with her spirited gelding<br />
after they headed the<br />
Novice horse and over<br />
My daughter, Eleanor was killed in Iraq, April 2007, she was a medic.<br />
We raised money for the help for heroes and handed in a cheque for<br />
£1296.00, we have forwarded more since.<br />
Eleanor driving Ollie<br />
Dad and I have been members of the BDS for about 5 or 6 years now<br />
and drive in the New Forest as much as possible. The pony we took<br />
to Windsor is called Ollie. I enclose a photo of Eleanor in her combats<br />
driving him. This is the photo my dad, Lionel Veck, is holding when we<br />
met Major Phil Packer, who has just successfully completed the London<br />
marathon, after 13 days, almost raising a million for help for heroes,<br />
despite receiving terrible injuries in Iraq and being told he would never<br />
walk again. If you or anyone else would like any more information, then<br />
please feel free to contact us on 01489 894926 or 07821 790659.<br />
We are looking forward to more drives like this,<br />
Many thanks,<br />
Sally Veck<br />
Thomas driving Gorsehill Jenga.<br />
The large exercise vehicle class,<br />
open mountain and moorland and<br />
open Pleasure <strong>Driving</strong> Championship<br />
saw Janet Prytherch of Dolwen<br />
Abergele driving Llynhelyg Tomos<br />
take 1st. The Newcomers Pleasure<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> drew 8 entries was won by<br />
Sue Cole driving Jim. The Veteran<br />
class drew 5 entries and 1st was<br />
awarded to Ann Staniland driving<br />
Starbyte Little Trojan who at the age<br />
of 20 was awarded the Oldest Pony<br />
rosette.The registered Mountain and<br />
Moorland went to Willowe Keeley<br />
driving Clothie Tumbell. The Small<br />
amateur produced had 7 entries<br />
with Alison Owen from Bangor,<br />
Gwynedd with Brynmor taking 1st<br />
place.The large amateur produced,<br />
13.2hh private driving class.<br />
Nine year old Kirsty Thompson<br />
Dowd and Ann Walter Simmons’<br />
17 year old Dartmoor Willard<br />
Lightning had a good day with wins<br />
in two wheeled exercise, exercise<br />
vehicle championship and young<br />
driver classes. Another young driver<br />
Kelly Wilson headed the Style and<br />
Performance and Pleasure driving<br />
classes with her own Pucklechurch<br />
Alarnas pride.The well supported<br />
Ride and Drive class was won by<br />
Wendy Mason with her all-rounder<br />
thoroughbred X gypsy cob mare,<br />
Brooklyn.<br />
In the field. Photo courtesy of Sarah Frith<br />
Red House Stables, Darley Dale,<br />
Matlock, Derbyshire, was the<br />
venue for this year’s Probationer<br />
Judges Assessment Day on 7th April,<br />
<strong>2009</strong>.<br />
Seven candidates were assessed<br />
by Judges’ chairman Barry Luck<br />
and BDS Panel Judges Caroline<br />
Dale-Leech, Caroline Douglas, Jane<br />
Brightwell, Heather Noad and Derek<br />
Wootton as the candidates ‘judged’<br />
nine individual turnouts in the line up<br />
and afterwards on the move in a show<br />
ring type environment.<br />
A variety of very interesting<br />
driving turnouts consisting of three<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
Registered Welsh and Private <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Championship was awarded to<br />
Ruth Lancaster of Congleton driving<br />
Brambridge Bright Spark. <strong>Show</strong><br />
Champion was awarded to Ann<br />
Staniland driving her own Starlyte<br />
Little Trojan, Reserve going to Ruth<br />
Lancaster of Congleton driving<br />
Brambridge Bright Spark.North East<br />
Wales BDS Area Commissioner Janet<br />
Williams thanked all competitors for<br />
taking part in the two day event and<br />
a special vote of thanks was given to<br />
volunteers for stewarding and to Steve<br />
Griffiths Erddig Countryside Manager<br />
and his staff for preparation of the<br />
International standard Equine arena<br />
which can not be surpassed anywhere<br />
in Wales, and to the Trustees at Erddig<br />
for use of the excellent facilities.<br />
Reserve Champion Cindy Moreau with<br />
Wentworth Minstrel in a four wheeler<br />
Ride & Drive Champion, Wendy Mason &<br />
Brooklyn<br />
Probationer Judges<br />
Assessment Day <strong>2009</strong><br />
Tandems, (donkey, spotted and<br />
Shetland pony), two single Private<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> (Hackney and Highland<br />
pony), a Light Trade (Bread Van),<br />
a Pleasure <strong>Driving</strong> cob put to a<br />
four-wheeled exercise vehicle and<br />
a Pairs turnout were forward forthe<br />
candidates to inspect and comment<br />
upon, and so it was a very busy and<br />
interesting day for all concerned.<br />
Three junior BDS members,<br />
interested in becoming probationery<br />
judges of the future, ‘shadowed’<br />
the judges and acted as stewards on<br />
the day which was a great learning<br />
experience for them too.<br />
page 13 | BDS News<br />
Photos: www.esphotography.co.uk
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
Area Activities<br />
BDS News | page 14<br />
AC Linda Swain<br />
Tel 07850 706978<br />
lindaswain10@aol.com<br />
We’ve a change of AAC in the area with<br />
Tanya Howard replacing Janet Wischhusen<br />
after many years of sterling service to our<br />
members. Janet will be remembered for her<br />
Shetland tandem, all her hard work with<br />
Young Drivers, her fantastic sense of humour<br />
and her thoughtfulness. Luckily for us, and<br />
if we ask her nicely, Janet will be helping out<br />
as and when she can, with show stewarding<br />
her undoubted forte. Remember that until 1<br />
November you can still qualify for our special<br />
area award by attending or helping at 10 BBH<br />
events throughout the summer. Green cards<br />
that record your attendances are available from<br />
Linda or just download one from our website.<br />
2 Aug – BDS Trec event with optional fun cone<br />
driving at Ley Farm, Colesden, Beds. Ring<br />
Linda for entry form or see one on our area<br />
website. The Crowland Challenge trophy will<br />
be presented to the winning turnout - Entry<br />
fee £10.<br />
5 Aug – Pay a mid week visit to the revamped<br />
Mossman Collection at Stockwood Park in<br />
Luton. Plenty for holidaying Young Drivers<br />
to see and do too, all free! Excellent restaurant<br />
for lunch or tea. Contact Linda for any other<br />
details.<br />
11 Aug – Don’t forget this is the Young Drivers<br />
Scholarship day in Norfolk if you’ve already<br />
entered! If not – why not try for it next year?<br />
Training advice from Linda.<br />
15 Aug – BBQ at Gamlingay, near Sandy, Beds<br />
by kind invitation on Cyndy & Martin. Just £5<br />
each please towards the food, but bring a bottle<br />
and a seat! All welcome, but please advise<br />
numbers to Linda by 10 August latest.<br />
23 Aug – BDS Regional show at Equifest, East of<br />
England showground near Peterborough. Classes<br />
for exercise vehicles, native ponies, specials for<br />
Young Drivers and local BDS members. Details<br />
from their website or from Linda.<br />
23 Aug – Pix Farm funday organised by<br />
CHDC, Bourne End, nr Hemel Hempstead.<br />
Full details from Kath – 01442 258602<br />
29 Aug – Drivers Dream show near<br />
Biggleswade, Beds., including the <strong>2009</strong> Style &<br />
Performance Championships. Schedules on our<br />
website or from Linda.<br />
30 Aug – Regional BDS Trec at Forest Edge<br />
Arena, nr Swaffham, Norfolk. Interested parties<br />
please contact Mike Cooke for entry form etc<br />
01493 302805 or email - michael-a-cooke@<br />
hotmail.co.uk<br />
Members with turnouts will be very welcome at all meets and drives. The Areas are defined<br />
for administration only and all members are welcome at events in any area. However, Area<br />
Commissioners would welcome a phone call to know that you are on your way,<br />
BEDS, BUCKS & HERTS Website: www.bedsbh.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
BERKSHIRE<br />
AC: DENNIS PERKINS<br />
Tel: 0118 9545530<br />
d.b.perkins@ntlworld.com<br />
AAC Shirley Higgins Tel: 01923 267919<br />
AAC Tanya Howard Tel: 01923 284462 / 07860 742465 email: tanyarhoward@yahoo.co.uk<br />
ROW Kath Worrell MBE Tel: 01442 258602 email: kath@the worrells.co.uk<br />
Publicity: sylvia sullivan Tel: 01767 677906 email: ssulledit@aol.com,<br />
30 Aug – CHDC drive from Meadle, Bucks.<br />
Ring Kath – 01442 258602<br />
31 Aug – Ashwell show with classes for all.<br />
Schedules from Mrs Josie Sheppard via 01462<br />
743864 or from Linda. NB; If you’d like to be<br />
included on the BDS show stewards list from<br />
2010, then it may be possible to ‘shadow’ at this<br />
show prior to inclusion. Ring Linda for details.<br />
5 Sept – Another of our popular ‘Try-it’ days<br />
this time at Shuttleworth Equine College,<br />
Old Warden nr Biggleswade, Beds SG18 9EA<br />
from 11am until 1pm at a cost of just £5 per<br />
person. Booking in advance recommended by<br />
ringing 07850 706978. Capable members and<br />
suitable turnouts welcome to give a little help to<br />
newcomers. Contact Linda to offer help and for<br />
any more details.<br />
12 Sept – Very much ‘weather permitting’<br />
there will be an informal garden party for area<br />
members from 2pm by kind invitation of Ray<br />
Howitt at 28 Hitchin Road, Upper Caldecote<br />
nr Biggleswade, Beds SG18 9BT. Cake<br />
donations very welcome on the day! Please ring<br />
Linda on 07850 706978 to say you are coming<br />
and to check if weather doubtful.<br />
13 Sept – CHDC dressage competition – Test<br />
no. 7, but in a fun way! Various other activities<br />
& a chance for a road drive. Ring Kath – 01442<br />
258602<br />
19 Sept – ‘Try Trec’ afternoon near Ampthill,<br />
Beds. A chance to just have a go, test your<br />
horse or pony even your groom at the Skills<br />
and maybe get new ideas for the Safety phase.<br />
Competitive Skills test if required. Bring a<br />
picnic tea to enjoy. No turnout? No problem!<br />
Ring Linda on 07850 706978 for all details.<br />
20 Sept – National Donkey <strong>Driving</strong> Day<br />
is being celebrated at Wimpole Hall, near<br />
Royston, Herts. Go along & see our long eared<br />
friends in action!<br />
27 Sept – CHDC treasure hunt from Long<br />
Marston. Ring Kath – 01442 258602.<br />
3 & 4 Oct – Our Championship show at<br />
Towerlands, Braintree, Essex. Why not sponsor<br />
a class for just £100? – contact Tess Styles for<br />
details 01473 892001.<br />
11 Oct – By kind permission of Lord Salisbury,<br />
there will be a sponsored drive through the<br />
estate of Hatfield House in aid of <strong>Driving</strong> for<br />
the Disabled and the Willow Foundation.<br />
Rosettes for all attending and Cup for best<br />
turned out! Please contact Jean 0785 4246412<br />
or 01707 268401 for details.<br />
1 Nov – All completed green cards should have<br />
been given to Linda by now!<br />
4 Nov – Heavy Horse Talk at Wimpole Hall,<br />
Royston, Herts – 11am -an introduction<br />
into the daily lives of Wimpole’s Shire horses,<br />
including an opportunity to meet these gentle<br />
giants. £8 includes coffee on arrival. Booking<br />
essential so please telephone 01223 206000<br />
asap.<br />
8 Nov – A new venue for our annual area<br />
meeting. This year it’s at Sarratt Village Hall,<br />
The Green, Sarratt near Rickmansworth, Herts<br />
WD3 6AS from 7.30pm prompt so if you’ve<br />
never been before, this could be your chance<br />
to attend! We’ll discuss what has happened in<br />
<strong>2009</strong> and what we want to happen in 2010.<br />
All members welcome, refreshments available.<br />
14 Nov – Our annual end of season dinner and<br />
a little light music at The Novotel, Stevenage,<br />
Herts. Tables of ten available with tickets just<br />
£25 each. Please send your cheque made out to<br />
‘Beds Bucks & Herts BDS’ to Linda Swain, 35<br />
Havelock Road, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 0DB.<br />
Spot prizes on the night and presentation of our<br />
end of year awards too.<br />
Something to consider over the winter months<br />
might be training sessions for the Preliminary<br />
Competence Certificate (Level 1) which<br />
involves being capable of harnessing up and<br />
driving a single turnout safely to a basic simple<br />
standard and to include an understanding of<br />
safety on the roads and basic human first aid.<br />
Consists of 3 units which may be taken on the<br />
same day, or at a different time. Don’t forget the<br />
Road <strong>Driving</strong> Assessment too – not mandatory,<br />
but a very good idea if only to brush up on<br />
your methods! Those who would like to ‘give it<br />
a go’, please contact Linda in the first instance<br />
so we can gather a group of members together<br />
for the training and decide on a venue. Syllabus<br />
available from the main BDS website or Tess<br />
Styles on 01473 892001.<br />
Remember that your BDS membership card<br />
should be with you at all driving events as proof<br />
of insurance and may be checked before each<br />
event. Those aged 14 years and under must<br />
wear hard hats at all times whilst in a carriage<br />
Thanks to all those who have organised events<br />
this year and our hosts too of course.<br />
Please start thinking now about what we might<br />
do next year.<br />
www.bdsberkshire.co.uk<br />
AAC Colin Pawson Tel: 0118 9842619 pawson@sheltonfarmcarriages.co.uk<br />
Margaret Pawson (AROW) Tel: 0118 9842619 pawson@sheltonfarmcarriages.co.uk
CHESHIRE<br />
AC Les McCall<br />
Tel: 01625 263601<br />
I hope that you are all bearing up with the<br />
mixed weather and so many events being<br />
cancelled. I hope to arrange a rally during the<br />
summer; I will announce the venue and date<br />
when arrangements are finalized.<br />
Some future dates for your diary are the winter<br />
cones at The Lodge, Woodford.<br />
CORNWALL<br />
AC Brian Ball<br />
Tel: 01726 851144 treolwyn2@tiscali.net<br />
So many things have happened since we last<br />
put pen to paper and we certainly have all been<br />
kept busy. Lorna Jowett from Bailey’s foods<br />
gave us a most informative talk on health and<br />
the digestive system. Steven Williams equine<br />
dentist joined us on the same evening which<br />
all added to the equation. Everyone went away<br />
much more enlightened about animal care and<br />
welfare.<br />
A training day held at Treolwyn by Brian for<br />
those hoping to take the road assessment in<br />
the autumn and was well attended. It was<br />
good to see we were joined by some members<br />
of the local Heavy Horse world who also took<br />
advantage of the training being offered with a<br />
view to also take the test.<br />
As you no doubt saw in the last newsletter some<br />
members travelled north to the BDS dinner at<br />
Hinkley on behalf of the Chiverton Riding and<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> group, the welcome given was brilliant<br />
and the generosity was magnificent. Many<br />
thanks to all those concerned.<br />
The static display of traditional vehicles on<br />
the lawns of the Boconnoc Estate by kind<br />
permission of Mr &Mrs Fortescue included<br />
a Milk Float, London Trolley, Market Cart,<br />
Station Wagon and a Mulliner Ladies Phaeton<br />
which was most unusual as it was designed<br />
to be coachman driven with a tiger seat on<br />
the back. Shannon Fahey, Pat Maunder,<br />
Maureen Ryder Gordon and Anne Honeywell<br />
added to the attraction by coming along with<br />
their turnouts while Brian gave a talk on<br />
each individual one. This was all very much<br />
appreciated by the public visiting on the day.<br />
Funds were donated to the RNLI.<br />
The drive at Cardinham woods started as a very<br />
wet affair but the usual stalwarts turned up to<br />
support as we all know how much effort goes to<br />
organising these events. As the weather cheered<br />
up it turned into a most enjoyable day.<br />
Our Cornish class at the Royal Cornwall show<br />
were well supported in both the Traditional<br />
and Non Traditional vehicles. The presentation<br />
was excellent and made a stunning sight in the<br />
main ring. Anne Honeywell was awarded the<br />
CUMBRIA<br />
AC Margaret Sanderson<br />
Tel: 01768 898712<br />
All days are Sundays commencing at 1pm to<br />
walk the course and the actual fun starts at<br />
1-30pm.<br />
The dates are as follows:<br />
November 9th.<br />
December 14th.<br />
January 10th.<br />
Anne Honeywell at Boconnoc<br />
Red Ribbon in the Traditional class with her<br />
Welsh Cob Diegarth Tywysog. Di Hirst won<br />
the Non Traditional class with Bob one of the<br />
RDA <strong>Driving</strong> ponies from Chiverton. Maureen<br />
Ryder Gordon was our Concour’s winner with<br />
pair Murphy and Jurston Veronica. Shannon<br />
Fahey once again won the Young Drivers class<br />
with Trehelig Lucky Omen.<br />
Cornwall’s Two Day BDS <strong>Show</strong> this year was<br />
held on 27th/28th June at St Newlyn East by<br />
kind permission of Mr and Mrs Roger Green.<br />
The first day with Traditional Vehicles judged<br />
by Shirley Higgins. What a fantastic day. Pat<br />
Maunder had with her Welsh cob Brimstone<br />
the warrior who was awarded the red ribbon<br />
in the In Hand class run up by son Paul only<br />
to follow on to win the over 13.2hh class to<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
February 14th.<br />
March 14th.<br />
April 11th.<br />
I hope to see you all soon.<br />
Website: www.cornwall.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
qualify for the BDS <strong>Show</strong> at Towerlands and<br />
the overall show Championship to gain the<br />
Victoria Foods qualifying rosette. The final<br />
class on the first day was the Trewithen Estate<br />
Concours D’ Elegance which was judged on a<br />
short show drive by Bill Gladwell of Darrock<br />
and Brown won by Elaine Kearney with her<br />
Shetland Bart. The second day followed suit<br />
with Shirley Higgins as judge for the Pleasure<br />
and the Exercise Vehicle classes. Brett Green<br />
drove his Lady Tara beautifully to a 4 wheeled<br />
Fenix to collect his well earned Red Rossette.<br />
The newly formed RDA driving group<br />
from Chiverton came along with volunteers<br />
and disabled drivers Katherine Wesson and<br />
Christopher Manhire to give a short display<br />
with their beloved Bob. The day was finished<br />
off with the Darrock and Brown Challenge<br />
Drive to include a quiz and skills en route<br />
organised by David and Dolly Scott. As is<br />
normal in our neck of the woods each day was<br />
finished off with tea and cakes including the<br />
social chat about the days proceedings<br />
Diary Dates<br />
August 2 – BBQ and Drive Treolwyn contact<br />
Brian & Brenda 01726 851144<br />
August 9th – Tregony <strong>Show</strong><br />
September 13th – Boconnoc. Contact Brian<br />
01726 851144<br />
October 4th – Lanhydrock. Contact Brian<br />
01726 851144<br />
November 2nd – General Meeting. Contact<br />
Brian 01726 851144<br />
AAC George Bell Tel: 01900 814521<br />
page 15 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
BDS News | page 16<br />
DERBYSHIRE/STAFFORDSHIRE<br />
AC Brian Durow<br />
Tel: 01283 733007 Work: Tel: 01283 215253<br />
Further to the meeting held at the Hilton<br />
House Hotel on March 23rd, Mr John Parker<br />
asked whether or not I would be prepared to<br />
carry on for another year as AC and after giving<br />
it some thought, I decided after all the support<br />
I received from the members at the meeting, I<br />
would continue for another year<br />
Aug 2nd –Bromley Hurst Drive-Picnic drive<br />
by kind invitation by Mr and Mrs G. Knight,<br />
WS15 3AF.<br />
Aug 5-6th – Bakewell <strong>Show</strong><br />
Aug 8th – Manfiold <strong>Show</strong><br />
Aug 12th – Ashover <strong>Show</strong><br />
Aug 15th – Ashbourne <strong>Show</strong><br />
DEVON<br />
AC Judy Green<br />
Tel: 01404 812742<br />
Spring drives have been well supported this<br />
year and we have been blessed with good<br />
weather. By the time you read this we shall<br />
have completed a hectic few weeks in June and<br />
July with a Fun Day, Barbeque, Rally and our<br />
<strong>Show</strong>. The Rally on June 26th was postponed<br />
from 31st May in order not to clash with the<br />
Somerset <strong>Show</strong>.<br />
We are looking forward to our second ever<br />
TREC on 9th August and there are plans afoot<br />
to visit a Wheelwright and Tannery in October<br />
which will be something quite new.<br />
A future note for your diary is our Christmas<br />
DORSET<br />
AC Alison Trevett<br />
Tel: 01258 881295<br />
Dorset Area members and visitors from further<br />
afield have been enjoying a range of events with<br />
their horses and ponies in the area, including a<br />
training day, drives and the Area’s first ever Area<br />
<strong>Show</strong>. In addition to the details below, further<br />
information about our activities is available<br />
in the Area newsletter, on the Dorset website<br />
(www.dorset.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk) and<br />
from Alison Trevett.<br />
Sunday 2nd August: BDS Trec at Dogdean<br />
Farm, Smugglers Lane, Furzehill, Wimborne,<br />
by kind invitation of Mrs Ann James. Schedule<br />
available on the Dorset website (www.dorset.<br />
britishdrivingsociety.co.uk) or send a SAE<br />
to Ann James, Dogdean Farm, Furzehill,<br />
Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4HB. For further<br />
details please telephone Ann Tel: 01202 886501<br />
Sunday 9th August: Picnic Drive from<br />
Stourton Leaze Farm, Holnest, by kind<br />
invitation of Mr and Mrs Parkinson. 12 noon<br />
start. For further details and numbers, please<br />
contact Carol Cuff Tel: 01300 348461<br />
Saturday 15th August: Tarrant Gunville Horse<br />
<strong>Show</strong> & Gymkhana<br />
Sunday 16th August: Interval Drive from The<br />
Bison Centre, West Knoyle, near Shaftesbury<br />
Aug 23rd – Brick Kiln Drive by kind invitation<br />
of Mr and Mrs R. Hutchinson, DE6 3EJ<br />
Sep 13th – Dishfields Farm Drive by kind<br />
invitation of Mr and Mrs M. Bale, DE6 5JA<br />
Oct 22nd Evening visit 7.30pm to<br />
Mr D. Bradburys Museum. Talk and Video. 40<br />
Ehanet. St Lower, Pilsley, Nr Claycross,<br />
S45 9JA<br />
Nov 7th – Saturday 7pm, Annual Meeting<br />
plus meal and social evening. Bluebell Inn,<br />
Tissington. Numbers seven days before please.<br />
Midlands <strong>Driving</strong> Trials Group Events<br />
Sep 26th – Catton Park, Club Championships<br />
near Burton on Trent.<br />
I would like to remind you that the Midlands<br />
Lunch which will be on 13th December<br />
preceded by a one hour Open Meeting for<br />
members to ask questions on anything from<br />
finances to fixtures and make suggestions or put<br />
forward ideas for next year.<br />
Dates from August are as follows and updates<br />
will be on our website.<br />
August 9th – TREC Competition at Hayes<br />
Barton, Jacobstow Near Okehampton EX20<br />
3RJ. Contact Mike Stamp 01837 851675 with<br />
s.a.e for Entry Form or see BDS website for<br />
entry form. Closing date 1st August. No late<br />
entries.<br />
Ann and Terry James with their horse Kira at<br />
the Winterborne Whitechurch interval drive on<br />
Sunday 3rd May<br />
by kind invitation of Lord and Lady Seaford<br />
and Colonel and Mrs Peter Douglas. Drive<br />
on country lanes and off road. Setting off at<br />
intervals from 11.30am individually or in small<br />
groups. Tea provided on return. Please contact<br />
Sue and Peter Douglas Tel: 01747 830752<br />
for further details and numbers please by<br />
Wednesday 12th August latest<br />
Wednesday 19th August: Gillingham &<br />
Shaftesbury Agricultural <strong>Show</strong><br />
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th August:<br />
Training Day, Supper and Fun Day at<br />
Hazeldene Farm, Kingston, Sturminster<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> Trials Group have invited all members<br />
of the BDS to drive the marathon course<br />
only on the Saturday, but not the obstacles at<br />
Offchurchbury and Catton Park. For further<br />
details on these, visit the website www.mdtg.<br />
co.uk or contact Lesley West on 01630 611314<br />
or send to s.a.e to mdtg Entries Secretary,<br />
Jodders, Soudley, Market Drayton, Shropshire,<br />
TF9 2SB.<br />
All drives start at 1pm unless otherwise stated,<br />
please contact me a few days in advance if you<br />
are able to attend a drive so I am able to notify<br />
our host. Thank you.<br />
All people driving need to bring their BDS<br />
membership for insurance purposes.<br />
Website: www.devon.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC Brian Colebrook-Clarke Tel: 07855 416498 (daytime only)<br />
Tel: 01409 211000<br />
August 23rd – Pub Drive at Ashwater. More<br />
details from Brian Colebrook Clarke. Evenings<br />
only on 01409 211000<br />
September 13th – Ideas please!<br />
September 27th – Rally with Dressage and<br />
Cones with Short Drive at Great Sloncombe<br />
Farm, Moretonhampstead. Contact Trudie<br />
Merchant 01647 440595<br />
October t.b.a. – Visit to Wheelwright and<br />
Tannery<br />
December 13th – Christmas Dinner, Open<br />
Meeting and Annual Prizegiving<br />
Website: www.dorset.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
ROW Dorothy Webb Tel: 01258 817188<br />
Newton, by kind invitation of Mr and<br />
Mrs Hugh Blakemore. Schedule available<br />
on the Dorset website (www.dorset.<br />
britishdrivingsociety.co.uk) or send an A5<br />
SAE to Hugh Blakemore, Hazeldene Farm,<br />
Back Lane, Kingston, Sturminster Newton,<br />
Dorset, DT10 2DT. For further details please<br />
telephone Hugh Tel: 01258 818098<br />
Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September:<br />
Dorset County <strong>Show</strong><br />
Thursday 10th September: Evening Meeting<br />
with Caroline Douglas LHHI. Come along<br />
and find out exactly what is required for<br />
the Road <strong>Driving</strong> Assessment Test and how<br />
to prepare. An essential meeting for all<br />
those interested in taking the Road <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Assessment test this October or at some time in<br />
the future. Free admission for BDS members<br />
and non-members very welcome at £3.00 per<br />
head. Bere Regis Sports Club, North Street,<br />
Bere Regis, Wareham, BH20 7LA (just off the<br />
A35 and A31). Licensed bar. 7.45pm. Further<br />
details and numbers to Alison Trevett Tel:<br />
01258 881295<br />
Sunday 13th September: Drive to be<br />
confirmed. For further details please contact
DORSET Cont.<br />
Carol Cuff Tel: 01300 348461<br />
Sunday 20th September: Training Day with<br />
Caroline Douglas LHHI. Training sessions for<br />
all Road <strong>Driving</strong> Assessment test candidates<br />
with the turnout they propose to take their test<br />
with. Dogdean Farm, Furzehill, Wimborne,<br />
BH21 4HB, by kind invitation of Mrs Ann<br />
James. From 9.00am – time slots will be<br />
allocated. For further details and to book,<br />
please contact Alison Trevett Tel: 01258 881295<br />
Sunday 11th October: Treasure Hunt Drive<br />
at Chilbridge Farm, near Wimborne, by kind<br />
invitation of Mr and Mrs Jim Richards. For<br />
further details and to book please contact<br />
Wendy Richards Tel: 01258 857203<br />
ESSEX & NORTH LONDON<br />
AC Eunice Hopton<br />
Tel: 01268 773291/07948 221297 eunicehopton@btinternet.com<br />
Essex members enjoyed a lovely drive<br />
from Hatfield Wick Farm, Terling by kind<br />
permission of Paul and Joy Foyle of Ostler<br />
Carriages. The route included a river crossing<br />
so we all had to raise our feet, apart from Wes<br />
McDermott who got just a little wet<br />
persuading his pony that this was a good<br />
idea! Paul and Joy made us most welcome<br />
on our return with plenty to eat and drink.<br />
If Joy promises to make some more of her<br />
delicious cream scones we’ll be back again<br />
soon!<br />
Our area show on 28th June exceeded all<br />
my expectations. The weather and the<br />
venue, Ashfields Carriage Centre were<br />
superb, Mr. Terry Chambers, the owner,<br />
GLOUCESTERSHIRE<br />
AC Peter Ford<br />
Tel: 01452 527031 peter@forddriving.force9.co.uk<br />
Sunday 18th October: Road <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Assessment Test Day with John Parker LHHI<br />
and Susan Townsend LHHI. Dogdean Farm,<br />
Furzehill, Wimborne, BH21 4HB, by kind<br />
invitation of Mrs Ann James. Pre-booking<br />
essential. For further details please contact<br />
Alison Trevett Tel: 01258 881295<br />
Thursday 12th November: Evening Meeting<br />
with Dorset Horse Watch. Free admission for<br />
BDS members and non-members very welcome<br />
at £3.00 per head. Bere Regis Sports Club,<br />
North Street, Bere Regis, Wareham, BH20<br />
7LA (just off the A35 and A31). Licensed bar.<br />
7.45pm. Further details from Alison Trevett Tel:<br />
01258 881295<br />
even very kindly doubled our prize<br />
money. Many thanks to all at Ashfields,<br />
my small overworked team of helpers<br />
and especially to everyone who came<br />
along and supported my first area show.<br />
We had a very enjoyable May <strong>Show</strong> with<br />
over 20 turnouts from all over the country.<br />
It was a lovely day, weather was perfect and<br />
we hope everyone both competing and<br />
spectating enjoyed the day. Thanks go to<br />
Trevor Teague for taking over the judging at<br />
the last minute when the judge who had been<br />
booked was unwell and the Phillips family<br />
for their continued support by providing<br />
us with a superb venue. We were delighted<br />
to get some lovely letters<br />
thanking us for a lovely day.<br />
Cynthia Sheerman<br />
There was also a good turnout<br />
of competitors at the Welsh<br />
Cob <strong>Show</strong> at Cirencester Park<br />
and it was good to see one of<br />
our members, Ellena Ingles<br />
winning the Junior Whip.<br />
Well done Ellie.<br />
Saturday 5th September<br />
<strong>2009</strong> - MORETON IN<br />
MARSH SHOW with<br />
Qualifiers - telephone Tim<br />
Gardner 01608 651 908 or<br />
check out the website www.<br />
moretonshow.co.uk<br />
Philip Evans Ann Townsend<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
Friday 4th December: Area Annual Meeting<br />
at Bere Regis Sports Club, North Street, Bere<br />
Regis, Wareham, BH20 7LA (just off the A35<br />
and A31). Following the meeting a buffet<br />
with be provided. Licensed bar. 7.45pm. For<br />
further details and numbers please telephone<br />
Alison Trevett Tel: 01258 881295<br />
Sunday 13th December: Christmas Lunch<br />
at The Fox Inn, Ansty, near Dorchester. Prebooking<br />
essential and for the menu and further<br />
details please telephone Alison Trevett Tel:<br />
01258 881295<br />
AAC Lisa Norton Tel: 07789 254181<br />
Photos by kind permission of David Doughty -<br />
www.daviddoughty.co.uk<br />
Dates for your diary:<br />
Sunday 23rd August – Drive (venue TBA)<br />
Website: www.gloucestershire.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
Saturday 17th October <strong>2009</strong> - SKITTLES<br />
EVENING - venue to be advised- telephone to<br />
book your place - 01452 527031<br />
Saturday 15th November <strong>2009</strong> - SKITTLES<br />
EVENING - as above<br />
Saturday 12th December <strong>2009</strong> -<br />
CHRISTMAS MEAL - venue to be arranged<br />
- book your place early so as to avoid<br />
disappointment.<br />
page 17 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | <strong>Driving</strong> Activities Across the UK<br />
AUG AREA EVENT CONTACT TEL<br />
1 E. Sussex Long Distance/Pleasure Donna 01797 230295<br />
BDS News | page 18<br />
N. Ireland Annalong <strong>Show</strong> Mrs Horner 02843 7684446<br />
1&2 Jersey Annual <strong>Show</strong> Phyllis 01534 721151<br />
Yorks & Cleve <strong>Driving</strong> and Training W/end Mark 01642 300030<br />
2 Bed/Buck/Hert BDS Trec Linda 07850 706978<br />
Cornwall BBQ and Drive Brian 01726 851144<br />
Der & Staff Bromley Hurst Drive Brian 01283 215253<br />
Dorset BDS Trec Ann 01202 8886501<br />
E. Sussex Chiddingly <strong>Show</strong> Pauline 01323 870154<br />
Kent Shepway ODE 01233 750560<br />
Wiltshire Stourhead <strong>Show</strong> Hazel 01793 770862<br />
4 Shropshire Newport Club Treasure Hunt Carol 01902 763209<br />
5,6 Bakewell <strong>Show</strong><br />
5 Bed/Buck/Hert Mossman Collection Linda 07850 706978<br />
Wiltshire Evening Drive Hazel 01793 770862<br />
6 Shropshire Burwarton <strong>Show</strong> Lester 01994 484766<br />
7,8,9 N. Ireland Necarne Irvinstown Mr Black 07801 898299<br />
8,9 Yorks & Cleve <strong>Driving</strong> Weekend Daphne 01347 823692<br />
8 Manfiold <strong>Show</strong><br />
E. Sussex Pub Drive Sue 01825 890264<br />
M.S.Wales Vintage Transport Day Martyn 01443 400183<br />
N.Ireland BDS Necarne Irvinstown Margaret 02892 665893<br />
9 Cornwall Tregony <strong>Show</strong><br />
C. Scotland St Fort Drive Zoe 01334 870151<br />
Devon Trec Competition Judy 01404 812742<br />
Dorset Picnic Drive Carol 01300 348461<br />
Galloway Venture Drive Sue 01776 820341<br />
Hampshire Cadnam <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Show</strong> Hazel 02380 776854<br />
Shropshire Winsley Hall Drive John 01952 691214<br />
Surrey Wimbledon Common Drive Jane 07949 227377<br />
War/W.Mid/Nor BDS Fillongly <strong>Show</strong> 01217 823493<br />
Wiltshire Brinkworth Horse <strong>Show</strong> Hazel 01793 770862<br />
11 Bed/Buck/Hert Young Drivers Schol. Day Linda 07850 706978<br />
Isle of Wight Cones Evening<br />
12 Ashover <strong>Show</strong><br />
14 Isle of Wight Junior Rally Margaret 01983 615338<br />
M.E.Wales BBQ & Equine Boot Sale Bob 01591 620216<br />
15 Bed/Buck/Hert BBQ Linda 07850 706978<br />
Ashborne <strong>Show</strong><br />
Dorset Tarrant Gunville Horse <strong>Show</strong><br />
N.Ireland Markethill Fair Day<br />
N.W.Wales Llanhrwst <strong>Show</strong> 01492 650847<br />
15,16 N.Ireland Argory National Trust Margaret 02892 665893<br />
Yorks & Cleve <strong>Driving</strong> Weekend Maurice 01609 780302<br />
16 Dorset Interval Drive Sue/Peter 01747 830752<br />
E. Sussex Oaks Annual <strong>Show</strong> Jane 01323 849615<br />
Isle of Wight Area <strong>Show</strong> Margaret 01983 615338<br />
Jersey 3rd Round Skilled Driver Phyllis 01534 721151<br />
Wales BDS Wales <strong>Show</strong> Michelle 07966 515325<br />
Wiltshire Drive Hazel 01793 770862<br />
19 Dorset Gilingham & Shaft. Ag. <strong>Show</strong><br />
Wiltshire Drive Hazel 01793 770862<br />
20 N.W.Wales Flint & Denbigh <strong>Show</strong> 01352 712131<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> Activities<br />
22,23 Wiltshire Wiltshire Area Summer <strong>Show</strong> Hazel 01793 770862<br />
22 N.Ireland BDS Banbridge <strong>Show</strong> Margaret 02892 665893<br />
Shropshire Clipper Rally Julie 07723 461133<br />
23 Bed/Buck/Hert Pix Farm Funday Kath 01442 258602<br />
C. Scotland Tentsmuir Drive Ann 01334 840609<br />
Der & Staff Brick Kiln Drive Brian 01283 215253<br />
Galloway Dumfries & Galloway <strong>Show</strong> Jean 01557 814672<br />
Devon Pub Drive at Ashwater Brian 01409 211000<br />
Jersey Le Trec Phyllis 01534 721151<br />
Norfolk Hempnall Drive Michael 01493 302805<br />
N.W.Wales Fun Day BBQ Morfydd 01248 601012<br />
Shropshire BDS Trec Lizzie 01691 656805<br />
Surrey Horsedrawn Barge Trip Gail 01306 627609<br />
War/W.Mid/Nor Trec Olive 01926 815240<br />
26 Kent Bradbourne Evening Cones 07961 314941<br />
N.W.Wales Merionydd <strong>Show</strong> 01341 422837<br />
28-30 M.E.Wales Weekend <strong>Driving</strong> Glenys 01686 440240<br />
Hampshire Test Day Sarah 07717 467562<br />
29 Drivers Dream <strong>Show</strong> Linda 07850 706978<br />
29-30 Dorset Training Day, Supper Hugh 01258 818098<br />
Normanhurst HDT<br />
30 Bed/Buck/Hert CHDC Drive Kath 01442 258602<br />
Norfolk BDS Trec Forest Edge Michael 01493 302805<br />
Yorks & Cleve Drive from Shipton Alan 01904 470481<br />
30-31 Edenbridge & Oxted <strong>Show</strong><br />
31 Bed/Buck/Hert Ashwell <strong>Show</strong> Josie 01462 743864<br />
N.W.Wales Babbell <strong>Show</strong> 07980 114083<br />
Wiltshire Cricklade <strong>Show</strong> Jayne 01793 752703<br />
SEPT AREA EVENT CONTACT TEL<br />
4 E. Sussex Pleasure Drive Jane 01323 849615<br />
5 Bed/Buck/Hert Try-it' Day Linda 07850 706978<br />
Gloucestershire Moreton in Marsh <strong>Show</strong> Tim 01608 651908<br />
M.E.Wales Beulah <strong>Show</strong> Emma 01591 610515<br />
N.W.Wales Cerrig y Drudion <strong>Show</strong> 01490 420626<br />
5,6 Dorset Dorset County <strong>Show</strong><br />
6 E. Sussex BDS Lunch/Annual Meeting Sue 01825 890264<br />
Isle of Wight Cream Tea Angela<br />
W. Wales Drive Nr Whitland Tina 01994 240910<br />
Wiltshire Brinkworth C&R. Breeds <strong>Show</strong> Hazel 01793 770862<br />
Yorks & Cleve Charity Ride & Drive 01751 460468<br />
7 Galloway Picnic Drive Sue 01776 820341<br />
Lancashire Social Evening Kathy 01257 422469<br />
9 Hampshire Test Day Sarah 07717 467562<br />
10 Dorset Evening Meeting Alison 01258 881295<br />
12 Bed/Buck/Hert Informal Garden Party Linda 07850 706978<br />
N. Ireland Castle Ward Margaret 02892 665893<br />
12,13 Lincolnshire BDS Display Sandringham<br />
13 Bed/Buck/Hert CHDC Dressage Competition Kathy 01442 258602<br />
Cornwall Boconnoc Brian 01726 851144<br />
Der & Staff Dishfields Farm Drive Brian 01283 215253<br />
Dorset Drive Carol 01300 348461<br />
Galloway Beach Drive Sue 01776 820341<br />
Hampshire Intro to Pairs <strong>Driving</strong> Sue 01962 777863
across the UK<br />
13 Jersey Mini Trials Phyllis 01534 721151<br />
Leics & Rutland Rally Dawn 07940 522179<br />
S.York & Notts BDS Trec Gill 01777 870408<br />
Wales Welsh Trec Finals<br />
14 N. Ireland Open Meeting Margaret 02892 665893<br />
Shropshire Shrewsbury Carriage Parade Philip 01952 242495<br />
19 Bed/Buck/Hert Try Trec' Linda 07850 706978<br />
Kent BCDC ODE 01233 750560<br />
N. Ireland County Comes to Town Margaret 02892 665893<br />
Wiltshire Foxham <strong>Show</strong> Hazel 01793 770862<br />
19-20 Vic. Foods CD Extravaganza Tony 01458 273844<br />
20 Bed/Buck/Hert Donkey <strong>Driving</strong> Day<br />
Dorset Training Day Alison 01258 881295<br />
E. Sussex Oaks ODE<br />
Hampshire Young Drivers Day Sarah 02380 651953<br />
Jersey Jnr/Nov/Grooms Trials Phyllis 01534 721151<br />
Norfolk Ashby Drive Michael O1493302805<br />
N. Ireland Frieisian Horse Inspection Jane 07740 305267<br />
N.W.Wales Newborough Forest Drive Morfydd 01248 601012<br />
Shropshire Fun Day Ursula 01939 250936<br />
Surrey Margaret's Treasure Hunt Margaret 01306 627461<br />
W. Wales Pendine Sands Drive Gilly 01646 661616<br />
Wiltshire Drive Hazel 01793 770862<br />
24 Hampshire Spider Drive Karen 01425 620492<br />
Hampshire Skittle Night Tessa 01590 622945<br />
25 Hampshire Spider Drive Tessa 01590 622945<br />
Hampshire Dinner at Sway Manor Tessa 01590 622945<br />
26 Hampshire Spider Drive Tessa 01590 622945<br />
Lancashire Treasure Hunt Pat 01772 423630<br />
M.W.Wales Carriage Pulling Fun Day Angela 01654 782382<br />
26/27 M. E. Wales Dragon Drive Emma 01591 610515<br />
27 Bed/Buck/Hert CHDC Treasure Hunt Kathy 01442 258602<br />
Devon Rally with Dressage & Cones Trudie 01647 440595<br />
Galloway Eriskay Pony Meeting Meg 01557 331257<br />
Hampshire Sunday Best Drive<br />
M.W.Wales Dyfnant Carriage Drive Angela 01654 782382<br />
Somerset & Avon RDA Carriage <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Show</strong> 01934 842661<br />
Wiltshire Leigh <strong>Show</strong> Jayne 01793 752703<br />
Yorks & Cleve Coach Trip to Darley Dale Daphne 01347 823692<br />
OCT AREA EVENT CONTACT TEL<br />
3,4 Towerlands <strong>Show</strong><br />
4 Cornwall Lanhydrock Brian 01726 851144<br />
Somerset & Avon Fun Day Terry 01935 706386<br />
10 M.W.Wales Dolgoch Studio Angela 01654 782382<br />
11 Bed/Buck/Hert Sponsored Drive Jean 07854 246412<br />
Dorset Treasure Hunt Drive Wendy 01258 857203<br />
Galloway Barstobrick Training Day Jean 01557 814672<br />
Kent Shepway Sponsored Drive 01233 750560<br />
War/W.Mid/Nor Trec Olive 01926 815240<br />
Wiltshire Drive Jayne 01793 752703<br />
17 Gloucestershire Skittles Evening Peter 01452 527031<br />
S.York & Nott Road <strong>Driving</strong> Training Day Malcolm 01777 248210<br />
18 Dorset Road <strong>Driving</strong> Assess. Day Alison 01258 881295<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> Activities Across the UK | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
18 E. Sussex BDS/Weald Pleasure Drive Donna 01797 230295<br />
Isle of Wight Memorial Spider Drive Robert 07734 166651<br />
M.W.Wales Mary Jones Drive Angela 10654 782382<br />
Shropshire Melverley Drive Lizzie 01691 656805<br />
Somerset & Avon Pub Lunch Terry 01935 706385<br />
Wiltshire Drive Hazel 01793 770862<br />
22 Der & Staff Evening Visit Brian 01283 215253<br />
25 S.York & Nott Road <strong>Driving</strong> Assess. Day Malcolm 01777 248210<br />
31 E. Sussex Halloween Fancy Dress Sue 01825 890264<br />
Hampshire Pumpkin Party Sue 01962 777863<br />
NOV AREA EVENT CONTACT TEL<br />
1 Hampshire Social Evening Tessa 01590 622945<br />
2 Cornwall General Meeting Brian 01726 851144<br />
4 Bed/Buck/Hert Heavy Horse Talk 01223 206000<br />
6 N. Ireland Annual Dinner Dance Eugene 02892 621184<br />
7 Der & Staff Annual Meeting Brian 01283 215253<br />
Kent Indoor <strong>Driving</strong> Royal Leisure<br />
8 Bed/Buck/Hert Annual Area Meeting Linda 07850 706978<br />
Galloway Barstobrick Training Day Jean 01557 814672<br />
Hampshire Drive from Corhampton Sarah 02380 651953<br />
9 Cheshire Winter Cones Les 01625 263601<br />
N. Ireland Annual Meeting Margaret 02892 665893<br />
12 Dorset Evening Meeting Alison 01258 881295<br />
14 Bed/Buck/Hert End of Season Dinner Linda 07850 706978<br />
Kent Indoor <strong>Driving</strong> Golden Cross<br />
Hampshire Horsey Quiz Tessa 01590 622945<br />
15 Gloucestershire Skittles Evening Peter 01452 527031<br />
Somerset & Avon Pub Lunch Christine 01179 591048<br />
21 E. Sussex Sponsored Children In Need Sue 01825 890264<br />
Norfolk Quiz Hempnall Mill Centre Michael 01493 302805<br />
29 Galloway Barstobrick Training Day Jean 01557 814672<br />
DEC AREA EVENT CONTACT TEL<br />
4 Dorset Area Annual Meeting Alison 01258 881295<br />
6 Hampshire Drive Sue 01962 777863<br />
Somerset & Avon Christmas Lunch Terry 01935 706386<br />
10 Hampshire Xmas Lunch Anne 01590 678321<br />
Lancashire Christmas Meal Pat 01772 423630<br />
12 Gloucestershire Christmas Meal Peter 01452 527031<br />
Wiltshire Christmas Dinner Hazel 01793 770862<br />
13 Devon Christmas Dinner Judy 01404 812742<br />
Dorset Christmas Lunch Alison 01258 881295<br />
Galloway Christmas Fancy Dress Jean 01557 814672<br />
Hampshire Xmas Drive Anne 01590 678321<br />
14 Cheshire Winter Cones Les 01625 263601<br />
29 Kent Indoor <strong>Driving</strong> Golden Cross<br />
JAN AREA EVENT CONTACT TEL<br />
1 Hampshire New Years Day Drive Sue 01962 777863<br />
3 Hampshire Drive from Coombes Gate Margaret 01590 626721<br />
16 Hampshire New Year Dinner Tessa 01590 622945<br />
page 19 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
BDS News | page 20<br />
HAMPSHIRE<br />
AC Roger Page<br />
Tel: 01962 777863<br />
9th August – Cadnam <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Show</strong> please<br />
contact Hazel Long on 02380 776854<br />
28th August and 9th September – Test Days<br />
at Lowhill. Contact Sarah on 07717467562 or<br />
Roger on 01962 777863.<br />
13th September – Intro to pairs driving at<br />
Lowhill Farm with Caroline Douglas. 1:30 pm.<br />
For more info and to book in please tel Sue<br />
Page on 01962 777863<br />
20th September – Young Drivers Day at<br />
Ober Farm please tel Sarah McBride on 02380<br />
651953 or 07717467562.<br />
24th September – Spider Drive to Ames<br />
Cottage, Beckley. Hot refreshment van in<br />
attendance to arrive approx 12:30 pm. Please<br />
tel Karen or Graham to let then know you are<br />
coming on 01425 620492.<br />
24th September – Skittle night at the Rose<br />
and Crown. £10 pp to include buffet. 7 for<br />
7:30 pm please, £10 per person including<br />
buffet supper. tel Tessa on 01590 622945 no<br />
later than the 16th of Sept.<br />
25th September – Spider Drive to Beaulieu<br />
Road to arrive approx 12 noon. Bring a picnic.<br />
Please tel Tessa on 01590 622945.<br />
25th September – Dinner at Sway Manor, 7<br />
pm for 7.30 pm £25.50 per person. Excellent<br />
3 course meal with coffee, cream and mints. If<br />
you could provide menu choices it would be<br />
helpful.<br />
Starters: Melon, Soup, Pâté<br />
Main: Roast Sirloin of Beef , Sea bass,<br />
Half Roast Duck<br />
Sweet from Display<br />
Coffee, Cream and mints<br />
HEREFORDSHIRE Website: www.herefordshire.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AC Kay Walton<br />
Tel: 01981 540209 bdsherefordshire@aol.com<br />
Past events<br />
The HDDG <strong>Show</strong> in May was a success and<br />
although cold there was a good turnout.<br />
Monnington Drive was lovely as usual. Good<br />
weather, 6 turnouts had a lovely drive<br />
followed by tea. Thanks to John Bulmer and his<br />
team for the warm welcome.<br />
Westons Bluebell Drive. A disappointing<br />
turnout but a lovely drive.<br />
Future events<br />
Trek practice day we are hoping to hold this in<br />
early September.<br />
We are lucky that Mandy Reddock has agreed<br />
to join myself and Roy as AAC. I asked Mandy<br />
to write a bit about herself which is included<br />
below:<br />
I have been involved with horses since I was<br />
very young and went through Pony Club and<br />
achieved my “A” Test Certificate. Did all sorts<br />
of horsey activities including Riding Club,<br />
Dressage, showjumping, and concentrated a<br />
lot on Side Saddle, where I became National<br />
Side Saddle Champion in 1985. I am now<br />
married to Tony and have two children,<br />
AAC Stuart & Tessa Johnstone Tel: 01590 622945<br />
AAC Sarah McBride Tel: 012380 651953<br />
Please send cheque (payable to B.D.S)<br />
and menu choice to Tessa Johnstone,<br />
Ober Farm, Rhinefield Rd, Brockenhurst,<br />
Hants, S042 7QE. We need to know final<br />
numbers by 11th September.<br />
26th September – Spider Drive to White<br />
Moor, Emery Down, to arrive approx 1<br />
pm bring a picnic. Please let Tessa know<br />
if you are coming on 01590 622945.<br />
27th September – CHANGE OF<br />
VENUE! Sunday Best Drive at<br />
Janesmoor Pond, Fritham. Leaving 12<br />
noon, followed by presentations. Bring<br />
a picnic to enjoy afterwards and make a<br />
day of it!<br />
14th October – Test Day at Lowhill. Tel<br />
Roger or Sue on 01962 777863 or Sarah<br />
07717467562<br />
31st October – Pumpkin Party at<br />
Lowhill Farm, hot supper,prizesfor best<br />
pumpkin and best Halloween costume<br />
plus games for all ages. Will be indoors<br />
if wet. Dress warm. £7 pp. To book in<br />
please tel Sue Page on 01962 777863.<br />
1st November – Social evening and<br />
meeting at the Sir Walter Tyrell Pub,<br />
Bramshaw. Please come to put forward<br />
any ideas for the future or to discuss<br />
anything from the past. Meeting to start<br />
at 7:30pm. If you would like to eat, please<br />
arrive early and order from the menu.<br />
Please tel Tessa if you are coming on<br />
01590 622945<br />
8th November – Drive from<br />
Corhampton. Please tel Sarah on 02380<br />
651953 or 07717467562 for more details.<br />
Emma (17) and Thomas (15). I started my<br />
driving career in 2000 when I had a little<br />
11.2hh Welsh Mountain pony called Toby<br />
which Emma used to ride, I felt it would be<br />
nice to drive him so I had some help from an<br />
elderly chap called Gordon to help break him<br />
in, within a week he was between the shafts<br />
and we have never looked back. We had Toby<br />
for about 5 years and had to sell him due<br />
to Emma getting too big to ride him, so we<br />
then bought Ben James a 14.2hh Welsh Cob<br />
and we rode as well as drive him and during<br />
his first year with us we won the Osborne<br />
Championship for Exercise vehicles at Burghley<br />
Horse Trials in 2005. Emma did a variety of<br />
Pony club activities with him and competed<br />
in <strong>Show</strong>jumping and Cross Country Teams<br />
and also hunted him for two seasons with the<br />
Radnor and West Pony Club. The family are<br />
members of the Hereford and District <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Group and regularly attend different rallies<br />
all over the county. We sold Ben James last<br />
February 2008 as Emma was getting too big<br />
to ride him and we felt it would be nice to<br />
have a larger horse for Tony, Emma and I all to<br />
ride. We found “Jasper” a 15.3hh Hackney x<br />
Website: www.hampshire.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
ROW: Carole Ruse Tel: 01488 648397<br />
14th November – Horsey Quiz at the<br />
Burley Inn, to start at 7:30pm. Please<br />
come early and choose from the bar menu<br />
if you wish to eat first. All questions will<br />
be horsey or driving related! Please Tel<br />
Tessa to book in on 01590 622945<br />
6th December – Drive from Hunters<br />
Inn, Swanmore. For all details and to<br />
book in please tel Sue Page on 01962<br />
777863<br />
10th December – Xmas Lunch at The<br />
Rising Sun, Wootton. 12 for 12:30. Please<br />
tel Anne Mouland to book in no later<br />
than 4th December.<br />
13th December – Xmas drive from<br />
The Rising Sun at Wootton with Steve<br />
Croll, leaving at 11:30am. Prizes for best<br />
decorated turnouts. Mulled wine and<br />
mince pies kindly provided by Steve on<br />
your return. Please tel Anne Mouland to<br />
book in on 01590 678321<br />
1st January – New Years’ Day Drive from<br />
West Stratton. Please contact Sue Page for<br />
more details on 01962 777863<br />
3rd January – Drive from Coombes<br />
Gate Farm, East End by kind invitation<br />
of Margaret and Malcolm. 11am start.<br />
Delicious homemade soup and hot mince<br />
pies on your return! Please tel Margaret a<br />
few days in advance to book in on 01590<br />
626721<br />
16th January – New Year Dinner at La<br />
Pergola, Lyndhurst. For more details tel<br />
Tessa on 01590 622945 by 1st January<br />
please.<br />
AAC Mandy Reddock<br />
Welsh Cob which belonged to Jim Ellesmore<br />
who lives locally and is also a member of<br />
the HDDG. He also owned Ben previous<br />
to us buying him so we knew what a great<br />
temperament the horse would have and how<br />
he had been brought up by Jim. We bought<br />
Jasper October 2008 and previous to that I had<br />
been lucky enough to drive Jasper for Jim at a<br />
few rallies. Since buying him we have broken<br />
him in to ride and Tony, Emma and myself<br />
took him to the HDDG Spring <strong>Show</strong> in May<br />
at Hereford and we all won a class with him - a<br />
day you dream about. I have been a member of<br />
the BDS since I started driving and was asked<br />
by Kay to join the Hereford BDS as AAC, I felt<br />
I would love to give something back that my<br />
family and I have had from the Association. As<br />
the Reddock family have proved in the past we<br />
have had some real family ponies/horses and<br />
you can get the best out of them by riding and<br />
driving.<br />
HAPPY DRIVING.
We had a great entry for our show on 31st May<br />
and a lovely sunny day. I would like to thank our<br />
judge Joy Claxton and Mark Fuller who was our<br />
probationary judge and also Juli Southby the ring<br />
steward for doing such a marvellous job. Results<br />
Registered Welsh: 1st Minta Winn; 2nd James<br />
Lewis. Private <strong>Driving</strong> 1st Minta Winn; 2nd Mr<br />
G. Dudley Exercise: 1st Mandy Saunders; 2nd<br />
Tabe Annema. Pleasure driving with a dalmatian.<br />
An interesting class with 2 winners Miranda<br />
Purves with a dalmatian and Mandy Saunders<br />
with a Jack Russell. Pairs exercise: 1st Elaine<br />
Thompson; 2nd Miranda Purves. Championship<br />
for the morning: Champion Minta Winn;<br />
LINCOLNSHIRE<br />
David Faulkner<br />
Tel: 01205 460351 david.faulkner60@btinternet.com<br />
The Lincolnshire Area of the <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> was invited by the organisers of<br />
the Brocklesby Country Fair to give a<br />
demonstration in the main ring during their<br />
<strong>2009</strong> event. Area Commissioner David<br />
Faulkner agreed and we were duly press ganged<br />
into service although we all volunteered.<br />
After a long drive we arrived at Brocklesby<br />
near Immingham north Lincolnshire only to<br />
be confused by the signage but after a short<br />
detour we were able to follow the Pony Club<br />
signs and arrived on time. The only changes<br />
from the Burghley display team was that<br />
Carole Davenport stepped in to cover for Joss<br />
Smith whose pony was unable to compete. Joss<br />
back stepped for Helen<br />
Faulkner and Cathy Towle<br />
drove a two wheel Millers<br />
Norfolk cart, complete<br />
with scales and weights<br />
to demonstrate a trade<br />
turnout.<br />
The BDS set up ‘camp’ in<br />
one corner and there was<br />
soon a key group settled<br />
in for the day. David’s camper was the main<br />
collection point where we all gathered for tea<br />
and coffee. We were to display at 11.30 so we<br />
went early and marked the arena for the cones<br />
and decided how we were going to start etc.<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
KENT Website: www.kent.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AC Sarah Owlett<br />
Tel: 01732 838320<br />
LANCASHIRE<br />
AC Pat Calderbank LHHI<br />
Tel: 01772 423630/mobile: 07734 176827<br />
Thank you first of all to Colin and Rhonda<br />
for putting on a lovely spread and making us<br />
very welcome at the Social evening we had at<br />
his house last month. A good opportunity to<br />
swap horsey stories and news. Thank you also<br />
to Peter for spending a lot of time and effort<br />
in organising a BDS drive around Beacon<br />
fell, which was sadly called off due to lack<br />
of interest! Will members please come along<br />
to the events they are requesting- it is very<br />
disheartening for the organisers when this<br />
happens.<br />
Thank you also to Dave and Steph for putting<br />
on a tasty Hog roasts and practice evenings-<br />
LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND<br />
AC Linda Cotterill Tel: 0116 2776242 or 07939 150079<br />
AC Jane Stretton Tel: 0116 2707732 mobile: 07711 084142<br />
13th September – Rally organised by Dawn<br />
Moore Stoke Golding Area Tel: 07940522179<br />
– 01455 458362<br />
AC Sara Howe Tel: 07961 314941 AAC Barrie Luck Tel: 01892 723393<br />
Reserve Elaine Thompson. Multiples: 1st Bob<br />
Alexander driving a Trandem; 2nd Michael<br />
Hartland. Gentleman Whip: 1st Will Leslie;<br />
2nd Matt Kelly. Lady Whip: 1st Kate West; 2nd<br />
Helen Bridges. Supreme Champion: Will Leslie;<br />
Reserve Champion: Kate West.<br />
Diary<br />
2nd August – Shepway ODE Contact 01233<br />
750560<br />
26th August – Bradbourne Evening Cones<br />
07961 314941<br />
29/30 August – Normanhurst Horse <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Trials. Lots of help needed please. Ring<br />
nice relaxing and fun occasions for horses and<br />
their humans.<br />
We will have a Treasure hunt for Carriage<br />
drivers and/or riders on Saturday 26th<br />
September-fun for all the family:) Please ring<br />
me for details; 01772 423630<br />
I will run a BDS Assessment and Road Test<br />
course in Autumn as usual, with a Test day<br />
when candidates are ready. Please contact me<br />
for details; 01772 423630<br />
Kathy Spencer is inviting BDS members to<br />
a Social evening, talk and slide show at her<br />
home on Monday 7th September. Kathy and<br />
Jeremy have spent several months of last year<br />
Cathy Towle driving a Millers Norfolk cart<br />
Rita 01227 768769. It’s a good day out with<br />
plenty of good views of the obstacles.<br />
19th September – BCDC One day Event at<br />
Absaloms Farm Underriver 07961314941<br />
11th October – Shepway sponsored drive<br />
01233 750560<br />
7th November – Indoor <strong>Driving</strong> Royal Leisure<br />
(prov)<br />
14th November – Indoor <strong>Driving</strong> Golden Cross<br />
(prov)<br />
29th December – Indoor <strong>Driving</strong> Golden Cross<br />
(prov)<br />
Website: www.lancashire.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC/ROW Peter Bamber Tel: 01772 784844<br />
AAC Colin Pass Tel: 01772 456621<br />
and this year sailing around the world! They<br />
didn’t get all the way around as they had to<br />
return for their daughter’s wedding, but will<br />
continue their travels in autumn. Their boat is<br />
waiting in Trinidad. This is an opportunity to<br />
see photos and hear amazing stories about their<br />
adventures... not to be missed! Please tel. Kathy<br />
if you would like to join us; 01257-422469.<br />
Remember to put the date for the BDS<br />
Xmas meal in your diaries - Saturday 10th<br />
December - can’t say you didn’t have plenty of<br />
notice!<br />
Happy driving, Pat<br />
Website: www.leicsandrutlandbds.co.uk<br />
jane.stretton@vesa.org.uk<br />
Website: www.lincolnshire.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC Gordon Denton Tel: 01724 711298<br />
AAC Kathleen Faulkner Tel: 01205 460351<br />
Nearer the time we made our<br />
way to our collection point and<br />
our steward Ruth collected us<br />
and led us into the collection<br />
area where we waited for the<br />
Police Dog handlers to finish.<br />
Our only other experience<br />
was in a ring 50mtr x 50mtr<br />
with perhaps a hundred people<br />
watching. This ring was<br />
almost 100 x 60mtrs. There was not a single<br />
viewing space around the main ring, we were<br />
later told that 17,000 people had attended.<br />
Thankfully the ponies had already been past<br />
the airgun range, through crowds of people<br />
page 21 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
LINCOLNSHIRE Cont.<br />
BDS News | page 22<br />
walking in from the car parks and then close to<br />
the Fairground, so close to a thousand people<br />
watching did not worry any of them. After a lap<br />
of the ring we lined up for the start and waited<br />
for the music. After a false start we completed<br />
our routine and ended with the music. Then<br />
Cathy Towle entered the ring<br />
with her turnout and did a<br />
circuit while David Faulkner<br />
commentated on the carriage,<br />
he did this for each of us and<br />
then Carole Davenport led<br />
us around the ring and out to<br />
the collection ring while the<br />
grooms collected donations for<br />
the Lincolnshire & Notts Air<br />
Ambulance. We raised £209.03<br />
and we put Lincolnshire BDS<br />
on the map. By the time we<br />
got back to the box park it was<br />
NORFOLK Website: www.norfolk.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AC Michael Cooke<br />
Tel: 01493 302805 michael-a-cooke@hotmail.co.uk<br />
OXFORDSHIRE<br />
AC Peter Kyle<br />
Tel: 01235 765810 peterkyle@tiscali.co.uk<br />
SHROPSHIRE<br />
AC Philip Holder<br />
Tel: 01952 242495<br />
philip@wellingtoncarriageco.co.uk<br />
The Harness Horse Blessing took place on 3rd<br />
of May, Helen James reports:<br />
“The morning of the Horse Blessing dawned<br />
and we were all pleased to see fine weather,<br />
despite the strong breeze. The destination<br />
this year was Adcote School, Little Ness;<br />
just outside Baschurch. The school is in a<br />
magnificent Victorian country house, designed<br />
getting a bit crowded with lorries and trailers as<br />
the Pony Clubs arrived for their show jumping<br />
event.<br />
With our display over we had the rest of the<br />
day to relax and walk around the fair which<br />
turned out to be much bigger<br />
than we imagined. Certain female<br />
members of the group went<br />
The Faulkner family and groom Joss<br />
Smith getting ready<br />
AAC Ursula Dobrowolska Tel: 01939 250936<br />
AAC Lester Dagge Tel: 01584 890882<br />
in 1879 by the famous architect Norman Shaw<br />
for Rebecca Darby, daughter of the Darby/<br />
Wedgwood marriage. Most of the 12 turnouts<br />
arrived in plenty of time but one or two did<br />
get a little lost in the local lanes. There was<br />
plenty of easy parking in the grounds and when<br />
ready, we set ourselves in a semi-circle in the<br />
shade of some trees. This seemed a good idea,<br />
out several times on shopping expeditions,<br />
apparently nothing was purchased they were<br />
only carrying bags of freebies…..Hhmmm…<br />
Our final booking of the season is the<br />
Sandringham Game and Country Fair [Sept<br />
12th & 13th] organised by Living Heritage,<br />
not quite by Royal appointment but near<br />
enough for us.<br />
Waiting to go in the ring<br />
AAC Yvonne Dobbie Tel: 01263 833719<br />
Sunday 31st May. Lovely sunny morning and we were welcomed to<br />
White Rails Farm, Great Melton. Six turnouts arrived and were ready<br />
for a nice drive. We set off at 11am for a 6 to 7 mile drive around<br />
the highways and byways of the Norfolk countryside. A nice steady<br />
pace was maintained and traffic of all varieties was encountered and<br />
dealt with without problems. On returning to the farm we all enjoyed<br />
our picnic lunches in the glorious sunshine. After lunch I had set<br />
up a small cone course for any of the members to try, including a<br />
‘watersplash’. All took part and attempted the water, some more<br />
successfully than others, but a good laugh was had and everyone<br />
enjoyed themselves. Members did ask if we could go to White Rails<br />
again and our host was gracious enough to say yes. I must thank our<br />
host Mr R Richardson for allowing us to use his farm on the day.<br />
At the time of going to print we should have had our drive in Thetford<br />
Forest. This is to raise some money for the John Grant School for<br />
children with special needs in Caister on Sea.<br />
Dates<br />
23rd August – Hempnall Drive<br />
30th August – BDS Trec Forest Edge, Swaffham<br />
20th September – Ashby Drive<br />
21st November – Quiz Hempnall Mill Centre<br />
All above contact Mike Cooke 01493 302805<br />
Website: www.oxfordshire.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC Karen Harvey Tel: 01993 880445 kharvey@swets.com<br />
Website: www.shropshire.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
John Gibson (Rights of Way) Tel: 01952 691214<br />
Philip Holder (Website) Tel: 01952 242495<br />
until it was realised that the flies had also taken<br />
to the shade. It was a bit too late to move as<br />
the local Vicar, from Little Ness, was already<br />
telling his story. Even the quietest of ponies,<br />
Sally Marren, found standing still almost<br />
impossible with all those flies (and only early<br />
May) irritating pony and person alike! After<br />
the blessing, the ponies set off on the option of<br />
Photos by kind permission of Kathleen Faulkner
SHROPSHIRE Cont.<br />
a long or short drive.<br />
Both drives were very<br />
picturesque and both<br />
had their interesting<br />
moments: Turnouts on<br />
the long drive had to<br />
cope with descending a<br />
steep hill or two around<br />
The Vale at Nescliffe<br />
which, as far as I could<br />
tell, concerned the<br />
drivers a lot more than<br />
their excellent horses<br />
and ponies; the drivers<br />
and grooms on the<br />
short drive made their<br />
ride more interesting<br />
by missing the turn for<br />
home and travelling<br />
4½ miles or so instead<br />
of 2 miles, arriving<br />
back at the boxes some<br />
time after those on the<br />
longer drive!<br />
After a cup of tea and<br />
cake, everyone departed<br />
having thoroughly<br />
enjoyed the blessing<br />
and the drive. Now,<br />
SOMERSET & AVON<br />
Preparing for Alkyngton Drive<br />
Avril Pluck & Spin<br />
Tom Allison at the Lake<br />
Vyrnwy Drive<br />
AC Terry Barrett<br />
Tel: 01935 706386 terry4gloria@hotmail.co.uk<br />
THE “B.D.S. Somerset Area” <strong>Show</strong> held<br />
on the 31st May was once again successful with<br />
brilliant sunshine. We wish to thank all the<br />
competitors for their continued support, the<br />
two Judges - Mr. M. Kesans & Mr. C. Scott,<br />
and also our two Concours judges Mrs. Pat.<br />
Baker & Mr. Ivor Morris. Our thanks go also<br />
to our two hard working Stewards Alan &<br />
Carol Ricketts, our Rosette Steward Caroline<br />
Thresher and Bill Dawson for ensuring<br />
everyone was in the ring on time. Also our<br />
kitchen ladies - Beverley, Kath & Sarah, for<br />
making sure everybody was fed. But our main<br />
thanks must go to all our sponsors, as without<br />
them there would not be a <strong>Show</strong>.<br />
NEXT YEAR’S SHOW IS BEING HELD ON<br />
MAY 30th SAME VENUE. We hope to see<br />
you all there.<br />
Aug 9th – DRIVE from the home of Mr.<br />
& Mrs. L. Hill. Sampford Farm. Sampford<br />
Arundel, Wellington. Tel. 01823-672 377. No’s<br />
please by August 2nd.<br />
Aug 16th – Mid Somerset <strong>Show</strong>. Shepton<br />
Mallett.<br />
Aug 22nd – B.D.S. Carriage <strong>Driving</strong> Road<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> Assessment Day at Fenix Carriages,<br />
Clayhidon, Cullompton. No’s required by July<br />
AC Eunice Binder<br />
Tel: 01473 830326/07963 285 952<br />
eunicebinder@btinternet.com<br />
the $64m question…<br />
Where to next year?”<br />
On the 21st June eight<br />
turnouts enjoyed a drive<br />
from Alkyington Hall<br />
by kind permission of<br />
Mrs Fearnall, organised<br />
by North Shropshire<br />
Club. Before moving<br />
off, judging took place<br />
and Tom Allison won<br />
the best turnout. Each<br />
turnout was given a map<br />
and directions for either a<br />
six and a half or ten and<br />
a half mile drive. These<br />
were apparently needed<br />
as rumour has it that the<br />
signs in Whixall were<br />
turned round during the war to confuse the<br />
enemy and have never been put back so that<br />
some people can never find their way out!<br />
The weather held fair and on return every one<br />
enjoyed a bring and share picnic. Hopefully<br />
this will become an annual event.<br />
One experienced senior member referring<br />
to the aforementioned events brought to my<br />
attention the fact that some horses are not<br />
happy to stand for extended periods of time<br />
20th to Terry Barrett. 1. High Leaze Cottages.<br />
Brympton, Yeovil. BA22 8TE.<br />
Aug 23rd – Training Day. Morning.<br />
Individual Lesson with Mark Broadbent with<br />
your own outfit. £40. Per Lesson, only 2<br />
places available on 1st come 1st served basis.<br />
Cheques made out to “B.D.S. Somerset<br />
Area” & send to Terry Barrett. 1 High Leaze<br />
Cottages. Brympton. Yeovil by August 1st.<br />
Afternoon. Approx. 1-00 p.m. Demonstration<br />
& Tour of Carriage Museum. Including the<br />
“Lorna Doone” Coach & others - by Mark<br />
Broadbent. £10. per individual including light<br />
refreshments. Members from any other areas<br />
will be welcome.<br />
Sep 12th – Frome Cheese <strong>Show</strong>.<br />
Sep 19/20th – Victoria Foods Carriage <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Extravaganza to be held Hand Equestrian<br />
Centre, Bristol. For further information please<br />
contact Mr. T. Morris. Tel; 01458-273844.<br />
Sep 27th – Somerset Levels R.D.A. Carriage<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Show</strong> to be held at the Taunton<br />
Racecourse, Corfe, Taunton. Secretary is<br />
Mr. S. Bougourd. Tel: 01934-842661<br />
Oct 4th – FUN DAY, at the home of Mr.<br />
& Mrs. L. Hill. Sampford Farm. Sampford<br />
SUFFOLK, CAMBRIDGESHIRE & HUNTINGDON<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
soon after being put to. Perhaps it would be<br />
helpful if participants are made aware that they<br />
may need to arrive in time to settle their horses<br />
down and that sufficient space is available for<br />
them to do so.<br />
Congratulations to Avril Pluck & Spin on<br />
wining the Carriage Dog Trials at Skipton<br />
with 100% marks. Good luck to them at the<br />
nationals in July.<br />
August 4th – Newport Club Treasure Hunt<br />
and meal. Contact Carol Gregory 01902<br />
763209<br />
August 6th – Burwarton <strong>Show</strong>. Contact Lester<br />
01994 484766<br />
August 9th – Winsley Hall Drive. Contact<br />
John Gibson 01952 69121<br />
August 22nd – Clipper Rally, Harrington.<br />
Contact Julie 07723 461133<br />
August 23rd – Shropshire BDS Trec Sweeney<br />
Mountain Oswestry contact Lizzie 01691<br />
656805. Please note change of date.<br />
September 14th – Shrewsbury Carriage Parade.<br />
Contact Philip 01952 242495<br />
September 20th – Fun Day at Sunnyside Farm.<br />
Contact Ursula 01939 250936<br />
October 18th – Melverly Drive. Contact Lizzie<br />
01691 656805<br />
Website: www.somerset.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC Moya Bangham Health & Safety Tel: 0117 9591048<br />
AAC Kathleen Hill Tel: 01823 672377<br />
ROW Mrs. J. Boucher Tel: 01823 461600<br />
Arundel. Wellington. Somerset. Dressage,<br />
Cones, Low Key <strong>Show</strong>ing Classes, & a short<br />
Drive. Time Permitting. ENTRIES ON THE<br />
DAY. For further details please contact Mrs.<br />
K. Hill. 01823-672-377. OR Terry. 01935<br />
706386.<br />
Oct 18th – PUB LUNCH at “Oake Manor<br />
Golf Club” Oake. Nr.Taunton. Nos. to Terry<br />
Barrett. 01935 706385 by Oct. 11th.<br />
Nov 15th – PUB LUNCH at “The Nags<br />
Head” Thornfalcon Nr. Taunton. Nos. to<br />
Christine. 0117 959 1048 by Nov 8th.<br />
Dec 6th – Christmas Lunch at Oake Manor<br />
Golf Club.<br />
Jeff Osborne, overall <strong>Show</strong> Champion<br />
AAC David Baker Tel: 01223 835229 dbaker@morgans10.freeserve.co.uk<br />
AAC Elaine McCarthy Tel: 01223 870181 elaine@sterlingresearch.co.uk<br />
ROW officer Wallace Binder Tel: 01473 830326<br />
page 23 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
BDS News | page 24<br />
SURREY<br />
AC Jane Brightwell<br />
Tel: 0208 657 9393 surreybds@aol.com<br />
With the driving season now in full swing I am<br />
pleased to report that all our Surrey Area events<br />
have been well supported and enjoyed.<br />
The Regional Training Clinic at Merrist Wood<br />
in late April went really well with participants<br />
not only learning a lot from the instructors<br />
Gary Docking and Minta Winn, but by the<br />
end of the day turnouts were improving and<br />
everyone was asking for a further Training<br />
Clinic on this basis. A very positive and<br />
enjoyable day enjoyed by everyone instructors<br />
and participants alike.<br />
May was a busy month with our Mayday Meet,<br />
BDS TREC and Whiteley Village Drive. All<br />
these events were well supported and greatly<br />
enjoyed by members. Many thanks to our<br />
organisers Gail Brownrigg and Dave and Helen<br />
Pritchard plus all the wonderful helpers who<br />
make these days run so smoothly.<br />
Our drive at Chilworth Hill in June went<br />
SUSSEX EAST<br />
AC Sue Page Tel: 01825 890264 bds-sussex@hotmail.co.uk<br />
AC Donna Simmons Tel: 01797 230 295<br />
August<br />
1st – Long distance / pleasure<br />
Peasmarsh. Donna – 01797 230 295<br />
Last entry 20th July<br />
2nd – Chiddingly show. Hale Stud. Pauline<br />
Kennard - 01323 870 154<br />
8th – Pub drive. Framfield / round Waldron<br />
Sue – 01825 890 264<br />
16th – Oaks Annual <strong>Show</strong>. Jane Curd –<br />
01323 849 615. Last Entry 7th August.<br />
SUSSEX WEST<br />
Dawn Skett<br />
Tel: 0121 7823493<br />
Mobile: 04020 22825<br />
I do hope that you are all enjoying your driving<br />
whether it be shows, rallies or trials. The idea<br />
is to enjoy yourself and your horses and drive<br />
safely. I have to report that Mr Chris Jacob has<br />
decided that he and his wife Margo would like<br />
to spend more time enjoying the grandchildren,<br />
so he has decided to retire from his position<br />
which he has held for many years. I know<br />
that you would like me to thank him for all<br />
of you, but he will be returning to offer his<br />
assistance at any time in the future. I would like<br />
to announce that Mr Peter Munt has agreed<br />
to become Assistant Commissioner for my<br />
very well with nine turnouts having a lovely<br />
drive followed by a cones competition in the<br />
afternoon. <strong>Special</strong> thanks to Mary and John<br />
Crittall for organising the day and Colin Noon<br />
for setting up the cones.<br />
Sunday 9 August – Wimbledon Common<br />
Drive by kind permission of the Wimbledon &<br />
Putney Commons Conservators – Details from<br />
Jane Curtis 07949 227377 or 0208 874 0201.<br />
Entries close 31st July. (Low Emission Zone<br />
rules apply).<br />
Sunday 23 August – Horsedrawn Barge Trip<br />
and Cream Tea – from Godalming Wharf.<br />
£10.50 per adult £9 per child cheques payable<br />
to Godalming Packetboat Company by 13th<br />
August to Gail Brownrigg, 1 Myrthle Cottage,<br />
Okewoodhill, Dorking, Surrey. RH5 5PT Tel<br />
01306 627609.<br />
Sunday 20 September – Margaret’s Treasure<br />
Hunt Drive from Okewoodhill, Nr.Ockley.<br />
29th - 30th – Normanshurst<br />
30th - 31st – Eden bridge & Oxted<br />
September<br />
4th – Pleasure drive. Jan Curd –<br />
01323 849 615<br />
6th – BDS lunch / AGM<br />
Base Framfield. Sue<br />
11th - 13th – Windsor Nationals<br />
20th – Oaks ODE<br />
AC Colin Hurd<br />
Tel: 01243 776809/07973 682861 (Eves only) C_HURD@sky.com<br />
WARWICKSHIRE, WEST MIDLANDS, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE<br />
AAC Olive Belcher Tel: 01926 815240<br />
AAC Dianne Austin Tel: 01922 637191<br />
areas, as he lives on the Northants and Rugby<br />
borders and he is keen to assist the members<br />
of Northhants as well as the other areas so<br />
that Olive and myself can all enjoy working<br />
together. I asked Peter if he would be willing to<br />
use his yard for our area to train and test our<br />
members on the unit of competence for carriage<br />
driving and road assessment and he stated that<br />
he would be pleased to do so. That is the end<br />
of my news.<br />
Many of our events have passed those still to be<br />
held are below.<br />
Website: www.surrey@britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC David Pritchard Tel: 01372 457074<br />
Details from Margaret Evans Tel. 01306<br />
627461.<br />
December – Quiz Night with Fish & Chip<br />
Supper – see next newsletter for details.<br />
Please Note: We will be asking for BDS<br />
Membership Cards at all Area Events this<br />
year – so don’t forget to bring it along. Please<br />
remember that an able groom is a compulsory<br />
feature with each turnout and that those<br />
aged 14 or under must be accompanied by<br />
a competent adult at all times and must also<br />
wear a hard hat in the interests of safety. Please<br />
ensure that turnouts are harnessed correctly.<br />
Drivers are asked to drive safely and sensibly<br />
giving consideration to other carriage drivers,<br />
spectators and members of the public. All<br />
turnouts must have a competent groom/<br />
passenger on the vehicle (no sulkies or one<br />
seater vehicles).<br />
AAC Helen Bridges Tel: 01825 872030<br />
AAC Lizzie Page Tel: 07989 428946<br />
ROW Cathy Millard Tel: 07887 654174<br />
October<br />
3rd - 4th – Towerlands<br />
18th – BDS / Weald pleasure drive<br />
Peasmarsh. Donna<br />
31st – Halloween Fancy dress<br />
Base Framfield. Sue<br />
Fancy- £5; Non Fancy £10<br />
November<br />
21st – Sponsored Children in need TBC. Sue<br />
Minimum sponsor £20<br />
Website: www.westsussex.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC Peter Munt Tel: 01926 817889<br />
AAC David Coghill Tel: 01604 762924<br />
(Northamptonshire)<br />
August 9 – B.D.S. Fillongly <strong>Show</strong><br />
01217823493 /07702022825<br />
August 23 – Trec at Olives 01926 815240<br />
11am start<br />
Drive@B.B.Q at Peter Munts 01926 817889<br />
start 12 pm<br />
October 11th – B.D.S. Trec at Preston Baggot.<br />
01926 815240<br />
Results of events later in year. Wishing you all<br />
safe driving.
WILTSHIRE<br />
AC Hazel Woodbridge<br />
Tel: 01793 770862 hazelwoodbridge@hotmail.com<br />
We now have a Web site – www.wiltshire.<br />
britishdrivingsociety.co.uk please check it for<br />
details of our events and for special events not<br />
listed. Further details will also be listed in the<br />
Area’s own newsletter. Please look on our web<br />
site for photographs from our events, you never<br />
know you might find yourself there!<br />
Sunday August 2nd – Stourhead <strong>Show</strong> Nr<br />
Mere. This is a new venue and for this year<br />
when there will be driving classes in the<br />
afternoon only. SAE to Hazel Woodbridge,<br />
Hafawey House Hoggs Lane, Purton Swindon<br />
Wiltshire SN5 4BU or check our web site for<br />
details<br />
Wednesday August 5th – Evening Drive from<br />
Merchant’s Barn Farm Long Newton by kind<br />
invitation of Stephanie Dale Drive to pub and<br />
return with light refreshments. 5.30 for 6p.m.<br />
prompt start. Contact Hazel on 01793 770862<br />
Sunday August 9th – Brinkworth Horse <strong>Show</strong><br />
– a full day of driving classes at this traditional<br />
show which has a total of 61 classes covering<br />
all disciplines. SAE to Hazel Woodbridge,<br />
Hafawey House Hoggs Lane, Purton Swindon<br />
Wiltshire SN5 4BU or check our web site for<br />
details.<br />
Sunday August 16th – Drive – venue sought.<br />
Contact Hazel on 01793 770862. We have a<br />
possible new venue for this one so please watch<br />
the web site or call Joyce or Hazel for further<br />
information.<br />
Wednesday August 19th – Evening Drivevenue<br />
sort Contact Hazel on 01793 770862<br />
Saturday and Sunday August 22/23rd –<br />
Wiltshire Area Summer <strong>Show</strong>, The Fox Purton.<br />
The only show anywhere in Wiltshire that has<br />
affiliated Hackney <strong>Driving</strong> Classes. SAE to<br />
Hazel Woodbridge, Hafawey House Hoggs<br />
A small group is enjoying the subsidised<br />
training this summer which I organised for<br />
our members with Sarah Wildy LHHI. We<br />
have 10 sessions of 3 hours each on summer<br />
evenings about every fortnight, beginning at the<br />
end of April. We shall carry this through until<br />
September so please contact Paddy if you wish<br />
to join in.<br />
We will hold our Young Drivers Camp this<br />
summer from 10th to the 13th August with<br />
the help of the Wolverley Club, Sarah Wildy<br />
and Judith Broom, this will be open to adults<br />
as well if we have space. Please get in touch as<br />
soon as you can if you are interested.<br />
Wendy Martin has offered to take a group of<br />
members any time by arrangement on her local<br />
TROT drive at Wick. Please telephone her on<br />
01386 556382.<br />
Lane, Purton Swindon Wiltshire SN5 4BU or<br />
check our web site for details.<br />
Monday August 31st – Cricklade <strong>Show</strong><br />
Mrs Secretary: Mrs Jayne Case, Wharf Farm,<br />
Latton Wharf, Cricklade, Wiltshire, SN6 6DQ<br />
(01793) 752703ye http://www.c1793 752703.<br />
Sunday September 6th – Brinkworth Country<br />
and Rare Breeds <strong>Show</strong>. Afternoon <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Classes SAE to Hazel Woodbridge, Hafawey<br />
House Hoggs Lane, Purton Swindon Wiltshire<br />
SN5 4BU or check our web site for details.<br />
Saturday September 19th – Foxham <strong>Show</strong><br />
Afternoon <strong>Driving</strong> Classes SAE to Hazel<br />
Woodbridge, Hafawey House Hoggs Lane,<br />
Purton Swindon Wiltshire SN5 4BU or check<br />
Foxham Horse <strong>Show</strong> web site for details.<br />
Sunday September 20th – Drive along the<br />
Ridgway from Sparsholt Firs. 10.45 for 11.15.<br />
This is a restricted Byway so no tracks cut in by<br />
off road vehicles. Bring a picnic. Please contact<br />
Hazel again on Sunday morning to confirm.<br />
Contact Hazel on 01793 770862.<br />
Sunday September 27th – Leigh <strong>Show</strong><br />
Secretary: Mrs Jayne Case, Wharf Farm,<br />
Latton Wharf, Cricklade, Wiltshire, SN6 6DQ<br />
(01793) 752703ye<br />
October 3rd /4th – Annual BDS / Hackney<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> at Towerlands. Do you want to go?<br />
Tickets and transport arranged probably for the<br />
Saturday to include the evening performance.<br />
Numbers by September 21st. Contact Hazel on<br />
01793 770862<br />
October 11th – Drive from Wharf Farm<br />
Latton, nr. Cricklade by kind invitation<br />
of Roger Cleaver and Family 11 for 11.30<br />
refreshments on return. To book in Contact<br />
Jayne Case on 01793 752703 For any other<br />
information Contact Hazel on 01793 770862<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
Website: www.wiltshire.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC Joyce White Tel: 01249 720608<br />
October 18th – Drive – venue sought Contact<br />
Hazel on 01793 770862<br />
October 25th – Venue Sought Contact Hazel<br />
on 01793 770862<br />
Sunday November 8th – Venue Sought<br />
Contact Hazel on 01793 770862<br />
Saturday December 12th – Annual Area<br />
Christmas Dinner – advance notice<br />
There will be several informal events during the<br />
year to which members from adjoining areas are<br />
always welcome.<br />
Please keep an eye open for further events in<br />
the Area by checking our Web site.<br />
Any helpers for the above events are very<br />
welcome or if you are able to host a drive please<br />
contact either Joyce or myself.<br />
Area News<br />
The first of the Area’s <strong>Show</strong>s has taken place,<br />
although the weather forecast was not great<br />
we had a fine day until we were packing up<br />
and then it just poured! It’s always worth<br />
just checking the local forecast before finally<br />
abandoning the day.<br />
There have been several drives including a most<br />
enjoyable evening drive with a mid way stop at<br />
a local pub, a great way to meet the public and<br />
tell them all about Carriage <strong>Driving</strong>.<br />
Drives will continue throughout the year, new<br />
venues for drive are always being sought please<br />
contact Hazel or Joyce if you are able to host a<br />
new venue.<br />
For further information on any of the above<br />
contact Hazel Woodbridge on 01793 770862<br />
or preferably e-mail me at hazelwoodbridge@<br />
hotmail.com. Members from adjoining Areas<br />
are always welcome<br />
WORCESTERSHIRE www.worcs.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AC Paddy Marris<br />
Tel: 01885 410324 paddy@marris.net<br />
AAC Sandy Blakeway-Smith Tel: 01299 832821 dblakewaysmith@tiscali.co.uk<br />
AAC Belinda James Tel:01684 310766<br />
Belinda James will organise a day driving on the<br />
Malvern hills, telephone 01684 310766.<br />
Weekly drives (20 miles, horses must be very<br />
fit) are organised by John Redfern and Ivan<br />
Meredith tel. 01299 851304. Please telephone<br />
the organiser a week beforehand if you would<br />
like to join the drives.<br />
The Wolverley DDC have an excellent<br />
programme of varying events and training<br />
and occasional drives on a Tuesday, see their<br />
website for details www.wolverleydriving.co.uk.<br />
New members always welcome, telephone the<br />
secretary Linda Sprosen 01562 824 350.<br />
The Hereford DDG also have a first rate<br />
programme, new members always welcome,<br />
telephone the secretary Katja Jones 01497<br />
821009 or see their website, www.hddg.co.uk.<br />
The Three counties show will be held while I<br />
am away, Belinda James and Lester Dagge are<br />
again organising the program together with<br />
the Wolverley club and it promises to be very<br />
exciting again this year, lots of classes for all and<br />
with a new event to demonstrate to the general<br />
public the indoor driving trials.<br />
Our newsletters are published in the BDS news<br />
and also on our website.<br />
Please remember that if you are a beginner or<br />
no longer driving you are always more than<br />
welcome to attend on foot either as a spectator<br />
or as a steward or helper at BDS events and<br />
club events at local or national level, we are<br />
a very friendly group of people! Also why<br />
not consider helping one of our local groups<br />
providing carriage driving for the disabled.<br />
page 25 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
BDS News | page 26<br />
YORKSHIRE & CLEVELAND Website: www.yorkscleve.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AC Daphne Summers<br />
Tel: 01347 823692<br />
e-mail: daphnecobwebs@yahoo.co.uk<br />
It’s been a slow start to the season, with one<br />
drive cancelled and one change of venue. Frank<br />
and Margaret Edwards stepped in and saved the<br />
day when we lost our Dalby venue at the last<br />
minute and allowed us to have it at Scackleton.<br />
Ten turnouts enjoyed a very sociable weekend<br />
and had some wonderful drives, thanks to<br />
Frank negotiating with several landowners for<br />
permission to cross their property. Many thanks<br />
Frank. May I remind everyone to please let<br />
hosts know at least one week in advance if they<br />
are going to attend a rally so that they can be<br />
catered for.<br />
May I also take this opportunity to wish Joyce<br />
Sugden a speedy recovery after a dreadful<br />
accident when her pair bolted, resulting in the<br />
deaths of both horses and broken legs amongst<br />
other injuries for Joyce.<br />
Thirteen area members embarked the coach<br />
bound for John Parker’s Swingletree Stables<br />
on April 25th, as we set off it seemed a long<br />
way to go for a visit and one or two felt guilty<br />
for leaving jobs undone at home on such a<br />
beautiful spring day. None of us had visited the<br />
BDS chairman at home before and we were not<br />
sure what to expect. On arrival we were treated<br />
to tea and biscuits and then we were privileged<br />
to spend a day in the company of the driving<br />
world’s most interesting character and his team<br />
of helpers. Most of our merry day trippers<br />
drove either a single or a pair of Connemaras or<br />
a pair of John’s coach horses and all were treated<br />
to a very informative guided tour of the coach<br />
house, tack room and the stables. Our chairman<br />
works so hard for the society fighting for the<br />
rights of the horse world, that we don’t get to<br />
GUERNSEY<br />
AC Rose Yates<br />
Tel: 01481 258181 rose.yates@cwgsy.net<br />
AAC Jan Martin Tel 01405 860266<br />
AAC Mark Jopling Tel 01642 300030<br />
AAC Marnie Summers Tel 01765 635032<br />
You will notice that the proposed visit to the<br />
Royal Mews has been cancelled due to lack<br />
of interest, instead I am organising a trip to<br />
Caroline Dale Leech’s Carriage Boot Sale,<br />
bookings ASAP to me. It’s looking as though<br />
we’re in for some pretty hot weather this year,<br />
for a change, so we look forward to seeing lots<br />
more of you at rallies and shows around the<br />
area, so best wishes to you all and good luck in<br />
those shows.<br />
August<br />
Aug 1-2 – <strong>Driving</strong> and training weekend at<br />
Newby. A fun weekend to enjoy and improve<br />
your knowledge and your horse’s performance<br />
and behaviour. Barbecue Sat eve. Ring Mark<br />
01642300030.<br />
see John Parker the horseman very often these<br />
days, but those who visited that day saw the real<br />
John talking passionately about his horses and<br />
his life with partner Sue. Many thanks to John,<br />
Susan and all on the yard for making our day<br />
so enjoyable.<br />
Our Area show (see show report in this issue)<br />
on the 30th may have bucked the national<br />
trend and enjoyed even bigger entries than last<br />
year. A big thank you must go to all our very<br />
generous sponsors without whom the show<br />
could not run, and to all the competitors and<br />
stewards, also to our judges Claudia Bunn,<br />
Martin Atlkinson and John Baggaley for<br />
coming and making it another perfect day.<br />
Also, thanks to show secretary Beth Foster who<br />
puts so much into the running of the show<br />
and who arrived on the show ground with her<br />
ROW Pat Whelan Tel 01748 824 331<br />
Social Sec: Liz White Tel 01723 862091<br />
Newsletter Editor: Den Martin Tel 01405 860266<br />
Aug 8-9 – <strong>Driving</strong> weekend in Rosedale. Ring<br />
Daphne 01347823692.<br />
Aug 15-16 – <strong>Driving</strong> weekend at Brompton<br />
near Northallerton. Barbecue Sat eve. Ring<br />
Maurice Oldfield 01609780302<br />
Aug 30 – Drive from Shipton By Beningboro,<br />
with afternoon tea after the drive.<br />
Ring Alan Theakston 01904470481<br />
September<br />
Sep 6 – Charity drive and ride in the beautiful<br />
Dalby Forest. If you wish to go on the<br />
Saturday please let the organiser know. Ring<br />
01751460468<br />
Sep 27 – Coach trip to Darley Dale carriage<br />
Boot Sale.<br />
Ring Daphne 01347823692.<br />
SOUTH YORKSHIRE & NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Website: www.notts&syorks.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AC Malcolm Salter<br />
Tel: 01777 248210 mnosalter@hotmail.com<br />
ISLE OF MAN<br />
AC Wendy Kirkpatrick<br />
Tel: 01624 851302 wendykirk@manx.net<br />
ISLE OF WIGHT<br />
AC Margaret Honeybourne<br />
Tel: 01983 615338 e-mail: m.honeybourne@talktalk.net<br />
On 3rd May we held our Trec, this was not<br />
well attended maybe owing to illness. However<br />
those who attended and the spectators had a<br />
great time. Nicki McDonnah was first with<br />
Margaret Honeybournes Shetlands Clothie<br />
X-Toll and Skyrack Huntsman. Debbie<br />
AAC Graham Schofield Tel: 01709 586829<br />
AAC Gill Coburn Tel: 01777 870408<br />
ROW Barry Coburn Tel: 01777 870408<br />
husband our commentator Nick, direct from a<br />
night out in London. Last but not least, thanks<br />
to my wife Nicola and my son Oliver who ran<br />
around all week getting ready for the show and<br />
organising on the day as I was not at my best.<br />
Forthcoming Events<br />
13th September – BDS Trec at Egmanton<br />
(Notify host at least one week in advance if you<br />
wish to take part). Contact Gill Coburn on<br />
01777870408<br />
17th October – Road <strong>Driving</strong> assessment<br />
Training Day at Cottam (Please book by<br />
October 1st). Contact Malcolm or Nicola on<br />
01777248210<br />
25th October – Road driving assessment day at<br />
Egmanton (Please book by October 1st)<br />
Contact Malcolm or Nicola on 01777248210<br />
Website: www.iow.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC Gail Yardley Tel: 01983 873529<br />
AAC Joanne Dunn<br />
Tamcken came a very close second with Hamlet<br />
her new pony who is going very well. Feedmark<br />
sponsored us with a £25 voucher for the winner
ISLE OF WIGHT Cont.<br />
Scotland<br />
Nicki McDonnah receiving<br />
first prize at the Trec<br />
and we also gave an NFU shopper bag and pen<br />
to each entrant. The competition was followed<br />
by a buffet and whilst we were eating this my<br />
first Welsh Section A was born and after waiting<br />
a while all were able to gaze at the little miracle<br />
in my stable. I could not resist calling him<br />
Longcommon Trec. The lessons with Sarah<br />
JERSEY<br />
AC Phyllis Gouédart<br />
Tel: 01534 721151 phyllis.gouedart@googlemail.com<br />
Unfortunately the May newsletter had the<br />
previous years copy. However to put the<br />
record straight I should mention the indoor<br />
Champions, Beverley Le Marquand in<br />
particular won three of the championships<br />
Margaret Robinson, Ellen Littlechild, and<br />
junior Josh Baudains the others.<br />
We have had two shows, the Midsummer show<br />
suffered with rain for most of the day, Beverley<br />
won both show championships with her pair of<br />
section A ponies driven to a dogcart.<br />
CENTRAL SCOTLAND<br />
Debbie Tamcken receiving<br />
second prize at the Trec<br />
AC Heather Gow<br />
Tel: 01307 462437 gow@pitscandly.plus.com<br />
In May, Central had their annual Drive out<br />
at Glamis Castle when there were twenty-four<br />
turnouts. Richard Lanni brought his elegant<br />
team of Gelderlanders and there were several<br />
pairs also taking part. The weather was kind<br />
which all helped to make it a very special day.<br />
In June there was the Dressage & Cones Day at<br />
Pitscandly with Joyce Simpson as Judge.<br />
DUMFRIES<br />
AC Catriona Murray<br />
McBride were a great success and we are<br />
hoping to repeat them in September. A lot<br />
of BDS members came over to the Island<br />
for WEDS Trans Wight Drive in June and<br />
all had a great time the weather was kind to<br />
us and The Sportmans Rest did us proud in<br />
the evenings. There were 29 turnouts and<br />
with landowners’ permission we enjoyed<br />
some spectacular views - why not come next<br />
year? This is not a BDS event but Gail and<br />
myself along with Linda Pike organise it for<br />
your enjoyment. Tel Gail Yardley Secretary<br />
WEDS 01983 873529 for details. Please<br />
support our area show on 16th August we<br />
have lots of qualifiers, a Feed Mark £25 voucher<br />
and a subscription to In Harness magazine to<br />
be won.<br />
August<br />
11th – Cones evening final Brickfields 7.30pm<br />
pay on night.<br />
Two beach scurries have been held in the<br />
evenings at St Ouen’s bay, also the second<br />
round of the Skilled Driver of the Year, the<br />
courses have been well designed to test the<br />
accuracy of drivers with their ponies resulting<br />
in some cricket scores so much so that in the<br />
Parish Teams event it turned out to be a surprise<br />
win for St Lawrence A team.<br />
The Inter Insular with Guernsey was a<br />
home win for both Senior and Junior Jersey<br />
Teams but all in all it was a day of renewing<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
14th – Junior rally 10 -1pm.<br />
Tel Margaret 01983 615338<br />
16th – BDS Isle of Wight Area <strong>Show</strong>,<br />
start 10am. Tel Margaret 01983 615338<br />
September<br />
6th – WEDS Cream tea Nodewell Farm.<br />
Tel Angela<br />
DTBA – lessons with Sarah McBride £20<br />
spectators £5. Tel Margaret 01983 615338<br />
DTBA – Road Test last chance at £5 so why<br />
not take the test. Tel Margaret 615338<br />
October<br />
18th WEDS Gillian Ellis memorial spider drive<br />
to Old Smithy Godshill 12am.<br />
Tel Robert 07734166651.<br />
DTBA – Annual meeting Riverside Centre,<br />
Newport. 7pm. Tel Margaret<br />
Website: www.jerseyhorsedrivingsociety.com<br />
friendships as well as friendly rivalry, the return<br />
match in Guernsey is in September.<br />
Future Events<br />
August 1st& 2nd – Annual <strong>Show</strong> at Club field<br />
August 16th –3rd round Skilled Driver<br />
August 23rd – Le Trec<br />
September 13th – Mini trials<br />
September 20th – Jnr/novice/grooms Trials<br />
AAC Ann Small 01334 840609<br />
Future Events:<br />
9 August – St Fort Drive. Contact Zoe Sanders<br />
Tel: 01334 870151<br />
23 August – Tentsmuir Drive.<br />
Contact Ann Small. Tel: 01334 840609<br />
Happy and Safe <strong>Driving</strong><br />
AAC Margaret Lupton Tel: 01461 201123<br />
Martinl757@aol.com<br />
page 27 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
BDS News | page 28<br />
GALLOWAY<br />
AC David Ivison<br />
Tel: 01581 300269<br />
A very successful BDS<br />
Trec day at Barstobrick<br />
was held in June, thanks to<br />
Jean Clarkson and Janette<br />
Watson for organising it,<br />
and the annual Bladnoch<br />
Competition Day arranged<br />
by the Wigtownshire <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Club was held in July.<br />
Members are looking<br />
forward to a busy August. A<br />
Venture Drive will be held<br />
at Newton Stewart on the<br />
9th of August, followed by<br />
the driving classes of the<br />
Dumfries and Galloway<br />
Horse <strong>Show</strong> at Barstobrick<br />
on Sunday August 23rd. The showing classes at<br />
Barstobrick are qualifiers for the Whitehall and<br />
Chairman Cups.<br />
The month of September begins with a planned<br />
picnic drive and (other activities yet to be<br />
decided) at Lochinch on Sunday 7th. The last<br />
organised outdoor drive will be on Sunday<br />
September 13th and it will be a drive along<br />
LOTHIAN & BORDERS<br />
Yvonne Anderson<br />
Tel: 01620 842969<br />
In May we had our area show at Hoptoun<br />
House. This year we decided to have the show<br />
on the Saturday instead of the Sunday. This<br />
gave us the main ring all day without the cones<br />
to dodge and something for the crowd to watch<br />
other than the BHDTA. In the main ring we<br />
had a mixture of Private <strong>Driving</strong> and club<br />
classes. We had a reasonable turn out but some<br />
of the usual competitors were helping steward<br />
the marathon of the BHDTA national event<br />
which was running at the same time. We also<br />
had a drive around Hoptoun estate which was<br />
enjoyed by everyone who took part.<br />
NORTH OF SCOTLAND<br />
AC Jack Clyne<br />
Tel: 01456 476365<br />
Jean Clarkson and Geraldo, overall<br />
winners Bladnoch <strong>2009</strong><br />
WEST OF SCOTLAND & GLASGOW<br />
AC Sheila McNeill<br />
Tel: 0141 639 7510 sheila.mcneill@aggreko.co.uk<br />
the beach at Sandhead.<br />
September will also see a one<br />
off event in the form of a<br />
meeting of the Eriskay Pony<br />
<strong>Society</strong> of Scotland, hosted<br />
by members of the BDS at<br />
Barstobrick. It will be a day<br />
devoted to the Eriskay Pony<br />
and will include exhibitions<br />
of driving, amongst other<br />
related activities. Further<br />
information on this event can<br />
be had from David and Meg<br />
Jessiman, 01557 331257,<br />
dcjessiman@btinternet.com.<br />
The winter programme is<br />
taking shape. Barstobrick has<br />
been booked for four dates through October,<br />
November to Christmas. Details of these dates<br />
will be available in a further edition of the<br />
magazine.<br />
David Ivison has served as the Galloway AC<br />
for three years and will be stepping down.<br />
Nominations for his replacement will be sought<br />
in October and an election, if necessary, will be<br />
I would like to thank Ann Varley for her help<br />
and support and great organisational skills,<br />
also John Cowdrey for his commentary and<br />
our judge for the day, Joan Martin. In the<br />
afternoon we set up a cones course in the 2nd<br />
ring which was very enjoyable and great fun.<br />
Last year we did a driving demonstration for<br />
one of our local shows Haddington <strong>Show</strong>. It<br />
was such a success that we were asked back<br />
this year. This year we did a cone driving<br />
demonstration which went really well, I would<br />
like to thank all the drivers Ann Nisbet with<br />
AAC Jean Clarkson Tel: 01557 814672<br />
AAC Sue Mattison<br />
held in time for the confirmation of the new<br />
AC by the BDS Scottish Committee at the<br />
Annual General Meeting in November.<br />
GALLOWAY DIARY DATES<br />
Aug 9th – Venture Drive, Newton Stewart.<br />
Sue 01776 820341<br />
Aug 23rd – Dumfries & Galloway Horse <strong>Show</strong>.<br />
Jean 01557 814672<br />
Sept 7th – Picnic Drive, Lochinch.<br />
Sue 01776 820341<br />
Sept 13th – Beach Drive, Sandhead.<br />
Sue 01776 820341<br />
Sept 27th – Eriskay Pony Meeting, Barstobrick.<br />
Meg 01557 331257<br />
Oct 11th – Barstobrick Training Day.<br />
Jean 01557 814672<br />
Nov 8th – Barstobrick Training Day.<br />
Jean 01557 814672<br />
Nov 29th – Barstobrick Training Day.<br />
Jean 01557 814672<br />
Dec 13th – Christmas Fancy Dress,<br />
Barstobrick. Jean 01557 814672<br />
Thistle, Claire Armet with Baxter the donkey,<br />
Rebecca Boswell driving Eric, Jackie Lammie<br />
driving his new pair of Shetlands and a huge<br />
thank you to Gladys Dale driving Jemima.<br />
With Gladys at 87 years young and Jemima at<br />
18 a total of 105 years between them. I think<br />
this has to be a record for one driver and pony<br />
combination.<br />
I have a few things in mind for the next couple<br />
of months including a cones driving day so<br />
keep a look out on the web site for more<br />
information.<br />
AAC Robert Robertson Tel: 01292 520477
Wales<br />
About half of our areas have now held their<br />
qualifying events for the BDS Wales Welsh<br />
National Trec Championships. These are<br />
proving to be immense fun and a great way<br />
for potential new members to come along and<br />
see what we are capable of. Congratulations<br />
to those who have qualified so far. Details for<br />
the Finals to be held in the Crychan Forest on<br />
Sun 13th September will be made available to<br />
MID EAST WALES<br />
AC Emma Stevens<br />
Tel: 01591 610515 (day) info@lasswadehotel.co.uk<br />
As Emma is having a really busy time I’m<br />
writing this on her behalf on the longest day,<br />
looking out on a grey drizzly mist – it can<br />
only get better. Unfortunately our Le Trec<br />
competition fell prey to a weekend of terrible<br />
weather and had to be postponed. The original<br />
entries stand and the competition will be<br />
rearranged in August.<br />
Our area members had great successes at the<br />
Hereford show. Emily Ham with Crossfield<br />
Glory won the Private <strong>Driving</strong> Championship,<br />
the Concours d’elegance, the Victoria Foods<br />
qualifier, the BDS Wales qualifier and the<br />
Hereford member’s championship. Jackie<br />
Cartwright with Just Toto was 1st in the Ride<br />
and Drive, 1st Coloured, qualified for the<br />
Osborne Refrigerators 4 wheel exercise vehicle<br />
and came 3rd in the Country vehicle class.<br />
Then she and Just Toto teamed up with Emily<br />
to win the Whip and Groom class.<br />
Several of our area members enjoyed a charity<br />
ride and drive through the forestry around<br />
MID WEST WALES<br />
AC Angela Drinkwater-Lunn<br />
Tel: 01654 782 382 / 07768 426378 aed@aber.ac.uk<br />
On behalf of the junior members<br />
of area 50 I would like to thank<br />
the Welsh BDS and Mr & Mrs<br />
Mark Evans for giving them the<br />
opportunity of a lifetime. What a<br />
difference when they returned from<br />
junior camp. Their driving skills are<br />
so much improved and their stable<br />
management has taken on a<br />
very serious approach. They have<br />
been so inspired by the whole<br />
experience that they are already<br />
working on their folders for next<br />
year. I would also like to thank all<br />
the adults who gave up their valuable<br />
free time to help make the camp<br />
such a success.<br />
It was a pleasure to meet up with Anne Watson-<br />
Smyth and the Rainbow Trails Group for the<br />
drive in the Dyfnant Forest. The drive was a<br />
shortened seven miles due to the great heat. The<br />
riding or driving trails are superb and extremely<br />
well marked. The Dyfnant Forest provides<br />
corrals and tying posts and good driving<br />
surfaces plus a drive in drive out car park<br />
making the whole experience a pleasure. Anne<br />
provided us all with a splendid tea with more<br />
those who have qualified after the last event is<br />
held. Stewards will be needed on the day, so<br />
if anyone would like to volunteer, please ring<br />
Sian Burrows on 02920 832316 for details.<br />
Supporters are more than welcome, and anyone<br />
who would just like to come and have a look,<br />
please feel free to turn up.<br />
By the time this hits the doorsteps, the Tandem<br />
Meet will have passed us by. Congratulations<br />
Abbey Cwmhir – some managed to lose their<br />
way but I think had a good time in fine weather<br />
anyway.<br />
The following week saw driving classes at the<br />
Severn Valley Welsh Pony and Cob Association<br />
Summer <strong>Show</strong> near Caersws. Again Jackie<br />
and Just Toto had a good day being 3rd in<br />
the Coloured horse under saddle, 3rd in Any<br />
Harnessed Horse, 1st in the Pleasure <strong>Driving</strong><br />
class and was Reserve <strong>Driving</strong> Champion.<br />
Now to future events: if possible please ‘phone<br />
the person organising at least a week in advance<br />
so that they have some idea of how many<br />
people to expect.<br />
Friday 14th August – Bob and Phil Giles are<br />
hosting a barbecue and Equestrian Boot Sale at<br />
Llangamarch Wells. Contact Bob on<br />
01591 620 216<br />
Friday night 28th - Monday 31st August –<br />
Glenys Davies is planning a weekend of driving<br />
and fun from the Glansevern Arms, Pantmawr,<br />
Ffion receiving instructions from Mark Evans<br />
than enough food for an army. I would like to<br />
thank her for our wonderful welcome and our<br />
appreciation of her splendid organisation. This<br />
certainly was a ‘pleasure drive’. We hope to join<br />
you again in September...and the fly repellent<br />
recipe certainly does work.<br />
We are now preparing for our area Le Trec and<br />
there is much bush and grass cutting to be done<br />
and rabbit hole spotting! Please will members<br />
sort out some raffle prizes for future events as<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
to the BDS members who participated this<br />
year. It really is a lot of hard work putting these<br />
turnouts together and getting in the practice,<br />
so well done!<br />
It’s been lovely to see the shows so well<br />
supported despite horrible weather and the<br />
prospect of hours of cleaning up after wards.<br />
Thank you to everyone who has participated at<br />
these shows.<br />
AAC Kathy Gower Tel: 01686 440675<br />
Llangurig. Contact Glenys or Gwen on<br />
01686 440 240.<br />
Saturday 5th September – Beulah show.<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> classes with a show road drive. This<br />
will be our Area show. For further details please<br />
contact Emma Stevens 01591 610 515<br />
Sunday 13 September – B.D.S.Wales Le<br />
Trec Championship in the Crychan Forest,<br />
Llandovery. This is a new championship open<br />
to B.D.S. members who have qualified from<br />
their areas. Even if you haven’t qualified it<br />
should be fun to watch and any help with<br />
setting up or stewarding will be very much<br />
appreciated.<br />
Saturday 26th-Sunday 27th September –<br />
Dragon Drive. Two days of great driving that<br />
explores beautiful tracks in the mid Wales<br />
countryside. Contact Emma Stevens<br />
01591 610 515.<br />
AAC Sue Rimmer Tel: 01407 720573<br />
I am planning great things to be held at The<br />
University of Aberystwyth Equine Department<br />
and we need some funds in order to make this<br />
happen. With summer season activities and<br />
shows all on the agenda it is a very busy time<br />
for all of us and I am thrilled to hear that Chris<br />
West is taking up the reins again after quite a<br />
break.<br />
September 12/13 – Le Trec Finals.<br />
September 26th – Carriage Pulling Fun Day<br />
for Juniors. No ponies but pulling small carts<br />
accurately around cones to improve carriage<br />
control and otheractivities. Dolgoch 2pm.<br />
September 27th – Dyfnant Forest Carriage<br />
Drive with tea.<br />
October 10th – Dolgoch Studio. Annual<br />
Meeting. Fund raising activities/social.<br />
October 18th – Mary Jones Drive<br />
Llanfihangel. 12pm<br />
Please ring if you wish to join any of the<br />
activities to confirm details.<br />
page 29 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
BDS News | page 30<br />
NORTH EAST WALES<br />
AC Janet Williams<br />
Tel: 01978 750024<br />
bdsnorthewales@aol.com<br />
The weekend of May 9th & 10th saw the BDS<br />
show take place on the magnificent Erddig<br />
Park Dressage Arena by kind permission of the<br />
National Trust. The Carriage <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Show</strong> was<br />
a huge success with more competitors forward<br />
than last year’s event.<br />
Saturday May 9th saw Mrs King of Derbyshire<br />
step into the ring to judge the classes, that went<br />
ahead in windy but dry conditions<br />
NOVICE LONG REINING attracted 4 entries<br />
with Sue Cole of Weeping Cross, Stafford in 1st<br />
place, driving Valcq Redwood Reflection.<br />
LONG REINING saw 9 entries with the<br />
winner’s ribbon going to Rachel Thomas of<br />
Penmaenmawr driving Gorsehill Jenga. Rachel<br />
also took both the Long Reining & Novice<br />
Whip Championships with Gorsehill Jenga.<br />
GROOMS CLASS with 4 entries, plus Junior<br />
whip class also went to Rachel Thomas driving<br />
Gorsehill Jenga.<br />
LADY WHIP with 6 entries went to Sue Cole<br />
driving Valcq Redwood Reflection, as did the<br />
Ride & Drive class (ridden) plus RIDE &<br />
DRIVE (Driven)<br />
GENTLEMAN WHIP was awarded to Tony<br />
Tharme of Penmaenmawr <strong>Driving</strong> Wally.<br />
OPEN DISABLED DRIVING Jackie Claydon<br />
of Dolwen, Conway driving Llynhelyg Tomos<br />
Reserve went Kelly Rush from Lavister nr<br />
Wrexham with Magic.<br />
Sunday May 10th was the formal show day<br />
under the watchful eye of BDS Judge Mr AF<br />
King also from Derbyshire and again drew<br />
excellent entries. Sunday’s weather was ideal for<br />
<strong>Driving</strong>.<br />
SMALL EXERCISE VEHICLE with 8 forward<br />
went to Rachel Thomas from Penmaenmawr<br />
driving Gorsehill Jenga.<br />
LARGE EXERCISE VEHICLE with 5 entries<br />
saw Janet Prytherch of Dolwen Abergele driving<br />
Llynhelyg Tomos take 1st.<br />
NORTH WEST WALES<br />
AC Morfydd Greatorex<br />
Tel: 01248 601012<br />
With the showing season upon us it’s all go<br />
at the moment; let’s hope it will stay dry this<br />
season.<br />
On the 12th April we and several area members<br />
attended neighbouring area 37’s art of carriage<br />
driving day, it was a lovely sunny day with a<br />
good variety of demos going on throughout the<br />
day. The highlight was seeing Mark Evans going<br />
out with his Friesian stallions in the Lonsdale<br />
park drag coach. On the 26th April we held<br />
our indoor cones event nr. Llanberis with very<br />
good entries in all the classes. Novice cones;<br />
1st Corrina Jones; 2nd Penny Wear; 3rd Pat<br />
Tharme. Open cones; 1st Colin Walmsley; 2nd<br />
Sharne Bellis; 3rd Tilda Manson. Relay cones;<br />
1st T. Manson & C. Walmsley; 2nd S. Bellis &<br />
A. Drinkwater-lunn; 3rd M. Ferne & C. Jones.<br />
AAC & Rights of Way: Edwina Hart Tel 01978 861638 Edwina@edwinahart1.orangehome.co.uk<br />
AAC & Training: Medina Dicks Tel 01492621307 medina_dicks@lycos.co.uk<br />
AAC & Safety: Bob Hargreaves Tel 01978 757464 bdsnorthewales@aol.com<br />
AAC & Treasurer: Steve Griffiths Tel 01978 263241 Steve.Griffiths@nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Ruth Lancaster driving Bambridge Bright Spark<br />
NEWCOMERS PLEASURE DRIVING drew<br />
8 entries, 1st going to Sue Cole of Weeping<br />
Cross, Stafford driving Jim.<br />
OPEN PLEASURE 5 entries also went to Janet<br />
Prytherch of Dolwen Abergele with Llynhelyg<br />
Tomos.<br />
PLEASURE DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
was awarded to Janet Prytherch with Rachel<br />
Thomas reserve champion.<br />
VETERAN CLASS drew 5 entries and 1st<br />
was awarded to Ann Staniland of Cleobury<br />
Mortimer, Worcs driving Starbyte Little Trojan<br />
who at the age of 20 was awarded the Oldest<br />
Pony rosette.<br />
REGISTERED MOUNTAIN &<br />
MOORLAND went to Willowe Keeley from<br />
Albrighton,Wolverhampton driving Clothie<br />
Tumbell.<br />
REGISTERED WELSH, saw Ruth Lancaster<br />
of Congleton with Brambridge Bright Spark<br />
take 1st place.<br />
OPEN MOUNTAIN &MOORLAND with 6<br />
entries went to Janet Prytherch with Llynhelig<br />
Tomos.<br />
SMALL AMATEUR PRODUCED had<br />
7 entries with Alison Owen from Bangor,<br />
Gwynedd with Brynmor take 1st place.<br />
Cones winners<br />
Accumulator; 1st Tilda Manson; 2nd Margaret<br />
Ferne; 3rd Colin Walmsley. Ride & drive; 1st<br />
Margaret Ferne; 2nd Ronnie Williams; 3rd<br />
Website: www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk/northeastwales<br />
LARGE AMATEUR PRODUCED was<br />
awarded to Ruth Lancaster of Congleton<br />
driving Brambridge Bright Spark<br />
Final class of the afternoon was PRIVATE<br />
DRIVING this class attracted 4 entries and<br />
went to Ruth Lancaster driving Brambridge<br />
Bright Spark.<br />
Ann Staniland with her Tandem<br />
PRIVATE DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
Ruth Lancaster, reserve was Ann Staniland.<br />
SUNDAYS CHAMPIONSHIPS<br />
NOVICE WHIP SHOW CHAMPION,<br />
Rachel Thomas driving Shetland Gorsehill<br />
Jenga, reserve Sue Cole driving Jim.<br />
SHOW CHAMPIONSHIP. Ann Staniland<br />
of Cleobury Mortimer driving Starlyte Little<br />
Trojan, Reserve going to Ruth Lancaster of<br />
Congleton driving Brambridge Bright Spark<br />
North East Wales BDS Area Commissioner<br />
Janet Williams thanked all competitors for<br />
taking part in the two day event and a special<br />
vote of thanks was given to volunteers for<br />
stewarding and to Steve Griffiths Erddig<br />
Countryside Manager and his staff for<br />
preparation of the International standard<br />
Equine arena which can not be surpassed<br />
anywhere in Wales, and to the Trustees at<br />
Erddig for use of the excellent facilities.<br />
AAC Michael Greatorex mike.greatorex@tiscali.co.uk<br />
AAC Janet Prytherch Tel: 01492 680618<br />
Sharne Bellis. Handy pony; 1st Sue Osborne;<br />
2nd Sharne Bellis; 3rd Penny Wear.<br />
Our next event was our area Trec with 6 entries<br />
forward. We had a BBQ on the Saturday<br />
evening and held the Trec on Sunday, it was a<br />
lovely weekend weather wise and I would like<br />
to thank Janet and all our helpers on the day.<br />
This event was a qualifier this year for the BDS<br />
Wales Trec championship to be held in Sept.<br />
The first 3 qualified. 1st Peta & Elfyn Ellis;<br />
2nd Jenni & Paul Frost; 3rd Colin & Lynn<br />
Walmsley; 4th Fay Sanders & Gwyn Thomas;<br />
5th Mavis McBride; 6th Diane Rimmer.<br />
The following weekend we held our 2nd drive<br />
of the year in Newborough forest, with 11<br />
turnouts taking part, once again it was a nice<br />
sunny day and great off road driving.
NORTH WEST WALES Cont.<br />
Starting off on the Newborough Forest Drive<br />
Trec winners, Peta & Elfyn Ellis<br />
Our 1st shows of the season were Bethesda<br />
& Caerwys both on the 13th June. Bethesda<br />
had good entries in all the classes. Mr. John<br />
SOUTH EAST WALES<br />
AC Byron Jones<br />
Tel: 01495 227913 pam@ashleighcarriages.com<br />
SOUTH MID WALES<br />
AC Sian Burrows<br />
Tel: 02920 832316 sian.burrows@internet-at-home.co.uk<br />
Our area BDS Trec, held in April, was a little<br />
low on entries, but those who competed had<br />
a fun filled day with the added bonus of a<br />
beautiful scenic route and a ford to cross on<br />
the road drive. The skills/cones section caused<br />
the most laughter with the grooms having to<br />
balance an egg on a spoon through part of the<br />
course without breaking it. (Maybe we should<br />
have boiled them!).<br />
Qualifiers for the Trec championship were:-<br />
1st Emily Ham with Crossfield Glory.<br />
2nd Liam Tapp with Layton & Daniel.<br />
3rd Vicky Kedward with Gurnos Jojo.<br />
Lloyd the judge chose Roseanne Simpson with<br />
Crakerjack as Champion & Morfydd Greatorex<br />
with Mongarnedd Morgan as reserve. Area 55<br />
member Anthony Spencer & Bertie won the<br />
private driving and Janet Prytherch with Tomos<br />
won the pleasure driving at the Caerwys show<br />
well done both.<br />
On the 14th June we held our annual beach<br />
drive in Penmaenmawr with 9 turnouts coming<br />
along. It was another nice day and most of the<br />
horses enjoyed a paddle in the sea, we all then<br />
enjoyed a picnic by the sea side.<br />
The following week saw another 2 shows on<br />
the same day. Llanerchymedd in Anglesey,<br />
champion was Keith & Edith Bryant with<br />
Smokey. Clwyd Welsh pony & cob, champion<br />
was Janet Prytherch with Tomos and reserve<br />
Medina Dicks with Dennis.<br />
Beach Drive<br />
May 31st The drive in Merthyr was once again<br />
well attended, with 11 turnouts including 2<br />
tandems, enjoying the sunshine and views at<br />
the Ponsticill reservoir and an ice-cream at half<br />
way.<br />
Our junior drive from Oaklands Farm, was a<br />
great success with 2 single turnouts, Ruby Rees,<br />
driving Katrina Crabb’s “Gino” and Megan<br />
Donnan driving Katrina Crabb’s “Gromit”.<br />
Liam Tapp did an excellent job driving his cob<br />
“Layton” along with Richard Taylor’s “Daniel”<br />
in Tandem. (Well Done Liam!). We were<br />
joined by junior member Bethan Matthews of<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
Liam and Martyn Tapp Vicky Kedward<br />
Emily and Chris<br />
Forthcoming events<br />
15th August – Llanrwst show<br />
Tel: 01492 650847<br />
16th August – BDS Wales show Tel:<br />
07966515325<br />
20th August – Flint and Denbigh show Tel:<br />
01352 712131<br />
23rd August – Funday BBQ at Barn cottage<br />
Llanllechid, overnight parking on the Saturday<br />
is available. Free to area 55 members £5<br />
otherwise, let me know if you are coming by<br />
17th August.<br />
26th August – Meironydd show<br />
Tel: 01341 422837<br />
31st August – Babbell <strong>Show</strong><br />
Tel: 07980114083<br />
5th September – Cerrig y drudion show<br />
Tel: 01490 420626<br />
13th September – BDS Wales trec<br />
championship Tel: 07966515325<br />
20th September – Newborough forest drive<br />
Tel: Morfydd 01248 601012 to start at 11am<br />
Sept/Oct – possible drive at Llyn Brenig<br />
Tel: Morfydd 01248 601012<br />
Oct dates to be confirmed, road driving<br />
assessments. Training leading up to assessment<br />
with LHHI Rowena Moyse.<br />
AAC Pam Jones Tel: 01495 227913<br />
pam@ashleighcarriages.com<br />
Website: www.splashboard.co.uk<br />
AAC Martyn Tapp Tel: 01443 400183<br />
AAC Terry Stockdale Tel: 02920214477/07805901574<br />
Katrina and Helen<br />
page 31 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
SOUTH MID WALES Cont.<br />
BDS News | page 32<br />
Llangadog driving 2 of Mark Evan’s Friesian<br />
stallions, also in Tandem. Well done to all the<br />
juniors for their efforts and achievement. We<br />
would like to thank Lorraine and Adrian for the<br />
use of the yard and Ruby and her Mum Karen<br />
for organising the route and the lovely food.<br />
Also a big thank you to Katrina Crabb and<br />
everyone at the yard who helped in grooming<br />
and stewarding.<br />
SOUTH WEST WALES<br />
AC Peter Edwards<br />
Mobile: 07929 072612<br />
WEST WALES<br />
AC Gilly Flanagan<br />
Tel: 01646 661616<br />
Our area has, so far, enjoyed some wonderful<br />
drives. One wet and cold, but we all survived!<br />
The vehicle maintenance day was well attended<br />
and great fun. Maurice and Mike talked,<br />
adjusted and greased their way around a variety<br />
of vehicles. Many thanks to them and to their<br />
hosts, the Rees’, a successful idea. The diary had<br />
Our Hog Roast social evening went really well,<br />
with everyone enjoying the Karaoke well into<br />
the early hours.<br />
We are hoping to organise an area show in<br />
2010. Anyone interested in being involved in<br />
the show committee please contact me as soon<br />
as possible.<br />
to be adjusted to fit in with the National Parks<br />
and the Beach Drive and Anne Windsor having<br />
to cancel her date. So, on April 26th there was<br />
a starter day at Furzehill Farm. A select group<br />
who wanted to talk, watch and drive for a day.<br />
Tina, Maggie, Gilly, Tonto and Dennis went<br />
through harness, vehicles, pony, general safe<br />
procedure and at last, some driving. The result,<br />
we have two new drivers coming along happily<br />
with confidence growing all the way. Plus<br />
helpers for events. New friends - that’s what it<br />
is all about.<br />
The pending beach drive could only be held<br />
on May 10th. The weather was glorious,<br />
Dates for diary<br />
August 8th – Vintage Transport Day. Contact<br />
Martyn<br />
August 16th – BDS Wales show<br />
Sept 13th – BDS Trec Championship<br />
Oct – Len Hayes Memorial drive. Date/venue<br />
TBC. Contact Terry Stockdale.<br />
Website: www.westglam.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk<br />
AAC Tina Ree Tel: 01994 240910<br />
AAC Mark Evans LHHI Tel: 01550 779066<br />
AAC Maggie Ravenscroft Tel: 01437 563909<br />
National Parks looked after us wonderfully,<br />
private parking, barriers up and a warden in<br />
attendance. The Stevens family provided an<br />
all day picnic on the front, chairs, tea, food<br />
and then two and a half hours up and down<br />
this huge beach. Hard sand and lovely views<br />
and full sun. What an experience. The few<br />
members who took up this chance had a day<br />
to remember. We will do it again on 20th<br />
September. Book now. Thank you all!<br />
On 17th May we were grateful to Lester Dagge<br />
for taking on the drive at short notice. The<br />
weather let us down, but the tractor and our<br />
host did not. Lovely drive with refreshments<br />
and a pull out of the sodden field after, thanks<br />
Lester. Great countryside and company. <strong>Special</strong><br />
congrats to Veronica Chesnott and Priscilla<br />
Bubb. Long journey for Ronnie and debut<br />
drive. Priscilla with her new pony. Big smiles<br />
all round.<br />
Next came the first of our camp weekends,<br />
hosted so well again by Val and Paul Higginson<br />
at Furzehill Farm. Numbers were down, no<br />
Cimla Club sadly. The seven who made it had<br />
a good drive on Saturday through the lanes,
WEST WALES Cont.<br />
mapped and signed all the way. Wonderful<br />
weather so the BBQ was outdoors as was<br />
Sunday breakfast. For the Trek on the Sunday,<br />
former member, Molly Watts had laid out<br />
a master plan. She is now a pro ridden Trek<br />
practitioner. Many thanks for really well<br />
organised paperwork, easy to follow, mark on<br />
all tasks. Our helpers had their instructions<br />
and sheets to follow-thanks to them all, it was<br />
a hot afternoon. I shall just mention one of<br />
new active members again, Ronnie and groom,<br />
Ashley, who came fourth in the Trek. Great<br />
result, the modern phrase is ‘respect’. Many<br />
of our judges on the field were new to us too.<br />
They made the effort to come and help without<br />
their ponies-thank you all.<br />
1st Lester Dagge, 2nd Tina Ree, 3rd Eleanor<br />
Stevens<br />
Well done Eli, driving a pony she had only<br />
met that day and very well too. These three<br />
will go forward to the finals in September. The<br />
weather continued to smile on Area 36 for June<br />
12-14 up into the mountains of Pembrokeshire.<br />
Out thanks to Carolyn Morgan of Crosswell<br />
Trekking Centre. Fields were provided and all<br />
camping facilities. The Cimla Club arrived<br />
on Friday night and we all joined them on<br />
Saturday morning. Carolyn had phoned her<br />
friends so we had access to wonderful lunch<br />
spots and cross country tracks on both days,<br />
Northern Ireland<br />
NORTHERN IRELAND<br />
AC Liz Kelly<br />
Tel: 02840 671318 Mobile 07771 798281<br />
4th May – Irish Hackney <strong>Society</strong> show<br />
Ballymena has changed venue causing a few<br />
problems for some to find but all enjoyed<br />
the day. Novice Champion was David Boyd<br />
Heartland Mighty Fine. (First time out)<br />
14th May – The Royal Ulster Agricultural<br />
<strong>Society</strong> (RUAS) judged by Jane MacInnes<br />
(Scotland)<br />
Under class 13.2hh:<br />
1st Mr William McAnally, Belfast, Fronarth<br />
Shaun, 2nd Mrs M Hampton, Downpatrick<br />
Croftvale Corum, 3rd Mr James Bailie,<br />
Newtownards, Chesney<br />
Over class 13.2hh:<br />
1st. Mr Jonathan Carnduff, Millisle Ulisha. 2nd<br />
G Fawcett, Saintfield Pair of Friesians, 3rd Mr<br />
Norman Brown, Lisburn Rosehall Tara Maiden<br />
with Jonathan Carnduff Ulisha Champion and<br />
Reserve Champion Private <strong>Driving</strong> going to Mr<br />
William McAnally, Fronarth Shaun<br />
25 miles of heavenly country and hellish hills<br />
on Saturday. The Gwaun Valley and Newport<br />
Seaviews totalling 15 miles on the Sunday- very<br />
fit ponies. If you haven’t been, you haven’t<br />
seen! God’s country. Thank you Carolyn for a<br />
wonderful weekend.<br />
Two items for you:<br />
Mark is collecting names for the Road <strong>Driving</strong><br />
Tests. Do come forward and take these. Mark<br />
needs to put groups together and has dates in<br />
view for test days. Please phone him and book<br />
in, he is ready to advise and give encouragement<br />
to you all.<br />
Lester and his team had a most successful<br />
first appearance at St Clears show early in<br />
the season. Much enjoyed by the show team<br />
Jonathan Carnduff<br />
David Boyd’s hackney pony Heartland Mighty<br />
Fine was Champion Royal Ulster - second time<br />
out.<br />
16th May – BDS Shane’s Castle Drive. Shane’s<br />
Castle is the family seat of the O’Neill’s of<br />
Clandeboy. Although the castle has been in<br />
ruins since the fire of 1816, the remaining<br />
structure, including a unique Camellia House is<br />
Area News | <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
and crowd. Do contact him if you can join<br />
in. Next known show is Pembroke Farmers,<br />
Nr Pembroke on August 5th. Also if you can<br />
help at the BDS Wales <strong>Show</strong>, Carmarthen<br />
on Aug 16th please contact Michelle Reid<br />
07966515325 soon.<br />
Safe <strong>Driving</strong>.<br />
Aug 16th – BDS Wales <strong>Show</strong>. Contact<br />
Michelle 07966515325<br />
Sep 6th – Drive near Whitland, contact Tina<br />
Ree 01994 240910 to book in please.<br />
Sep 13th – Welsh Championship Trek Finals<br />
Sep 20th – Pendine Sands Drive. Contact Gilly<br />
Sep 26/27th – Dragon Drive, Contact Emma<br />
Stevens 01591 610515<br />
David Boyd<br />
Website: www.ni-bds.co.uk<br />
Chairman: Eugene Larkin<br />
a striking feature in the landscape; the drive was<br />
enjoyed by some of the BDS members. Many<br />
thanks to the O’Neill family<br />
23rd May – BDS members Invitation Drive<br />
Ulster Folk Museum where 18 traditional<br />
vehicles turned out to give the spectators a<br />
real feel of the driven horse of yesterday. Many<br />
thanks to the organizers for their generosity and<br />
page 33 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> | Area News<br />
NORTHERN IRELAND Cont.<br />
BDS News | page 34<br />
the food was wonderful. See web<br />
site for 100+ images provided by<br />
James Miller of the museum.<br />
Mervyn Ward<br />
Ballynahinch Junior Class<br />
30th May – Ballynahinch International carriage<br />
driving festival turned out to be a great day with<br />
many getting sun burned! Mr & Mrs McNinch<br />
conducted the judging on the day with over a<br />
hundred entries no mean feat! This show had<br />
the best for last with 10 turnouts driven by<br />
juniors the oldest being 16. Mr McNinch had<br />
a hard job (no one wanted his job). Alistair<br />
said “The quality of these youngsters was<br />
indeed impressive and a real pleasure to judge.<br />
When assessing these Junior whips some of the<br />
youngsters were driving the turnouts better<br />
than the adults earlier in the day”, “I feel if<br />
some of the Northern Ireland Juniors were to<br />
compete in other classes, this would give the<br />
adults a run for their money!” Champion on<br />
the day was Jonathan Carnduff driving his<br />
father’s Dutch warmblood “Zatinka M”<br />
14th June – Many thanks to Joanne Orr<br />
Carriages for opening her yard to for the BDS<br />
Fun-day. Once the showers passed it turned<br />
out to be a great day for all, with the emphasis<br />
on promoting carriage driving safely and<br />
encouraging non drivers to take up the reins.<br />
With 16 juniors participating in the various<br />
tasks set up by the organisers, some had never<br />
Fun Day<br />
Museum<br />
held reins in their hands<br />
before. This venture was<br />
not restricted to juniors<br />
and many adults took<br />
up the challenge as well.<br />
Huge thanks to all who<br />
made the day a success.<br />
With a BBQ held after.<br />
A special thanks and<br />
congratulation to Uel Orr<br />
and Robert Smyth for<br />
completing their assessor’s<br />
certificates.<br />
20th June – Saintfield<br />
<strong>Show</strong>. The weather held<br />
and the show champion<br />
on the day was David Wilson with Mrs M<br />
Alexander’s Fronarth Sean. Mr George Fawcett<br />
held a BBQ afterwards and was well supported<br />
with 70+ £515 was raised for Parkinson.<br />
21st June – <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong> 45th<br />
Annual <strong>Show</strong> Smiths Lawn, Windsor Great<br />
Park. Our own Vice Chairman cleans up at<br />
the show winning the show championship.<br />
Congratulations to Jonathan and Susan<br />
Carnduff and groom David Bailie (& Ulishia)<br />
John Powell<br />
27th June – BDS Ballyward Drive the weather<br />
was lovely with John Powell and groom Leslie-<br />
Ann Horner driving Fronarth Flashman Uel<br />
Orr with welsh cobs tandem, Mervyn Ward<br />
driving Fronarth Cardi Express, Liam Rooney<br />
driving Fronarth Jupiter, Bobby Doran driving<br />
his piebald with groom D Horner, Wallace<br />
Shaw and groom Nathan Foster driving his<br />
Welsh pony followed by Mr Thomas Magill &<br />
groom with their black Jack donkey to a nice<br />
varnished trap also on the drive were four super<br />
donkeys who were made very welcome, also<br />
Mrs Marno first time out with her Shetland<br />
pony. All had a great time and food was<br />
supplied by Turley’s Bar Ballyward many thanks<br />
to the Turley Family and staff. £258 was raised<br />
for Diabetic NI<br />
A positive breakthrough in Northern Ireland.<br />
We have two BDS approved Training / Testing<br />
Centres/Yards<br />
Uel Orr @Joanne Orr Carriages, 54<br />
Clanmaghery Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan<br />
Co. Down BT31 9SA Telephone: 028 406<br />
50436 E-mail: joorr@btinternet.com<br />
Robert Smyth Ballyrainey Rd, Comber. Co<br />
Down BT23 5JT. Telephone 02891814170 60<br />
We are hoping to run more fun days..... If this<br />
is something you may be interested in please let<br />
me know.... contact detail through the<br />
www.ni-bds.co.uk<br />
If you have any suggestions on activities to run<br />
please let us know. This is your branch and you<br />
have a say (the crystal ball is not working too<br />
well so you will have to tell us)<br />
Dates for Meeting @ Bridge Community<br />
Centre Lisburn. Your support is very much<br />
appreciated.<br />
Committee meeting Aug 10th, 12th Oct.<br />
Open meeting Sep14th, (AGM) Nov 9th<br />
If in doubt as to where this is Phone Secretary:<br />
Margaret Carlisle on Tel: 02892 665893<br />
1st Aug – Annalong <strong>Show</strong>. 12noon.<br />
Mrs Horner 02843768446<br />
7th-9th Aug – Necarne Irvinstown.<br />
Mr Lewis Black 07801898299<br />
8th Aug – BDS Necarne Irvinstown.<br />
Margaret Carlisle or Liz Kelly<br />
Tel 028 92665893 or 02840671318<br />
15th Aug – “Markethill Fair Day”<br />
15-16 Aug – Argory National Trust (invite)<br />
Margaret Carlisle or Liz Kelly<br />
Tel 028 92665893 or 02840671318<br />
22nd Aug – BDS Banbridge show (BDS<br />
Qualifiers) just above Downshire Caravans<br />
Newry St. Margaret Carlisle or Liz Kelly<br />
Tel 028 92665893 or 02840671318<br />
12 Sept – Castle Ward (invite)<br />
Strangford, Downpatrick, Co. Down BT30 7LS<br />
Margaret Carlisle or Liz Kelly<br />
Tel 028 92665893 or 02840671318<br />
19 Sept – Country Comes to Town<br />
(Portadown) <strong>Show</strong>. E Larkin or Margaret<br />
Carlisle. Tel 02892621184 or 028 92665893<br />
Sunday 20th Sept – Laurel View Equestrian<br />
centre, 18 Knowehead Road, Templepatrick,<br />
Ballyclare, BT39 0BX. Closing Date: 15th<br />
August <strong>2009</strong>. Classes: Exercise, Pleasure, Private<br />
<strong>Driving</strong> & Multiples. Further information and<br />
an entry form can be downloaded from<br />
www.fhagbi.co.uk or contact Jane Slevin on<br />
07740 305267<br />
4-5 Oct – Towerlands England. E Larkin or<br />
Margaret Carlisle. Tel 02892621184 or<br />
028 92665893<br />
6th Nov – Annual Dinner Dance<br />
Temple Golf Club. E Larkin or Margaret<br />
Carlisle. Tel 02892621184 or 028 92665893
Classified Ads<br />
General<br />
FULL RANGE OF EXERCISE<br />
VEHICLES (Shetland to Shire),<br />
drays etc from £430. Also IDEAL<br />
HARNESS Ring 01274 874939 for<br />
brochure or check our website<br />
www.hillam-1fe.co.uk<br />
TRAINING YARD<br />
DRESSAGE AND CARRIAGE<br />
DRIVING Have your driven horse’s<br />
dressage improved by professional<br />
dressage rider. FEI and show ring<br />
horses taken for breaking and<br />
producing. Teaching for beginners<br />
to club level. Excellent facilities near<br />
Standsted (Essex). Prices tailored to<br />
your personal package<br />
Ben Grose 07732435528<br />
Claire Morgan 07902046421<br />
ANNUAL BOOT SALE – Sunday<br />
September 27th <strong>2009</strong>: 9am – 3pm.<br />
All equine items; Bargains Galore<br />
from a horse brass to a horsebox!.<br />
Red House Stables, Darley Dale,<br />
Derbyshire.<br />
DE4 2ER. Tel: 01629 733583<br />
LET PETER FORD BREAk<br />
YOUR PONY for driving, ring<br />
01452 527031 or email -<br />
peter@forddriving.force9.co.uk<br />
or visit his website - www.<br />
peterforddriving.blogspot.com.<br />
Vehicles<br />
POLISH 4 wHEEL TRIALS<br />
CARRIAGE to suit single or pairs<br />
ponies 12.2hh to 13.2hh. Very<br />
sound condition £1500.<br />
Tel: 01989 565509<br />
Harness<br />
ZILCO SINGLE AND<br />
PAIRS HARNESS as new, fit<br />
12.2hh to 13.2hh. Tel: 01989<br />
565509/07891717213<br />
The BDS is unable to accept any responsibility in respect of the above<br />
mentioned adverts.<br />
Road <strong>Driving</strong> Assessments<br />
To date with six months of the scheme left to run, 572 members have taken<br />
their Road <strong>Driving</strong> Assessment Test under the BDS/Salisbury Bursary Fund<br />
funding initiative.<br />
It is hoped that Area Commissioners will be able to organise some more<br />
Training Days and then have Test days before the end of December, both of<br />
which are supported financially by the Salisbury Bursary Fund, so that members<br />
can take advantage of the discounted test fee before the close of the three year<br />
scheme in December.<br />
Members have benefited from £12,420 of sponsorship from the Fund so far.<br />
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
SUPPORT YOUR SOCIETY<br />
advertise in the BDS newsletter<br />
Up to 15 words: £10<br />
15-30 words: £22 (30p per extra word)<br />
BDS website: £10<br />
No advertising is accepted for the BDS website unless the advert is<br />
first published in the newsletter.<br />
Print your advert clearly and send with<br />
your cheque payable to the BDS to:<br />
Michelle Reid, 222 Trallwn Road, Llansamlet<br />
Swansea, SA7 9UG<br />
Name .........................................................................................<br />
Address ......................................................................................<br />
...................................................................................................<br />
............................................................ Tel: ................................<br />
Include on website .......................................... Yes / No ...............<br />
Print clearly, one word per box<br />
The BDS newsletter is delivered directly to a<br />
captive audience of 6,000 carriage drivers<br />
It’s a great way to sell your horses, harness and other driving equipment.<br />
Fill in the form above or send your ad via e-mail to<br />
michelle467@btinternet.com<br />
page 35 | BDS News
<strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong><br />
A charge of £25 pp children under 10yrs free. Arrive Friday evening or Saturday morning. Bring your own stabling<br />
facilities free of charge or rent a stable for £10 per night (The camp site is on the banks of the river Wye)<br />
Accommodation can be arranged locally.<br />
Itinerary<br />
Saturday a.m – Box up and drive 8 miles to Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian forestry centre. (café and toilet facilities) The drive<br />
starts at 11am and is approximately 16 miles. The first stage is to the Nant-y-Moch reservoir for a picnic. After lunch<br />
tracks and a river crossing go through some of the best and wildest scenery in mid Wales. Return to the visitor centre<br />
in time to see the Red Kites being fed.<br />
Saturday evening – Back at the campsite there will be a barbeque, free of charge, and a bar serving beer and wine.<br />
Sunday 11 a.m. – An 11 mile drive starting and finishing with a crossing through the river Wye with more splendid<br />
views of the upper reaches of the Wye valley and Plynlymon (the third highest mountain in Wales). There will be a<br />
short rest for a picnic at the Bothy which is the halfway point.<br />
Monday – A shorter 6 mile drive can be arranged if you still have the energy.<br />
BDS Trec continues to be a popular<br />
part of many areas’ activities and ever<br />
more ingenious skills are being created<br />
to test the ability of the whip and the<br />
agility of the groom!<br />
For those few who are still in the<br />
dark about Trec, it’s a low key three<br />
phase event comprising of a safety<br />
presentation, a short drive out and six<br />
or eight untimed skills.<br />
All these are completed individually<br />
making it an ideal starting point for<br />
novice animals and perhaps also less<br />
seasoned drivers.<br />
However it is very much a fun<br />
event for everyone and has become<br />
somewhat addictive to quite a few now<br />
known as ‘Treccies’!<br />
Would be organisers and<br />
competitors alike might benefit from<br />
reading the appropriate leaflet about<br />
Trec available from the BDS office.<br />
Amazing,<br />
BDS News | page 36<br />
This contains helpful hints and advice<br />
about each phase. It is clearly a good<br />
idea that all these competitions follow<br />
the same rough agenda, so these<br />
guidelines must be considered and<br />
adhered to wherever possible.<br />
Main BDS funds offer a grant<br />
to many areas who apply early and<br />
we are delighted that following her<br />
involvement in this year’s AGM at<br />
Hinckley, Blanche Surman, Affinity<br />
Marketing Executive from NFU Mutual,<br />
Stratford-upon-Avon, kindly agreed to<br />
provide a further £800 which enables<br />
a further right events to benefit and<br />
perhaps buy extra equipment or hire a<br />
better venue. This was a very generous<br />
offer and greatly appreciated.<br />
In addition to funding, on<br />
application, Tess Styles at Head Office<br />
will also send two sets of rosettes to<br />
every Trec organiser, one for the whip<br />
as well as one for the groom who is<br />
a vital part of the turnout on these<br />
occasions.<br />
For <strong>2009</strong>, as in previous years,<br />
V-Bandz, makers of high quality<br />
reflective gear for all, have supplied<br />
vouchers to the value of £10 each<br />
for the winning turnouts and these<br />
are available from Linda Swain 07850<br />
706978 lindaswain10@aol.com who<br />
is also very willing to give any advice<br />
required.<br />
but not everyone knows we do car, home and business insurance<br />
If you’ve heard how good our horse insurance is,<br />
check out our other amazing insurance products.<br />
Call Ewan MacInnes on 01467 625424<br />
or email: inverurie@nfumutual.co.uk<br />
Agent of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance <strong>Society</strong> Limited<br />
Carriage <strong>Driving</strong> Weekend<br />
Friday night 28th to Monday 31st August<br />
To be held at Glansevern Arms, Pantmawr, Llangurig, Powys SY18 6SY<br />
he beautiful range of the Mourne<br />
Email glansevern@pc-q.net or telephone Glenys or Gwen 01686 440 240 TMountains was the setting for the<br />
NI-BDS Drumlee Fun Drive, helping<br />
to raise funds for the junior driver’s<br />
camp at Swingletree farm in Essex.<br />
BDS Trec at Chatsworth<br />
Country Fair<br />
Friday September 4th<br />
Start 11am prompt.<br />
£10 entry fee.<br />
s.a.e. For entry form<br />
Red House Stables, Darley Dale,<br />
Derbyshire. DE4 2ER.<br />
Tel 01629 733583<br />
INSURANCE PENSIONS INVESTMENTS<br />
We do right by you<br />
Help Us to<br />
Help You<br />
Transport Law Update<br />
With the new transport laws on<br />
lorries, the <strong>Society</strong> in the person<br />
of Chairman, John Parker, are still<br />
working trying to get changes made<br />
to drivers’ hours over 7.5 tonnes.<br />
Approaches have been made to MPs<br />
and the Welsh Assembly. Seventeen<br />
MP’s and Welsh Assembly members<br />
have taken up the matter for us. We<br />
do require more MPs’ support and<br />
a letter can be found on the BDS<br />
website which members can print<br />
off, sign and sent to their own MP.<br />
It must be remembered that VOSA,<br />
who interpreted the law, do control all<br />
vehicles and drivers’ hours of vehicles<br />
down to under 3.5 tonnes under what<br />
is known as ‘GB Law’. There is, at the<br />
moment, an exemption for 7.5 tonnes<br />
and under but we all know that this<br />
can change. Help us to help you by<br />
writing to your MP.<br />
Congratulations<br />
Two Gloucestershire BDS members,<br />
Barry McCooey and Rachael Edwards<br />
got married on the 4th July. Glyn Williams’<br />
wedding vehicle was put to a team of<br />
4 horses, one of which was Barry and<br />
Rachael’s horse Victor. The carriage was<br />
driven by Tony Seller with the North<br />
Cotswold Hunt supplying the grooms. Best<br />
wishes to the happy couple.<br />
NI-BDS Fun<br />
Drive & BBQ<br />
Mr. Eugene Larkin and Mr. Norman Brown<br />
(judge)<br />
The Drive left Annahunshigo<br />
Orange Hall on the Lackin Rd,<br />
Ballyward with Uel Orr leading the<br />
way with a team of welsh cobs to a<br />
four wheel sporting dog cart. On the<br />
box seat with Uel was Eugene Larkin<br />
Chairman of the Northern Ireland<br />
Branch <strong>British</strong> <strong>Driving</strong> <strong>Society</strong>. Next<br />
on the road was Mr Robert Smyth<br />
and groom Emma Morgan driving<br />
a beautiful pair of George Fawcett’s<br />
Friesians to a landau and on board<br />
were special guests Hon. Sec. Mrs<br />
Margret Carlisle with Mr David<br />
Erereton and Mr John Powel.<br />
24th April was a lovely sunny<br />
day to take in the scenery on the five<br />
mile route with four of the turn outs<br />
driven by junior members.<br />
Norman Brown judged the best<br />
turnout on the day sponsored by F.S.<br />
Herron feeds.<br />
A huge thanks has to go to<br />
all the drivers, friends and family<br />
who supported with a BBQ to<br />
follow, also thanks to Joe Gibson<br />
(Ballyward) Euro Spar butchery &<br />
deli department (Castlewellan) and<br />
the Office Bearers and members of<br />
Annahunshigo Orange hall.<br />
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