The weather was kind to us although it was blowing a gale at the Stourport Riding School, however that was better than the previous few days which had been very wet.
The venue was lovely and Gemma and her team made us very welcome with the tea urn already boiling and ready for us on arrival.
Jo Pitts did a lovely display of long reining and putting too followed by Mandy Reddock with Jasper showing us what an exercise vehicle turnout should look like in the show ring. Beautifully turned out and as well behaved as always Jasper also demonstrated how a novice would start with Mandy and Marianne her groom swapping seats for the last part of their display. Very brave of Marianne who only started driving this year.
We were then treated to our Junior driver’s display with Khyra (7) and her Nan (?) showing us a lovely drive through the conestacle with Charlie (11) her welsh section A pony. Khyra has only been driving for a few months and it is wonderful to see the enthusiasm she has. Charlie equals her enthusiasm and they are a great match.
The Horse Wheelers a disabled carriage driving group based at the centre introduced Danny driven by Jason and showed us how they load and unload a wheelchair into their specially adapted Bennington. Danny was beautifully behaved and Jason was ably assisted by a group of volunteer helpers led by AB whip Sandra Phillips This group gained two more volunteers at the end of the demonstration and were delighted with the response from the audience.
Our next turnout was provided by Tony and Carol Gregory with Redwing Rea and her son Redwing Rocking horse driven tandem to a Bennington two wheeler. A lovely turnout with beautifully matched horses.
The finale was provided by the British Carriage Dog Society led by Jane Friend and her team three turnouts and a multitude of spotty dogs worked in the arena showing us how the breed has a natural inclination to work under and behind the carriage. The interest in carriage dogs has been growing steadily in recent years and several BDS members in this area now own and compete in carriage dog trials with their turnouts.
Last years local star Cato with Pat Dutson showed us a typical trial run and Cato was very impressive ignoring everything including a distraction dog and staying absolutely fixed on Pat’s backstep.
The members of the audience were invited to meet the whips and have a ride which many of them did.
A wonderful afternoon although it would have been nice to see a few more BDS worcesershire members there.
Newly formed carriage driving club FUN friendly and enthusiast welcoming all members offering support and training to all We hold monthy events throughout the year if you are looking for a friendly driving club then contact Eppynt Carriage Club on 01982 560727
On Sunday June 5th the British Driving Society held an Introduction to Driving Day at Monnington Court in Herefordshire. The audience were treated to a display of carriage driving by the Hereford District Driving Group members and included a wonderful array of vehicles and horses.
Particular thanks go to Julie Wedgebury with her team of Shetlands driven to a trials vehicle, Julie is currently National Indoor trials champion and we could understand why watching her thrilling gallop around a small cones course in the indoor school.
All the displays had turned out their horses beautifully, from the immaculate Reddock team with Just Jasper put to a Bennington Back Step Buggy to Roy Moore with Sheila Bells rescue Donkey Peter driven to a Bennington Intro.(The Ahhh factor in the programme)
The forty strong audience watched a display of long reining from Katja Jones with her homebred Conygar Red ably assisted by her husband Richard and locally based LHHI Sarah Wildy, this was followed by Mandy, then Neville Jones Country vehicle turnout, Jane Friend with her Dartmoor Rosie turned out for a private driving class complete with Molly the dalmation. Nick Jones showed us his new horse Brickell Buzz put to a Bennington funbug proving that disability is no barrier to enjoying carriage driving. Our Junior driver Suzy Allcoat drove her pony Merlin beautifully through the cones course and the finale was a display by John Bulmer with his Morgan Gelding put to a show wagon and turned out for a Morgan showing class.
The audience were invited to meet the whips and horses in the courtyard and several took up the offer of a ride around the outside arena.
With grateful thanks to John Bulmer and Trudi from Monnington who made us very welcome and provided a fabulous venue for a lovely afternoon. Here are the photos:
With near perfect weather conditions despite the downpour the night before the “BDS Hereford Area Spring Carriage Show” was held on Sunday 8th May at Hampton Court, Leominster for the second year running. This year it was staged just through the main gates with the castle and trees as an impressive backdrop.
Show Director Mandy Reddock together with members of the “Hereford & District Driving Group” helped run the show, this proved to be in a smooth and professional manner, and despite the economic climate the entries were well up on last year and the standard was impressively high. Classes averaged 8 in each class and above and competitors came as far afield as Bridgend, Crickhowell, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Powys. The judge Mr John Marson from Swansea had a very tough job with the 10 classes he had to judge. The classes included Novice Horse & Pony, Novice/Disabled and Veteran Whips, Ride & Drive, Coloured, Whip & Groom. We had Osborne Qualifiers in the Registered Welsh class where Julie Wedgbury took the Section A with “Pentrefelin Romeo”, Section C was given to Mike King with “Menai Leo” and the Section D went to Glenys Davies with “Brynbedw Pride”. In the Private Drive (Open) class 1st prize and the Osborne Qualifier went to Mrs Ann Staniland with her tandem of roan Welsh geldings, “Starlyte Little Trojan & Egeos Robin Goch”, she also gained the Victoria Food Qualifier and went on to become Reserve Show Champion.
The Concours d’elegance was held at lunchtime and so to give our main judge a break we asked our Main Sponsor Mrs Viv Melia of “Bengry Motors (Leominster) Ltd” to judge the class. She had 16 competitors coming forward; this was a spectacle in itself and showed the spectators the wide range of carriage turnouts including some carriages with carriage dogs Jane Friend being one of the turnouts from Kingsland, Nr Leominster. Due to the numbers we split the class into two and then had an overall winner which went to shropshire based competitor Miss Julie Wedgbury, she also ended up taking the “BDS Supreme Show Championship” at the end of the day with her delightful pony “Pentrefelin Romeo”.
One Hereford competitor Nick Jones with his coloured pony “Brickell Buzz” took the 1st prize in the “Novice/Disabled Whip” class. There were 5 competitors in the Ride and Drive which was a hard class to judge and Mrs Ann Staniland coming out on top with Veteran Pony class winner “Starlyte Little Trojan”, the little jockey was Miss Courtney Harding who gave a lovely ridden show for the judge.
A big thank you must go to the owners of Hampton Court for letting us hold our show once again in such a beautiful and historic setting and thanks must go to all the competitors, sponsors, trade stands and helpers who contributed to the show.
Full results are available on www.hddg.co.uk, plus visit www.equinepix.co.uk for photographs.
Mandy Reddock (Show Director)
There is an Introduction to Carriage Driving day, Sponsored by British Driving Society (Herefordshire), being held at Monnington Stud, Monnington, Herefordshire. HR4 7N, on Sunday 5th June from 2 – 4pm. There will be a display of carriage driving by Hereford District Driving Group. Great opportunity to go along and find out how to get started and see showcased all the different events and activities available.
See the group on www.hddg.co.uk.
£4.00 per person at the door. To include a cup of tea or coffee. For more information Kay Walton 01981 540209 - 07786 628274
Monnington Rally
The British Driving Society in Hereford is looking forward to a wonderful season of events this spring and summer, starting in March with the Hereford and District Driving Society holding their Cones day. This season opener held at Webton Court farm courtesy of Mr and Mrs Andrews is a traditional way to kick start the ponies and their owners into the season.
At Easter there will be a drive from Monnington Court courtesy of the Bulmer family, this runs as part of the Monnington Court Easter weekend training. On May 8th the Spring Carriage Show will be held at Hampton Court Castle at Dinmore near Leominster, this is a wonderful day with a wide variety of carriages and equines exhibiting. The back drop of Hampton Court is stunning and catering and trade stands provide a lovely day out for families and anyone interested in carriage driving.
On June 5th there will be an ‘Introduction to Carriage Driving’ held at Monnington Court from 2pm – 4pm, this is a follow up to the successful display held in 2009 at Bromyard Equestrian Centre. It is aimed at anyone with an interest in or thinking of taking up Carriage Driving, be it with a ready made turnout or an outgrown pony you love too much to move on.
There will be rallies in the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley and Golden Valley. The Begwyns Rally is always a wonderful drive and spectacular scenery(providing there is no mist!!!!) The BDS and HDDG welcome driving and non driving members, we always need stewards, sometimes grooms and often just enthusiastic helpers.
Carriage Driving is a diverse activity with disciplines ranging from the elegant Private driving showing classes to the frenetic and exciting Cones competitions. Age is no barrier the youngest BDS member in Hereford is eight and the oldest is ten times that.
If you would like more information about any of the above activities please contact BDS Area Commissioner and Chairman of the HDDG – Kay Walton 01981 540209
