2009 Show Special - British Driving Society

British Driving Society
Driving Classes
for Friesian
Horses
On 20th September 2009 the
Friesian Horse Association of
Great Britain and Ireland (FHAGBI)
are holding the official Friesian
horse inspection at the Laurel View
equestrian centre in Ballyclare.
Some of the finest Friesian horses
in Ireland will be on display in the
morning, being inspected by Jury
members of the Friesch Paarden
Stamboek in the Netherlands. The
afternoon program includes, for
the very first time, driving classes
specifically for Friesians. Anyone
wishing to enter their horse in the
driving classes should return the
entry form no later than the 1st of
September, together with an entrance
fee of £6 per horse (members) and £8
per horse (non-members)
The classes are not only open to
Friesian horses belonging to members
of FHAGBI, but are also open to nonmembers
with Friesian horses and also
open to un-registered Friesian horses.
There will be classes for exercise
/ pleasure driving, private driving and
multiples (pairs / tandem/ 4 in hand).
E-mail:fhagbi.events@btinternet.com
Website: www.fhagbi.co.uk
Tel. 00 44 07740305267
To be held at Laurel View
Equestrian Centre, 18 Knowehead
Road, Templepatrick, Ballyclare, BT39
0BX. Sunday 20th September 2009
commencing 3.30pm approx
Horseboating Society
It is unusual nowadays to see horseboating on the English
canal system but the recent activities of The Horseboating
Society has enabled the public to see such activities with
events at Standedge and more recently at the Crick Boat
Show when the horse Bilbo Baggins towed the boat over
twenty miles to the next booking on the Grand Union Canal
at The Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum Gala Event where
demonstrations were given of horseboating through the
flight of locks and boathorse harnessing.
The next few days will see the return journey to
Braunston where an appearance will be made at the
Historic Working Narrow Boat Celebration
BDS News | page 8
The Art Of Carriage Driving
What a resounding success the largest ever event
staged by BDS N. E. Wales was. April 12th was
bathed in wall-to-wall sunshine from dawn to dusk at
Maelor Equestrian Centre where over 250 BDS members
and friends attended.
The full day’s programme featured various examples
of carriage driving and preparation never before seen at a
single event in North Wales. These included a Long Reining
Display given by Dilwyn Lloyd and Junior Whip, Rachel
Thomas.
Pairs driving saw BDS Wales Chairman Modris Kesans
and Michelle Reid demonstrate the skill of driving a pair
of horses.This was repeated using a tandem with John
Wilmot of Prestbury, Cheshire. Different vehicles for
driving classes and preparing to show were demonstrated
and explained by BDS Judge, Modris Kesans. Thanks to
the following for bringing their turnouts; Elizabeth Brown
with groom John Brown and their exercise vehicle, Janet
Williams with her pleasure driving turnout, AAC Medina
Dicks for her Private Driving turnout, Robert Parry Snr. with
his 1935 Pickering Float built in Liverpool for a Stockport
fishmonger & used around Manchester until the outbreak
of the war. This vehicle achieved many first class awards
at the London Harness Horse parade. The float was pulled
by 8 year old Welsh Section D Ty Brook Flash Jack bred
by Robert Parry, Morfydd Greatorix BDS AC for N.W
Wales brought her Victoria Carriage built in Poland which
she uses for weddings. Her groom was husband, Michael
Greatorex. Mongarnedd Morgan a 10 year old Section C
cob pulled the Victoria carriage. Modris Kesans explained
to the large audience the different types of vehicles being
demonstrated and the various classes and examples
of disciplines in the show ring a turn out is expected to
display together with what to wear. The Dalmatian as a
carriage dog was demonstrated by Avril Pluck who put Spin
through various disciplines and explained the history of the
Dalmatian as a carriage dog.
The final display was the Erddig horses who gave a
magnificent and entertaining example of log pulling on the
Estate at Wrexham, Steve Griffiths Countryside Manager
with fellow Erddig staff Bryn & Dave were seen putting
Duke a coloured cob and Jerry the Shire, through their
Moving
through
Brockhall
spinneys
paces using various logging vehicles and Scandinavian
harness used for logging. Steve explained the other duties
of the horses on the estate could include harrowing,
harvesting and giving carriage rides.
The main attraction of the event was the arrival of
the 140-year-old Lonsdale Park Drag Coach. The coach
is owned and driven by Mark Evans and pulled by a team
of four black Friesian stallions. Six passengers had been
lucky to secure seats on the upper carriage. Prior to setting
off, Mark Evans explained the traditions of coaching. The
post horn blasted the off and the coach departed on its
way to the Llyndir Hall Hotel & Spa the first stop watched
by hundreds on the roadsides. On arrival at Llyndir
Hotel nr Rossett a huge crowd had assembled to witness
the coaches’ arrival. The management had kindly set a
lounge aside for refreshments for the travellers while the
coachman and his staff of five waited in the car park, again
the coach horn sounded the off to the pleasure of the hotel
guests and huge numbers of onlookers.
The coach then headed through the Flintshire
Countryside to the 2nd stop at the Swan Inn, Higher
Kinnerton, again huge numbers of people turned out
on hearing the various calls of the coach horn. The
management of the Swan provided refreshments to both
passengers and coachmen with large crowds gathered
around the coach. At the blast of the horn set off on the
final leg of its 12 mile journey back to Hope, again large
crowds had gathered on the way. What a thrilling site the
coach made with ten people on its upper deck.
On arrival back at 3.00p.m all passengers exclaimed it
had been the trip of a lifetime.
Organiser of the event, BDS North East Wales Area
Commissioner Janet Williams of Bwlchgwyn thanked
Awards for All Wales for funding to make The Art Of
Carriage Driving Event possible. Hope and Flintshire
County Council tourism were also thanked for their
assistance with funding the event. Also, thanks were
expressed to everyone who had taken part in making the
event such a success, and to the 250 who attended the all
day event. Local Charities supported by The Art of Carriage
driving were Nightingale House Hospice, Wrexham and
Clwyd Special Riding Centre, Llanfynydd Flintshire.
Maythorn Ralli returns to Biggleswade
On 23 May, a former resident made a welcome return to Biggleswade together with his pride
and joy, an antique horse drawn vehicle itself made in the town. The vehicle, a Ralli car, was
made by Maythorn of Biggleswade around the early 1900s and was originally commissioned for Lady
Freeman of Freeman Hardy Willis (shoe retailers) fame. Looking to buy a suitable vehicle to show
with their new pony, driving enthusiasts Lesley and Colin Hurd agreed their search was over when, in
early 2008, they found the Ralli car resting in a barn in the New Forest. But before they could take to
the road, a large amount of work was required to ensure the Ralli car was safe and sound. Colin and
Lesley sent the vehicle for a complete overhaul to Richard Wheelwright, well known carriage restorer
and painter in Birmingham. Nine months later, the Ralli car was returned in its original colours of dark
green and black. Maythorn were once the largest industrial employers in Biggleswade with over 200
craftsmen employed in the manufacture of an extensive range of carriages. They occupied a site of
over three acres close to the market square. Extensive advertising encouraged clients to take the
train to Biggleswade where they would be collected to visit the works and see their own carriage in
production. After a serious fire at the factory just before the Great War, the factory was closed and the
operation taken over by the London carriage and now car body makers of Mulliner. Colin and Lesley
made the long journey from Lavant, West Sussex, where they now live, to show the vehicle at the
Spring Show of the British Driving Society (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire branch)
on 23 May in Biggleswade.
Colin said, “Having once lived in Biggleswade, I am pleased to have had the opportunity to
return the Ralli car to its original home and show the complete turnout.” The Ralli car, named after a
gentleman called Ralli, is a two-wheeled country vehicle, popular at the beginning of the last century
because of its adaptability.
Further information on this press release from Linda Swain, BDS area commissioner,
07850 706978