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Photos courtesy
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Photos courtesy
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Carriage
Driving Fair
report by Adam Wyllie
The Chairman & organising committee of the South of England
Carriage Driving Fair would like to thank all the members for their hard work at the
weekend.
A Big thank you to all the sponsors , traders and supporters that
make the fair such a great success and finally to all the visitors that make it all
worthwhile.
As ever this year’s South of England Carriage Fair was action packed. Non stop
attractions in the main arena kept the large crowds entertained. Trade stands were
bustling and the craft fair was energetic. Crowds seemed to thoroughly enjoy the variety
of acts that were provided throughout the day. The diversity of the acts provided everyone
with something that interested them.
As ever the grace of the Sussex Lusitanos seemed to keep all the riders amongst the
audience enthralled. Meanwhile the expertise of driving provided by Karen Bassett kept the
drivers captivated.
The British Young Drivers kept the youngsters in the audience cheering, as 2 drivers raced
up and down the arena in parallel. Their display showed the importance of teamwork and how
vital a good and active backstepper is.
Gary Docking gave the private driving fans a chance to see how he would start the Showing
season, sharing his experience with everyone.
The pace then stepped up as the UK’s Top Team Drivers battled it out in the first and
second rounds of the International Horse Team Challenge. Boyd Exell, Dick Lane, and Karen
and Pippa Bassett battled it out in a Girls vs Boys competition to be placed highest in
the running order for the Final. The Girls opted for driving the hazard in the longer
flowing route, keeping moving all the way round. The Boys drove the tighter and more
technical route, which required accurate rein handling. The Boys ended up leading the way
with the Girls only slightly behind, with excellent team driving being displayed on both
sides.
The para-equestrian team showed everyone how people with disabilities can compete
alongside physically fit drivers and often win. Robert Buck representing the Pony Team GB
then went onto show the importance of dressage in Driving Trials. Then there was a chance
for the Audience to come into the arena and meet the much loved Heavy Horses.
Throughout the day the audience was lucky enough to have the Ring Guard Bob Elliot playing
a variety of tunes on the Coaching Horn.
Next, stepping up the tempo were the Scurry Drivers: flying around the arena at flat out
speed. The Osborne Refrigerators group’s top drivers battled it out, with Jeff
Osborne himself winning the competition with very impressive rounds. Jeff was driving Zig
and Zag.
Following on were Mary Bassett’s “allsorts” which demonstrated the
importance of long reining, and how to work with horses from a young age. The display also
included fun tricks, for the younger audience and showed how you can train any type of
horse to do anything (including a donkey).
Subsequently the St Giles’ Fire Engine flew into the arena, and put out the ferocious
arena fire which was suddenly started. Finally the International Horse Team Challenge
returned to the arena for the finale. Two rounds for each driver would decide the winner.
Previously the Boys had been ahead in the earlier rounds, but the Girls weren’t going
to let it go without a fight. Karen speeded up the tempo and drove her large, agile
Trakehners around the course, but had two cones down. Consequently Pippa knowing she had
to give it all she had got, flew around the course with no cones down and the fastest time
of the day so far. With the pressure now on the Boys to perform as well, Dick tried all he
could, and although he had no cones down he just couldn’t beat Pippa’s record
time. Boyd came out to drive a fast round, but had a cone down resulting in him also
dropping behind Pippa. This resulted in Pippa winning the 3rd Round.
Then it was the last round. Karen came out knowing it was still all to play for and drove
a fast round. Next Pippa drove her last and fastest round, she was cheered on by the
majority of the audience and drove an astonishing round, only sending the second to last
cone flying. Dick had a look of determination on his face when he entered the arena. The
first half of his round was superb with some great rein handling and turns being
displayed, but on the bottom corned one of his leaders slipped, this distracted Dick and
resulted in him knocking two of the slalom down. This meant that all the pressure was on
Boyd, but he drove a super fast round with only one cone proving why his is Indoor World
Cup Champion. This resulted in the Boys beating the Girls, with individual placing’s
being, 1st Boyd Exell, 2nd Pippa Bassett, 3rd Dick Lane, 4th Karen Bassett.
This was an exciting end to the day, with edge of your seat action.
Make sure you put next years date in your Diary.
See you all on 14th March 2010.
Adam Wyllie
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Photos courtesy
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