January 2012 Update

Happy New Year everyone and Welcome to the 2012 Driving Season.

Just to remind you all that the First Meeting is next Thursday Feb 2nd, at the Halland Motel.

The Disabled Drivers only Meeting with Karen is at 11.00 am followed by Lunch at 12.30. Everyone welcome for lunch but Please let Karen know a.s.a.p. if you are coming.
Karen`s Nos. 01825 762874   Mobile 07961 853286
E-mail andrew.tritton@talktalk.net

Thursday Feb16th, we are holding a Quiz at Dicker Village Hall starting with coffee at 10.30.a.m., with the quiz at 11.00. Teams of six to a table, great prizes, so do please come along. The quizmasters have put a lot of work into the questions, which will be fun, not too serious and we need a good Turnout for our first Dicker Meeting!! This will be followed by Lunch at the Golden Cross Inn. Again, PLEASE let Karen know if you are coming.

Thursday Feb 23rd. Meeting at Dicker 10.30.a.m. 'brush up' on your rein handling with 'Annie'. Harness and help clean the reins ready to start Driving in, hopefully, March weather permitting.

See you all soon!

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CHRISTMAS 2011 UPDATE

Once again we enjoyed an excellent Christmas Lunch at Pilgrims Hall Halland on Thurs Dec. 8th, the lovely traditional Christmas decorations with welcoming log fire made it a really festive occasion, with 58 members present. We were pleased to welcome Jane, our President, & Ray and to see Sheenah & Lindsay again, for new members Sheenah use to be our chief instructor. This year we were delighted to have Jan, Andy & Jessie from The Oak`s Driving Club Committee with us for the first time,good to see you all & thank you for coming. It was a most enjoyable meal & a special Thank You to Anthea`s husband John who very generously provided the wine

The results of the Cones Competition held on June 30th were announced & Jane presented the rosettes & then the Annual Cups, list to follow.

Congratulations to Tracey who passed her R.D.A. Grade 2 & 3 Tests & her Single Rein Driving Assessment on Nov. 24th.
Many thanks to the Uckfield Lions for their very generous donation as a result of their Classic Car Rally in Sept. we really appreciate their great support.

ANNUAL CUPS PRESENTED AT 2011 CHRISTMAS LUNCH.

SOPHIE CUP (attendance) Sarah Baverstock
ENDEAVOUR CUP (Gillian Maitland) James Flint.
ACHIEVEMENT SHIELD (Sue Page) Lorraine Mercer
SHETLAND SHIELD (Clown & Tinker) Tracey Spencer.
HELPER`S CUP (Sid Westwell) Jolyon Creasey.
DISABLED`S CHOICE CUP (Hill Samuel) Anthea Shipley / Sue Page.
HILARY`S INSTRUCTOR`S CUP Paul Mouland

See the Results Page for the Cones Competition Results.

The Spring 2012 Programme is on the Website now.

A Special Thanks to all our Horses/Ponies, their Owners & Carers, all the Companion Whips & wonderful Helpers & The Committee, without them there would be no Group!

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS & GOOD DRIVING IN THE NEW YEAR !
See you all in Feb. 2012!

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News Update 2011

The 2011 R.D.A. Driving season ended with the A.G.M. at Dicker Village Hall on Oct. 29th. This was well attended and Karen, our Chairman, gave us an excellent summary of the year`s events. We have had a record number of dry and sunny days this year - the unfortunate exception being our O.D.E. on Aug 4th. It was a really dreadful day and, after struggling with the wind and rain for the Dressage and Cones in the morning, to everyone`s disappointment, the obstacles had to be abandoned in the afternoon. However everyone remained in good spirits and enjoyed themselves and we were pleased to welcome back The Kipling Group, always challenging competitors to keep us on our toes!

Since the last update the Group has competed at the Sand`s Farm R.D.A. Indoor Event held at Warnham on Sep 29th. with Groups from all over the Southern Area. The competition was stiff this year and Well Done to Tracey Spencer, who won the Intermediate class driving Bertie, and to Sarah Baverstock who came 3rd. with Kelly in the strong Open class. Thank you James for your report and photos, results on the results page.

Four Members competed in the non - assisted R.D.A. class at the Oak`s Show on Aug 14th. Paul driving Bertie, Brenda with Charlie, Percy with Buck and James with Domino, Brenda and Paul tied for First Place and Paul won the Best Turned Out see the results page, well done everyone.

Our Annual Winkle Fun Day on Oct 6th was a great success thanks to Hilary and her ability to combine cones, obstacles and gymkhana events, it really was a Fun event and everyone enjoyed it. It was good to have our President, Jane, and Ray with us again, especially as the event is held in Memory of Jane`s R.D.A. pony Winkle and Jane presented Cups to the Winning Team - see results page.

We have enjoyed 3 Picnic Drives this year and the weather was great for all three. The two more recent drives were, firstly, at Alciston on Sep 15th - arranged by Bella with kind permission of the farmer, Mr Rick Walton. Thank you to both of them, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, even if the ponies found it a little warm! Thanks to Elizabeth for her account of the experience.

The final Drive was at Colbran`s Farm on Oct 13th by kind permission of Mr Joe Simpson. We were able to drive part of the route planned for the Oak`s Drive the following weekend and it was great fun, if a little bumpy in places! There was an added bonus to find the famous Oak`s Catering Caravan on site manned by Jessie and Jan and we were treated to delicious cakes and drinks after the drive. Many thanks to them both and to Andy who escorted us on the drive to show us the route.

Fund Raising has been greatly helped this year by generous donations from both The Brighton Lions and The Uckfield Lions, the latter organized a Classic and Vintage Car Run on Sep 25th with Hog Roast in aid of the Group. Karen, Paul. Doug and Sandra went along with one of our carriages and were made very welcome. We are very grateful to both groups as it has enabled us to purchase a very smart new R.D.A. adapted Hartland 4 wheeled carriage and new carriage trailer for the group. This will be passed soon and be ready for next year`s driving season, Photos will follow, Thank you so much!

Unfortunately we ended the season on a very sad note when we lost our much loved R.D A. pony Buck after a sudden, fatal illness.

Buck was 19yrs. old and was kindly given to the Group about 8yrs.ago when his owner, Sheila Stevens, emigrated to New Zealand. At first he lived with Joe and her family who had great fun with him, winning leading rein and ridden showing classes as well as gymkhana events. Last year as they had outgrown him he moved to Anthea`s where he started teaching her grandchildren to ride, all this in addition to being a very popular and excellent R.D.A. driving pony. He was a wonderfully patient little character and he will be greatly missed by everyone.

Thank you, Buck, for all the fun you gave us.

The final event of the year will be the Christmas Lunch on Thursday Dec 8th. at Pilgrim`s Hall, Halland. Look forward to seeing you there!

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ALCISTON PICNIC DRIVE - Sept.15th. by Elizabeth Gotts

It was another bright, sunny and very warm day - one of many we were lucky enough to have at that time, and as it was so clear we could enjoy views of the beautiful Sussex Downs as we drove the carriages round the fields. We started our drive at the top corner of the field where the cars and horse boxes were parked and drove down the left side keeping to the hedge. Each Driver set off at an even pace to avoid bunching the group and when we reached the second corner we drove through a gap in the hedge out onto the road, a quiet country lane. For the Drivers like myself, who have not had a great deal of experience, it was a chance to get the feel of trotting along a country lane. We picked up speed, a contrast to the slower, bumpy driving along the field edge. It felt good to experience 'road driving' and I found it quite different and great fun! I think that Jack, my pony, enjoyed being on the open road and could not quite believe what was happening. We met a few cars which we had to give way to, thankfully the drivers were considerate and passed with no problems and the horses stayed calm and were not disturbed by the cars passing in such close proximity. All to soon it was time to turn back into the field, which was tricky for me, but we made it in one piece, then back to base for a picnic lunch. It was good to have a relaxing drive through the countryside after a busy and intensive period leading up to the competitions. I found the whole outing very enjoyable and I look forward to similar outings in the future. As one member of the group remarked - 'it was all good fun', it certainly was a great experience to share.

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SANDS FARM ODE THURSDAY 29th SEPTEMBER BY JAMES FLINT

At 8.00, Shirley's car turned up and I went outside still half asleep! It was turning out to be a very hot day. Percy and Elizabeth, both drivers, were sitting in the car.
After 2 hours, we arrived at Sands Farm. It was the first time that I had driven at Sands Farm. I got my gloves and my number on, and then I went to have a look at the cones course. It was quite difficult and I thought, quite cramped. Then I went to the dressage arena. Liz Major, my A.B. whip and Charlie, my pony, were competing with Marc. The standards were very high from all the drivers.
Now it was my turn. First it was the dressage, no mistakes, and then the cones (one down). After lunch it was the obstacle course, I made a mistake, never mind! I finally came 6th in the Novice class.

See Photos

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Urgent Appeal

We have 7 RDA Horses/Ponies 18 Drivers
We desperately need more helpers on the ground . Some experience of horses is helpful but not essential. Training and help will be given. Thursday am 9.45 - 12.30 approx. Occasional weekend days (show)
Venue usually Burchett's Farm Whitesmith Chiddingly
Contact Anthea on 01825 830200
Or Vanessa on 01435 865297

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