Powys Carriage Driving Group

The AGM was very well attended with 27 members attending the prizegiving and all bar one staying for the meal and main meeting.

With a membership of 47 the club is growing steadily. Membership runs from one AGM to the next so for the new season began on 5th July. We have a really strong group of 12 young drivers , 6 disabled whips and further disabled non driving helpers. Support is given to all levels from complete beginners without a horse of their own to national and International competitors. New initiatives are training with James Broome and doubling of the winter events with an additional series in the east at Usk College.

We are a dynamic and friendly club and hope that you will join us !

A total of 13 cups and championship sashes and rosettes were awarded to the club members who had headed the winter series points league for the different classes with additional cups for the Best Veteran, Best Senior Junior and Best Junior aged 10 and under, the Best Para driver and the Most Improved Club member.

On behalf of the chairman the secretary reported on a very good year. To summarise : Club members had achieved very good results at the Indoor Championships as well as at outdoor Horse Driving Trials events. Jonathan Rees was fourth In Open Horse Indoor Championships and tenth in the BHDTA National Championships. Peter Sidebottom is current National Reserve Champion in the IHDT series in Intermediate Horse and has qualified for the Novice Horse championships outdoors. Emily Ham is National Young Drivers Champion and National Reserve Champion in Intermediate Pony in the BHDTA or British Carriage Driving as it is now named. Emily had also won the Arena Challenge at Three Counties and the British Scurry and Trials Championship at their North Wales event. Janice Sidebottom , Peter . Emily , Alison Dascombe and Ray Hopkins have won one day events with the Sidebottoms also being very successful at two day events .

Sue Johnson, is the worthy winner of the Best Para Driver winning one and two day driving trials events. Over the past year she has had her competency form signed at two events in England and has attended the necessary training sessions to compete at selection events for the Para Worlds in 2014 which will be held at Sandringham. Sue recently competed in the International Para Drivers Class at Sandringham National where she drove really well. She was 10th competing against experienced competitors from GB and Europe. We wish her all the best in her further selection events.

The club purchased excellent equipment - obstacle frames and marker letters used at Olympia in the World Cup series , kindly sourced and subsidised by supporter Stephen Lucas, The cups and trophies were also purchased and kindly supported by sponsors : Hay and Brecon Farmers, Northernplan Photography , NFU Mutual , Emily Ham , Stephen Lucas , J M Rees Metals , Mountain Hare Studios , the Cwmllanwenarth Stud, The Carriage Driving Company and Dragon Driving.

The Club is extremely grateful to the Community Chest and Sport Wales for the generous grant of £1500 towards the obstacle equipment.

After the election of the committee there were discussions on club business including events , training and fundraising. As club prices have not been increased in the three years since the group was founded it was unanimously decided to increase both membership fees and entry fees for driving trial events. The increases are extremely modest for membership ...up only £5 a year and prices remain very reasonable for events for members although for non members they have been raised to be more in line with other clubs ( though still cheaper than most ), members will have concessionary rates to encourage multiple entries and allow all family members to enjoy competing.

Training for outdoor one day events has been organised with a special two day camp at James Broome’s for novices keen to progress from indoor to outdoor events . There they will have individual and group coaching and the opportunity to drive four wheeled competition vehicles. Follow up training with James later in the season is planned.

The group will be doing demonstrations at three shows : Llangynidir, Brecon County and Sennybridge.

We are also arranging a fundraising day for LATCH the children’s cancer charity on August 31st.

Helpers are always welcome ! And anyone interested in finding out more should contact the Secretary .Ann Ham on 01874 690235 or [email protected]