Powys Carriage Driving Group

Powys Carriage Driving Group members enjoyed great competition at the November Affiliated Indoor Horse Driving Trials. Jonathan Rees, winner of Open Horse, impressed British Dressage judge Sandra Fisher by winning the dressage overall. He drove a good cones round with just one ball down and three time penalties and went to fly the obstacles in the fastest times of the day. What an achievement especially as his horse Roly is now 24 years old !Peter Sidebottom and Ray Hopkins pressed hard in the cones both driving clear with just 3 and 1 time penalty respectively but Jonathan’s win was convincing and was the Best Score of the day.

Alison Dascombe took Open Pony ahead of Ray Hopkins and Nikki Shutt won Novice Pony. Novice Horse was won by Janice Sidebottom ahead of Carl Ward.

Four juniors battled it out with Emily Curnock winning all three phases ahead of the Phillips sisters from Brecon. Ten year old Jack Kedward, winner of the Young Juniors , drove superbly to challenge Emily but she gained in the obstacles to record the best junior score of the day. The newcomers are improving every time out with John Shutt putting in a confident drive behind Paul Curnock, Emily’s dad, who was not to be outdone and impressed with only 2 penalties in the cones and fast obstacles to record the second best score of the day. Emily and Paul drive their family’s outgrown Pony Club pony Top Dollar which they broke to harness themselves in the spring. To make their achievement even greater they have only been driving just over a year.

Everyone was thrilled to see disabled Whip Christine Pitt competing with Alison’s pony Jellybean and thoroughly enjoying herself as well as taking home a red rosette.. Even Alison’s husband Tony was persuaded to have a go round the obstacles- by his non -stop grin it’s obvious he will be keen to drive at the next event on 8th December!