BREAKING NEWS

Sporting heroes awarded
ANNANDALE and Eskdale’s sporting heroes and heroines were rewarded for their achievements on Friday night. It was a celebration for those who had excelled in their chosen sport during the year 2008.

The Annandale and Eskdale Sports and Leisure Trust’s annual awards, in Ecclefechan’s Cressfield Hotel, saw five top accolades handed out but there was no team prize this year. Leisure trust chairman Ernie Turpie revealed that it had been a tough decision for judges to choose between the nominees put forward by the public for the categories. He said: “The standard and number of nominations indicate that the quality of sport in Annandale and Eskdale is extremely high and we congratulated all those involved for their commitment and wished them well in their future endeavours.”

Para-equestrian Drivers Take on the Eggheads

In a program to be televised in June a team from the Para-equestrian Drivers take on the might of the Eggheads in the popular BBC2 program. The team, consisting of Terry Kirby (Capt.), Heather Clarke, James Marshall, Lindsey Tyas, Margaret Lupton and reserve Rowena Coldwell, had to audition in Leeds to be selected to go up against the Eggheads at the BBC television centre in London.

Unfortunately because of the bad weather, Margaret and Lindsey couldn’t make the audition, so had to do a general knowledge quiz with the production team over the phone. After a liquid lunch the 4 that went to Leeds beat a team of lawyers and a pub team in a mock competition. A week later they where told they had made it onto the show. The time spent at the BBC was really good, having to get clothes checked by wardrobe and then being made up in makeup. Sound checks and instructions out of the way, it was time to meet the Eggheads. They were lovely to talk too and really made the team feel at ease. During the show the team were able to explain about Horse Driving Trials and the Carriage Driving Sports Group. Because the program is pre-recorded the team had to sign a confidentiality form preventing them from disclosing the result. So you will have to watch the show in June.

Terry Kirby
28 March 2009


Para-equestrian Drivers at South of England Driving Fair

Up and coming para equestrian drivers Sarah Bavistock (Herons Ghyll RDA)  and Yolanda Hansford (Burcott & District RDA) featured in the Para Equestrian drivers' demonstration at the South of England driving fair at Ardingly in March.

Yolanda explaining one of the five principles of training	Sarah Bavistock demonstrates the fundamentals  of training

Also featuring members of Team GBR; trainer Rachel Stevens explained the five principles of training and was assisted by Team GBR drivers from the 2008 World Championships Judi Ralls and Lindsey Tyas.

Para-Equestrian Driving features on Horse and Country TV

Para-Equestrian Carriage Driving will be featured on Horse and Country TV this month. Starting in March at the Unicorn Centre, this programme follows the para drivers through to the World Championships in Greven at the end of June.  The programme produced by Jackie Herd and Tim Maloy of Fairview Studios will be transmitted on Sky channel 280 on Friday 10th October at 8pm, Saturday 11th October at 8.30pm and 10pm and again on Sunday 12th at 8pm.

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2008

GB Team Announced for FEI Para-Equestrian World Driving Championships - Greven 2008 

Ripley Castle hosted the final team training and selection for the Para-Equestrian World Championship hopefuls from 30 April through to 4 May. Despite news that there would not be a pairs class at the World Championships this year, Brenda and David Hodgson still joined the team and in their usual enthusiastic style demonstrated outstanding team camaraderie throughout. The past months has seen every single driver and horse improve enormously in ability and confidence, making the final selection of these Grade 1 and Grade 2 single horse and pony drivers by no means straight forward. The team has now been finalised and will comprise two drivers with excellent WorldChampionship track records - Lindsey Tyas (Grade 1), driving her experienced Welsh Cob, London Flash Jack and Judi Ralls (Grade 2), driving Glenmead Flashman – plus newcomer to the World Championship scene, Margaret Lupton (Grade 1), driving her very impressive Welsh Cob Ilar Barry.    Terry Kirby will back them up as team reserve, driving Welsh mare Holgar Lady Megan, and Heather Clark driving her own coloured trotter cross, Barney will compete as an individual.  Huge thanks go to the North East Driving Trials Group and to Sir Thomas Ingleby for their generous provision of grounds and facilities at RipleyCastle. The selected team and individuals will be training and competing at Escrick Park at the end of the month, with a final training clinic at Ashfields in mid June before heading over to Greven, Germany for the World Championships, 25 – 29 June.

Lindsey - Ripley Selection  (photo E. Tyas)     Judi - Ashfields Selection (photo Mike Watts) Margaret - Ashfields Selection (Photo: E Tyas)

Selection for Para Equestrian World Championships Squad
Ashfields 17 - 20 April 2008

The Para Equestrian World Class Squad continued with their training and competition selection programme, this time at Ashfields Carriage and Polo Centre, by kind permission of Terry Chambers.

Outstanding training, competition and social facilities were provided by Zoe Morgan and Wilf Bowman-Ripley, accommodating an intense training programme on the Thursday and Friday, followed by a specially devised class where competitors went head-to-head as part of the selection process.

Lynn Winder, Chris Van Reen and Rachel Stevens headed up the training programme and the team where once again ably supported by sports psychologist Jennie Killilea and team vet Viki Edmondson.

The team will be selected based on inclusion of one Grade 1 and one Grade 2 competitor, the third team member being either a Grade 1 or Grade 2 driver. There will also be two individual places available. The Pairs class is not yet confirmed, which has been agonising for poor Brenda Hodgson, but she is continuing, regardless with the invaluable training programme, this year with a different pony pair from the previous World Championships.

Team hopefuls are:
  Terry Kirby                               Grade 1                        Single Pony
Has team experience from Hellendoorn and is very strong and consistent across all three phases.  

Judi Ralls                                 Grade 2                        Single Pony
One of the most experienced team members; a very reliable driver with an experienced Championship pony.

Elaine Schaschke                   Grade 2                        Single Pony
First attempt at selection, a talented driver showing great potential, with a very smart and well prepared pony.         

Heather Clarke                Grade 1                        Single Pony  One of the most admired and talented drivers on the circuit.  Diligent, dedicated and preparing herself well - one to watch.

Brenda Hodgson Grade 1 Pony pair     A proven World Championship track record with her well known Duns. This year with a new turnout showing loads of potential.

Margaret Lupton Grade 1 Single Pony        Missed out at the last Worlds at the last minute, due to an unfortunate accident. Now with a new pony, showing great improvement. A determined competitor with natural talent.

Lindsey Tyas  Grade 1 Single Horse Another extremely accomplished and experienced World Championship competitor, showing consistent improvement year on year with this horse. Photo by Malcolm Parnell

Competition
This year sees FEI award the 2008 Para Driving World Championships to Germany. The Championships will take place at the highly regarded Horse Driving Trials course at Reit-und-Fahrverein St. Martin in Greven-Bockholt from 27th - 29th June.