Perfect going at Onley Grounds

 Almost 60 competitors across Regional, Para-Equestrian and Club classes enjoyed perfect going at Onley Grounds, Rugby, from 29 to 30 July. The event was hosted by Midlands Carriagedriving, which also held the British Young Drivers’ National Championships, managing almost 80 entries.

In the Regional classes, Chris Ainscough headed Open Horse with Joanna Broadbent second and Lynda Christian third. Chris led the dressage on 45.05 while Sue Mart and her new horse were second on 54.17, a fraction ahead of Joanna on 54.36. Joanna had the better cones score, adding 2.58 time penalties, which put her ahead of Chris, separated by less than a penalty, while Lynda was in sixth overnight. With all to play for, Lynda attacked the obstacles to win the marathon phase and claim third place. Chris wasted no time either, leap-frogging Joanna to win by 2.14 penalties.

Photo: Chris Ainscough

The result was almost as close in the Open Pony class (2.26 penalties), won by Louise Kaiholm ahead of Lesley Tilbury in second with Philippa Scott 2.39 penalties behind for third. The Novice Horse class had an even tighter result; winner Claire Hyde-Chambers finishing 1.49 penalties ahead of second-placed Christine McLeod with Richard Butt, who had led the dressage phase and produced the better cones score, dropping to third after the final phase.

Photo: Louise Kaiholm

Photo: Claire Hyde-Chambers

                                        

Photo: Cath Brockie

It may have been a different outcome in Novice Pony where Jane Hendy led the dressage on 44.8 and completed one of only three double clears in the cones. Jane took the decision to retire at the end of the marathon Section A after her pony became unsettled following an incident in one of the nearby obstacles. This left Lyn Chorlton, second after dressage, and who also produced a double clear in cones, to take the class with quicker obstacle times ahead of Nicola Fallaize in second and Isabelle Brunner in third.

Photo@ Lyn Chorlton

Peter Young and Angie Smith continued their rivalry in the Pony Fours. Angie took the upper hand after dressage on 61.45 with Peter on 64.92. After cones the gap had shortened to 1.25 penalties as Peter put the pressure on and he took the class with faster obstacle times. Dan Naprous led throughout in the Horse Fours class despite Karen Bassett keeping in close touch across all three phases; Chris Manger

took third place.

Photo: Dan Naprous

Peter Young had a busy weekend, not only driving his sister’s pony team but also two of his family’s Shires in the Horse Tandem class. Leader after the dressage was Keith Henderson although sadly, he had to retire before the cones, leaving Peter to complete on his own.

Photo: Peter Young

Chris Smith was another to lead throughout his class, Advanced Horse Pairs, with a solid performance across the board leaving Libby Priest in second. In the Open Pony Pairs, Sara Bowen led Cath Brockie after dressage by less than two penalties before Cath surged ahead after cones and whizzed through the obstacles to take the class.

Photo: Chris Smith

Vicky Irwin was the sole Advanced Horse competitor although spectators would have been forgiven for thinking she had a rival breathing down her neck as she scorched round the obstacles with times that were faster than all the Open Ponies. Open Horse Pair sole competitor was John Stafford, though he competed at a far more sedate pace than Vicky to complete.

Photo: Vicky Irwin

A strong entry of five in the Para-Equestrian class saw Deborah Daniel produce the best dressage across all classes on 36.8, a lead she held over Mick Ward – second on 48.6 – after cones despite Mick scoring a double clear. Deborah, Emily Ham and Tracey Spencer all drive inside the time and had one ball down in the second phase. However, it was Mick who finished top of the leader board overall with the fastest obstacle times leaving Deborah in second with Emily Ham in third.

Photo: Mick Ward

In the Club classes, dressage scores were very tight in Novice Horse with Emma West leading on 60.0, Joanne Gadsby in second on 60.6 and Chris Patrick in third on 61.0. Joanne surged ahead after driving clear in the cones to add 3.51 time penalties and put up the fastest obstacle times to maintain her lead with Emma second and Chris third. Margaret Collins closed the gap to a mere 0.42 penalties over Novice Pony class overnight leader Esther Rawlinson after a better cones and took the lead to win with faster obstacle times.

Photo: Joanne Gadsby

Photo: Margaret Collins

It was a ding-dong battle between Paul Hart and Tara Wilkinson in Open Horse, Paul leading after dressage, Tara overtaking him after cones and Paul coming out on top in the obstacles to take the class. Fiona Powell’s pocket rocket 26 year-old gelding zipped through the obstacles to pull her up from third in Open Pony to take the win ahead of Gary Brown and overnight leader Nicola Blandin who was eliminated after driving a gate backwards in one of the obstacles.

Photo: Fiona Powell

Overnight leader Matthew Illston-Barsby was last person standing in Pony Pair after Mary Jane Campbell retired on the marathon course and Dave Wheeldon withdrew before the final phase. Octogenarian Fred Pendlebury showed age was no barrier to the sport, competing as sole entry in the Horse Pair class.

Photo: Fred Pendlebury

Photo: Matthew Ilson-Barsby

Organisers Geoff Kirby and Dave Wheeldon plus their support team deserve a vote of thanks for putting on the event which had no less than 25 classes with 78 competitors ranging in age from eight to 80! Thank you to everyone who entered and took part, and all the officials, judges and stewards without whom no driving trials would take place.

Midlands now looks forward to its next Two-Day Club event at the new venue of Brailsford in Derbyshire on 19 and 20 August, followed by a season finale at Oasby, Lincolnshire, from 2 to 3 September.