1-2-3 for Midlands’ ponies at the National Championships
It was a clean sweep for three Midlands Carriagedriving ponies at the 2023 British Carriagedriving National Championships, held 15 to 17 September, at Ashfields Polo and Carriage Driving Grounds in Essex.
Cath Brockie held her nerve in the final cones phase to take the Open Pony crown with Robert Buck driving Elisabeth Greensmith’s Charlee in second and Megan Wheeldon completing in third place. Cath was lying in sixth place after dressage but a scorching drive through the obstacles put her in the lead prior to cones by just 0.71 of a penalty from Robert who, after coming fourth in dressage, also put up a strong obstacle performance. However, his 14.27 added penalties in cones gave Cath some breathing space and two down inside the time were enough to secure the 2023 title. Megan, who languished in an unfamiliar 12 th place after dressage, pulled herself up to overnight fifth after the obstacles and added 1.71 time penalties to make it a 1-2-3 of Midland ponies.
Photo: Cath Brockie
Photo: Megan Wheeldon
The Pony Four-in-Hand class was a familiar battle between Peter Young and Angela Smith. Angela, recently returned from representing Great Britain at the Pony World Championships, put a new pony in the lead for dressage. Peter took advantage and led the first phase, but only by 0.98 of a penalty. He widened the gap considerably with quick obstacles times and stayed ahead in cones to take the championship with Angela second.
Photo Peter Young
Photo: Angie Smith
Chris Ainscough, who has made use of Midlands’ ODEs to bring on John Nisbet’s young horse, scored the best dressage of the whole championships with an incredible 39.41. This put him over 11 penalties ahead of his nearest rival and he kept his overall lead to take the Open Horse crown with a third place in obstacles and second place in cones. Sue Mart, also bringing on a young horse, was very happy to complete in sixth place.
Photo: Chris Ainscough
Photo: Sue Mart
Karen Bassett (Horse Four-in-Hand) was disappointed with her dressage score of 53.66 which left her in second place after the first phase but cheered up after some excellent obstacle times. She had two down plus some time penalties in cones to keep reserve champion spot, despite the best efforts of Flora, one of her wheelers, who had several ‘Tigger’ moments during the final phase. Angela Flanagan took reserve champion in Open Horse Pairs. Although there were only two in the class and Angela was off the pace, it was still an achievement to turn up, compete and complete, given she is still feeling the after effect of a nasty skiing accident which has led to a lack of match practice this year. Other Midlands members and regular competitors competing at the National Championships were Mary Fuller, who finished sixth in Novice Horse and Lyn Chorlton and Margaret Collins who were 10 th and 11 th respectively in a hotly
contested and large Novice Pony class.
Photo: Karen Bassett
Photo : Angela Flanagan
Photo: Lyn Chorlton
Photo: Margaret Collins
Photo: Mary Fuller
For more news and information on Midlands Carriagedriving, visit www.midlandscarriagedriving .co.uk; also follow the club on Facebook. Full National Championship results can be found on the British Carriagedriving website:www.britishcarriagedriving.co.uk
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