2010 News and Results

17th December Dame Kelly Holmes was obviously so impressed with carriage driving in October that she took all her staff for a Christmas party at Ashfields Carriage & Polo Club in Essex

Two of BHDTA's UKcc coaches Minta Winn and Anna Grayston put the teams through an accelerated training session, the result - two teams ready for a team cones challenge, where everyone did a cones course against the clock .

Dame Kelly was extremely appreciative of the effort that Wilf and Zoe of Ashfields and the UKcc coaches put into organising the day. Dame Kelly particularly liked Minta's pony Buster who she drove and is the mainstay schoolmaster at  Belmont and is seen below left  with Minta and Rupert on the backstep.

 

19th October

The British Equestrian Federation’s Coaching Convention, for coaches and coach developers took place on 19th October in Warwickshire and was attended by Minta . Those present were lucky enough to see insights into  coaching methods from from , Geoff Thompson MBE and Dame Kelly Holmes, both of whom shared their own personal experiences of coaching and competition .

Dame Kelly Holmes tried out a carriage  and is seen below Minta on the backstep.

 

 

Hickstead 24th June 10 A good first outing as a pair in the showring for Avril Lewis's Hillgarth Ranger and Kingsmead Gatekeeper. They took 2nd place in the under 13.2 class and got their Pairs Osborne ticket.

BDS SHow Smiths Lawn 20th June  A good day for the yard and clients.

Sophie Walls drove Avril Lewis's Hillgarth Ranger to win the 10-14 yrs Young Drivers class and went on to be Reserve Champion. 

Minta then took the reins to come 3rd in the Welsh Section C class and take the Osborne Qualifier and also 3rd in the Under 13.2 Private Drive

Mike Clarke drove his own Thorneyside the Foreman to win the Over 13.2 Private Drive and was 2nd in the larger height Welsh Cob class and stood Second Reserve Champion overall

Brighton HDT Minta won the open pony pairs class at Brighton by a good margin with Avril Lewis's pair of welsh ponies Woody and Ranger, (as seen below). 
Keysoe Finals Minta was second with Avril Lewis's Pony pair by 0.3 of a penalty to Jo Sore, a great result for the pair in their first season. Rupert was 7th in an as always hotly contested Senior Juniors class. Photos below courtesy of Mike Watts

 
  George will be produced by Minta for the start of the 2010 season with his owner Mike Clarke driving him in trade classes in his new Hartland Delivery Vehicle. See the Hartland site for pics.
IHDT 20009/2010 Rupert has qualified for the finals at Keysoe in South East area and was inn the running for qualifying at the South area up to the final event which was a tight run thing.

Minta is waiting to see if she has qualified with the pair at the last Thames valley event on 21st March.