RDA NSW Carriage driving Competition

By Janet Muspratt
The second annual RDA NSW Carriage Driving Competition was held in 2006. Because it has proven difficult to all meet at the same venue for a state event, a competition has been devised which can be completed at each centre, at any time during the year. Results are returned to a coordinator for winners and placegetters to be worked out. Overall results and ribbons are then distributed to the participating groups.

The events are a cones course, barrel racing , dressage and a concours d’elegance competition, judged from photographs. The cones and barrels courses are published on a grid so that identical courses can be set up at the centres, whilst the dressage tests are videoed for judging.
Eighteen competitors took part in 2006. Class numbers were very big. For example there were eleven entries for the Novice AA Test, proving quite a lengthy and demanding task for the judges.

A number of ACDS members were closely involved in the competition. Linda Ongley (Hills) was a competitor with her best result being second in the Open (BB) dressage test. Rosemary Laing (Hunter), Fiona Little (Riverina), Margaret Moore( Camden) and Janet Muspratt (Hills) all acted as Whips for the drivers from the various centres, whilst Ken Thomas (Bungendore) and Helen OBrien (Canberra) were the dressage judges. Founding Hills Club member Jenny Fawbert was the Concours judge. Mid North Coast Club members assisted the Taree RDA in running their events and enjoyed putting their pony pairs through the cones course and barrels. Alan Ongley (Hills) video taped the Tall Timbers drivers’ dressage tests.

The feedback from the judges and having copies of the dressage tests on video is spurring drivers and their Whips on to do better in 2007. The new competition is already underway for this year, with the completion date being September 30