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club News
Tamworth Regional Horse Drawn Club
Last Updated July 2010
April 11 was Tamworth Club’s Come and Try Day, giving the general public the opportunity to try out carriage driving and see if they would like to become involved, without the expense of buying a horse, vehicle and harness first. Everyone was made welcome and there were guest speakers discussing various aspects of harness driving as well as demonstrations and hands on activities. It was very successful and everyone learned something new. The day resulted in several new people being welcomed to the sport of carriage driving.
With the weather so perfect it was no surprise that everyone had a great time on the club social drive around Manilla on May 2. There were about a dozen members present and thanks should go to Margaret Neely for organizing the drive with the much appreciated help from escort vehicles driven by John O’Brien and Max Saunders, ensuring a safe crossing on the main roads and bridges.
A couple of obstacles along the way added some variety to the drive. It was a good opportunity for Margaret Neely to giver her new horse affectionately named Maxi his debut drive with the club. Maxi was on the racetrack only three months ago. He has settled into carriage driving without any dramas and will give Margaret endless driving pleasure.
Hills District Harness Club
Last updated July 2010
The Sydney Royal was a family affair for many Hills Club members. In the Light Harness classes Kim and Christine McGregor had their two Arabians in singles and then in tandem; Darren, Joanne and son Jessie Dorman had a large stable of ponies and a horse and each drove, and Carmel, Icie and Teale Richardson also competed with their small Shetlands. Gay Bostock ably supported by husband Ron was another member who exhibited several ponies in harness over the course of the show, whilst Peter O’Regan again showed several ponies in the Non Hackney Pony and Shetland harness classes. In the Business/Delivery and the Clydesdale classes Hills was represented by the Cranwell family with their horses Ashlee, Peter and Midnight.
The Club’s pleasure drive at the start of May was held in perfect weather over a new route from Londonderry across to Castlereagh in the Hawkesbury/Nepean Valley. The start was at Rosemary Magro’s and the six drivers – Keri Izzard, Greg McDonald, Christine McGregor, Andrea Casper, Dennis Casper and Karen Silvester, traversed a number of quiet and picturesque roads through the Castlereagh State Forest and an area of hobby farms to the lunch spot, covering a distance of 13km. Along the way they witnessed some trail bike riders in the State Forest being nabbed by two very smartly turned out policemen on their own trail bikes. The trail bikers were later passed, looking very grumpy, walking their bikes home. Chris Reinhardt, Janet Muspratt, Barry McGregor and Karen’s horticultural work experience student Charlotte from France joined the drivers for the day.
Camden Harness Club
Last Updated July 2010
Over the last couple of months Camden members have attended the Camden Show, the Hills Club Sporting Day, the St Patricks Day Sydney Parade and the Anzac CDE at Bundanoon. Carol Fitzpatrick drove her pair Ned and Louie in the Biffin’s buggy in the St Patricks Day Parade, with Greg McDonald acting as groom on the ground, whilst Alison McDonald and Peter Fitzpatrick were there as helpers, transporters and photographers. The horses behaved really well in the very busy, noisy atmosphere and luckily only had a mild reaction when the monorail rattled over their heads. It was very different to what they are used to – the quiet roads of Catherine Field and the wide open spaces on the Henry Lawson Drive.
Greg McDonald and Martyn Minns both drove at the Southern Highlands Club Anzac CDE, whilst Greg also joined the Hills Club for its Pleasure Drive at Castlereagh at the start of May.
Sylvia and Merv Biffin recently received congratulatory cards from the Queen, the Governor General and the Prime Minister for their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations Sylvia and Merv from the ACDS too !
Canberra Carriage Driving Club
Last Updated July 2010
Two members, Hannah Harris and newcomer Gail Bain, enjoyed the Southern Highlands event on the Anzac weekend, and there were not even any storms, thunder or dust ! Most of us were saving ourselves for the fabulous Inter Club Challenge and Interstate Cones competition put on by the Ellmore Club at Jugiong. Our club was represented by Shirley Houlahan with her new pony, Garry and Judy Harris, Penny Jacobs, Karen McHugh, John and Deborah Gorman and Phil McHugh.
The same weekend Peter McIntyre competed at Nyah in Victoria, and with Di Murray as groom, had a successful event.
In May, we decided to hold a mid week drive in conjunction with our monthly meeting. Once again, we were blessed with perfect weather and John and Deborah Gorman, Lizzie Reid, Shirley and Ken Houlahan, Paul O’Brien, Penny Jacobs and Amanda Gemmell Smith had a lovely drive around Dalton, which is a very quiet town. We in the club are all quite spread out geographically, so it was reasonably central, and it was nice to hold the meeting whilst having lunch, joined by Karen and Hayden McHugh, at the very pleasant Recreation Ground. Penny Jacobs.
Bega Valley Harness Society
Last Updated July 2009
Nola Robertson really enjoyed her trip to Western Australia to judge at a harness show near Perth at the start of May. The grounds for the show were first class and she found it very interesting to judge in a different state with its slightly different variety of classes. Everyone was friendly and competitors appreciated her coming all that way to judge. She stayed with one of the organizers and not being someone to waste opportunities, on the days either side of the show helped get a new pony going in harness and gave her host some help with her show riding skills.
Congratulations to Sarah Keevers who is the new holder of the CDE Leader Board Trophy. Sarah’s latest success was her first place in the Open Horse/Pony at the Anzac CDE at Bundanoon.
Liverpool Range Harness Club
Last updated July 2010
Brian Duck sent this report:
Bill and Trish Greer hosted our April weekend at their property along Warrah Creek Road. We met at Willow Tree on Saturday morning, harnessed up and drove down Borambil Creek Rd. After taking in the scenery on the way, we stopped for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon we drove over to Warrah Creek Rd and unharnessed at the Greers’ place. We then went and picked up our trucks and trailers and came back to set up camp We all enjoyed the BBQ tea followed by after dinner games.
On Sunday morning the group drove up the Warrah Creek Rd towards the Cedar Brush on the Liverpool Range. This was a very scenic route driving past the Parraweena cattle yards and the deer stalker’s hut. After a full morning’s drive, we arrived back at the Greers’ for lunch and to pack up for home. Thank you Bill, Trish and family for a wonderful weekend. You even organized the perfect weather.
Those involved in the weekend apart from Bill and Trish were Cherry Steel, Dee Hillard, Sally Jones, Don and Lyn Thomas, Col and Robyn Douglas, Zoe Cooper, Brian and Robbie Duck, Narelle Sharp, Charlie Phillips, Alison Richards and grandson Sam, and Malcolm and Donna Grace.
At the beginning of May our club held its driving weekend at Murrurundi for the King of the Ranges Stockmen’s Challenge. We were joined by members of the Gulgong Club who came to have a look.
Each day we went for a drive around the area, beginning on Thursday with a drive through a property. On Friday we drove to Murravale and the hospital to give the elderly a look at our horses and sulkies, and then went to Paradise Park for a look around. We drove to Blandford and back on Saturday along the old highway behind the railway line. The views of the valley and the mountains behind were great. Each day we also entertained the spectators in the ring at the Stockmen’s Challenge with a bride and groom novelty race, negotiating many obstacles on their way to the wedding.
The main entertainment at this event was the ability of the stockmen competing to be the ‘King of the Ranges’. It was amazing to see them each catch a wild brumby, saddle bronc riding whilst cracking a whip, bare back riding, cross country jumping, pack horse racing and working cattle. As well as this event, we saw dog high jumping, billy cart races and much more.
Those there with our club group were Don and Lyn Thomas, John and Carol Scanlon, Peter and Trish Honeyman, Col and Robyn Douglas, Brian and Robbie Duck, Doug and Sally Jones, Cherry Steel, Charlie Phillips, Darcy and Alison Richards and Bill and Trish Greer. On the Saturday night we celebrated a wonderful feat – Charlie Phillips’ 85th birthday. Charlie is still driving with the club and attends almost every weekend or day out we have.
A great weekend was had by all and many thanks to Bill and Trish for organizing the weekend and the props for the Bride’s race.
![[Marrar 2010 Endurance Drive ]](http://www.carriagedrivingnsw.org.au/gallery/1185.jpg)
Reedy Creek Equestrian Club
Last updated July 2010
Sharon Beattie writes:
Most members drove at the Munro Cup at Witwood and one of our members, Anne Robertson, was the Cup winner. Our members recorded both the fastest and the slowest times in the cones, but everyone had a great time. I recommend the Munro Cup for a fun weekend.
Most of the club members drove at the Marrar CDE, or helped in some way. It was also a fun weekend, and a good warm up before the Australian CDE Championships in South Australia, where Kath Cole did very well winning her class.
Sharon Beattie hosted a Pleasure Drive at Temora in April, which helped Peter McIntyre introduce his new pony to water, something it had not seen much of before then. Early in May a Driven Dressage day was held in the Rosemont indoor arena, followed by Dressage to Music. Kath Cole had a great time dressing up as Annie Oakley and driving to the tune of ‘Folks are Dumb Where I Come From’ whilst Cath Felber gained much confidence as Scottish bagpipes played as she drove. Jesse Parramore and dad Marty looked very stylish dressed in black, as the music from James Bond played. It was fun but I was glad it wasn’t part of a CDE competition.
A new venue for pleasure driving was tried out on May 9 in the Penrose State Forest. The drive started from the Southern Highlands Club Grounds at Bundanoon and participants followed Sharon Beattie in her ute, showing the way up the road and into the forest. Those who took part were Chris and Bill Gardiner, Jan Murray, Warren Ricketts, Ray and Carol Roach and Elva McPherson. Kay Rose was there too to help out with lunch.
Reedy Creek’s next big event will be the Marrar Endurance Drive, to be held in the first week of July, so as not to clash with the Federal AGM and Conference. Entry forms can be found on the NSW ACDS website.
![[Martyn Minns at the 2010 ANZAC CDE]](http://www.carriagedrivingnsw.org.au/gallery/1146.jpg)
Southern Highlands Carriage Club
Last updated July 2010
The Southern Highlands Club conducted a successful Anzac CDE at the Club grounds at Bundanoon, with competitors coming from Sydney, Camden, Canberra, Bega, Braidwood, Cootamundra, Grenfell and Wagga Wagga as well as the Southern Highlands.(see report in this Whip Around)
The club has been very busy raising funds for and organizing next year’s 10 day ACDS 40th Anniversary Carriage Driving Festival at Bundanoon. Plans are well under way for a most memorable driving event, which will involve all ACDS disciplines – CDE, Dressage, Showing, Pleasure and Endurance and the newest discipline - Historical.
The Festival organizing committee is now meeting on a monthly basis to ensure that the 10 days of carriage driving at Easter 2011 will be up to members’ expectations. It is producing a DVD presentation for display at this year’s Federal ACDS Conference at Albury on July 16-18. It will feature images of the various facilities which will be in use at the Festival, as well as recent action shots of competitors in many of the marathon obstacles. Over 100 images are expected to be included.
Congratulations to Chuckie Engelsman and Luke Radnedge whose wedding took place in Orange on May 8 2010. They are now living in Cobar where Chuckie is a primary school teacher and Luke an underground miner. Guests at the wedding included the Dwyer family from Ellmore, Tony and Pam James, Bill Gray, Faye Cairncross and Joy Batty.
Mid-North Coast Harness Club
Last updated June 2009
Rain has again thwarted the driving plans of Lola Turner. This time she had to pull out of driving her Shetland pair in the Beef Week Parade at Wingham due to the extremely wet conditions. She also had a difficult trip home from work in Gloucester last week. She reached the bridge over the Manning River, within two kilometres of home, and found it covered by floodwater. It was the biggest flood since 1991. Lola had to turn around and go back to Gloucester and follow a different route home – over 100km extra !
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Hunter Horse Driving Society
Last Updated July 2010
Hunter Club members gave good support to the harness classes at the Gresford and Stroud Shows. They included Cathie Browning who is thoroughly enjoying getting out and about with her new pony Star Angel.
The Tocal Field Days once again proved a very enjoyable few days, chatting to people about all the great aspects of carriage driving. Approximately 27000 people passed through the gates during the three days. The weather was perfect apart from a couple of chilly patches. Thanks go to the members who took along vehicles and also manned the site, to make the display successful. The little notebook was out and names of interested folk written in, ready to contact when the Come and Try Day is held on August 22.
Margie Randall is making a steady recovery from her fall whilst mowing the lawn and has been able to have several trips home, despite a very cumbersome plaster on her leg. Her many friends wish her well. Congratulations to Margie on being awarded a well deserved Service Certificate at the recent NSW AGM.
The June activity is a driving weekend at Wollombi hosted by Cathie and Bob Browning whilst at the end of July there will be a Camp Over near Gresford hosted by Denese and Paul Ward. A Challenge Day is being planned with invitations out to several neighbouring clubs to take part.
Bungendore Carriage Driving Club
Last updated July 2010
Fiona Stone, Col Reid and Dot and Doug Willcoxson had a BCDC promotional stand at EquineX on April 17/18 with the club banner ‘flying high’. Several vehicles were on display ranging from a mini jogger to a four wheeled marathon vehicle. Old journals were handed out, complete with up to date information on stickers, and these were well received. The event was conducted in a very safe environment with room for a horse to be driven. They had lots of enquiries and chatted to many people. It was a very worthwhile weekend.
One of the club’s newest members, Lizzie McIntosh, competed at the Rosemont Obstathon on May 2 with her pony Tammy. This was her debut event and she was absolutely thrilled to come first in her class.
The club has had a meeting with the Reedy Creek Club to prepare for the NSW CDE Championships at Witwood in November. It was a successful meeting with the preliminary budget, entry forms and roles discussed.
Cathie and Ian Macarthur have organized club polo shirts, complete with club logo. These shirts definitely stand out in a crowd and make Bungendore Club members highly identifiable. Tamara Abed.
Riverina Carriage Driving Society
Last updated July 2010
Mal Welsh writes:
The annual Joe Hawkins Cup Level 3 CDE was held on March 27/28. There were 32 entrants which was pleasing. With two cancellations the final number was 30. There was a good coverage across all 11 classes. However there were no horse teams. Ann Robertson from Parkes driving her pony Remus was the overall cup winner this year. Congratulations Ann.
We, as a club, were very pleased with the amount of work we had put in towards the construction of the toilet/shower block. It was very well received, with many favourable comments. Because of the generosity of neighbouring landowners, we were able to run the event this year completely off public roads.
I would like to thank the judges, workers and other volunteers for all their assistance over the weekend, as well as the competitors for coming and making it a good weekend. I hope they enjoyed it enough to return next year.
RCDS are having a work and fun weekend on May 29/30. There will be a working bee on Saturday to straighten up our storage container followed by a pleasure drive on Sunday whilst the weather remains suitable for driving.
RCDS is claiming the day April 2/3 2011 for the next Joe Hawkins Cup
Murrumbidgee Carriage Driving Club
Last updated July 2010
The club celebrates its 10th Birthday with a reunion dinner in July, whilst plans are under way for a One Hour CDE in August and the Carnival Capers in September. A couple of working bees have seen the completion of the new wash bay at the Murrami.
Members have been out and about competing over the last few months. The Hammonds completed a number of events including the Australian Championships with their pony pair. The Schmetzers drove Yarrandale Moonstruck, owned by fellow members Luke and Chris Burns, at the Marrar CDE and the Brands followed up their performance with the pony team at the Australian Championships, by taking two singles to Nyah. Meanwhile, Linda Newman volunteered her help at the Marrar CDE.
Congratulations to Bruce McNally for being nominated for NSW ACDS Dressage Driver of the Year.
Trevor and Belinda Brand along with Yarrandale Rosepetal attended the Zone 21 Pony Club camp at Rankins Springs recently. Over 30 pony clubbers had the chance to learn about carriage driving. Each had the opportunity to assist in harnessing and putting to. They then drove Rosie around the Football Oval accompanied by either Trevor or Belinda. Many displayed excellent skills.
John McGough and Betty Miles send their regards from New Zealand to all the friends they made in Australia during the cultural exchange. Belinda Brand
Goulburn District Horse Drawn Vehicle Society
Last updated July 2010
Six Goulburn club members made the trip to Fifield to compete in the Enduro. This year Damon Allport with groom Trevor Mills driving Hickory Park Bayley finished in 2nd place in the Horse class doing the 311.6km in 16 hrs and 16 min, 38 minutes behind winners Neil and Rosemary Munn (Gulgong) driving Annie. Wayne Teale and Sarah Hoey (Central West) driving Jim came third, 28 min further back and fourth place went to Robbie Baxter and Judy Emerton (Goulburn) with Beau only 4 minutes behind them. Robert Allport and Colin Simons (Goulburn) with Billy finished in 5th place in the 10 horse field. The event was very well organized and run to perfection by secretary Gaye Lees and the hard working members of the Central West Club. There were some new roads to be traversed and a few changes to format were well received by competitors. The rivalry between competitors was very strong, second only to the fellowship and socializing at the end of the day.
Robert Allport, Damon Allport, Peter Kilmeister, Colin Simons and Bill Gardiner are preparing for the Grenfell to Gulgong Heritage Drive to start on Sunday May 30 whilst Robbie Baxter and Robert have started jogging their horses in readiness for the Reedy Creek Enduro at Marrar in July.
The Goulburn Club is in its usual winter recess for its monthly drives, and will resume them on the Long Weekend in October. Robert Allport.
Gulgong Heritage Harness Association
Last Updated July 2010
Bill Ryan writes:
Well I told Fifield competitors to watch out didn’t I ? Gulgong took first place in the Horse section for yet another year. Congratulations to Neil Munn. Congratulations also to Damon Allport (Goulburn) second and Wayne Teale (Central West) third.
By the time this Whip Around comes out we should be on our Henry Lawson Drive so there will be information about it in the next issue. We had our final meeting for the trip on March 27 and it was packed. It was great to see so much enthusiasm It will be the 11th trip and looks to be the biggest yet. We have an array of 39 horse drawn vehicles as well as several riders, plus 75 very excited participants.
Our last outing was a weekend away at Wongarbon on April 17/18. This was hosted by John (Magpie) and Joan Macarthur, and I mean hosted. Some of us arrived on the Friday arvo and that evening we were provided with a huge crock pot of lamb casserole even though Joan was away for the weekend attending her daughter’s university graduation (Veterinary Science of course!). The weather for our jog was unbelievable with a clear sky and 27’C. Magpie had arranged for us to go through a huge property and we travelled about 10km along good dirt roads through fields of green lucerne, oats and wheat. It was more like the middle of Spring not Autumn. After about 15km we arrived at our lunch spot. It was a wonderful shady spot on the banks of the Macquarie River. Chris Hills still needed to cool off a bit more and enjoyed a dip in the river. (He is a worry that boy!)
After lunch we returned via the same route and from the rear what a great sight seeing 12 vehicles and horses crossing the green fields. After our return that evening, we were again spoilt. Magpie and his son and daughter in law cooked us all ( 22 people) a huge BBQ with all the trimmings, even a sweet. All this was provided for by John and Joan. Sunday morning there was a BBQ breakfast. There’s no stopping this Magpie when he’s near a BBQ. After breakfast we had a short jog around Wongarbon, then home. Thanks to John and Joan we all had a wonderful weekend.
Central West Horse Driving Society
Last Updated July 2010
Another very successful Central West Club’s Fifield Enduro has been run and won. Sixteen competitors took part this year, including six in the pony class. The total distance for the horses over the six days of driving was 311.6km, whilst the pony distance was 203km. Competitors, grooms and officials came from the Gulgong, Central West, Goulburn, Hunter, Camden, Reedy Creek, Liverpool Range and Hills Clubs. Daily winners in the horse class were Neil Munn, John Hetherington, Damon Allport and Wayne Teale, with the final placings being 1st Neil Munn, 2nd Damon Allport and 3rd Wayne Teale. Rosemary Laing blitzed the pony class, winning every day. The final placings for the ponies were 1st Rosemary Laing, 2nd Peter Attard and 3rd Helen Huckerby.
Next year, because Easter is so late it has been decided to hold the Fifield Enduro before Easter. The 2011 Enduro will be the 12th year of the competition – believed to be the longest running single venue event on the NSW calendar. The 2011 Enduro will be held from Saturday April 9 to Sunday April 17, in the first week of the school holidays. From 2012 the event will return to the second week of the holidays.
Ellmore Harness Club
Last Updated July 2010
EThe Ellmore Club recently hosted a very successful Interclub Challenge Day and Round of the Interstate Cones Competition at the Jugiong Sportsground. Ellmore members were joined by drivers from Canberra, Reedy Creek, Bungendore and Central West Clubs, whilst some Southern Highlands members were there on the ground to help with the Cones Competition.(See report in this Whip Around)
Congratulations to Ellmore member Brendan Dwyer on being elected NSW ACDS President for the coming year.