Interclub Challenge Day at Jugiong 2010

by Brendan Dwyer

Jugiong Sportsground was the venue for the Interclub Challenge Day and Interstate Cones Competition on May 1/2 organized by the Ellmore Club.
Beautiful autumn weather and a picture perfect venue provided a fantastic setting for some light hearted competition, and it was great to see quite a number of people bring along young horses and ponies for the experience. Morning show classes were well supported, with a strongly contested lady driver class in particular. The harness horse or pony under saddle class drew an impressive field, even though some of the workouts were possibly a bit short !
The afternoon session was taken up with a number of novelty events including a barrel race, a musical hat race and a long reining competition. The feature event – the Driving Derby, consisted of a cones course which included a number of groom’s challenges, and required the driver to collect their ‘bride’ or ‘groom’ along the way.
Overall it was a great day to wind down and have some fun with our horses and ponies. Canberra Club proved the most successful in the overall points score, with Bungendore Club taking out second place. Reedy Creek, Central West and Ellmore Clubs all put in strong performances too.
The individual prizes were awarded as follows:
Most improved performance: Pat Richardson
Best Performance in First Competition: Olivia McHugh riding Mischief (ably led by mother Karen McHugh)
Most Stylish Bride or Groom: Sophie Jacobs
Highest Individual Points Score: Carolyn Blakeley
Those who stayed on for Sunday’s Interstate Cones Competition enjoyed a fine meal and social evening at the Jugiong Motel, before the day dawned with a foggy start.
The excellent surface of the main arena meant that drivers could really attack the challenging course, and it was good to see some new combinations of drivers and horses/ponies having a go.
Two drivers – Gail Lodge and Brendan Dwyer recorded perfect scores of 50 (clear on course and time) and eight very good scores were recorded to go towards the Interstate Competition.
The Interstate Cones Competition is a great way to test your skills against a challenging course and against other drivers. It would be really good to see more rounds conducted if clubs have access to suitable venues.
The weekend proved very successful and uncovered an excellent driving venue that has much potential. Thanks go to members of the Ellmore Club, to Penny and Sophie Jacobs for their assistance, to Canberra Club for the use of their cones and to Tracey Greenacre and Murray Ellis for their assistance with the Interstate Cones Competition.

ANZAC CDE at Bundanoon

By Tony James

The annual Anzac CDE conducted by the Southern Highlands Club attracted competitors from a wide area. They competed in Single Novice Pony and Horse classes, Open Pony and Horse classes, Pony Pairs and Horse Pairs, and there was a class for Beginners who had not completed three CDEs. The weather over the weekend was calm with balmy days and cool nights.
Organisers did well to prepare an alternative dressage arena, as the main arena was recently regraded by Divalls Earthworks and resown in preparation for the 10 day ACDS 40th Anniversary Carriage Driving Festival over Easter 2011. Although a smaller event than usual, the Anzac CDE was an important step in the journey towards next year’s festival. The dressage and precision cone driving was conducted on the Saturday with the 15km cross country (marathon) on the Sunday.
In a most appropriate gesture on Anzac Day morning, Club President John White led a gathering of competitors and officials in a one minute silence, as a mark of respect to Australian and New Zealand servicemen who have paid the supreme sacrifice in all fields of war. The Club’s Australian flag was then lowered to half mast until noon, as is the custom.
A number of competitors completed and returned the ACDS Event Evaluation Form 8A in which they complimented the club on the standard of organization, the range in complexity of the marathon obstacles and the friendly atmosphere over the weekend. The event also provided a number of ‘novice officials’ with an excellent opportunity to hone their skills and gain invaluable experience towards their accreditation.
Results: Novice Pony 91 - 121cm: 1.Amanda Kettlestring
Open Horse/Pony:1.Sarah Keevers 2.Kookie Engelsman 3.Gail Lodge
Pony Pairs: Hannah Harris
Beginners: 1.Carol Roach 2.Gail Bain
There were several eliminations and retirements hence the small number of overall results. Other competitors included Martyn Minns, Ty Nichols, Ray Roach and Jan Murray.

Penrose Pleasure Drive May 2010

By Sharon Beattie:

Early in May a few drivers gathered at the Southern Highland Club Grounds at Bundanoon for a pleasure drive into Penrose State forest. The purpose was to drive some of the tracks planned for next year's Endurance Competition through Penrose forest, as part of the 2011 ACDS 40th Birthday Celebrations.
We had a handful of ponies and horses with varying fitness and length of hair. Most were ready at 10 am for the start, but we waited until all were right to go, with a high vis vest and hard hats as part of our safety gear. Only Bill Gardener requested a map because everyone else had small ponies and did not have a groom. I drove my ute ahead to lead the way. The track along Ferndale road was tree lined and gently sloping down to meet Old Argyle Road, which had recently been graded, and the larger rocks covered by sandstone road base, which made it good enough for a car to drive on.
Gum trees over hung the track most of the way, which would give cooling shade on a hot day, and protect from strong winds.
At the entrance of Penrose State Forest is a large cleared area we used for a rest and to let the slower ponies catch up.
Jan Murray and her little pinto shetland turned back with Elva McPherson who was riding a young horse, they would have covered 16 kms on their return to the club grounds.
After a short rest we went on as a group across the bridge into the forest, we quickly turned off the main road through the forest onto a beautiful part lined with old pine trees, it was cool and quiet, other than the hoof beats of the ponies and the call of native birds. We turned up another track, similar to the first, with a smooth surface with moss growing in places.
At the end of this track we had the choice of left into the main cleared area, or right to go home. It was getting close to lunch time, so we headed back down the main Penrose Way, across the bridge and on to the Club Grounds for a Barbeque lunch.
Our round trip was 24 kms, the ponies did the distance quite well, the less fit ponies took their own time to get back, but Warren Rickets driving Maxie and Bill Gardener driving Rocky, could have easily done another 24 kms.

September Endurance Drive from Bundanoon.
This September on the 11th and 12th I have booked Penrose Forest to run an Endurance Drive. It will be up to 140 kms. Each day will have two sections with an hour break between each section. The first section will leave from the Club House at Bundanoon and travel 8 kms to the edge of the forest, with a water break here, then on to the forest, to complete the remaining 25 to 30 kms, returning to the rest stop for a vet check and rest. Here will be a campfire and billy boiled for competitors, and water warmed for horses if needed.
The second part is back into the forest, and returning to the rest stop for water before completing the last 8kms back to the Club Grounds. I anticipate some pony drivers would prefer not to do all of both sections to they can choose to only do the 8 kms return for the second section.
Sharon Beattie
NSW Convenor for Pleasure and Endurance.

CDE Officials Workshop FEbruary 2010

WORKSHOPS by Bruce Hammond (NSW CDE Panel Convenor)
Following the last NSW Branch Meeting in Wagga Wagga, an information session and rules update was held for CDE officials seeking reaccreditation, and for those members who wanted to find out more about what is involved in becoming a CDE official.
Twenty people attended this information session and as a result, many asked for the examination papers for technical Delegate, Course Designer and Cones Judge. These exams are currently open book and do not have to be completed within a set time. This allows candidates time to peruse the rule book and think about the possible answers. The exam papers are returned to the State Convenor for marking.
Another CDE Officials Workshop was held at Bundanoon on Sunday February 14 with 18 people in attendance. This workshop concentrated on the roles, responsibilities and relationships of TDs, Course Designers and Cones Judges.
As part of this workshop, participants designed and constructed a cones course which was then driven by three drivers, whilst the designers ‘judged’ each competitor. This proved to be a very valuable exercise, as each driver made some intentional and unintentional mistakes on a very wet and slippery arena. Luckily the heavy rain held off for this competition, but not for the afternoon session.
The course participants were split into three groups and designed some marathon obstacles from drawings that had been supplied. One obstacle was then chosen for the ‘real’ test.
In the heavy rain, the obstacle was set up in three different ways and our three intrepid and very wet drivers drove it as the flooding started to take over. Once again this was a very valuable exercise as the drivers found many ways to drive the gates. Thanks must go to Tony James, Keri Izzard and Kookie Engelsman who aided greatly in the ‘practical’ side of the workshop. A thank you also to their horses which didn’t mind the rain at all and will now never be frightened by water again !
My thanks also go to Tracey Greenacre and Southern Highlands members for hosting this workshop. A number of participants have asked for the exams and these have now been sent out.
There has been a request to hold another workshop for CDE officials who still require reaccreditation and for those who would like to learn more, either as a driver or official. A date and venue will be decided on shortly and advised to all clubs.

2010 Murrumbidgee Driving Club 1 hour CDE

The club held it’s first One Hour CDE at the Murrami Sport and Recreation Grounds on Sunday 21st February with nine horse and pony combinations driving the Dressage, Marathon and Southern Cones Fault and Timed Competition.

Saturday saw some of the drivers refining their driving skills with lessons from Victorian Dressage Judge and driver Alison Graves. Alison also judged the Dressage on the Sunday. David Royle from Wagga Club driving Corelli took out the Pony Class, Hannah Harris from Cootamundra driving her New Forest Ponies Ed and Toby won the Pairs Class and Murrami resident Robyn Schmetzer driving Yarrandale Moonstruck (aka Jack) owned by local driver Chris Burns winning the Horse class.

The overall winner for the day was Robyn Schmetzer with Jack having the best score on the day. The grounds at Murrami were in perfect condition for the event thanks to club members and council for slashing the grounds with the club hoping to hold more of the same type of event later in the year. This was a new concept holding all three phases of a Combined Driving Event in one hour rather than splitting the events over two or three days.

The Marathon was shortened for the event and the Southern Cones Competition is a challenge competition between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Thanks Chris Burns

2008 National Show Driving Championships

Report By Janet Muspratt
After nearly two years of planning, the Hills Club was finally able to hold the National Show on May 4 2008. The original date was September 23, 2007. Prior to that date all the sponsorship had been organized, schedules sent out and entries had started to come in. Then EI struck and all plans were put on hold. It was a bit of a long shot on our behalf to pick the May date in November 2007 when EI still had a firm grip.
Things started to look up in the New Year and we reprinted and sent all the schedules out again. After a slow early response, the entries poured in and we ended up with 54 individual horses entered – probably the biggest all harness show entry in Australia since the 1988 Show in Canberra. We just needed perfect weather for the day and that came our way too, being a pleasantly warm and sunny autumn day.

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2008 Fiefield Enduro

19th – 27th April 2008
Report by Peter Honeyman
Friday 18th Arrive 3.30 pm and set up camp at our usual location near the Goulburn camp. Friday night tea at the pub. Beautiful meals. Catch up with everyone.
Saturday 19th Collect firewood, work horses, finish camp set up. Pre vet check. Welcome dinner. Time draw done and route issued. A good social get together.
Sunday 20th Rise 6am and breakfast. 7.30am start at 3 minute intervals. Horses 46.7km; ponies 28.9km. We started at 7.36am and finished at 9.36am – 2 hours. We then sat around and relaxed for the rest of the day.

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Interclub Challenge Day at Rossmore

August 2007
It was the turn of the Hills Club to run the Interclub Challenge Day this year. This event has been going on since the late 1970s. It started between the Hills and Illawarra (later Camden) Clubs as an annual event held in the Biffins’ Cawdor Paddock. These clubs were soon joined by Southern Highlands and the three clubs now take it in turns to run the Challenge Day each winter.

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Pleasure Drive at Wongarbon

On the weekend of 21st and 22nd July the Gulgong Club was invited to stay at ‘Ruby Park’ Wongarbon, a property owned by John and Joan Macarthur. When arriving at the property on Friday night, we were welcomed by a home cooked stew and vegetables provided by Joan, and a warm woolshed to bed down in.

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The Sulky Santa Cup

July 2007
The Sulky Santa Cup was held at the Murrami Sports Grounds on Sunday 29th July, with another invitation going out to Heavy Horse enthusiasts. The weather on the day was bleak and overcast, but thankfully the rain held off until we had all packed up by mid afternoon.

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A Visit to the 1800's - 'Oxley Downs'

In August 2007 a gathering of twenty eight Gulgong Club members taking twelve sulkies and four wagons enjoyed a very special event with a weekend visit to ‘Oxley Downs’, 30 km south east of Dubbo. This property was the site of the television series ‘Outback House’. The homestead, shearing shed and outbuildings were specially built as a working property to recreate the era of the 1800s.

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The Randalls– Retirement from RDA

September 2007
Popular brother and sister team Graham and Margaret Randall, who belong to the Hunter Club, were recently given a ‘retirement from RDA’ luncheon at the Raymond Terrace Lower Hunter RDA, with many of their RDA friends in attendance to say thank you for their wonderful support over the last 34 years. Both have been closely involved with Riding for the Disabled since its early days in NSW.

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NSW ACDS awards for 2006 (presented at the 2007 AGM)

June 2007
The purpose of these awards is to recognize individuals who have contributed positively to their chosen driving activity consistently and comprehensively throughout a given time period. These individuals may not necessarily be those who have excelled at performance criteria alone.
The aim of the branch is to award an outstanding individual who has demonstrated his/her continued commitment to Carriage Driving in the areas of Participation, Attendance, Training and Achievement.
Here are the winners for 2006, together with brief summaries from their nominators’ submissions.

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NSW Show Driving Championsips 2007 at Moss Vale

The State Show Driving Championships were conducted by the Southern Highlands Club in conjunction with the Moss Vale Show Society in March. They proved a big success.

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Fifield Enduro 2007

June 2007
by Rosemary Laing (Hunter Club)
Once again it was a most enjoyable event. It just gets better every year.
Four ponies and eleven horses contested the event this year. The Hunter team comprised myself and Tinker, Helen “great to have back again” Huckerby and Pebbles, plus Jill Buisman and George and Doreen Sinclair. Unfortunately it clashed with Laurie Smith’s biannual golf week, so he and Barb were missing. We hope to have them back again next year.

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Marie Kahrle Driving Clinic at Yanco - Report

by Anne Robertson (Canberra Club)
Rob and I arrived on Thursday so that Remus could settle into the fine stable complex after four hot hours traveling. As usual, the arrangements were all complete and we were able to move into our room. In the rush to get away, I had forgotten to load the horse feed, necessitating a short trip to Leeton where we were able to finds a supply of hay to keep Remus happy.

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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.

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2007 Munro Cup Report - By Dot Wilcoxson

Juniors reigned supreme at the Munro Cup hosted by Bungendore Carriage Driving Club at Witwood. We are very fortunate to have such hardworking junior members in our club who are willing helpers and up-and-coming drivers.

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