Waringstown Estate once again provided the perfect backdrop for a fantastic day of carriage driving as the Northern Ireland Carriage Driving Association gathered for its One Day Event on Saturday, 30 May.

With drivers, families, officials and supporters all enjoying the warm welcome and friendly atmosphere, the day was filled with good competition, plenty of laughter and some excellent performances across the classes.

The action got underway with the Gateway Class, where Mark McAleese set the standard with a lovely dressage test to take first place. There was also a warm welcome for Bethannie Dunford, taking part with NICDA for the first time. Competing hors concours, Bethannie impressed everyone with a brilliant cones round and certainly looks one to watch in the future.

Damian Muldoon enjoyed a successful outing in the Novice Horse Class, taking the win with Gerry while also competing Mr Martin. Emma Berwick claimed victory in the Novice Horse Pair Class after a polished performance throughout the day.

Philip Stranney topped the Novice Pony Class ahead of Georgina Morrison, while the Open Horse Class saw Jeffrey Lyons take the honours ahead of Alex Bryson. It was also great to see Edwin Bryson back in action and keeping the competition on their toes.

In the Open Pony Class, Denise Taylor secured first place with Jim Magennis taking second.

The Pony Pair Class provided plenty of entertainment for spectators, with Rachel Campbell driving to victory after an excellent day’s work. David Mathers finished second, while Christine Wright and Liz Kelly Ward completed the placings in a closely contested class.

One of the busiest classes of the day was the Pre-Novice Pony section, where Joe McAleese claimed the win after consistent performances across all three phases. James Hare was hot on his heels, finishing just a single point behind in second, while Gareth Quinn took third. Claire Allinson and Ellie Mae McConnell, enjoying her first outing with NICDA, helped make it one of the most competitive classes of the day.

Jacqueline Magennis rounded off a successful day by taking top honours in the Small Pony/VSE Class.

Drivers certainly had to stay focused throughout the competition, particularly in the cones phase. Course designer Alwyn Morrison and his hardworking team once again produced a clever course that challenged competitors while ensuring everyone came away smiling. There were plenty of tight turns, careful approaches and moments that tested nerves right to the finish.

A special thank you goes to Technical Delegate Lewis Black, whose support and expertise helped ensure the event ran smoothly from start to finish.

As always, events like Waringstown rely on an army of volunteers working behind the scenes. From judges and stewards to scorers, timekeepers and administrators, everyone played their part in making the day such a success.

The Association is also extremely grateful to the Lyons family for organising and hosting another wonderful event and to the Harnett family for the continued use of the beautiful Waringstown Estate. Both families play a huge role in helping make this fixture one of the favourites on the NICDA calendar.

Following the prize-giving, competitors gathered to enjoy supper, cream buns and a chance to relive the highlights of the day. The generous gift of a bag of horse meal for every competitor, kindly provided by the Lyons family, was the perfect finishing touch and greatly appreciated by all.

A particularly pleasing feature of the day was the strong turnout of junior drivers. Whether making their debut or building on previous experience, the young competitors brought plenty of enthusiasm and determination to the competition.

From first-time competitors to seasoned campaigners, Waringstown once again showcased everything that makes carriage driving special — good horses and ponies, great company, friendly competition and plenty of fun.

Congratulations to all involved, and we look forward to seeing everyone again at the next NICDA event.