A mixed bag of competitors enjoyed the excellent going at Anslow, Derbyshire, Midlands Carriagedriving’s venue for its first seasonal One-Day Event (10 May). Ranging from an aspiring British Young Driver to mini-ponies and from nervous novices to the more experienced, the course lends itself to cover all aspects of driving trials.

In the Novice Horse class, Abigail Hutchinson’s eye-catching grey was one of only two throughout the day to have just one cone down in the second phase – there were no double clears in what was a flowing, but occasionally tight, course – and followed that up with some fast obstacle times to head the class despite lying fourth after dressage. Miriam Parker was second after a bit of a cricket score in cones with Joanne Pitts in third. Achieving the best dressage score of the day on 52.69, Julie Down elected to only do the first phase and cones.

Aspiring British Young Driver, Evie Rockall, led throughout in the Novice Pony class, starting well with the second-best dressage score of the day (52.8) and finishing with the fastest obstacle times overall; Ginny Hanbury came second and Jeanie Jordan was third.

Mary Jane Campbell took the reins of Ginny’s drive – a very smart little chestnut pony brought over from Germany via Mary Jane’s son, Roger, ostensibly to ‘retire’ but showing no signs of wanting to – to compete dressage and cones in the Open Pony class which was won by Steve Trebble and his long-time equine partner Jack, the only other pairing to just have one down in the cones, with Linda Wiggin in second. Steve was multi-tasking as he not only competed but also did the results – thank you Steve!

The two Pony Pairs competitors, Julie Wedgbury and Mary Jane Campbell (another who managed to multi-task) were neck and neck across the three phases, Mary Jane leading after dressage, Julie edging closer after cones and then taking the lead through the obstacles to win by 2.06 penalties. Julie had her hands full with her 21-year-old bay showing no signs of ‘growing up’ and performing a beautiful piaffe when he should have been at walk in the dressage – he then sped round the cones and obstacles as though he was 12 years younger. However, Libby Castle’s mini-pair in the Very Small Equines class would have beaten both Julie and Mary Jane with a very polished performance, had the class been combined.

Organiser Paul Hart’s efforts to improve the look of the water splash between obstacles three and four did not go unrewarded as all bar one of the ponies and horses took to it like ‘ducks to water’. Abigail Hutchinson’s grey took an initial dislike to getting his feet wet but was persuaded to dip his toes and came through quietly for a positive experience.

The next ODE at Anslow will be on Sunday 21^st June with entries closing the Wednesday before. Schedule details are available on the club’s website www.midlandscarriagedriving.co.uk/events.

Entries can be made online, as above, or by email to entriesmc@gmail.com. Remember that competitors wishing to move on to national competitions can now have their Competence Card signed on completion of an event at Anslow.

Anslow village is readily accessible from the A38 (Burton-on-Trent) between the A511 and B5017; postcode DE13 9QL.

Volunteer stewards are always welcome and much appreciated at MC events; the club has set up a WhatsApp group specifically to provide information to signed up stewards. Potential and existing stewards can register for the group via entriesMC@gmail.com

For news and more information on Midlands Carriagedriving, including joining the club and entering events, visit www.midlandscarriagedriving.co.uk; also follow the club on Facebook.

Our thanks to Wendy of Kingswood Associates for another update from the Midlands Club, and for all the wonderful photos.  She did say we didn’t have to use them all, but they were so good we had to!