LIGHT TRADE – Thursday 14^th May

John Henry White won again, as he has done for the last few years, with Charlie McDermott’s striking palomino Cob stallion Gold Top and the ‘Eddie Price’ Milk Float.  The turnout is striking and well balanced, with an impressive attention to detail with the churn, measures and harness.  The Cob covers the ground well and knows his job, providing a commanding presence in the show ring.

With the two and four-wheeled divisions amalgamated this year, the Carriage Association of America sponsored class was a colourful affair.  It attracted five high calibre turnouts from the seven entered.  Settling into his new Costermonger guise, John Randall and the willing bay Cob mare Anfield The Cheerleader, at her third show and already turning heads this season, stood second in line.  As with all Randall turnouts, every detail is in place, and the cleanliness shows there has been a lot of time spent prepping behind the scenes.  John is becoming a seasoned showman and used the ring to his advantage with the sturdy mare, who is well marked with a slight dapple to her coat and four white stockings.

It’s rare that a Cribbs turnout isn’t at the top of the line, but the competition was strong.  The pair of experienced Friesian stallions Captain and Brigadier to a Delivery Brougham were shown by Kevin Hutchinson for third.  Odd patches of resistance might have prevented them from placing higher, but this is another immaculate turnout, and the working stallions have superb manners.

Next was another popular turnout, Clem Rees’ colourful London Trolley with the skewbald 11-year-old Cob mare Wonder Woman, driven by Jimmy Wenham.  In fifth was Billy Murrell with his Marylind Bally Shannon, a 13-year-old Hackney mare bred by Ernie Walsh to a Pickering Float.  The standard was so high that margins between the turnouts were slight, and on another day the order could have been quite different.

Two members of the Carriage Association of America delegation who were from California made the presentations as sponsors, and the class nearly escaped the worst of the weather.

PRIVATE DRIVING – Thursday 14^th May

Generously sponsored again by Dr Tom and Mrs Gloria Burgess, there were three classes for judge Mark Broadbent to consider.  The first, 13.2 hh and under, had five entered and four came forward.  The furthest travelled was Mrs Sylvie Devacht from Belgium with her pretty Hackney pony, and it was lovey to see former successful pony team driver Tinne Bax, who was a winner at Royal Windsor in the past, helping Sylvie.  By this stage in the afternoon, a short but fairly ferocious storm had blown in, so everyone got rather wet.

The class winner was talented young driver Charlie Parker King driving his own Welsh gelding Popster Washington to a Spindle Back Gig.  The little Cob is only five, but Charlie is such a natural horseman who is improving and maturing all the time, that the pony’s performance belied his years.  Charlie is also a sought-after trainer and producer, and competes in driving trials, so understands correct schooling, suppleness and a balanced way of going which can be missing in some showing turnouts.  The pony held its outline throughout and showed regular paces, with a flash of quality.  A thrilled Charlie said it was his biggest showing win to date.

In second was a previous RW champion, Abbotswood Double Delight driven by Jayne Purcell White to a varnished Thorn of Norwich Dog Cart.  The story behind Jayne restoring the vehicle and driving her homebred Traditional Gypsy Cob mare Minnie is well documented, including here on The CC.  Minnie and Jayne have grown in confidence since they first appeared, wide eyed in wonder, at RW in 2024 and were flabbergasted to be Andrew Counsell’s winners.  They’ve gone on to rack up many more miles and memories, in both showing and AIAT, and Jayne’s enthusiasm for driving is ever growing.

Deni Harper-Adams did well to contain the situation when her pony Farine St George spooked at the end of the class and she departed the carriage.  Clutching her reins, she was clearly uncomfortable, but with experienced stewards on hand, nothing more happened and although the poor pony was a bit bewildered, it soon calmed down as Deni was taken to hospital for tests – thankfully it was just bruising.  She had been pulled in third, ahead of Sylvie Devacht in fourth.

Next it was the over 13.2 hh class, and again there were five entered and four came forward.  Jemma Walsh wowed with her striking black Hackney gelding, Brookeborough Equalizer to Stick Back Gig built by Brewster, USA.  Bred by the late Alex Presho, the scopey horse would have benefitted from a larger ring to really show itself, but Jemma did her best and on the final lap before finalising his places, Mark asked the turnouts to stand, establish their halt, them move off again in walk then trot.

RW regular Andrew Collins and the crowd favourite Rollie the Cob with the Baker Fielly Norfolk Cart, were second.  Andrew is always accompanied by his knowledgeable mother Ros, and their turnout creates such a pleasing, balanced picture.  Rollie also looks after Andrew, who is very open about his disabilities, and their progress is inspiring.  Keeping the Friesian fans happy, Elizabeth Kirby with her 22-year-old mare Margjie Fan It Skar were third. Keeping another batch of fans happy, especially those from the Royal Mews, was Andrew Hogg who was fourth driving Denis Williams’ liver chestnut gelding Jack to a four-wheeled Dog Cart that Andrew purchased from Richmond Park and had restored.

The multiples class was lean on numbers due to the lack of turnouts from the Royal Mews, who weren’t present because the day before they had been involved in the horse-drawn procession for the State Opening of Parliament in London.

Jack Gibson driving a pair of Jack Harris’s bay Hackney ponies, Roly & Noddy, to a pony Roof Seat Break by Offord of London were the winners, ahead of Danny Stevens with Joanne Whitmarsh’s hirsute tandem of grey Cobs, grandly named The Silver Guardsman & Mr Valentine.

Delighted with her first appearance at Royal Windsor, Jemma Walsh took the Championship, with Andrew Collins as Reserve.

DRIVING FOR THE DISABLED – Friday 15^th May

Three drivers came forward for the showing and cones classes, sponsored once again by Grundon Waste Management Ltd.  Sara Howe was the judge and the classes also benefitted from a visit from HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, who always makes time to chat to the drivers.

We’ve lost count as to how many times Judi Ralls’s stalwart Oakhaze McClintok (Squeak) has taken part in this class, but for the last couple of years he’s been guiding Rebecca Stevens.  Aged 24, Squeak undimmed and also took part in the BDS Meet, returning from the drive in good fettle.

It was a day for the veterans as Texas, a 19-year-old skewbald gelding driven by Mrs Joanne McNichol, and Katie Cooper’s super grey pony, Scalding Jillys Boy who is 22, driven by Lisa Disborough, showed that like Squeak, age is no barrier for many of our stalwart driving ponies.

Because the classes are subdivided into those from groups or with an independent turnout, there are enough prizes to ensure everyone wins something.

THE POL ROGER MEET OF THE BRITISH DRIVING SOCIETY – Sunday 17^th May

A full entry, plus five turnouts from the Royal Mews, ensured that this final foray for the show drivers was a tremendous showcase for traditional carriage driving.  Gathering in the grass warmup arena by the Adelaide Arena, each turnout had a safety inspection by the stewarding team then an examination by the judge, James Simpson from Pol Roger, who has done this before.  He’s very jolly and understands what’s required.

His eye was drawn to the horse pairs, and there was a selection forward with a variety of different carriages.  Once the Royal party had arrived, the procession set off into the park and enjoyed a four-mile jaunt before returning to the Castle Arena.

The short list of six turnouts pulled forward were last year’s winner, Elspeth Ross’s Friesian Jabor, driven by her partner Gordon Marks; Geoff Dudley with a pair of bay Hackney ponies; Jack Gibson with the team of Hackney ponies and the little Roof Seat Brake; previous winner Sonny Hillier with his pair of Friesian stallions to a recently purchased Mail Phaeton; James Miller with a Brewster Body Break and pair; and the overall winner, Misdee Wrigley Miller with a stunning Brewster & Co. Hooded Spider Phaeton and two of her beautifully turned out black Dutch Harness Horses.

For the full results – click here.

Our thanks to Art & Joy Photography for the images – to access their website, click here