THIS coming season, more events being run by the Northern Ireland Carriage Driving Association will be staged over two days rather than one.

“There might be a problem getting stewards and scorers for two days but I think this is a good decision,” says the association’s treasurer, Sara Clinghan. “If you have a young horse or are competing with pairs or a team, with all the harnessing and unharnessing there is too much happening in one day. Also, driving is a very sociable sport and it’s nice to make a weekend out of a competition.”

Sara, who represented Ireland at five world championships and won British and Irish national titles with Highmoor Firecracker, always competes with two vehicles.

“It’s a bit like using a dressage saddle in eventing,” she explains. “When you have a presentation carriage for the dressage and cones phases it puts you in the right position and you look more the part. For anyone starting off however, one vehicle is fine as long as it’s safe and conforms to the rules.”

Last year, three new venues – Terryglassog, Craigantlet and Hunters Hill – were added to the regional calendar while the inaugural all-Ireland championships were staged in Shanes Castle, outside Antrim town.

The northern association is keen to boost its membership numbers and it too runs classes for young/new drivers.

“On a good day, we would have about 20 to 25 competitors with up to 40 at bigger events but we could always do with more. We have the All Sorts class catering for beginners of all ages. The standard of these competitions is quite basic and would often suit older animals.”

Driving her novice horse Harry, Sara hopes to begin her 2016 competition season at Mackenzie’s Equestrian Centre, Randalstown on March 20th. As the season progresses, she will be grooming/backstepping for international single horse driver Dorothy Kelly at Hopetoun, Scotland and, hopefully, at the world championships in Austria in late summer.

Sara and Northern region chairman, John Goodin, and technical delegate, Terry Logan, have just returned from a joint FEI/British Carriagedriving course for judges, technical delegates and course builders.

For further information, go to www.ni-carriagedrivingassociation.com