MORE and more people are showing an interest in the art of carriage driving, and if you are curious to see the exciting action close-up, don’t miss this weekend’s two-day event at Nenagh (July 16th-17th).

With all the usual classes, the event should be most enjoyable, and with music booked for Saturday night, there will be a fun and relaxed atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Adding to the atmosphere, will be the four-day Junior Camp event, ongoing since Thursday.

The first outdoor event of of the Horse Sport Ireland Carriage Driving took place at Cuffesgrange, just outside Kilkenny, by kind permission of Liam and Breda Dunne, early last month and was well attended with 24 drivers. Notable dressage came from Julie Ingram in the open pony class and Folke Rohrssen in the FEI horse pairs class, scoring 42.6 and 40.57 respectively. Linda Appelbe scored a very respectable 55.8 driving her Welsh Section C Jack for the first time in the open pony class, and the novice horse class saw Don Walshe driving Arthur take the lead on 47.2.

The cones phase proved a tough challenge with no double clears and only four drivers without any penalties, including Sarah Hughes in the crystal combination class, driving the 37’’ Shetland pony Magic, and Des Sheridan in the open pony, who was closest to a double clear, exceeding the time allowed by only one second.

The cross-country marathon phase proved an easier test with only six entries receiving time penalties on Section B, one of these being Emma Golding driving Brian O’Slatarra’s pony Lilly, who completed with only five time penalties, despite having to stop at obstacle one to adjust her bit. Fastest through the obstacles on the day were Alex Bryson, who went on to win the open horse class, and Des Sheridan and Julie Ingram in the open pony, who took first and second respectively, with less than half a penalty between their final scores. The novice horse class was also close with Vincent Duggan taking first place and Don Walshe second with a margin of less than three penalties.

Maria Fraser won the novice pony class and Tracy Bell, driving organiser Ger Hennessy’s pair, won the open horse pairs. Richard Logan drove consistently well in all three phases to win the pony team class and John Goodwin, driving his young Connemara gelding paired with its dam, won the open pony pairs.