NEWSLETTER APRIL 2014 Visit our Facebook Page! You will be able to see when events are planned and upload your driving photos for all to share. From The Chairman Search for “Wolverley & District Driving Club” Right, the clocks have changed and there is more daylight in the evening so there is every incentive for you to get your horses and ponies going ready for our drive in the Forest on 26 th April and then the Camp at Lincomb in May. Plans are progressing well, and there will be opportunities for everyone not booked in for the whole weekend to come and share part of the camp with us. Also, we shall need those not directly involved with horses to help with stewarding, particular on Sunday. Offers welcome. Those of you who came to the dismounted training at Hartlebury will have heard Tony Gregory delivering Claudia Bunn’s talk about Attelage de Tradition. Several members expressed interest then and so, as a sort of introduction, we will organise a “Traditional Driving Fun Day” at Mount Pleasant on the 2 nd August. This will be on the same lines as an Attelage competition, but not using traditional vehicles. It’s all explained in the schedule attached to this newsletter. As an appetiser, you will be able to learn all about how to polish up your horse/pony, vehicle and yourself, to a standard to please the judges, at our summer supper and instruction evening at “The Shed” on 4 th July. Again, look for details below. Finally, the proposed event on the 23 rd August has settled at a new venue at Morville, north of Bridgnorth, which has every prospect of being a real fun event, where you can make your final preparations for the closing event of the summer at Charlcotte Farm in September (Note change of date) . I’m looking forward to seeing you all throughout the summer. Congratulations to our three members competing at the Indoor Finals where Julie Wedgbury won the team class, Kellie Hill was 3rd in the small pony pairs and Philip Wright 5 th in the Novice Horse. Several members have asked where they can watch top quality driving trials. Why not make up a party to watch the Catton Park National Three Day Event at Catton Park, Burton on Trent, on the 11 th , 12 th and 13 th July. No doubt Tony and Carol Gregory and other members will be stewarding an obstacle on the Saturday. Why not ask him if you can join his team. I will also be there as Health and Safety Officer so you will not be alone. All the best, Horses can’t talk, but they can speak if you listen – Anon . 1 WHAT’S ON THERE HAVE BEEN DATE CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS – SO READ CAREFULLY! Sat/Sun 19/20 th April Catton Park Trial with Midlands Carriagedriving. Saturday 26 th April Wyre Forest Drive. Schedule attached. Sunday 4 th May BDS Hereford Spring Carriage Show. Details 01568 720395. Sat/Sun 10/11 th May Tutbury Trial with Midlands Carriagedriving. Sat/Sun 17/18 th May Spring Training Camp at Lincomb, nr Stourport. Day visitor info attached. Sunday 25 th May Trial with West Midlands Driving Group. Sat/Sun 31/1 st June Belvoir Trial with Midlands Carriagedriving. Sunday 8 th June President’s Drive. Schedule attached. Saturday 14 th June Training at Eardington. CANCELLED Sat/Sun 14/15 th June Royal Three Counties Show. Carriage driving classes. Details 01994 484766. Saturday 28 th June Fun Day at Prestwood. Schedule attached. Friday 4 th July THE SHED TALK & SOCIAL. Fri/Sat/Sun 11/12/13 th July National Three Day Trial at Catton Hall. Sunday 20 th July Catton Trial with West Midlands Driving Group. Saturday 26 th July Shropshire Driving Days begin. Sat/Sun 26/27 th July Onley Trial with Midlands Carriagedriving. Saturday 2 nd August Fun Event at Mount Pleasant Farm. Schedule attached. Thursday 7 th August Driving classes at Burwarton Show. Saturday 23 rd August Mini Fun Trial at Aston Eyre. Schedule attached. Monday 25 th August Trial with West Midlands Driving Group. Sat/Sun 30/31 st August Widmerpool Trial with Midlands Carriagedriving. Sat/Sun 6/7 th September National Carriage Dog Trials. Sat/Sun 13/14 th September Midlands Carriagedriving Championships at Catton. Sunday 21 st September One Day Trial at Charlcotte Farm. Schedule attached. Please note change of date – AGAIN! Fri/Sat/Sun 19/20/21 st September National Driving Trials Championships. Your Committee have been discussing……. Future event planning - see attached schedules. Servicing the Club’s trailers Spring Training Camp at Lincomb. The next Committee meeting is on 7th May 2014. Please contact someone if you have a point to raise or a contribution to make. Don’t forget – your committee members can be contacted on the following numbers. President Madge Edwards 01299 403896/ 07759366503 If anyone is Chairman Tony Bache 01299 266412 interested in Vice Chairman David Smith 01299 269744/07887852186 Secretary Linda Sprosen 01562 824350/07792778224 purchasing clothing Treasurer Sandra Phillips 01299 250508/07899650111 – fleeces, Newsletter Carol Gregory 01902 763209 sweatshirts, polo Julie Wedgbury 01746 789686/07773329653 Simon Mitchell 07855 819597 shirts, caps etc, with Giselle Lockett 01299 896280/07977205441 the Club logo, Gill Bache 01299 266412 please contact Linda Tony Gregory 01902 763209/07751309637 Non committee: website Tony Cowles 07831 106366 Sprosen. 2 ACTIVITIES THAT WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED OR YOU MAY HAVE MISSED!....... Wednesday 19 th February: Bewdley Brewery visit. A very convivial evening organised by David Smith. A full house saw members and friends learning about the art of brewing, whilst sampling the golden nectar. A chilli supper rounded off a super evening spent in good company. The Severn was whistling by as we drove away from the car park, hopefully the last we shall see of the floods for a while. AWG Saturday 15 th March: Indoor Training at Hartlebury. For the second year running we had a well-attended WDDC indoor training session at Hartlebury Village Hall. Giselle Locket started off proceedings with an entertaining and thought provoking talk on positive ways to best realise your aspirations or targets which was followed with David Smith discussing the necessary attributes, responsibilities of and his experiences of being a groom. Tony Gregory managed to bring some members near to tears by completely dismantling everyone’s harness and bridles and then getting them to reassemble somebody else’s harness and bridle. Some head scratching and staring was seen. Tony Bache’s presentation on “Getting into the mind of a course builder” was very enlightening covering cones course and obstacle design, particular attention paid to a number of obstacles at Catton Park. At the last minute Tony Gregory capably filled Claudia Bunn’s shoes to give an insight into the carriage driving discipline Attelage de Tradition. Well done Tony. Thank you to all the committee members who have yet again put so much time into preparing this and other valuable sessions. Judi Reeves & Tony Edwards Saturday 22 nd March: Training at Eardington. The format of this day changed for most of us when Andrew Williams agreed to come along to hold a clinic. Nine members opted to take up Andrew’s tuition, and new member Meri Craddock was very pleased with the help and guidance given by Tony & Gill Bache. Thanks to Julie for sorting out the scheduling, and of course to the Hill Family for letting us have the use of their wonderful facilities. AWG Saturday 29 th March: Long Reining Trial. Fiendishly put together by Tony and Gill Bache, this event proved to be both great fun and instructional at the same time! The twelve entries all arrived in good time for their dressage, and the performances sure gave judge David Smith something to think about! Cones followed with the ‘drivers’ adopting various techniques to will their equines through the narrow cones in the shortest time. Thank goodness the marathon was dispensed with! The two obstacles weren’t exactly flowing, but made for some tight manoeuvring in the corners of the school. A cracking day with weather to match, and our thanks to the Hill Family again for the use of their facilities. Full results can be seen on the Club website. AWG Tony Edwards & Mork 3 Welcome to new members: Chris & Rebecca Taylor from Telford, and Adam & Alex Tetstall from Stourport. We look forward to seeing you all at forthcoming events. Ivan Meredith is making good progress after his knee operation in March, racing around on his mobility scooter. We wish him a speedy recovery, and hope he will be long reining again soon! FOR SALE Sinclair 3 horse trailer, front & rear ramps, centre partition for cob & 4 wheeler, or change for other combinations. Winch. Regular service and kept under cover. £1500. Carriage trailer, ramps, winch, shaft stand, take 2 or 4 wheeler, purpose built. £325. Hilka wheel measure, almost unused, suit cone course measuring etc. £40 Zilco pony pair reins, unused. £100. Pair lightweight alloy loading ramps, suit HD vehicle £40 Pair heavyweight loading ramps, galvanised £50 English leather full collar 21" with brass hames £125 Hillam double seat for exercise vehicle £25 Hillam drawbar for exercise vehicle, unused. £25 3 rolls of electric fence tape unused. £20 Various one piece trailer breast bars. Contact Stephen Pond for more details 01452 840731 e-mail [email protected] FOR SALE Body protector ladies size. Contact Madge Edwards on 01299 403896 FOR SALE Ladies size 12 black show jacket. Good condition. Contact Gill Bache on 01299 266412 Looking back ………or Thinking ahead? Whilst planning the forthcoming Camp at Lincomb, I am reminded of camp weekends organised by the Club many years ago, of which many of you will not be aware.