Coaching Season 2009

With Bill occupied with his own team Rod & Chris took turns to drive our Hackneys. Rod had an exciting first drive at Royal Windsor, the horses being super on the drive but a bit excited in the ring, but we were in the ribbons so that was great. We decided to let Paul Bennett drive the team at Cuts in France, and we had a great weekend, with Paul's "piece de resistance" being a clear round in the cones, not easy with an C1860 drag and the English Coachman's hand no rein clamps for us ! Rod drove again at the Royal Show and had a good drive. Finishing second to Bill seemed to be the pattern for the year as it happenened again at the New Forest Show and Great Yorkshire where Chris drove. A first at Edenbridge & Oxted Show with Paul at the helm and a very creditable third at Newbury brought the show season to a close.

We also attended a number of Coaching Meets through the summer. Deep Cut and the Cornflower Meet in the Spring was made all the more pleasant because we found a wonderful billett for the horses and ourselves close by with a lovely lady called Patsie. The Windsor Dinner Drive and Polo Picnic on the Sunday was another super weekend and our horses did every day at Ascot for Bill now installed as the President of the Coaching Club. Only a few days after getting back from Ascot and we were off abroad again to the Route de Lorraine meet of the European Driving CLub in Germany. Another great weekend of drives and lovely locations. The afternoon drive on the Saturday was quite an experience. After a pleasant morning the heavens suddenly opened too quickly for umbrellas to go up or raincoats to go on. All the occpants of the coach where deluged and soaking wet in seconds. That was bad enough but the terrifying thing was the thunder and lightening, one crash was so loud immediately overhead that I am amazed that the horses did not take off there and then, but they were fantastic. Chris