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The horse driving trials indoor season has begun with strong support at Wix EC, near Manningtree, with drivers from 8 to 83 years young and all sizes of turnout enjoying the fun of this three-phase competition. This is the eleventh season and standards are high for in our midst is Chris Smith of Little Bromley, reigning National Indoor Horse Pairs Champion, driving new horses, and his 11-year-old daughter Grace, a Junior National Champion. Also competing is young Joshua Twitchen, eight, with one of his mother Danielle’s ponies, while Danielle showed us all how to drive four ponies smoothly round the course when she puts her team together. Husband Dan grooms – on the backstep of the carriage – as does father-in-law Barry, making it a real family occasion. Danielle is current Reserve Champion Pony Four-in-hand Driver indoors. Jenifer Barker-Simson of Braintree is our sporting octogenarian with the sparky Welsh D Leswick Lil.
Wix holds six events between October and March, five of them qualifiers for the National Indoor Finals at Keysoe, Beds, 30 March – 1 April. The 31 December event was a fun “world cup”, modelled on the popular continental four-in-hand competition with a course of cones and two obstacles together, which requires skill and speed. “World Champion” was 13-year-old Nadia Hughes, Clacton, with her new New Forest pony Dandy, winning the junior class and beating open pony winner Fiona Powell with Cheverellfield National Secret by 30 seconds. National Reserve Indoor Champion Novice Horse Driver Chris Patrick and dashing grey Lusitano Salvador drove the fastest round but one ball down meant he conceded victory. Brian Burton’s 16-hand grey horses Cloudy and Jimmy won the multiples class against Tod Alexander’s pair. Janet Sycamore claimed the Small Pony prize with miniature Shetland Sydney.
Our next events are at Wix, 28 January, 19 February, 10 March. Please see www.indoordriving.co.uk for more details and the announcements forum for times or call 01473 735732.
Fiona Powell
East Anglia regional organiser, Indoor Horse Driving Trials Club
