With near perfect weather conditions despite the down poor the night before the “BDS Hereford Area Spring Carriage Show” took place on Sunday 8th May at Hampton Court, Leominster for the second year running. This year it was staged just through the main gates with the castle and trees as an impressive backdrop.
Show Director Mandy Reddock together with members of the “Hereford & District Driving Group” helped run the show (before, during and after!!), this proved to be in a smooth and professional manner, and despite the economic climate the entries were well up on last year and the standard of turnouts was impressively high. There was an average of 8 competitors in each class. With competitors coming from as far afield as Bridgend, Crickhowell, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Powys and of course Herefordshire. The judge Mr John Marson from Swansea had a very tough job during the day with the 10 classes he had to judge. The classes included Novice Horse & Pony, Novice/Disabled and Veteran Whips, Ride & Drive, Coloured, Whip & Groom. We had Osborne Qualifiers in the Registered Welsh class where Julie Wedgbury took the Section A with “Pentrefelin Romeo”, Section C was given to Mike King with “Menai Leo” and the Section D went to Glenys Davies with “Brynbedw Pride”. In the Private Drive (Open) class 1st prize and the Osborne Qualifier went to Mrs Ann Staniland with her tandem of roan Welsh geldings, “Starlyte Little Trojan & Egeos Robin Goch”, she also gained the Victoria Food Qualifier and went on to become Reserve Show Champion.
The Concours d’elegance was held at lunchtime and so to give our main judge a break we asked our Main Sponsor Mrs Viv Melia of “Bengry Motors (Leominster) Ltd” to judge the class. She had 16 competitors coming forward, this was a spectacle in itself and showed the spectators the wide range of carriage turnouts including some carriages with carriage dogs (Dalmatians). Due to the number in the class and for safety reasons we split it into two sections and then had an overall winner. This went to Shropshire based competitor Miss Julie Wedgbury, she also ended up taking the “BDS Supreme Show Championship” at the end of the day with her delightful pony “Pentrefelin Romeo”.
Hereford competitor Nick Jones with his coloured pony “Brickell Buzz” took the 1st prize in the “Novice/Disabled Whip” class. There were 5 competitors in the Ride and Drive which was a hard class to judge and Mrs Ann Staniland coming out on top with Veteran Pony class winner “Starlyte Little Trojan”, the little jockey was Miss Courtney Harding who gave a lovely ridden show for the judge. In the Whip & Groom class two very happy Hereford Driving Group members Pat Dutson & Helen Edwards took 1st prize with “Moelgwyn Ceridwen”.
A big thank you must go to the owners of Hampton Court for letting us hold our show once again in such a beautiful and historic setting and thanks must go to all the competitors, sponsors, trade stands and helpers who contributed in any way to the show.
Mandy Reddock