RDA Carriage Driving Regional Qualifier and Fun Event – 22 April 2023

The Cavalier Centre hosted its first RDA regional carriage driving event on 22 Apr 2023 as well as a separate non-qualifier fun class. There were three entries for Novice Qualifier with a very close run class but 1st qualifier Matt Palarmarzuk driving Jack and coached by Anne Connolly from Clwyd centre, hotly pursued by Pete Higgins (Cavalier Centre) taking 2nd qualifier and driving Kenny, with Cheryl Needham also from the Cavalier Centre and both coached by Gina Saunders, not far behind – overall tiny points between them all.

This was followed by a hotly contested non-qualifier/fun round with 6 competitors working in three teams. Each team drove with coaches Penny McClellan and Julie Wedgbury with ponies Finn and Sion respectively, with the following results:

1st – Shelley Tulloch and Jane Higgins
2nd – Russell Tulloch and Fiona Howland
3rd – Fiona Brookes and Penny Wilkinson

Individual placings are listed below

The Cavalier Centre and the Carriage Driving team wish to thank all those volunteers, helpers and sponsors who supported the event and a special thanks to all the wonderful RDA ponies who love to put their best hoof forward.

National Novice Qualifier Entrants and scores:

Name	Dressage	Conobstacles	Final Score	Placing
Peter Higgins, Cavalier Centre	74/100 (26)	3.20 (6 pens)	29.20	2nd (qualifier)
Matt Palamarzuk, Clwyd	77/100 (23)	3.55 (6 pens)	26.55	1st (qualifier)
Cheryl Needham, Cavalier Centre	74/100 (26)	4.32 (9 pens)	30.3	3rd

Dressage was the BC compulsory shapes with a maximum score of 100 possible. To achieve the overall score the awarded points were deducted from the 100 and the deduction added to conobstacles (incl penalty score) – the lower the final score the higher the placing.

Non qualifier/fun class:

Six drivers split into two teams driving mirror cones/obstacle courses.

Team results were

1st Shelley Tulloch driving Finn with Penny as coach and Jane Higgins driving Sion with Julie as coach
2nd Russell Tulloch as above and Fiona Howland as above
3rd Fiona Brookes as above and Penny Wilkinson as above

Individual results were

1st Jane Higgins
2nd Fiona Howland
3rd Shelley Tulloch
4th Russell Tulloch
5th Penny Wilkinson
6th Fiona Brookes

Val Fisher Award – Presented by Malcolm Fisher

Its first year and awarded to Pete Higgins

Photography

Sara Jane Hayes – official photographer for carriage driving events

Rosette sponsor

Non-RDA rosettes sponsored and presented by Saunders Electrical

Obstacles