Powys Carriage Driving Group has proved it has a wealth of talent as two of its members have cantered to national titles.
Chairman Peter Sidebottom and local driver and vice chair Emily Ham both triumphed at the end of the season championships in the very demanding sport of horse driving trials – the driven equivalent of British Eventing.
Emily took the National Young Drivers Championship with her Welsh Section D cob Alfie in a strong class. Close behind the leader after dressage, her faultless cones driving put her into a strong lead going into the cross country and obstacle phase.
Despite atrocious cold and wet conditions she drove a very fast marathon less than a second behind the fastest time to take a clear victory in her class and also win the trophy for the lowest overall score of the whole championship. She also won the Cones Cup for the best cones driving of the event finishing an astonishing 23 seconds under the set time.
This is her fourth National Championship title – having won it twice with Alfie and twice with her Section C Crossfield Glory ( Mr J).
Peter Sidebottom did exceptionally well to win the Intermediate Horse title at the National Championships at Cirencester with his young horse Zola. Peter has been driving for several years but this was his horse’s first season.
During the demanding marathon Peter flew round the course with smooth fast obstacle driving and won the phase with one of the best scores of the finals.
“It all came together. The horse was really keen. In fact I had to keep saying steady.”
The win put them in contention for the title as the challenging cones course took its toll of those ahead and Peter’s good round put him into the lead and the well deserved National Championship win.
The club runs events all through the year and in the winter these are held at Llwynon Saddlery, Trecastle. For more information contact the secretary Ann Ham on 01874 690253.