BDS Hereford Spring Carriage Show Report
With having to change the venue and date early on in the year for this year’s “BDS Hereford Spring Carriage Show”, we were worried that we would lose the atmosphere that we have had in the past in the grounds of Hampton Court, Leominster. Despite the change I think Kings Equestrian, Bromyard did us proud. We had the full use of facilities, which included the hard standing parking area, outdoor arena for competitors working in and the large indoor arena with a large gallery and catering facilities. Unfortunately we cannot arrange the weather, and because the main showing was held indoors the day graced us with sunshine all day, typical British weather!!
The BDS Hereford Show committee managed to pull off yet another successful show, despite missing “Team Leader” BDS Herefordshire AC Kay Walton who had recently just come out of hospital. Despite this Kay did manage to visit the show for a couple of hours just to check on proceedings!
We had a good team of helpers to run the show (before, during and after) and despite the economic climate and worrying whether entries would come in at the last minute, we still managed to get a very good standard of entries. The turnouts were impressively high and varied, including miniature Donkeys, Shetlands, Welsh ponies and Cobs, Coloureds, Morgans and Hackneys. Classes averaged 7 and above in most classes and competitors came as far afield as Shropshire, Mold, Stafford, Worcestershire, Powys and of course Herefordshire.
Our main Judge Mr Brian Ball from Cornwall had a very tough job during the day with the 8 classes he had to judge, ably assisted by head steward Andy Nicholson. The classes included Novice Horse & Pony, Novice/Junior Whip, Disabled Whip, Registered Welsh, Coloured, and Veteran Whip, Country vehicle, Exercise vehicle & Private Drive.
We had various Osborne Qualifiers which were eagerly fought for, with Andrew Hamilton Rhodes gaining the “Single Registered Welsh Section D” with “Brookeborough Black Bob” and Julie Wedgbury getting the “Single Registered Welsh Section A&B” with “Pentrefelin Romeo”, Julie also drove “Boggarts Crumpet” to take the “Private Driving – non Hackney 13.2hh & under”. Newcomer from Powys, John Hunt with “Troy” took the “2 Wheel Exercise Vehicle”; Rhian Ralph with “Penclose Wotsit” took the “Country Turnout”. Finally John Bulmer from Hereford with “Monnington Artiste” took the “Private Driving – non Hackney over 13.2hh”.
Stephen Pond judged the Rally Class where he asked competitors to do a series of manoeuvres, and two of the competitors had Carriage dogs. The carriage dogs were judged separately by Stephen’s steward Mrs Jane Friend, who has trained carriage dogs herself so, knew what she was looking for in a carriage dog! The overall Dog was Cato owned by Mrs Pat Dutson from Blanavon and 2nd was Molly owned by Marianne Taylor from Leominster. The overall winner of the Rally class was Herefordshire local mother and daughter team, Jane and Susie Allcoat driving “Magic Merlin”. The class was sponsored by Bengry Motors, Leominster.
(Photo by EquinePix Photography)
The Concours d’elegance was held at lunchtime, and so to give our main judge a break we had Mrs Jackie Watson, her daughter Mrs Robin Finlay & granddaughter Ella Finlay to judge the class. Shropshire based Julie Wedgbury was the overall winner with “Pentrefelin Romeo”, later on in the day Julie went onto win the Private Drive class with “Boggarts Crumpet”
The “BDS Supreme Show Champion” went to Andrew Hamilton Rhodes with “Brookeborough Black Bob”, he also got the “Victoria Food Qualifier” & the “Reserve Champion” went to Rhian Ralph with “Penclose Wotsit”.
The BDS Points Champion went to Sue Cole with “Sam the Man” who travelled all the way from Stafford; she was placed in the top four in all the classes she entered. The “Endeavour Award” went to our Junior Jennifer Newman driving “Shamrock Lake Sir Shakespere” from Powick in Worcester.
A Thank you must go to the owners of Kings Equestrian, Bromyard for letting us hold our show at their venue, and also thanks must go to all the competitors, sponsors and helpers who contributed to the show.
(Please visit for full results)
Mandy Reddock (BDS Hereford Show Committee & AAC)