Midlands Carriagedriving

British Young Drivers Championships

by Wendy Nix

Phoebe, Megan and Harriet top their classes while Amy is in a class of her own at the British Young Drivers’ Championships

Midlands Carriagedriving (MC) hosted the British Young Drivers’ Championships (BYD) at Onley Grounds in Warwickshire on 31 July and 1 August. Thirteen entries across four classes showed that the sport is in good hands with high standards and excellent competition.

Class A (10-14 years) was won by Phoebe Matthews, who led after the first phase with a dressage score of 54.6.

Phoebe Matthews who headed Class A. Photo: Kingswood Associates

Close behind was Isabelle Brunner on 59.0. Isabelle went into the lead after an excellent, best of the day, cones which added just two penalties to her score. An unfortunate 5.3 penalties picked up on Section A and marginally slower obstacle times left her as Reserve Champion with Phoebe taking the spoils, having a 5.26 penalty margin.

Isabelle Brunner had 'Best Cones of the Day' and came second in Class A. Photo: Kingswood Associates.

Third was Ruby Gray, with Molly Turner, who sported a wonderful pink flamingo hat cover on the marathon, in fourth.

Molly Turner sports a flamingo hat cover on the marathon. Photo: Kingswood Associates

Katherine Cameron recorded the best dressage of the day (54.0) to head Class B (15-18 years) but a cricket cones score dropped her right down the leader board with Harriet McEntee and Sophia Routledge taking first and second places overnight.

Despite taking the scenic route through the reeds at the water (Obstacle 6), Katherine recorded the second-best marathon result to pull herself back up, finishing fourth overall.

Best BYD Dressage of the Day - Katherine Cameron. Photo: Sara Jane Hayes.

Harriet kept her lead with the fastest obstacle times while Amy Matthews leap-frogged Sophia to take second with Sophia in third.

Winner of Class B was Harriet McEntee. Photo: Kingswood Associates

Amy Matthews was runner-up in Class B. Photo: Kingswood Associates

Rachel Kay and Charlie Parker King finished fifth and sixth respectively, Charlie losing fifth place following a corrected error of course in Obstacle 3.

Class C (14-25 years (Horse) & 19-25 years (Pony)) was hotly contested between Megan Wheeldon and Harvey Clegram Brown.

Megan took the lead just ahead of Harvey in dressage (58.01 and 62.24 respectively) and she consolidated her position adding just 3.5 penalties in the cones.

Megan Wheeldon, winner of Class C. Photo: Kingswood Associates

Harvey pushed hard in the marathon to win that phase, however the margin was not enough to overhaul Megan who ran out the Class Champion with Harvey as Reserve.

Harvey Clegram Brown makes a splash. Photo: Kingswood Associates

Normally to be found behind the camera, Amy Mundell found herself the focus of photographers as she took the reins in Class E (19-25 years, Section B only), her first attempt at this level. Despite being the sole competitor, she gave a good account across all three phases.

Better known as a photographer, Amy Mundell was on her own in Class E. Photo: Kingswood Associates

For more information on MC including how to join the club and enter competitions please visit: midlandscarriagedriving.co.uk