| Author | Message | ||
     Mike Watts |
This thread is Rosemary Neale's account of what it was like travelling and taking part at Dorthealyst world pony championships, and comments from others there and at home. We've moved discussion of the actual selection process to 'Pony Team Championships 2007/2009" | ||
| Fiona Powell |
A big HURRAH! to all the British team for their sterling effort against tough competition, and for the people who made it all happen, and the grooms and helpers - lots more GB supporters were there than usual, I was told. The individual effort of Jessica Meredith deserves a Hurrah, too, as she drove Ian and Anne Gilbert's ponies beautifully for Australia, despite having had so little time to practise with them. Rosemary, you really made the event come alive with your blog - thank you. It was a very inspiring experience for me just to watch and try to take a few decent photos: terrific teamwork with spotters everywhere on Saturday, too. The Danish stewards and organisers were uniformly well organised, friendly, well-informed, cheerful, hospitable, helpful and all spoke immaculate English. The on-site catering was high quality, fresh and astonishingly cheap. The (unofficial) scores were updated every 90 seconds and you could see them next to the main scoreboard or if you logged into the free wifi network on the site. The commentator must have written the encyclopaedia of World Ponies as she recited the history (in perfect English) of the Dartmoor, the Welsh Pony, the New Forest, Shetland, Fjord, Haflinger as they entered the arena for the dressage - you name it, she could tell you the breed's history. Then she said it again in Danish, French, German, Dutch, possibly even Hungarian. What an advert for British ponies, tho'... lots of them, everywhere. I found watching the cones particularly scarey, hoping that no-one would tip up. The singles and pairs speed is so fast and many of the competitors drive very high two-wheelers that I had my heart in my mouth several times. One of the German drivers, I think, nearly tipped up but was saved by her groom - she'd missed the finish line, realised and swerved round in a circle - on two wheels in her four-wheeler - to go through the finish. (I thought the timing was very good in the cones: as soon as the bell went the illuminated timers counted down from 60 seconds. Once the start had been crossed, they showed the current time and also any penalties from cones knocked down as the person went round, and then started adding seconds as they exceeded the cones time. This also made it exciting to watch.) It was a wonderful, memorable experience for me and I urge you to consider going to any similar event if you get the opportunity. | ||
| Dot Willcoxson |
Congratulations to the British medal winners and to all the British team. We followed your progress because there was a little bit of Australia there with Hannah Harris. Thank you Rosemary for your very welcome reports which made us aware of the wonderful camaraderie in your camp. Good sports all. We were also delighted with Jessica Meredith's 4th place in the dressage. She really works hard at it. I have known her to walk an arena for nearly 20 minutes before a competition. Well done. | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
Hi everyone this is my last report as we are on our way home! I am sitting in our hotel room at 11pm having had a great last meal with most of the team and the helpers. Yesterday as you can imagine was another roller coaster with the success of Sarah and Julie and everyone else doing so well in such awful conditions. By god did it rain so that the multiples were doing their cones in a quagmire – to get round was a feat in itself let alone leave cones standing eg Rachel’s cones down were caused by putting her foot slightly on the brake and carriage sliding round to knock the cone off! We didn't beat the Germans or the Dutch or this time the Americans but everyone tried their very best. The closing ceremony had to be held inside (attended by Princess Beatrix of Denmark) and we tried to pack up afterwards for an early start. The water was running through the awning of our caravan so we had to find alternative accommodation for those in tents and awnings and the fire brigade came to tow those who wanted leave that day or get an early start in the morning. We decided to leave today – the vet felt that all the ponies needed a good rest before the journey and left at 7.30 am. It had stopped raining but the field was still a swamp so all had to be towed off. Journey went well until we ran into a traffic jam in Germany – apparently a lorry had come off the road and we had a two hour delay waiting for it to clear – fortunately it was cool so the ponies were ok and we finally pitched up at our overnight stop at 7pm. Julie Hoskyns had apparently broken down on the way and Phillippa Gammel had picked up her ponies and a groom and brought them on while Julie waited for the breakdown – we expect her later on tonight. So sadly she was missing from the dinner tonight which was a great celebration of the event and of all the support the team members have received from people on the trip and at home. The team members were very grateful for the tireless help of Jill Holah (Sarah Howe had given her her prizewinners bouquet as a thankyou) and the trainers, vet and physio – they were always there when you needed them. Thomas has definitely got chicken pox and went home on the plane with big Tom – with a paper bag over his head so no one noticed! Hope to be home tomorrow night or early Wednesday and thank you all for your messages of support – isn’t the internet a wonderful thing! | ||
| Sonny Hillier |
Well done to team GB wot a great result especially Sara Howe and Sj Cook our local girls! Also what a fantastic result for Miranda Cadwell USA driving Trevor Kimbers old pair Toby and Topaz its amazing that after all the years they have been doing the job they are still loving every minute of it and have now proved they are world class what stars well done boys!!! | ||
| Guest |
well done to all concernede but special well done to sarah and Julie C what a fab result have a safe journey home | ||
| IHDTC office |
Rosemary: You are fantastic with your up to the minute reports. Great news from Sara and Julie, well done to them both, fingers and everything else crossed for the multiples. Thank you | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
Captains log stardate Sunday. Have just come back from the single cones - great jubilation in the camp as Sarah came third and Julie came fourth with only .45 of a penalty seperating them! Raining cats and dogs today but not as bad as you guys seem to have had it at home - so arena very slippery! Time was very tight on the course so the drivers had to throw caution to the winds to make it, as many ponies were shying at the bridge - quite a few refusals! Off to watch the pairs - hopefully they will keep up the team effort! | ||
| Mike Watts |
Now it all hangs on the cones whose scores are coming in on http://www.wdch-pony-07.dk/download/onlineresults/DEN/WDCH.20070719.20070722/CON ES.htm Julie Camm has scored 0.97, a good round, so I think GB catch up 8 points on Belgium just ahead of us in 5th place and whose best cones score was 9.28 - go for it multiples... | ||
| Guest |
to julie hoskins and sara howe...... u both have up to date shoulder rubs!!!!!!! so does priceless!!! so you dont need me to wish u luck as u have my shoulder with you.!!!!! go go go >>>> wishing the rest of uk team all the luck in the world. heather watt. (kinner) | ||
| Guest |
well done to you all, we are thinking of you all whilst trotting the roads getting fit for Lowther! last night produced flooded fields of 3' water, so at least mine will do water!! am logging on every other hour to get the updates which have been fab......kick on and enjoy Minta. and gang | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
Brief update - everyone got round safe and sound! Sarah Howe played a blinder and is now lying third after the marathon and Julie is fifth. Julie Hoskyns and Rachel both did good marathons and have ended up 12 and 13th and Sarah Jane has been overtaken by Colin who also played a blinder, coming 6th on the marathon. Unofficial calculations put Team GB in 6th place after the marathon. The US, who were in first after dressage, have now dropped to third as they cannot count the dressage score of Morgan who was eliminated. Off to the Pimms party now to thank all the spotters and to congratulate the team - more later! | ||
| Guest |
Fantastic to have reports like this available. Any chance of any more photos? Team GB seems to be shaping up well - continued good luck to all. Please say hello to Sara-Jane, Andrew and Charlotte;and Sarah and Tricia. Rob and Mary Mary Gillam | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
HI everyone - it has been really great to receive your messages as well! So where are we now? Yesterday was a complete roller coaster for the team. Here in camp Stevens we were up at 5am feeding and helping Rachel to get ready for her dressage at 8.33 - some tense moments the night before as Joe had developed small sores on his legs and Rita and Hannah had spent most of the evening applying Hibiscrub and other permitted ointments to his legs. We couldn't work out why this had happened but all was well and we were all relieved when Rachel posted a 53. She stayed in 2nd position for quite a while but then was overtaken by some really impressive pairs - still 8th place was not to be sneezed at! Martin had done some modifications to Julie Hoskyns' harness by making two new straps to ensure that the line of draught was correct (handy chap to have around - he mended Rachel's noseband and restitched Jessica Meredith's girth - bit of a conflict of interest there!) and Julie was pleased with her test. As you can imagine we were a little disappointed with the scores for the fours but hey, it's not over yet! Then disaster struck - Julie was out exercising with Robert on the back in the evening just before the Gala Evening when Billy was stung by a hornet - he reacted as you would expect, kicked the carriage, got a leg over the shaft, tipped out the driver and took off. He was caught near the stable area (good boy had gone to a safe place) but was a bit worse for wear. Vet called, farrier replaced shoe, when all had quietened down Billy was put back in the carriage a quietly walked round - so all that was needed now was to keep him sound, so Sue and Louise stayed up all night walking and hosing - with permission from the stable security. This morning all looks well and Julie will do a secure round and has been told no heroics - we need the dressage score she posted so she has to complete the event for it to count. The Gala performance was great and included displays from the Danish Cavalry, Shetland ponies on longlines, Icelandic horses, the Knappstruppe gymnastic team (muscley blokes bouncing all over the place!) and the Danish Royal Golden coach. All retired to bed early completely exhausted while Rachel and Tom walked the obstacles for one more time. This morning it's the usual panic and organisation before the marathon - off now to look at some of the obstacles before taking up my spotting duties for the teams the afternoon - we have a rota of spotters on all the obstacles to radio back information on how they are driving to all our drivers. Oh and now we think Thomas has got chickenpox!! | ||
| Caronne Daft |
Hello Rosemary - your daily updates have been fantastic, we really feel that we are part of the event. I know that you are very busy but if you see Sarah Jane could you please ask her to give Amedeus a big hug from Jackie (Taunton) and Caronne (Boston). We are cheering you on all the way. Go, team GB, Go. | ||
| Guest |
Rosemary it seems to have been a little bit of and up and down day after yesterdays singles. Will you be able to give us a full report in your own words.....I love your reports they are really interesting and so well written. Mary | ||
| Margaret Brockie |
The Para drivers send their best wishes to all the team and especially Rachel who has done so much to help us win medals over the last few years. Now we are hoping it is your turn. Great receiving all the info. so quickly without having to ring round. Well done Rosemary | ||
| Sue Starnes |
Well done to everyone, what good results so far. Hope all goes well for the rest of the competition. It's so exciting reading about it all, nearly as good as being there! All the best to all of you. Sue and Andy | ||
| Barbara Nadin |
Well done girls, Julie has justified the selectors reasons for choosing her for the team. Looking at this mornings results so far Rachel seems to be in 6th place with a score of53.28 and Julie 12th with a score of60.96. Denmark surprise surprise are in the lead in the teams with two 1sts U.S.A. 2nd and Team GB in 3rd with half of the dressage competition completed Our team should be really pleased. | ||
| Janet Pilling |
Well done guys - good results from day one! Thanks Rosemary for the updates, wish we were there but this is the next best thing. Sounds like you're having a ball! Good luck for tomorrow. | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
Well you know the results from today already so there is great satisfaction in the camp tonight as we have posted two good solid results. The way the scoring works is that the best dressage score from the single ponies, the pairs and the fours counts towards the team score so we have a good score in the bag. The drama in the class today was that Yvonne de Ruyter, the Dutch competitor who won the single dressage at Catton, did her test, posted a score of 42. something and then was spun! The judge at C, Diana Brownlie, felt that the pony was lame (unlevel) and asked for it to be referred to the vet. Rumour has it that she has now been eliminated but that it only rumour - I will let you know what happens tomorrow. If she has been, it will be a big disappointment for the Dutch team who will have to now rely heavily on their one remaining single competitor who has come fifth on 49.6 | ||
| Guest |
Well done to Sara and Julie the unofficial results so far are Julie 3rd and Sara 9th, think that is a very good performance from them both, which leaves me to say good luck to them both on Saturday! | ||
| Geoff Kay |
I hope this link works, it is to the Championship website and shows the unofficial dressage results to date. Julie Camm is lying third out of 19 who have completed. Well done Julie http://www.wdch-pony-07.dk/download/onlineresults/DEN/WDCH.20070719.20070722/DRE SSAGE.htm | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
All messages passed on to the drivers who are dead chuffed to receive them. Bit chilly today but that's great for our ponies. You cannot imagine the work to get this show on the road - we have 10 people in our camp supporting Rachel and we all have an important task to do - this morning Rachel wanted to work her ponies in the dressage vehicle so Hannah got up early to feed and harness up, Rita helped and then walked the ponies out of the secure stabling to the lorry where the vehicles are, handed over to Hannah's dad Gary (here from Australia with Hannah's mum Judy), Martin and Tom all helped to harness up and then watched from the ground as Rachel schooled. Anna Goodrum and I cooked the breakfast so that as soon as the ponies were schooled everyone could eat before going off to walk obstacles! Rita had gone back to the stables to muck out and as soon as this was done the ponies were back and need washing off and bedding back down. As the stables area is secure you have to have a pass to get in and each pair driver is only allowed three passes to the stables so no one except those nominated people can go in the stble to help do those chores - which is a little bit of a problem at the moment as it looks like Hannah has succumbed to the Delhi belly which is going round! Rachel and Rita had it on the journey - but this is probably way too much information! Off to watch the dressage now - will keep you posted. | ||
| Dot Willcoxson |
Thank you for the detailed updates Rosemary, you make the event come to life. I do have a little favour though. Would it be possible for you to pass on to Jessica Meredith (Australia) my family's very best wishes for a safe and successful competition? Good luck to all the drivers. | ||
| Audrey Barron |
The Scottish Carriage Driving Association would like to wish all the members of Team GB the very best of luck at Dorthyleast. Thanks for the regular updates. These are much appreciated and let everyone feel involved even if they could not make the journey out to Denmark. Keep them coming. | ||
| Fiona Powell |
Sounds great - I'm surprised anyone can trot up the ponies at all after all that food! Good luck for Thursday and see you in the evening, all being well. Thanks again for the news - now I know what to pack, too. F | ||
| Jane Hollis |
Just wanted to say how fantastic it is to have reports on here coming straight from Denmark. Would like to wish everyone good luck, but can you pass on my extra special best wishes to Sara Howe and let her know her fan club in Cousley Wood are all rooting for her! | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
Wednesday evening - feeling completely exhausted - and I'm only the cook! Well you'll all be pleased to know that all ponies passed the trot up with flying colours - they all looked the picture of health and were turned out to perfection. The rest of the day has been spent in training sessions, cleaning harness,using the arena when available, walking the obstacles and of course the Opening Ceremony which took place at 4pm. Everyone was invited to walk in with the team members of all the 16 nations - from 3 continents! This evening there was a very nice formal reception and welcome from the Mayor of Holbaek - who made a very gracious speech welcoming everyone in perfect English - even tho he can't speak a word of it! Dressage times have now been posted and they start tomorrow with the single ponies - Julie Camm at 11.43 and Sarah Howe at 3.18. Rachel Stevens is at 8.33am on Friday, Julie Hoskyns at 11.05am,Sarah-Jane Cooke 2.29 and Colin Allen at 3.29. Supporters have now arrived and it has been marvellous to see friendly faces from home. | ||
| Georgina Frith |
Good Luck to all! I'm feeling very nostalgic as this is the first pony championship i've not been to but am with you in spirit and wish you all the very best. Thank-you for your regular updates, Rosemary - it saves a lot of texts! GO GB! | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
Thanks for your messages Steph and Fiona - I'll pass them on! No mossies and just some rain in the early morning - and looking good for the weekend! And wow what a party last night! Those drivers sure know how to get on down!The evening of nations was fantastic - such a huge variety of food and drink available! The Danes had provided a groaning table full of smoked meat including reindeer, the French did cassoulet, pate and vast quantities of camembert, the Americans barbecued spare ribs all night, we did provide lots of Pimms which I managed to trade for a lovely French Pinot Grigio and everyone had been asked to provide some food from their own locality so apple juice and jams from the Isle of wight, Stilton cheese, Cheddar cheese etc, the Germans provided sausages and schnapps - more later - got to go to the trot up now! | ||
| Fiona Powell |
Hi to everyone - I'm enjoying the blog, thanks, Rosemary. What's the weather promising to be over the weekend? And are there lots of mozzies? | ||
| Stephanie Byrne |
Hi Rosemary and all the gang thought you might like to know what you are missing here weather fantastic sunny all day with a hint of a gentle breeze and gentle rain falling only at night. Events are bathed in sunshine along with lots of Pimms and laughter and no stress here then! with our BEST out of the way perhapes some of us will get some ribons please keep up the blog and GO TEAM GO Good luck to ALL. Steph & Sean | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
If anyone has any questions about the trip, the team etc etc then post them on the discussion forum - I have got a good internet connection here and will be logging in every day so can get any info you need - I can also pass on messages to team members. | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
All set up and ready to go! After the worst thunderstorm in history, which left those ponies stabled in portable stabling on Sunday night paddling around in the mud, we washed them off and all set sail on the last leg of the journey. We had been treated to a lovely reception by Henry Klage and his wife the night before on the terrace of their lovely home – their hospitality was fantastic – nothing was too much trouble for them and we all felt well rested and ready for the next leg. It took about two hours from Brenderup to Dorthealyst and we travelled in convoy to make sure we all arrived together to get parked in a logical way. The journey was made spectacular by having to go over the five mile bridge across the sea from one part of Denmark to the other – not for those with a fear of heights! The Australian contingent travelling with us (Jessica Meredith travelling with Phillipa Gammel) kindly agreed to share their parking space with us and after much discussion (some of it, it has to be admitted, rather heated!) everyone got parked up and unloaded. Ponies could not be stabled until they had been checked in by the vets and so that was the first task – the secure stabling is very nice, clean and airy so all the ponies settled in well. Next task was to unload the lorries and trailers and set up camp for the humans. We found the rented caravans, organised the electric hookup, got the gas working and water laid on and like all true Brits had a nice cup of tea! Around lunchtime the trainers, Robert Buck and Karen Basset arrived along with our team vet Claire Haley and team physio Nicola Bagley and it was straight to work for them, checking all the ponies and organising training and exercise schedules. There is an exercise route of approximately 3kms and also a separate lungeing area. Everything has been thought of and well organised and the whole showground is a real credit to the Danish Driving Federation and to Marianne Seidenfaden, the show President. Marianne is an artist who generally works in willow and her willow sculptures of various animals adorn several of the obstacles and she has obviously roped in more artist friends as another of the obstacles has a ‘Hans Christian Anderson’ theme with papier mache figures from his fairy tales! Monday evening we had a Pimms get together for all the camps to say welcome and to show everyone the central area and team noticeboards – I get the feeling almost as much Pimms as tea will be drunk! Exercising and preparing for the event started in earnest today (Tuesday)and Julie Camm and Sarah Howe could be seen trotting round the entrance to the dressage arena working out how long it would take to trot up the side of the arena, do two circles and enter in the short time available before the judges’ bell rang! You get down to this much detail at this level! My task was to find out where the mobile bakery parked, what they sold and when they would be there – oh and to make the tea in copious quantities! The weather is still holding up and we are now in glorious sunshine, a little windy perhaps but that keeps the flies away. This afternoon we will be preparing for the ‘Evening of Nations’ when every nation competing is asked to bring some food and drink which represents their country to share with the other competitors (more Pimms I think!)– and it also means that the competitors can have a social evening and let their hair down a little before the competition starts in earnest on Thursday. | ||
| Rosemary Neale |
Dorthyleast 2007 Well the journey has begun! Day One now over and looking forward to a shorter day two! The team gathered at Sarah Howe’s yard in Kent on Thursday 12th in preparation for an early start on Friday. 16 ponies, 12 carriages and huge amounts of harness and equipment to get to Denmark 600 miles away! A great sense of excitement and anticipation with a party hosted by Sarah and her mother Leonie and partner Barrie. Checking everything, making sure paperwork all in order and Julian Burleton producing huge stickers for every lorry, car, caravan and trailer – British Pony Carriage Driving Team on tour! It was all a bit surreal and the atmosphere felt a little like those ‘night before the battle’ scenes which you get in historical films – I almost expected someone in the role of king to give the troops a little pep-talk along the lines of ‘once more in to the breech, dear friends.....’! Julie Hoskyns then produced the products which the team has been given by sponsors and supporters – everyone was bowled over by the generosity of rugs, supplements etc and the ever supportive Roger Godfrey who has yet again come up trumps on the cake front! So to Friday and a 3.30am start to feed before setting off for Dover at 4.45am! We were early and had expected to be on the 7.40 ferry but the ticket office managed to squeeze us on to the 7am ferry which was all freight. All of us that is except Colin Allen and the team caravans which were not booked as freight. We tried hard to get them to let the ramp down again for Colin but they were adamant and we had to set off hoping to catch up with him in France. In the event we shouldn’t have worried as Colin reached the overnight stop venue before any one else as he just pressed on without stopping while others decided to have regular stops – more for the drivers than the horses who all arrived after approximately 13 hours on the lorries looking fresh and lively. Interesting the different ways of travelling horses and the different advice received – some vets are advocates of no feeding and travelling loose so that they can get their heads down, some advocates of wet hay ad lib, some make no changes to what you would normally do at home. The good thing was that everyone had consulted their vets and had monitored their horses carefully all the way. Andrew Williams with Sarah-Jane Cooks’ ponies caught up with us here and once everyone was happy that ponies were all ok it was time for that first beer and stories of the journey - how Rita got stung by a bee in the first five minutes after Calais, how interested and friendly everyone we met had been, how awful the traffic had been round Antwerp.... The overnight venue was the yard of Guido Klatte who runs a horse transport business in Germany – talk about equine luxury! So with all the ponies bedded down, having had a leg stretch and feed it was time to look after ourselves – a feed for us at a great restaurant and shower and bed in a lovely pension! Well in the event day two was not an easy day! The sun shone and we got stuck in traffic jams all the way from Hamburg to the Danish border - it turns out it was the start of the German holiday season and every man and his wife, six kids and caravan were on the road heading for the coast! Still ponies travelled well and we decided to just keep going to Brenderup where we are overnighting and the ponies could all be turned out for at least two hours - I have never seen such high jinks! They were so glad to be out they rolled and rolled and kicked and jumped! We are staying here on a lovely estate for all of Sunday to let everyone recover from the journey so we can arrive at the showground in Dorthyleast refreshed and ready for the competition. It's a short two hour drive from here and we have to be there at 10am. Today will be spent just chilling out - there is a carriage museum here and we are about 4kms from the beach - so since the sun is still shining that's where we are headed for the rest of the day! |