Multi-Activity Weekend – Friday to Sunday 23-25 September 2011

The Benalla and District Horse Driving Club is again scheduling it's Multi-Activity Weekend around the Victrorian School Holidays. This year it wil be held on the weekend before the the AFL Grand Final at the Oxley Recreational Reserve. Oxley provides a relaxing and picturesque environment.

This is the 8th year we are holding the annual event which is very popular as a warm up to the competition season. Drivers get to train and practice in a a non-competitive environment. We get participants with horses ranging from Shetlands to Clydesdale Crosses from singles to pairs etc.. The ever popular Mike Thill will has been booked for training sessions, so gewt in early if you want lessons. Lessons will be taken from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. Remember lessons don't have to be restricted to dressage or horse movement and control. Mike will be happy to teach you how to attack a cones course or marathon obstacles as well. Just ask him. Cones and the 2 marathon obstacles will be available for use.

Full details are not yet available but you can expect to have dressage tests judged for personal feedback, a cones course set up for practice and this year a navigation drive. If they want to, there is a possibility for some to participate in a King or Queen of the Cones competition.

On Friday night there will be a barbeque. Saturday night will have dinner catered for by Ros Knight and Neville Wright who have done a terrific job at the past 2 events. We can expect some light entertainment and perhaps an intersting speaker as well as the obligatory raffle.

Club members are asked to contact Bev to see how they can help on the weekend. Many hands make light work. As in the past we hope to ensure a friendly and smooth running event.

Joe Hawkins Cup Marrar Level 3 CDE 1-2 April 2011

The Riverina Carriage Driving Society put on another wonderful event a the Marrar Trotting Grounds. The amenities at the grounds have improved yet again with the installation of a new toilet/shower block. The local Lions Club again provided terrific food from their canteen. The weather was also kind providing clear days and temperatures in the low 20's during the whole weekend. Good fun and catching up with friends was had during the dinnerheld at the Marrar Memorial Hall on the Saturday Night.
The Benalla and District Horse Driving Club was again well represented at Marar with Alison, Bev and Belinda competing in their different classes. Jack judged the cones, Sue scored for the event and Mara pencilled for the dressage judges. The highlight of the event was Alison's tussle with Sue from the Mornington Peninsula Club in the Open Pony 91cm to 121cm Class. Alison came out the winner this time. Belinda got a first and Bev a second in their respective classes.
The winner of the Joe Hawkins Cup goes to the competitor with the overall lowest score no matter what class they compete in. This year congratulations go to local club member Ben Rosetta with a score of 94.7 in the Novice Pony 121 to 149cm Class.

Benalla Dressage Cone Day 19 March 2011

The club held another dressage day on Saturday 19 March at the Benalla Pony Club Grounds in relatively mild conditions. Club members and visitors making up 22 dressage tests in all. Thanks to Virginia and Alison for being our judges on the day.
The cones was also quite popular with almost as many drivers undertaking the course as dressage tests.
Club members who pitched in with the setting up and running of the event did a marvelous job in making it a successful day.

Carriage Driving Trials Club Driven Dressage Day and Vic Champs Koonoomoo 26-27 March 2011

Carriage Driving Trials Club put on a terrific event over the 26-27 March Weekend. They combined a qualifying Dressage Day on the Saturday with the Vic Dressage Champs on the Sunday. The weather was kind and it was sunny both days. The club included a small cones course for a bit of fun which also went down well with competitors. This event was held at their new grounds at Koonoomoo near Cobram. Benalla was represented by Bev with Blossom and Belinda with Gerry and Eve. The judging on both days was tough but congratulations to Belinda for managing to take home a ribbon for driving Gerry and Eve in tandem.