Carriage driving with a royal blessing

What could be a better way to spend a Sunday than watching or taking part in the British Driving Society’s premier yearly event at Windsor Great Park? The answer is the country’s finest amateur coaches and their magnificent horses parading in front of enthusiasts, Liverymen and guests attended by the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Coachmakers were located between the Duke of Edinburgh Ring and the Sanders Watney ring on the other allowing easy viewing of the event this year. The Liverymen grandees arrived early, the Master driving his beautiful Bentley Azure. Past Master Michael Kimber and his wife came all the way from Cornwall for the day to support the event. Court Assistant Mark Broadbent, was Chief Judge. He had just returned from four days at Royal Ascot and was now responsible for casting his expert eye over no less than six categories.

The sun was hot and Liverymen gathered under their awning for some Champagne and shade.

After the Mountain Moorland, Hackney Type, Country Vehicles under and over 13.2 hands high classes, the Master presented the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers Award. This year it went to Barrie Luck. Barrie began his career training as a Blacksmith in 1963 when he bought his first horse, Mr Chipperfield from a customer and his first cart from a butcher. He has been involved with the Courage Brewery Horses, and rose up through the ranks to be Chairman of Judges, a leading light in the Windsor Horse Trials and Riding for the Disabled.

Several Coachmakers competed. Jimmy Jeffries drove a superb Unicorn formation with three Friesians he coached at Royal Windsor. The lead horse “Johnny Cash “had never been driven as lead horse before. The parade set of for the nine-mile route round Windsor Great Park stopping to salute the late Majesty’s statue.

In class 16 Concors d’ Elegance, Carl Isaac and James Dawson looked magnificent with their grey Irish Drafts and a Morgan (see photograph). They were worthy champions of their class.

At 5 o’clock the winners were called to parade in front of the Royal Box where the Duke of Edinburgh had been enjoying the polo. After a wonderful parade the Duke congratulatedthe teams in person, marking the end to a truly magnificent day.