Events 2011

+Year
 * 2013
 * 2012
 * 2011
 * 2010
 * 2009
 * 2008
 * 2007

Edenbridge and Oxted Show August 2011
A carriage dog display for a delighted crowd at the end of the day at Edenbridge and Oxted country show. Thanks to Helen Bridges, Pippa Ellen and Sue Stevens for turning out to drive for our Dalmatians and to Jeff Jones for the photos 

Julie Swindells and four Dalmatians took to a fairytale Cinderella Coach to escort Julie's friend in her wedding carriage in May in Thelkeld near Keswick in Cumbria while Julie grooms





Carriage Dog Display at the Working Horse Trust in July 2011.
Carriage Dogs Skittle, Fenris and Munin all took to the Working Horse Trust at the end of July to do a display of the working carriage dog with working draft horses. The WHT is a charity dedicated to preserving and promoting the heavy horse breeds of this country and Europe. (Thanks to Jeff Jones Imaging for these pics. More lovely pics from this event on Paul Tester's site here

Download a video of Fenris working with Nobel here



National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co Kildare one of Europe's largest agricultural shows photos courtesy of Mel Doyle




Burns Dog Days Out 2011
The second mega canine event held by Burns Pet Foods in Pembrey Country Park, Wales where we put on a carriage dog display. Read all about it here.



Le Trec in style
Julie Swindells entered her local Le Trec event. Le Trec is a carriage driving competition where horse and carriage have to navigate a short endurance course within an allotted time as well as tackle a course of various obstacles. These are tricky competitions without dogs, so hats off to Julie for competing in style with her four Dalmatians working behind! And what a lovely sight.



South East Trials 2011
The second South East Regional Carriage Dog Trials were held at Warren Barn Farm, Woldingham, Surrey on 4th September. Results here. More pictures to follow.



Full results of the 2011 Fenix National Trials here.
Carriage Dog Champion was Maura Reade's Domino who has now completed a Gold test in two countries. Road Dog Champion was Tim Stafford's Todd. Donna Simmons' Milo took the Groom's Award. We now have our first two double Gold qualified dogs in Todd and Anne Dickens' Fenris who are now both Gold Road and Gold Carriage Dogs.











































Robert Tapson with CoDot demonstrate the working carriage dog at the Shane’s Castle Game Fair in Ireland
Click | here to watch a video (click the Shane's Castle link under the What's On tab and then play the video - the section runs from 13:49 – 15:08 you can drag the time bar to fast forward)



The 2011 1001 Ride
'''A host of people from all around the UK and Ireland went out with their Dalmatians for a fun ride in June to help the British Carriage Dog Society to promote the working Road Dogs. The 1001 ride celebrated the fact that the total mileage covered by competing Dalmatians at all the Carriage Dog Trials since they began in 2003 tipped over the 1,000 milestone last year. 50 dogs took part covering 300 miles between them and raising £312 for Welfare and BCDS. Here is one owner's story. Jan Worden from Cambridgeshire hadn't ridden out with her Dalmatian Max and horse Carol (an ex-racehorse) before.'''



"I took the bull by the horns and went out for a long old ride with my Dally today and we completed 10 miles.

I decided to take my lovely Thoroughbred out rather than the pony. It's a more comfy ride for me, over distance (my little guy has to put in four times as many trot strides as my big girlie, so you're up and down like a yo-yo! )

What we did was ride along a place called the New Bedford River. It's basically a canal put in to drain the Fens by the Dutch back in the 17th century. So we're talking long and straight, here! There is a bridleway which runs from a village called Mepal to (approximately) another village called Pymoor. The rationale, from my point of view, was that my Dally, Max, who has only come out with the horse once before, would be certain to stay with us since the bridleway is fenced both sides. As it turned out, I needn't have worried. He soon got the idea and came along very nicely.

Of course, Max is used to following a carriage pulled by a Welsh Section C who's not a whisker over 13 hands. Now, make no mistake, that pony can really move when he's asked. But, with great respect to him, it ain't no match for a 16.3 ex-racer. To be fair to the poor dog, we mostly walked and trotted. The horse has a big, swinging stride and Maxi had to Dally trot along to keep up for the most part. Also, it was quite hot out there. However, we did have a couple of fast canters and good ol' Max came chasing up behind.

We stopped at the half-way point for about 15 mins to let the dog rest and cool down, then turned around and went back. Max got his second wind and was really happily padding along. At the end of the trail, he had a nice long drink and then popped back on the van.

As I write this, I have one happy Dally sleeping on my feet, under my desk. Horse had a good time, too. I can alway tell. When I get off, she puts her beautiful head on my chest and gently rubs it up and down. My favourite 'Thank-you' Ahh!! Aren't they wonderful? Love 'em to bits. I'm so lucky to have such fantastic four-legged friends."

Download a thank you letter from British Dalmatian welfare [[Media:Welfare_1001_thanks2.pdf|here]]

 

In April the Western Region ran a training trials at the Speech House Hotel in Gloucestershire.
Some stills from Anthony Ball Photography here [Media:http://vimeo.com/22881389]





Irish Carriage Dog Trials 2011- Results here - click Irish tab'''
With thanks to Paul Tester for the photos. More of Paul's carriage dog photos here



















