Scurry driver Chris Orchard reports on her first outing of this year, and all the fun of the fair!
“After a mad flurry of bathing and clipping ponies, the first outing of the season was upon us in March. It was the wonderful Carriage Driving Fair at Merrist Wood College, Guildford, which was arranged and run with incredible professionalism by Brockham Harness Club. The weather was kind to us, a bit cold but at least a dry day.
The variety of Carriage Driving disciplines demonstrated at the Fair was comprehensive. In the ‘Suck it & See’ sessions, complete beginners could have a go at Carriage Driving with some top class guidance. Then there were displays from all the driving sports, from scurry driving – featuring myself and some of the other Osborne Scurry Group competitors, including Jeff Osborne himself – through private driving and trade turnouts, and from junior young drivers to the impressive Horse Fours galloping through the obstacles.
The fair also took in some non-driving equestrian displays as well along the way, such as the beautiful Ridden Lusitano display. The attractions even included rides on an original London Horse Drawn Trolley bus, very impressive.
So with all the fun of the fair behind us, on to the first competitive outing of the season at the Southsea Rural and Countryside Show in Portsmouth. The sea breeze must have given my boys a helping hand to a resounding Championship win, a great start to our 2016 Campaign for our HOYS places this year, we’re starting as we mean to go on.
We are now looking forward to all the great shows again in 2016, this will be Orchard Scurry Teams 17th year of Competing in Scurry, long may it go on.”