Second Concours International d’Attelage de Tradition (CIAT) competition held in New Park Showground in Brockenhurst
ANTIQUE horse-drawn carriages and riders in fine attire made a splash in the Forest as heavy rain greeted an international contest.
The second Concours International d’Attelage de Tradition (CIAT) New Forest competition was held at New Park Showground in Brockenhurst, braving a Met Office thunderstorm warning on the Saturday.
Following international rules, the contest took place over two days in three parts, beginning with a presentation in which judges mark carriages and drivers out of 20 for their appearance.
The second phase of the competition is the routier, a timed 13km drive around the New Forest with five “difficulties” along the way.
One of those difficulties is the “drinking glass” in which drivers must hold their reins and whip in their left hand while picking up a glass of champagne and moving it 20 feet between stands. Drivers who don’t make it back to the finish gate within a minute of their optimum time incur penalties for every second beyond that.
The third stage is the maniabilité [French for manageability] – a timed course involving 20 pairs of cones with balls balanced on top that riders must traverse, suffering five penalty points for each ball knocked off.
Event organiser Samantha Searle said: “The competitions are as much a social gathering as they are serious.
“We had a party with a singer on Friday evening and then a formal black tie event at Careys Manor Hotel on Saturday evening.
“This event is quite a spectacle to see – the weather wasn’t kind to us on Saturday afternoon, but nevertheless all competitors, stewards, judges, helpers and organisers went home on Sunday evening with smiles on their faces.”
She added: “AIAT competitions are held at 75 different locations in 17 countries each year, and are designed to promote the use of pre-1945 carriages, to show everyone about our heritage and to keep traditional carriage driving alive – a pastime that is somewhat dying out.”
There were 13 competitors at this year’s New Forest event, including a small pony called Douglas who had been brought down from north-west Wales to compete, alongside single ponies and horses, pairs of ponies and horses, and tandems.
The reserve champion this year was Paul Van Sickle who travelled from Florida to compete. He had borrowed a complete turnout from Russell Hand in Shropshire and had met his driving companion for the first time only a few days before competing.
The competition champion was Rosemary Neale, who chairs AIAT GB, driving a pair of Welsh section C ponies. Sarah said preparations are already under way for next year’s event.
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