Letcombe Regis Drive

Saturday November 14th 2009.

Timed drive, start at 11am approximately 14km, 2 hours from the village and onto The Ridgeway. Please contact Peter Kyle (01235 765810 peterkyle@tiscali.co.uk) by November 10th for start time and further details

BDS OX & WILTS Trec May 3rd at Eynsham Park

Hazel Woodbridge (AC Wiltshire) and Karen Harvey (AAC Oxfordshire) organised the annual combined trec at Eynsham Park held on May 3rd. The day was windy in the morning but settled into sunshine for the afternoon. The timed drive in the morning was over a 7 mile course, with some private roads, grassy fields and woodland drives. The trees were at their best in their early summer greens and the bluebells were at their prime.

The horses, whips , grooms and helpers enjoyed a picnic lunch and the afternoon was spent on the obstacle course, timed cones and accumulator cones. There was plenty of mutual support, chat , cheering and laughter at these events, and Hazel presented the rosettes and engraved glass trophies to the winners at the end.

The day was thoroughly enjoyable, and thanks to Hazel and Karen for organising such a splendid day.

Oxfordshire BDS AM ACs Report

This is the first “regular “ annual meeting to be held since I became AC in 2007. It has been remiss of me not to have organised one before and for this I apologise.

When I took over as AC in 2007 the Oxfordshire branch of the BDS was in fairly dilapidated state, where many members had drifted away from the BDS to local clubs and neighbouring BDS areas. Both the clubs and neighbouring areas have a much more thriving ethos than the Oxford BDS branch, and it seemed to me that our branch, for many ,served only to provide insurance. I knew I was inexperienced when I took over, and still am relatively “green” compared to many members who have been driving for ages but without fail the “usual suspects”, who, as happens in most organisations, are regular supporters , have been friendly and fun to associate with, and I thank them for their advice, company and support.

Karen Harvey, our AAC, has been invaluable as a fund of knowledge, treasurer and co-organiser, with Hazel Woodbridge, AC Wiltshire, of the May Trec at Eynsham Park. This has been a great success and many turnouts have taken part.

Karen and I attended an AC’s meeting in Hereford in 2007 and I attended one in Surrey in 2008. Thanks go to Linda Swain for organising these, and it is very interesting to hear the different views expressed on different subjects. My own beef is about the inequality of the standard of the BDS road safety tests up and down the country. I have not yet managed to get to the BDS AGM and dinner and hope that I will get there in the future.

Various members have organised private drives, and these have been most enjoyable, and it would be lovely if more were organised. I have organised various drives, the most successful being in Uffington in April 07 and at Cornbury Park in September 08. Because of the large fees required to repeat this drive I do not envisage it happening again. Lord and Lady Rotherwick were very accommodating and we raised £400 for her nominated charity “The Rosy Charity”. Midweek drives, on the whole, have not been terribly successful, and I will organise one midweek drive at Chaddleworth for the summer. I am in the process of organising others and will notify by snail mail, e-mail and the website of these events.

We have had two very successful dinners. In February 2008 Mark Broadbent gave us an amusing and interesting illustrated talk about his driving experience from aged 12 to the current time. In February 2009 Gary Docking came to dinner at the Wantage Masonic Hall, and exploded into his afterdinner speech which had us all laughing and entranced. Hidden among the fun were many very useful tips and ideas. Both talks were very well received.

During 2008 , thanks to a neighbouring friend, we managed to get the website up and running. I still feel there is a lot more that could be done to raise the profile of our branch, and any advice, initiatives and input would be very welcome.

My last thought is that I must remember to hold this meeting annually, and not just when reminded to by Linda Swain!

Oxfordshire BDS Newsletter January 2009

At last the Area website is up and running. All useful suggestions are welcome and there is scope to add to what is there. Please contact me with suggestions.
On February 27th, for our “Start the Year “ social meeting, Gary Docking is giving an after dinner talk at Wantage. There will be a three course dinner and I am sure it will be a most enjoyable and eventful evening. Details will be available on the website, and invitations will be sent.
It looks as if the Cornbury Park Drive will not be repeated this autumn, but other venues are under investigation. I will organise a drive around Worminghall for a Sunday, a mid-week drive from the Ibex at Chaddleworth. Please keep an eye on the website for details.
A few of us met for a pre-Christmas lunch and a beer at the Woodman at Fernham on December 14th. This was organised by Mike and Trudy Lupton and was a very relaxed and enjoyable get-together.
Belatedly, a Happy New Year, and have an excellent driving season.

STOLEN HORSES

Hi I am writing to make you aware of some horses that have been stolen from Dark Lane, Higher Whitley CHESHIRE nr Stretton Warrington on 10/12/08, I am alerting ALL horse Auctioneers, Passport Offices, Studbooks, Police, Vets, Horse sales sites, etc and Defra, I have attached a poster with more details and pictures, there are 5 horses in total that was stolen, Winnetou (A Tobiano Dutch Warmblood Stallion) his 3 sons TK Royal Tristar (Bay), TK Apache (Tobiano), TK Conquest (Bay) and TK Conquest’s Dam Malley (A Sec D Bay Mare). Please should anyone try to sell these horses through your site please contact us, my telephone numbers are on the poster attached. They will more than likely try to be sold without passports or try and get them through other means, I have all their legal breed passports for these horses. I would be most grateful if you could post this on your website, if it costs please advise me of how much ASAP so that I can organise payment for you.

Kind Regards Tracy & Ken www.tkstallionsandsportshorses.piczo.com

MORE STOLEN HORSES

Stolen from field at Dunton, Biggleswade, bedfordshire sometime between 7.30 last night and mid-day today, (17th Feb). barn door ripped off its hinges and a yearling piebald colt, a 2 yr old piebald colt, were taken from inside the barn, the hurdles hadn't been opened they had been hauled over the top, and a tiny chestnut in foal mare was taken from the field, the top fence rail has been taken off and the mare somehow lifted over the bottom two rails and electric fence!!.
I am distraught, the little mare is a sweetheart and ive had her for years and i bred the 2 colts.

contact Val, Pixbrooke Shetlands on 01767 680609 or mobiles 07974268330/ 07702478870