A number of local equestrians contested the Skye Park Australian Carriage Driving Championships at Witwood near Braidwood over the Easter weekend.
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Lisa Harrington and Sarah Keevers of Cobargo joined Nimmitabel’s Col Ffrost and Lynne Dominish along with competitors from right across the country at the event.
There were also two international drivers contesting the championships, with Alison Cooper from New Zealand and Jun-Gi Min from Korea both driving horses from the Beauwood Stud in Goulburn.
The championships are based on the ridden three day eventing format with the dressage on Saturday morning, the marathon/cross country on Sunday morning and the event wrapped up on Monday with the cone driving – the driving alternative to showjumping.
Keevers and her pony Wooleen Miss Henrietta won the open small pony 91cm and not exceeding 121cm class.
There are several Australian drivers who have competed internationally at world championships Lorraine Cairns, Gavin Robson and Elizabeth Lawrence. The event also welcomes one international horse, Victor, who has immigrated to Australia to enjoy the warm weather.
The event was a test of fitness of the horses and precision of the drivers with the marathon following the course around neighbouring properties for 18km finishing with eight marathon obstacles. Combinations of singles, pairs, tandem and teams of four-in-hand will navigate the course designed by Peter Harkness of Romsey Victoria.
The current world four-in-hand champion is Boyd Exell. Exell grew up in Bega and honed his skills on ponies with mentor Max Pearce of Beauwood Stud when it was based in Bega.