Horse driving club has fun in sun at Ennerdale

Jen Bernard, of Cockermouth, in action at Ennerdale. Picture: Elwyn Evans

Fearon Place, Ennerdale hosted the Dumfries and Galloway Horse Driving Club at the weekend.

Based in Dumfries and Galloway, the club runs carriage driving events in South West Scotland and north Cumbria.

The club has been in existence for over 30 years, and was started by driving enthusiasts looking for more excitement than the showing classes that were the norm in the mid-1970s.

The club is run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.

Jen Bernard, of Cockermouth, and Gillian Nicholson, of Ulverston, were two Cumbrians taking part and they figured prominently in the results.

Cumbria Crack photographer Elwyn Evans went along to take some shots of the event which was staged on Saturday and Sunday.

The two-day event was blessed with wonderful weather the final outdoor event of the season.

Gill Nicholson, of Ulverston. Picture: Elwyn Evans.

Hosted by Mr and Mrs AG Sharpe at Fearon Place, the course was designed by Robert Scott, running over the fields, with stunning views of the Ennerdale Valley leading back to the four flowing obstacles.

The Saturday night social, after dressage and cones, was had in the sunshine, with Chinese takeaway and ice cream. There was a hobby horse relay race, some dancing, lots of chat and huge amounts of laughter.

The club offered its thanks to the landowners, course designer, course building team, judges, stewards, course dismantlers and the competitors and their teams of back-steppers who jumped from carriage to carriage to make sure everyone could compete safely.

A club post on social media said: “We hugely appreciate the time everyone gives up for the competitors to be able to enjoy our wonderful sport.”