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Quick reminder that the seminar presentations from Jamie March are available for downloading:

Preparing for a Competition

Basics of Backstepping

They’re also available on the training menu!

Ivor died peacefully on 25th July 2025. Beloved husband of Stephen, much-loved and only brother of Mary, loving son-in-law of Herbie and Margaret, dear son of the late Myra and Davy Harper and dearly loved brother-in-law of Phillip and the late Brian (Chopper).

Donations may be made to N.I. Chest, Heart & Stroke and Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA N.I.). Please make any cheques payable to ‘Norman McBriar & Son’ Funeral Directors, 37 Saintfield Mill, Saintfield, BT24 7FH.

Janet Pilling remembers…

In 2000 Ivor came over to Scotland to judge at the SCDA Gleneagles event and persuaded several Scottish drivers to make the trip over to Baronscourt. We were very new to carriage driving, doing a bit of stewarding and loving it so we went along to support. There I met Gordon Bell and came home with Gypsy, my ❤ pony. Bless you Ivor, you are responsible for so much happiness.

Eileen Cornish remembers…

I was one of the Baronscourt drivers from Scotland who made the journey over the water. It was lovely to be on the estate as my daughter had a house there, while in her first Vet post in Newtownstewart and Omagh. We had such a fun time that we returned the following year. Unfortunately, on arrival at the event the pony I was driving pierced my foot with her new shoes, and I landed up in Omagh A and E having the foot stitched up. I was determined to compete but was supposed to keep the foot elevated, so with it in a surgical shoe and a bow made from the same ribbon as my hat, I drove the dressage test as best I could while keeping the foot up the front of the guard rail of the carriage! Ivor was judging, and made special mention of my co-ordinated hat and footwear! He was such a kind, positive judge in his comments, and always noticing the things that others may miss.

I didn’t see him for many years but was at the RDA Championships at Hartpury, running the Carriage Driving phase, when a voice from the next table outside the student refectory, suddenly said – I recognise that voice – what are you doing here! I had no idea that he was there to judge the International Ridden Dressage classes, so I immediately asked for him to judge the Carriage Driving the following year.

Ivor judged at the SCDA Townfoot event last year and he was so well received. He and Stephen and their 2 Jack Russell dogs stayed with me – what a fun weekend it was for all. They then went off to see Roslin Chapel, with Ivor protesting that he wasn’t keen on architecture, though Stephen was – however he appears to have enjoyed it once he was there!

RDA Championship memories from the CD Team and Drivers…

My team of CD volunteers are remembering him as a very kind and helpful judge for our competitors, and as a group, we all found him a true gentleman to work with, with a sense of humour that matched ours. Earlier this year, he was instrumental in encouraging the only Northern Ireland RDA Carriage Driving Group to take part this year. We all missed him not being there, but he had told me only a week prior to his operation, that he fully intended to recover and be there next year. We all treasure the memories we have of him at the Championships.

Such a huge character, it was a pleasure to spend time with him. Please send my regards and sympathy to his hubby.

Oh, I am so very sorry to hear this news. Lovely guy. Pass on my sympathy to Stephen if you are able.

Oh, that is very sad news. I really enjoyed working with him. Such a kind judge.

That’s really sad news; I remember him at Hartpury in 2022. My sympathy for you having lost a good friend, and his family for having lost him.

Huge thanks to Patsy-Muir Simpson and Sanchia May, co-organisers of our first outdoor event of the season, which was a joy in glorious sunshine from start to finish!

Roadworks on two local bridges made travel plans trickier than usual, with the alternative routes giving everyone early practice for the challenging cones course to come :-).  Friday evening was a typical first-event-of-the season “who has forgotten to pack the most items?” competition, although Hamish and Anne Reid had the best excuse for not arriving until Saturday morning – making daily trips to the event so they could be home at night to look after a surprise new-born calf and its mum.

Our dressage judge, Joyce Simpson, had her work cut out on Saturday (her car horn was working almost as hard as her writer) and the cones stewards were also on their toes, running the extra “Playfair Cones challenge” alongside the main cones phase.  Tip for competitors – the even numbers are all those that are not odd.

The course design helpfully placed all the obstacles close to the stabling field, making walking the obstacles less of a pilgrimage and more of a pleasure, and gave everyone a chance to watch our Gateway competitors gamely tackle obstacles 3 and 5.  Following the Gateway presentation (see results below) and marathon briefing, the BBQ was fired up and we were treated to a display of Highland Dancing from Kayah Burns who will be competing at the World Championships in a few weeks time – good luck Kayah!

 From the sublime, we moved to the ridiculous (hello, Garry Duff 🙂 who tried once more to teach us how to play bingo (what, the numbers are in columns of ten?).  Congratulations to the winner, Eileen Cornish, who clearly knows her way around a bingo card.  A little bit of music and singing rounded off the evening, which admittedly attracted the midges more than the sheep.

The recent weather, while amazing, meant the ground conditions for the marathon phase were “firm” (ahem) but everyone drove safely and without incident.  Thanks to our wonderful scorers Mike and Louise McCutcheon, results were out before 1pm and the prizes were presented at 1.30pm by our very welcoming host, Sir Archie Orr-Ewing.  For all the details of the results see the results page – but here’s the backstories on the winners…

Gateway Winner – Abbie Thomson, repeating her success from last year. 

Abbie is now keen to try to step up to the VSE class with her great wee pony – go for it, Abbie!

Open Single Horse Winner, and Event Reserve Champion – Ian Bertram, the SCDA’s permanent “Competitor Number 1”, showing that he can still mix it with us commoners after his trip to the World Championships last year!

Open Single Pony Winner, and Event Champion – Jen Bernard, winning her first SCDA Event Champion rosette.  (Jen also won a special award for delivering the “best insult of the day” although sadly details cannot be repeated here, due to BC rules on propriety).

Pairs Winner – Hamish Reid, also repeating his success from last year.

VSE Winner – Lorraine McIndoe, who also took first prize in the “Playfair Cones Challenge” (kindly sponsored by Shona) by being the only driver to achieve a clear round.  Lorraine also won the “Most Sympathetically Driven” award, kindly sponsored by Riding and Harness Stuff

Small Equine Winner – Cathy Duff, who stepped up from the VSE class so that she could tackle all six obstacles (without Garry to hold her back).

Pre-Novice Winner – Claudia Nisbett, our GeeGee Rugwash Gateway champion of 2024, who relished the step up from Gateway to the new 2-day Pre-Novice class.

The individual phase awards were won by Pam MacArthur (best dressage), Jen Bernard (best marathon) and Lorraine McIndoe (best cones – so a double cones winner!).

And finally, ending where we started this report – a huge thanks to the organisers Sanchia May and Patsy Muir-Simpson, who were presented with gifts by Wendy and Graham Scott of Benview Garden Centre, main sponsors of the event

Open Class

1 Ian Bertram
2 Diana Ferguson (driving single)
3 Patsy Muir-Simpson
4 Alan McIndoe
5 Jade Christie
6 Lorraine McIndoe

Novice Class

1 Sasha Crookston
2 Neil Taylor
3 Abbie Thomson
4 Gayle Ledger
5 Claudia Nisbet
6 Jamie March

Best dressage: Sasha Crookston

Best Cones: Abbie Thomson

Overall champion: Sasha Crookston

Best Junior: Amelie Galea

There were also two extra awards:

Most Sympathetically Driven (sponsored by Riding and Harness Stuff) went to Carol Williamson

Most Harmonious Partnership – Percy Memorial Trophy (sponsored by Carol Lumsden) went to Claudia Nisbet.

SCDA is launching a new initiative!

We have set up several whats app groups which you can join to allow you to discuss amongst your peers as well as to ask more experienced drivers questions.

If you’d like to join any please email sanchia.may@scda.co.uk with your number and the group or groups you’d like to be added to or alternatively message the SCDA facebook page or instagram. The groups are designed for members only with the exception of the Intro for Non Members which is for anyone interested in our sport.

We are also looking to recruit a few more people who have a bit of experience in each relevant category just to monitor any questions which might come up and offer the odd bit of advice, you don’t have to be an expert! Please get in touch if you would be willing to be added as well.

It is with great sadness that after a brave acceptance of her brain tumour diagnosis, Mags passed away on Saturday 2nd November at home with her husband Brian beside her.

Mags’ committal will be held on the 21st November 11.30 a.m. at Dunfermline Crematorium, Masterton Road, Dunfermline, Fife KY11 8QR. All friends welcome.

She was amazing – a fabulous person, so brave, and always had a smile right to the end. A natural horsewoman – they just did everything she asked. Mags didn’t train her horses they just all worked together. The world has lost a special person, always giving.

I have lost not only my wee sister but best friend.

Mary Bryson, Mags’ sister

Eileen Cornish, SCDA Secretary writes:

Mags and Mary were very special people forming my carriage driving path in life. When we moved to Edinburgh in 1979, they introduced me to Carriage Driving, and as they say, the rest is history.

Mags used to drive a Knabstrup horse called Aero and she would often appear in our street in a housing estate with him in a Bennington 2-wheeler, along with her mother as passenger. All the young primary school and nursery children, and there were lots including my 2, went out to talk to Aero, who had manners to burn and was so gentle with the wee ones.

Once we had our wee ride and drive, Joe, we were welcomed as liveries, and then taken to fabulous venues, such as Dalmahoy and Dalmeny, to further my driving experience. Mags was always so helpful and nothing phased her, even when we arrived at a venue without all the harness that the 3 equines required! We all helped each other out and all had some fabulous outings. At home she ran the Meadowhead livery yard near the Braid Hills, Edinburgh, along with Mary.

Mags later drove a big cob called Quest, and took part at various events, including BDS Drive-outs and Central Scotland Area Events (a founding club of SCDA). Anne Hulse groomed for Mags, and Anne has some wonderful memories of fun days, with Mags always jolly, upbeat and smiling, whatever circumstances were thrown at her.

My abiding memories will be of that wonderful face lit up with her amazing smile, and her generosity of spirit. The world is a poorer place without her.

RIP Mags. xxx

SCDA sends its sincere condolences to Brian, Mary and the family

Driven Class

1 Jennifer McCreath
2 Lorraine McIndoe
3 Claudia Nisbet
4 Abbie Thomson
5 Lee Valantine
6 Jade Christie

HC Class

1 Diana Ferguson
2 Carol Lumsden
3 Shona Playfair
4 Yvonne Anderson
5 Michelle Davis-Ralston
6 Diana Ferguson

Overall Champion  Jennifer McCreath.

Following the terrific National Event at Brechin over the weekend, here is the latest Points League update (thanks, Mark Dougan!).  With only the Strathallan Event to go, there are still plenty of rosettes and trophies to compete for, and note that there is DEFINITELY a Gateway class at Strathallan – so let’s have a bumper entry from all our Gateway competitors, as any one of NINE of you could still win the 2024 League!

And don’t forget, entries close for the Strathallan event on Monday 16th September.  But don’t wait until then – help the organising team to prepare, by getting your entry in now!

In the meantime, our thanks, as always, go to Ian Bertram and Gee Gee Rugwash for generously sponsoring the Leagues.  And good luck in Le Pin, Ian! (and Carol too!).

The Gee Gee Rugwash Points League table is now updated with the Townfoot results.  With just two Points League events left in the season, at Brechin and Strathallan, there are still lots of competitors with a chance of winning their league!

*  Despite being pipped by “SCDA Competitor Number 1” at Townfoot, Alan is sitting pretty in the Single Horse league thanks to Ian’s mishap (ahem) at Hopetoun, while Grace’s harness nightmare last weekend may have scuppered her chances for glory.  However, Grace, Elinor B and Ruth each still have a slim mathematical chance of winning.

*  Shona is having a great season and has a big lead in the Single Pony league, but Patsy can still catch her.  Remember, only the best 5 scores for each competitor in each league will be counted.

*  Similarly, Hamish has a clean sweep so far in the Pairs league but Margo is ready to pounce if he slips up.  Elimination from an event means zero points, so all competitors must stay focused!

*  The Club Novice league is wide open – anyone who competes at Brechin and Strathallan could win!

*  Ellie and Cathy are unstoppable in the Young Driver and VSE classes, but the Gateway Newcomers class is very competitive.  Don’t forget that the Strathallan Event has added the Gateway class to its schedule, so even if you are not competing at Brechin, all Gateway Newcomers can go for glory in our final outdoor event of the season!

Our thanks, as always, go to Ian Bertram and Gee Gee Rugwash for sponsoring our SCDA Points League.  No excuses for having dirty rugs, people! 🙂