What a day we had at Cothal for the SCDA Grassroots event! The forecast promised torrential rain, but we only got one shower — the rest of the day was warm and sunny. Can’t ask for much more.
Huge thanks to Judge Eileen Cornish for officiating, and to Graeme McArthur for travelling up to support our northern competitors. Brilliant to see people making the trip from Stirling in the south right up to the Orkney Isles in the north.
Results:
Coloured— Ellie Gunn & Pippa, winner of Single Pony
Single Shetland — Gordon Walker & Clothie Troubell, Best Junior
Unicorn VSE— Eli Bosanquet & Clothie Flyn, Clothie Troubell & Clothie Night Idiot, winners of VSE
Welsh — Eli Bosanquet & Danaway Matty, winner of Single Horse, Best Marathon, & Overall Champion
Big thank you to event organisers Elinor and Victoria and all the volunteers and drivers for making this event possible
It’s the first 3-day National of the season and it’s set to be a big one. With exciting changes and a 25th Anniversary celebration in the works, this is one not to miss.
For the Club competition schedule, go to the Events page
Competitor numbers and provisional dressage times are now available, using this link. Once the event has started on Thursday, the results will be available from the same link.
A fantastic day at Coxhill with 18 entries across 4 classes! It was great to see so many first-time horses and drivers, plus 3 junior drivers (2 competing for the first time ).
On Friday 13th March SCDA lost another long-standing member, Zoe Ross.
Zoe’s involvement in driving was long and varied. Her initial foray into driving was with the Fintry RDA Driving Group, who drove donkeys with their disabled participants.
Her enthusiasm grew and led to her having lessons with Carol Lumsden (nee Boswell) at Loch Tay. She even baby sat for Becca and Jake when Carol and Rob were away competing!
She then started grooming for various people, including Andrew May and Jane MacInnes. She competed herself for a couple of years with her Welsh section A Pilgrim, but he suffered bad bouts of laminitis resulting in him having to be put down.
Being computer savvy, she was asked if she would like to try the new scoring system. At that time, scoring was all done manually with pen and paper and involved a huge amount of time and work. Zoe picked up the gauntlet with ease and was the main scorer for SCDA for many years.
Despite having reduced her commitments to scoring she continued at Dalmeny until 2019, the final Dalmeny event.
SCDA has lost a much appreciated and hard-working stalwart.
We’ve created a full set of schedules that you can download here – similar to the Omnibus we’ve printed in previous years. It also contains details of the Gee Gee Rugwash Club Points Leagues for 2026, the SCDA Safeguarding Policy, Advice regarding Equine Flu Vaccinations and the SCDA Health and Safety Policy.
Alternatively, or you can go to the Events 2026 page and download individual schedules by clicking on the link for each event.
The 2026 entry form is also available – you can download it here or from the 2026 events page.
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.
The CD gang at the Championships – he loved working with all of us and we loved working with him
Cothal has now been running over 20 years and the sun shone all day for our competitors. Eileen Cornish made the long journey up to judge and there were lovely encouraging comments in the dressage.
A special mention for the day goes to our youngest competitor 15 year old Gordon Walker who was driving at his first outdoor event with his shetland, Clothie Flyn.
Champion of the day was Vicky Largue driving Pippa.
Massive thanks to all our competitors, supporters and helpers who made the event possible
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Results
Special Awards
A great mix of new faces, supportive atmosphere, and exactly what Coxhill is all about – a friendly, low-pressure starter event.
