Information for members
LONG REIN 1st Gail McHugh
NOVICE 1st Jade Christie
2nd Gerald Smith
OPEN 1st Ian Bertram
2nd Rosemary Mould
3rd Allan McIndoe
4th Carol Lumsden
5th Shona Playfair
6th Jade Christie
7th Lorraine McIndoe
BEST DRESSAGE (Long Rein/Novice) Jade Christie
BEST DRESSAGE (OPEN) Ian Bertram
BEST ARENA SCORE (Long Rein/Novice) Jade Christie
BEST ARENA SCORE ( Open) Rosemary Mould
BEST OVERALL SCORE OF THE EVENT: Ian Bertram
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 
).
Results
Long-Reining – 1st & 2nd Jill McGuiggan, 3rd Gail McHugh
Young Horse – 1st Carol Boswell, 2nd Jill McGuiggan
Novice – 1st Chloe Powling, 2nd Carol Williamson, 3rd Amelie Galea
Open – 1st Ian Bertram, 2nd Jade Christie, 3rd Alan McIndoe
Special Awards
Best Dressage – Jill McGuiggan, Carol Boswell, Amelie Galea
Best Cones – Chloe Powling
Sympathetically Driven – Alan McIndoe
Percy Cup – Ian Bertram
Best Junior – Amelie Galea
A great mix of new faces, supportive atmosphere, and exactly what Coxhill is all about – a friendly, low-pressure starter event.
Thank you to everyone who took part and supported! 
23.05.1968-13.03.2026
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.
Quick reminder that the seminar presentations from Jamie March are available for downloading:
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
1 Ian Bertram
2 Diana Ferguson (driving single)
3 Patsy Muir-Simpson
4 Alan McIndoe
5 Jade Christie
6 Lorraine McIndoe
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
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
