Category: General information

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! 🙂

The Scottish Carriage Driving Association is a voluntary club, with no paid employees, that promotes carriage driving and carriage driving events in Scotland.  The club is affiliated to British Carriagedriving.  The club recognises that when organising and running events, the safety of its members, supporters, and the general public is of great importance.

Please see the attached document which documents the policy of SCDA in respect of its Health and Safety obligations. This link is also available on the Reference Page of this website and can be found in the 2024 Omnibus.

SCDA Health and Safety Policy Document

Congratulations to overall champion Vicky Largue

Gateway
Jayne McGarvie – Chose to complete only two obstacles so HC

Junior
Ellie Gunn – 1st

Multiple
Sophie Moore 1st
Elinor Bosanquet 2nd

Single Horse
Elinor Bosanquet – 1st

Single Pony
Vicky Largue – 1st
Ann Miller – chose to compete dressage & cones only so marked HC

At SCDA club events, a novice is defined as a driver who has not competed in any open or intermediate class at club or national level.

A driver can remain in the novice class until they have completed one or more of the following:

1. A maximum of 3 seasons – where a season is clarified to be a calendar year in which the driver has completed, without retirement or elimination, all phases in at least 3 events from our outdoor “Points League” calendar of events.

2. A maximum of 12 events

3. Be the class winner at 4 events. If there is only one competitor entered in the class, the win is disregarded.

The above changes will come in to force from the end of the 2024 season.

However, from the beginning of the 2024 season, a driver who returns to competing* after a break of 3 or more years will be permitted to enter at Club Novice level for:

1. A maximum of 2 seasons

2. A maximum of 8 events

3. A maximum of 2 events as class winner.

*Note that the rule that a driver could only return to Novice if they previously did not compete more than one season in Club Open, has been removed.

Once the competitor has reached one of the above criteria, they will be required to move to the Club Open class from the start of the next season.

The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information on the website as a basis for making any business, legal or any other decisions.

Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, SCDA makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services or related material contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such material is therefore strictly at your own risk