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Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk Driving Club 21st Anniversary Drive CARRIAGES COAST TO COAST 2003 "BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Drive Time programme" the voice on the mobile phone announced, "We would like to interview you live about the Coast to Coast drive". It was all rather surreal; we had just set off on a drive that had begun just as a 'pipe dream' of one of the long standing members of the Driving Club.. The reality was that eight horses, sixteen whips and grooms and three support crew had made the long journey from East Anglia to north of Carlisle to begin the adventure. Good wishes from HRH Duke of Edinburgh accompanied the feeling of anticipation and excitement felt by everyone as we set off.. The Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk Driving Club (C&WSDC) are no strangers to long distance carriage driving and over the years have done various circuits of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. During the pleasure driving class at the Suffolk Show, the commentator described it as “the grass roots” of carriage driving - a good description that also fits the C&WSDC. Planning began in earnest in January 2003. Armed with a set of Ordinance Survey Maps we ploughed through the snow (in a 4x4 not a carriage!) searching out a suitable route and also finding overnight stops. The narrowest part of England is Hadrian’s Wall, but looking at the map it seemed a ‘busy’ part of the country. To the north the Cheviots looked a bit hilly - certainly by East Anglian standards! The obvious route seemed to be through Kielder Forest. Everyone we met during the two weekends spent planning in the ‘Borders’ was as enthusiastic and excited about the project as we were. The Forester took enormous trouble to guide us through Kielder Forest’s maze of tracks and the Club joined the YHA thus solving our accommodation needs at Kielder Village. Our hosts at Redesmouth Mill, more used to endurance riding than carriage driving, not only offered accommodation for the horses but found us a B&B nearby. Finally, the folk at West Raw Farm near Rothbury, who are also carriage drivers, threw open their fields, stables and house to us! Everything throughout the planning stages fell into place, thanks to the tremendous help and support of everyone we met in Cumbria and Northumberland. Rockcliffe at the head of the Solway Firth was the start point of the 110 mile journey. Despite their previous day's travelling, the horses and ponies made easy work of the 23 miles along minor roads to the edge of Kershope Forest. There was very little traffic, with the exception of a few lorries whose drivers could not have been more considerate. The next day was spent resting and moving horse-boxes two stages on and marking the route through Kielder Forest The following day dawned very wet; but a “relaxed” start to the day ensured that the rain had passed through before we entered Kielder Forest, the largest man made forest in Europe! The driving was superb over well made tracks, including four miles in Scotland! The only hazard was a tricky bit of bridleway, rather than carriageway, which was negotiated carefully and successfully by everyone. Another 23 miles under our belt! Our day at Kielder Village began with one of the ponies losing a shoe. The problem was quickly solved by the application of an ‘equiboot’ that served well for the day's journey of 21 miles. A farrier was on hand at Redemouth and his skills ensured that all was well for the following day. The driving was spectacular alongside the seven miles of Kielder Water that led down to the rolling farmland of Northumberland and on to Redesmouth Mill. Our third driving day was the one day we thought might test us, the horses and the ponies. It began with a three mile up-hill “pull” on to the moors at Buteland Fell. The views back across to Kielder, and later on to the coast, were quite breath taking! Each day our support crew met us with coffee and lunch - we had planned an extra stop that day which worked in well and enabled us to pace ourselves along the 28 miles. Our last and shortest day was a modest 15 mile drive to the coast south of Amble. Our arrival at the coast was heralded by a passing squall, however, this did not deter several turnouts taking to the beach for a brisk trot through the surf to celebrate our arrival. We all toasted our success with champagne and celebration cake. During the five driving days we enjoyed travelling the quiet roads through the varying and beautiful Borders landscape. We had tremendous fun and there was an extraordinary feeling of achievement for all those who participated! Radio Cambridgeshire and Radio Suffolk caught up with us at the finish to ask how it had all gone; the reply was "... all ninteen of us are exhausted mainly because of the tremendous hospitality of the Borders people! The ponies are extremely fit, relaxed and very well." We had celebrated the 21st Anniversary of the Club in the best possible way and raised £9,600. £3200 was donated to Driving for the Disabled and £6400 was donated to the Addenbrookes Leukaemia Research Fund. 13 August 2003 We have adopted two charities to benefit from this event, Riding for the Disabled and The Addenbrookes Leukaemia Research Fund. |
