On an unusually fine day for this time of the year West Sussex BDS hosted what is hoped to become an annual event, our first TREC. Kindly being judged by Linda Swain, eight high quality turnouts gathered for an informal introduction into the art and skills required by this growing discipline, Linda laid out various skills that her devious mind had developed and after a briefing on all three phases, allowed all forward to either walk the skills with some competitors taking the opportunity to harness up and practice for real, many good questions were forthcoming and Linda answered each of them adding comments and pointers for the event to come in the afternoon. 

First to go in pole position was our newest member (of about a week!) Jenny Moon, and although quite nervous she confidently led off into the presentation and then on to the 5.5km drive around, firstly a lap of our kindly loaned field (thanks to Mr D Mortimer of Aldwick), then on to a road drive in the quiet lanes of Lavant before returning and completing a lap of the field in the opposite direction, and to her surprise she was well inside the optimum time allowed. Jenny was followed off by probably our areas most experienced, notorious and well known whip, judge, council member etc etc etc Gary Docking who had bought a young dutch horse in order that they could both experience Trec conditions, this also being Gary’s first time in such a competition; all our other competitors followed on and all enjoyed the drive with no problems encountered thanks to the stewarding of our AC, AAC, family and friends. Only one turnout managed to hit the optimum time exactly.

Linda was pleased that all turnouts gave her a smart and safe presentation and all had taken the safety aspect of road driving on board with good and proper spares, headcollars and fluorescent gear. Competing in his first Trec, Jeff Osborne, best known for his scurry driving and for the last few years his support of the BDS with the Osborne championships, made a welcome appearance with his big coloured horse The Poacher which is to be aimed at light trade classes next year, both Jeff and his groom Alison saw the importance of good manners in Trec and Alison commented that she should have bought Jeff's Horse of the Year show bound hackney for a lesson. The smart pair of ponies of Elaine Thompson and Will Leslie found themselves back as single turnouts competing against each other with both performing well as is expected of these experienced whips and the honours going to Will on this occasion.

The skills phase proved to sort the men from the boys (and girls from ladies) with test ranging from simple addition (difficult for some), a one handed figure of eight and reversing out of a marked area, and it showed that those who had good basic rein handling and understanding of how a turnout can operate, performed well and it paid in the results. A local turnout of Sue Martin gave a good account of itself and was soon gaining the benefit of having taken the chance of practising the skills and picked up good marks here. Jane Parsons was another who benefitted from the chance to practice and showed good understanding of the various tasks set. Well known lady judge, Jo Halnan-Blackwell, often known for playing the fool, proved that it is all an act and upstaged everybody by showing both driving skill and panache with her coloured cob Ta Ha and her springing of the hill , and with groom Rose hanging on for dear life, had all in stitches at the end of our event. 

After some sharp mental arithmetic (thanks Anne) the results were declared and our winner was the turnout of Jo Halnan-Blackwell and Rose Grind with Jeff Osborne and Alison Tucker as runners up and Sue Martin in a well deserved third.

Thanks to all who attended and all of those who assisted Linda, Lesley and I in this event and we hope to make this an annual event and improve upon the challenges posed in our next Trec.

Event Pictures