Jill sent this report on Friday’s coaching marathon at the Royal Windsor Horse Show:
The spectacular coaching marathon took place Friday with fourteen entries: Park Drags, Road Coaches, and a military entry. First all the coaches lined up near the main Castle Arena for a close inspection by judge Jack Pemberton (judging the best-turned-out entry), then all fourteen coaches made their way to the Castle Arena for a drive around and inspection by the Coaching Marathon judge, Jim Corbett.
Led by the Queen’s team, driven by John Nelson, they all then left for a six-mile drive around the Home Park.
Katie Whaley had been asked to judge the coach horns and so she (and I, acting as her scribe) were chauffeur-driven from the ring out on to the Long Walk, where we watched each coach pass by. Bob Johnson was with us, carrying a large Union Jack flag, which was the cue for any horn blower to stand and sound the horn. Once all fourteen had passed by, we raced off to another location just beside the River Thames and heard them all over again. Katie made her choice after hearing two calls, and Bob Elliott (on Mark Broadbent’s coach) was the winner.
When the drive was over, all the coaches lined up near the Castle Arena, where the passengers enjoyed a glass of wine, the grooms had a chance to wipe off the horses, and everyone had a breather before going into the ring again for the final judging.
The Windsor Show awards ribbons in the Park Drag class (won by Mark Broadbent), the Road Coach class (won by Ken Ruthven), and the military class (won by Danny Kendle). Then those three went up against each other and, finally, Mark Broadbent was awarded the Coaching Championship, with Danny Kendle as Reserve Champion. Very well done.
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- coach-horn judge Katie Whaley on the Long Walk, with Windsor Castle in the background, awaiting the coaches (photo by Jill Ryder)
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- while Katie and Jill awaited the coaches’ arrival, these royal Jersey cows came over to see what was going on (photo by Jill Ryder)
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all the coaches lined up and rested for a little while before entering the Castle Arena for the final round of judging (photo by Jill Ryder)
The Slower Road 
May 14, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Must have been an absolutely great day!
June 11, 2011 at 2:49 am
Hello from Graham Taylor Ironbridge Shropshire England. I was very fortunate to have been brakeman and coach horn tootler on one of the Park Drags at this event, The Lord Lonsdale Park Drag. This vehicle had quite a following in the USA some years ago when it was owned and driven by the late Gene Baur of Illinois and horsed by his Fjord team.
We are easy to spot as the only coach where our lady guest has her parasol and the grooms are in Lord Lonsdales traditional bright yellow livery. If you search youtube “Royal Windsor Horse Show 2011 Coaching Marathon” there are three minutes of excellent viewing of the event including the Lonsdale Park Drag.
The Lonsdale Park Drag formerly belonged to the fifth Lord Lonsdale the richest man in England – who had this Park Drag built especially to suit his team of 15.2hh horses back in 1854 and he was known as the “Yellow Earl”, it is now owned by Mr Mark Evans and is wife Helen in Llangadog, Wales, which is about 3 miles from a property owned and used by HRH Prince Charles the Prince of Wales – which I believe also does holiday lets.
Full details of the Park Drag can be seen at Mark Evans website http://www.pasturefarm.com Mark and Helen have kept true to their promise to the family of the late Gene Baur to make sure that it was not a museum piece, but used regulalry – since its return to Wales we have regulalry take the Lonsdale Park Drag, horsed by Marks stunning team of four black Friesian stallions, Wil, Twm, Ben and Sam – out on the roads, for road drives, Champagne picnics, attending various shows – delighting the public and wowing the passengers, including some who have travelled over from the USA especially to experience the hills, valleys and the “green, green, grass of home” as Tom Jones might sing.
With Kindest regards to all CAA members a special thank-you to Katie Whaley for judging the coach horn event – I know I have many years of practice required on the coach horn!! and to Jill Ryder. We had a fabulous day. A special hello to Mike Zaetta my regular USA carriagedriving contact on facebook.