CIATs, which I mentioned in yesterday’s post, consist of three phases: standing presentation in front of three separate judges, a drive with several “tests” of the drivers’ skill, and a cones competition. This year’s Celle CIAT featured nearly forty competitors in several divisions: ponies, single horses, horse pairs, tandems, horse teams, and a lone five-in-hand of horses. Like the CAA’s own Sporting Day of Tradtional Driving, this type of event celebrates traditional driving and (mostly) antique vehicles.

To my mind, one distinct advantage of this type of competition over CDEs is that there’s a wide variety of vehicle types, sizes, and styles on display … which makes the event both interesting and educational for spectators. And speaking of these, there were quite a lot of people on the grounds of Celle’s palace, watching Saturday’s presentation competition:

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A.J. and I stationed ourselves in different spots, and we both had fun photographing the various turnouts as they stood in front of the palace to be reviewed by two judges: first by Christian de Langlade (France) and then by Raimundo Coral Rubiales (Spain). The third review, in front of judge Reiner Wannenwetsch (Germany), took place in the main arena at the Landgestüt Celle. Here are some of our favorite photos from among the pony and single-horse divisions.

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Consuelo de Grunne, representing Belgium, drove her pair of Highland Ponies to a Siamese Phaeton, c. 1890:

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Hugo Livens, also representing Belgium, drove a Ralli Car built in 1890:

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Representing Germany, Carsten Ringe drove a Shooting Break, c. 1880;

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The first of the single-horse competitors, Rolf Bette, representing Germany, drove an American-made vehicle from 1900:

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the man standing at the right is the event’s organizer, Count von der Schulenburg

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Cornillie Idès, representing Belgium, drove a Ralli Car built in 1924:

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Dutch driver Ruud Korst drove his Friesian to a Spider Phaeton built in 1900:

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Barbara Löschenkohl, of Germany, drove her horse to a Dog Cart, c. 1900.

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unfortunately, Barbara’s horse looks rather too tall for this carriage

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The final competitor in the single-horse division, Eberhardt Stripling (representing Germany), drove a Danish-built Wagonette, c. 1905:

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I’m busily working on the October issue of the magazine, so I’m going to streeeetch our vacation photos out throught the rest of the week! Stay tuned for more presentation (pairs of horses tomorrow, then tandems, teams, and the five-in-hand on Thursday), to be followed by photos from the drive on Friday, the cones competition on Saturday, and the awards ceremony (in the pouring rain!) on Sunday.