The Slower Road

This is Jill’s final report from the 2011 Walnut Hill Farm Driving Competition:

“All day on Sunday, it threatened rain and then at 2:00 p.m. it finally came!

“The coaches were all put to and had lined up, ready to go in the ring, when the rain started. They came for the class — Turnout, no less. Once they were all in the ring, the skies opened up and it rained so hard you could not see! Eventually Ed Young (show manager) stepped in and asked them all to leave the ring. He quickly got a lot of the show volunteers together to help the coaching people get their horses out of the rain and the coaches put under cover.

“And still it rained! People were huddled under tents to stay dry. I quickly put the CAA books away in tubs, and soon a river was flowing through the CAA tent! And still the rain kept falling, then came lightning and thunder, and finally the remainder of the show was cancelled. The show committee announced at 3:30 p.m. that they would award the championship ribbons in the big food tent.

“Once the rain slowed down a bit, I was able to pack up the car and leave the grounds (wet!) at 5:00 p.m.”

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(photo by Jill Ryder)

Jill’s report from Saturday at Walnut Hill:

After such nice weather for several days, Saturday turned hot and humid again, and it lasted all day!

The first class of the day was the Single Pony Cross-country Obstacles (this class was so large that it was divided into three groups, with each run one after the other and then all pinned at the end). This all took over an hour, so we saw the tandems come in just after 9:00 a.m.

We saw the coaches again today, plus the multiples, the Park Wicker Phaetons, lots of singles and pairs, and miniature horses. Some of the divisions completed their classes and championships were awarded.

On Saturday evening, the show held its competitors’ dinner in a large tent on the showgrounds. Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided to rain just as dinner started, which was not really a problem as everyone was under cover.

Today started at 9:00 a.m. with the three-mile drive off the showgrounds, to a local park and back. Hundreds of people usually line the roads to watch, and some people host brunch in their front yard and entertain friends. It is a great tradition at Walnut Hill.

… and part of day four …

First, Jill’s report on Friday’s activities:

“Friday was a beautiful day at Walnut Hill: the sun shone all day and at times there was a nice breeze. Large crowds came out to watch the jam-packed schedule.

“The Coaching division started on Friday, and Glenn Werry from Illinois, with his beautiful team of Hackneys put to a Park Drag, was the winner of the first class (5 entries) for Coaching – Best Team. This was followed by an obstacle class — won by Harvey Waller — and then four of the five coaches set off on an evening drive to Toddy Hunter’s farm, where they enjoyed a short break before returning to the show ring. There, Jack Pemberton awarded the trophy named for him to the best Park Drag entry on the drive, that of Paul Martin. Then Elizabeth Ryder Ashbridge presented the Tom Ryder Trophy to John White as the winner of the best Road Coach entry.

“The Friday evening performances are always a crowd pleaser, from the Trade / Commercial class to the Fancy Dress (Costume) class and the Carriage Dog class. There’s also a Gig class and a Park (Bonneted Phaetons) Evening Turnout class.  All the classes were well attended and were met with very enthusiastic applause. ”

This morning featured the Park – Ladies’ Wicker Phaeton – Picnic Turnout class. According to Jill, the ladies are first judged while driving, then they leave ring, take out their horse(s), and set up a picnic with enough food for the number of people on the carriage. The food has to be carried on the carriage, but the tables, chairs, and tablecloths are provided by the show.

Here are a few photos of the Picnic Turnout class, all by Jill Ryder:

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