| Coast to Coast Carriage Drive June 2003 Members of the Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk Driving Club will be celebrating the 21st anniversary of the founding of the club by driving their ponies and carriages from the west to east coast, in the shadow of Hadrian's wall. Starting from Rockcliffe at the head of the Solway Firth and heading across the Border Country, through Kielder Forest to the North Sea coast, south of Amble. The journey will be undertaken in early June and we anticipate driving the 110 mile route in five days. Sue Ram, Chairman of the CWSDC who also supports Driving for the Disabled, says: "We have regional outings throughout the summer months, but we've never been quite as adventurous as this. A coach has travelled from coast to coast before, but this is the first time that a group of carriages has attempted it. In fact, another driving club had said that it would not be possible, so now it's definitely a challenge." 8 turnouts, along with a back-up team will be congregating by the Solway Firth on Tuesday, 3rd June 2003. The five ponies and three horses, ranging from native Welsh and Dales ponies to a Piebald cob, with an age range from 6 to 20 years, have been in strict training since the winter months, culminating in long distance drives in the last few weeks, to build their strength and fitness for what is in effect their marathon. The 110 miles will be completed in 5 driving days and two rest days, with 28 miles being the maximum journey at any one time. A tremendous amount of preparation has been undertaken for this drive, with accommodation, stabling an dgrazing for the horses, ordering of feed for the stopping points, arranging for equine vets and farriers to be on call and not least, the logistics of ferrying horse boxes and trailers from site to site. Ian Collins, organiser of the drive, is used to reading maps and organising supplies as the head of Purchasing and Shipping for the British Antarctic Survey, when not driving ponies in his spare time. Ian says: "The most important thing was to find a suitable route for the carriages that would not be too arduous for the ponies. It had to go south of the Cheviots because they would be too hilly and north of Hadrian's Wall as that would be too busy, so we are going through the Forest. With help from the Forestry Commission and local farmers we have found some lovely quiet roads and tracks." The carriages will leave in pairs or small groups from Esk Boat House, just north of Rockcliffe, near Rockcliffe Marches at 11 am on 4th June 2003. Itenerary:
The drive will be on Scottish soil for 4 miles, while in the Kielder forest. Contacts: The drive will also raise money for two charities - Riding for the Disabled (Eastern Region) and the Addenbrooke's Leukaemia Research Fund. The Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk Driving Club website is at www.cwsdc.org.uk
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