We welcomed nine Young Drivers to the Anthea Greenlees Junior Training and Scholarship Day at Flowden’s, Eaglesfield. Their previous driving experience varied from absolutely none to quite a lot, and their combined enthusiasm and keenness was never in doubt.

They kept the adults on their toes with all their searching questions and provoked some very interesting discussions. Each junior had the opportunity to drive two of the three turnouts available, as well as a harnessing-up and fitting harness workshop, rein-handling and a quiz, which provoked a lot of debate!

It was extremely difficult to choose the two drivers to be awarded the scholarships as all nine would have been worthy winners. In the end it was decided that Catriona Love from Evanton, Inverness-shire was the best candidate on the day and would receive £150 of training and that Becky Helps from Melrose would benefit most from the second scholarship of £100 of training. They will be receiving their awards at the BDS Scottish Show at Thirlestane in August, where a special day is planned for them and their families by the Show committee.

We would like to thank Jemma Knowles-Brown, Rosemary Hiddleston, Eleaner Love, Amy Scott, Jemima Scott, Andrew Moodycliffe and Murray Graham for taking part and hope that we will see them all back next year for another chance to win the chance to train with an LHHI of their choice. Thanks must go to Andrew Moodycliffe for providing Monty, his Shetland, Audrey Barron for Rowan and Barbara Patterson for Toyboy.

Thanks also to Ann Watkins, Eileen Cornish and Lorna who accompanied the ponies while they were being driven and assessed the driving skills. Also to Jacqueline Saunders for supervising the harnessing up sessions with Rosco, Eileen Cornish’s Connemara acting as the clothes horse.

A special huge thanks to Barbara and Bob Patterson for hosting the day and providing some very welcome warming home-made soup which helped to thaw us all out on a cold but dry day. It held off raining until we arrived in the yard for the last time from the driving sessions and then the heavens opened!

Report by Eileen Cornish and Jacky Brittain.