The Wild Rose Classic, a local event featuring a pioneer style of sport with roots to royalty, will never be accused of competing against the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for wide-eyed delirious fans.But the ones that did attend the sixth annual carriage driving event held during the Canada Day long weekend at the Spruce View area farm of Brian and Judy Bertelsen not only witnessed a fine show but indicated to organizers they became enthusiastic converts.ìWe were quite surprised. We got a lot of calls,î said Judy, who is the secretary of the Stone Bridge Carriage Driving Club. ìWe had a dozen spectators. When you never had anybody before that's really good.ìWe had four people who came just to see what the sport was all about. It's looking like we have four new people.îThe sport of combined carriage driving was in fact invented by Prince Phillip, an avid equestrian, about a half-century ago in England. It is a relatively new pastime to Central Alberta with the first organized event held in Alix in 1983.Carriage driving is performed on wheels in the summer and sleighs in winter. It emphasizes recreation, socialization, education, volunteering and competition. Local provincial clubs are guided by Alberta Equestrian Federation rules.The annual Wild Rose Classic offered three phases of combined driving ñ dressage, cones driving and the marathon.The dressage phase is graded on the turnout, safety, cleanliness, general condition and impression of the horses, tack, and vehicle, as well as the matching of the horses, and the dress of the driver and grooms.The obstacle cone-driving phase is considered a test of fitness, accuracy, speed and obedience. At the Wild Rose Classic a course was created with 20 pairs of orange traffic cones with tennis balls balanced on top. The cones are only a few centimetres wider than the wheels of the carriage. Penalties are handed out for knocking over the balls.The marathon phase is one of endurance and stamina for both driver and horse and was set over a 7.5-km course that featured seven natural or manmade obstacles, each with up to six labelled gates that had to be negotiated. Drivers were required to challenge the obstacles in sequence. Drivers earned points based on how quickly they got through each obstacle. They were challenged to find the fastest route through each. If too much time was spent the drivers were handed penalty points.For the Wild Rose Classic drivers and horses competed under gorgeous early summer conditions. There were a total of 24 entries.ìOur judges, Francois Bergeron, from Quebec, and Edmonton's Neil McKinney, both commented on the well run event and great venue. Our course designer, Iris Davies, from Dewberry, Alberta, made it very exciting and challenging,î said Judy. ìThe weather was spectacular and the trails dried nicely, allowing for a wonderful drive through the woods before attempting the obstacles that were gated in well marked sequence.îBy the end of the competition six champions were crowned. Shannon Burton from Brooks was the Level 1 (beginners) winner. Tammy Laybourne, of Coronation, took the Level 2 (advanced beginners) title while Steve Remus, of Red Water, was the winner of Level 4 (advanced preliminary) and Denise MacDonald from Vermillion was crowned Level 5 (advanced) champion. In Level 3 (preliminary), both participants were eliminated and no winner was declared.In the junior category, Renaud Winstzer and Logan Pratt, both from southern Alberta, were joint winners as they tied for first place.The next big competition hosted by the Stone Bridge Carriage Driving Club will be the Eagle Ridge event on Aug. 20 and 21. It will be held at the Bertelsen farm. More than 30 entries are expected. For more information about the club and future events contact either Brian or Judy Bertelsen at (403) 728-3282 or (403) 348-9058. The club's website can be visited at www.stonebridgedrivingclub.com
