Hampshire & IOW Area BDS
Members News
From April 2025 - Member News will now be updated in the 'blog' section of this website.
Here you will find reports and pictures on past events and any interesting news from the area.
If you are a Hampshire member and have done something exciting with your horse or pony then please send it in to us. We love to hear what our members get up to.
Backsteppers are a crucial part of getting out and about driving, be it with friends, having adventures exercising, or competing showing, trecs, or attending one of the many events that the Hampshire BDS run.
If you are a driver and need help with backstepping or you’re interested in helping a driver backstepping, we’ve now created a group on WhatsApp which you can join. Please contact Sam Searle or Sara Simmons to be added to the group.
When you’ve been added, just add a little message to introduce yourself and what you’re looking for, i.e. if you’re a driver, where you’re based, what help you need etc, or if you’re looking to help with backstepping give a little info about yourself!
Let’s get a great little support community together and enjoy this wonderful pass time!
Well done to everyone who came and competed at the Hampshire Area Show - we had some fabulous turnouts with four young drivers (which was really lovely to see).
Thank you to John Henry White for judging, Felicity Singleton for judging the Concours d'elegance and Flick Homden for judging the ridden class.
Thank you to all of our sponsors - we couldn't run the show without your help and support so it is much appreciated.
Thank you to everyone who helped before hand and on the day to make the show a success - Stuart Johnstone for stewarding in the ring all day, Pam Baker for being rosette lady, Sarah Jones for selling lots of raffle tickets and helping in the secretaries tent and most of all Sarah Simmons who was secretary this year and was thrown in at the deep end! Well done Sarah Simmons you did a fab job.
Thank you to Lovely Jubbly Catering who provided us with food and refreshments all throughout the day, Rosemary Neale for commentating, Elizabeth Frew from Kings Bounty Equine Practise for being the vet on site and Rachel Morley for covering as the medic.
We had glorious sunshine all day, lots of rosettes and trophies and I think everyone went home smiling.
Not forgetting a big well done to our Show Champion Keith Rudge.
Congratulations to our Hampshire member Josie and her Shetland Milly with their achievements at the BDS Annual show at Smiths Lawn on Sunday! Josie has said ……
"This will probably never happen to me again in my lifetime. Sharptor Emily received 2 x 1st placings and a 3rd at the British Driving Society Annual Show Windsor yesterday.
She also received British Driving Society Best Shetland Trophy, Blue Chintz Best Shetland trophy and the Mountain and Moorland Trophy across these classes.
She also qualified for the Supreme Private Driving Championships, however she was also on the Concours d'Elegance drive around Windsor so could not be in two places at once. She came back from the drive without a sweat.
Special thanks to my groom Summer on the day. Also Di who generously volunteered to help me clean my harness last week, this was especially helpful.
Thank you to my Shetland pony Milly."
A massive well done to our AAC Sarah Simmons who has completed her rally miles with the British Driving Society - she has driven 200 miles on bds drives, events, etc with her lovely cob Petal. Sarah’s hasn’t been driving for that many years and petal was a young pony when she started with her so she’s done really well - well done
Well done to Willow Holland and Coko who attended their first show of the season recently. A superb result of 1st Novice, 1st Open and then Driving Champion.
Coko has only recently been broken to drive and this is a great result early in your driving career!
Lin Sayers and Boris had a great result at the Southern Shetland Group show on 7th April 2024.
1st Veteran (his first veteran class) and best gelding.
1st open Shetland ring two
3rd standard Shetland
6th solid colour
And reserve ring two champion.
Well done Lin and Boris (Hornblower of Crafton)!
A big well done to everyone who was awarded a veteran award at the BDS Agm last weekend -
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Gillian Shorter with Bobby
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Sally Johnstone with Fred
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Roger Page with Grayswood Philandera, and
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Roger Page with Grayswood Sioux Chief
Well done to gill who also won the award for the most miles covered in England. Well done guys xx
Calling all willing young drivers, that would like to attend the young drivers camp in August. How about joining the Young Drivers BDS membership now, instead of waiting to come to camp?
The society offers opportunities to participate fully and enjoy the experience of driving a pony and carriage even if you don’t have access to a turnout at home. At our training days and annual camps you use experienced driving ponies and horses and everything is provided for you. This has been the starting point for many young drivers who have then gone on to participate fully in the driving activities offered such as trec, showing and rallies.
