Lockerbie carriage driver Louise Kaiholm made up for missing the World Carriage Driving Championships in Hungary this month by winning at the UK Carriage Driving Championships.
Louise, with her back-stepper Kimberley Porteous, was crowned British Champion in the Open Pony Class, the clear winner from the ten competitors who had made it through the qualifying events held over the summer. Driving a welsh cob owned by Ruth Martin from Edinburgh, Louise won the dressage and cones sections and finished fourth in the marathon – her combined scores securing her the title. Louise had been selected to compete for Denmark in the World Pony Driving Championships in Hungary this month, the first time she’s been selected for the national team, but had to withdraw when one of her ponies developed an injury. Her latest title, her first driving a single pony, continues her remarkable record at the British Championships; in previous years she has won the Open Pairs (2013 & 2016) and the Advanced Pony Pairs (2017).
It was not the only success at the event for the Chariots of Fire Equestrian Centre in Boreland. Her fellow coach at the yard, Stephie White was Reserve Champion in the Pony Pairs Class, beaten only by a pair of Advanced Level ponies which has already won at international level. Stephie, who was Reserve Champion at the National Indoor Championships in 2018, was competing with a pair of Dartmoor Hill ponies which she has trained herself. Her back-stepper was Pete Smith. The National Championships were held at Bywell, Northumberland at the weekend (29 Aug – 1 Sept 2019)
