Wight Equine Driving Society
TRANS WIGHT DRIVE 2009
5th, 6th and 7th of June 2009
Reflections on the 2009 Trans Wight Drive
The Trans Wight Drive is run by The Wight Equine Driving Society and is organised by a small committee. This year it was a new committee headed by Myself(Margaret Honeybourne) and two others Gail Yardley who was secretary and wrote up and sent out all of the paperwork. This is a huge task and the event could not happen without her input. The other committee member is Linda Pike who almost single handed organised the West Wight part of the drive contacted rights of way and landowners, the venue and stabling she also managed to drive Henry her New Forest Pony on the first two days. Robert young organised the route the last day for us and drove a lot of the route prior to him having a triple bypass operation and thanks go to him. He really wanted to drive it this year but it was not to be. I generally tied up loose ends ordered the food and made sure we had stewards on the road junctions and that the rights of way had opened gates on third day. When I agreed to take this on I never realised how much work it has been for Simon Woodford over the passed years it is amazing how much goes on behind the scenes. We started on the Thursday and finished on the Monday night tying up loose ends and I had to have two hours sleep on Monday afternoon. However the thanks we got from the entries and the smiles at the end of each day and especially the last day were enough to make it all worth while.
This is how the days went.
Friday.
Good weather things got going on time and there were no mishaps. One of the off road bikers saw groups across at The Sun Inn then the groups went right at Jubilee car park and towards Brook Shute there are stunning views from up there and there was no mist to spoil things then down to Brook Shute where Gail, the biker and myself manned the junction then the turnouts go on up to Afton Down and the golf course this is very steep but all went well photographs were taken here and then on to Nodewell Farm for tea and a picnic lunch. There was a change of route after lunch because of traffic lights in Freshwater, with Brenda Bell at the end of the old Railway line in the afternoon this is a super bit to drive as there is no traffic and it is flat so trot on is the order of the day and then back to Porchfield on a new route to have tea and cakes and a chat. Everyone loves the gathering after and reflections on how the day went. Gail made the tea and we all had cakes. In the evening lots of the whips and grooms together with organisers and locals all met at the Sportsman's Rest for food and drinks all said they had a good time.
Saturday
Off to a good start weather good over the crossroads at the Sun Inn and on up to Tennison down to the Tennison trail. Different views from up here and then down to Clatterford Shute and through the fords along the farm lanes and back onto the road to Shorewell and to the field at Iddlecome farm for lunch. I went to the entrance of the chalk pit to man the crossing and was horrified when a huge lorry parked just in the entrance with a huge digger on tracks after some investigations of the trees in the entrance it disappeared up into the chalk pit to my relief and the first of the turnouts arrived and went safely up through the chalk pit. Then out of the blue the digger came down on tracks and parked up by the trees. I explained that there were more carriages coming and they tuned it off and waited. All turnouts drove up the pit safely I gave a sigh of relief and as soon as the last one had gone the men started the digger and swiped the first tree down with one blow. Back over part of the Tennison Trail again and on to Porchfield for more tea cakes and chat about the day once again meeting up at the Sportsmans Inn and a good evening for those who wished to join us.
Sunday
We had more stewards on this day so thanks go to Julie,Simon,Caroline,Brenda,Linda
And Gail.Oh and Sue Jones who sat at the Nettlestone junction until after five o`clock as she thought the right number of turnouts had not gone through the last turnout did not let her know they were the last ones and I did not get her message on my phone. On the Sunday we get all entrants to take their lorries to the finish this is Harbour Farm at Bembridge. Then Gail and her husband Bob bring all of the drivers back to the Potato Farm at Merstone where we start. The drive is much more off road now thanks to Robert Young who worked out a route that cut out the Arreton Road . The drive is now through the Arreton valley nurseries via Budbridge Lane and coming out on to Bathingbourne Lane and across the Arreton Road and then on to Wacklands Lane and through the sweet corn fields coming out by Bartlets Garage crossing over towards K,Niton sand pit and through the fields to Kern Farm. From here we go down towards Alverstone and turn right on the lower Adgestone Road turn up towards Adgestone Vineyard and over Brading Downs. Some got the route wrong and came up past Morton Manor. This is a very steep route and the group were glad to have a rest on the top of the downs once again the views towards Portsmouth are
Stunning. The groups then go down to The Nunwell Estate Via Ladies Walk and through Truckles over the main road at Whitefield Woods through the country lanes and out at Nettlestone and on to St Helens down the back of the green and to Bembridge Harbour this looks stunning in the sunshine. Along the Harbour and to Harbour Farm for the finish and a meal with awards and speeches. All arrived safely and were happy with their weekends achievements. We were lucky with the weather it did rain a bit but not enough to spoil the enjoyment.
Thanks go to all the landowners that made the event possible and to all helpers that were not mentioned.
Next year we may change the route completely so that the drive is not always the same but the views and challenges will still be there, watch this space.
Margaret Honeybourne
TRANS WIGHT 2010
UPDATE
2010 Trans Wight Drive is almost here!!!
The location of the meeting is :-
The field next to Colemans Farm
Colemans Lane
PO30 4LX
The routes will be available on the first day at the above location, departure will start at 9am
If you have any questions please contact our organiser Margaret Honeybourne on 07845908444
Group 1 leaving 9.10am
Sue Bull
Jo Sore
Margaret Andrews
Group 2 leaving 9.30am
John Doe
R Hanslip
M Hanslip
Group 3 leaving 9.40am
Roger Page
Martyn Meeker
Maurice Page
J & D Siviter
Charlie Reeves
Group 4 leaving 9.50am
Mr Nicholls
T Lee
John White
Christine James Sunday Only
Tracey Sillwood Sunday Only
Group 5 leaving 10am
Lynda Pike
Marilyn Wilkins
Wendy Wybrew Saturday and Sunday Only
Jenny Dyer
Jane Parsons
Group 6 leaving 10.10am
Tina Squires
Richard Effemy
Danny Kinsella
Sally Tyrie