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GBR – CAI Windsor

CAI-A 2/4 CAIP-A4

13.5.09 – 17.5.09

LINK to the photos from Windsor 2009…LINK

The Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix in Cooperation with Driving Program Philippe Lienart

FIRST WORLDCUP POINTS FOR IJSBRAND…

Four times World Champion and vice-World Cup Champion 2008-2009 IJsbrand Chardon from the Netherlands has won the first World Cup Qualifying event for the FEI World Cup™ Driving season 2009-2010. Chardon beat World Cup Champion Boyd Exell from Australia in the last phase of the Landrover International Driving Grand Prix in Windsor, Great Britain.

Twenty-four international four-in-hand drivers crossed the Channel to compete at the beautiful site of the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Dutch course designer Johan Jacobs, who recently received the status of Official International Course Designer, was responsible for the course in Windsor for the very first time in his career. Despite the many rain showers, Windsor enjoyed a very good show with fantastic sport.

More on HOEFNET

Royal Windsor Horse Show is host to one of the most important driving events in the UK’s calendar; The LandRover International Driving Grand Prix.

The event includes a World Cup Qualifier for the Four-In Hand Horse Class. In all some 80 competitors from 18 nations are expected.

The competition takes place over the course of four days. With the first two days being dedicated to dressage, the third day (Saturday 16th May) is the Marathon section which covers a large part of the private grounds of Windsor Castle and the final day is the cones driving.

Highlights
The highlight day of the Competition is Saturday when the Marathon section takes place – if you position yourself by the water obstacle you can enjoy some truly thrilling action.

Key Facts
George Bowman has won seven times in the last twenty eight years.

The Marathon section includes eight obstacles which test the speed and accuracy of the driver.

HRH Prince Phillip started carriage driving in 1973 and although he no longer competes, is still very much an avid supporter of the sport.

A brief history of Royal Windsor Horse Show

1943: RWHS created by Geoffrey Cross and Count Robert Orssich during a ‘Wings for Victory week’
1943: The first show also included a dog show. Legend has it that Count Orssich had a disobedient Lurcher, who stole a chicken leg from King George VI's plate during the ceremonies. This created such uproar that the committee ruled that there would be no more dogs at the Royal Windsor Show, a ruling that still stands to this day
1943: Princess Elizabeth won the Single Private Driving Turnout Class
1944: The winner of the Open Jumping won £15
1946: RWHS grew to a two day show
1947: The show was extended to three days ‘in order to devote more time to the individual classes and also to include some new ones’
1947: The Coaching Marathon was introduced
1948: When the Olympic Games were scheduled to be held in London, Windsor was chosen to stage the Show Jumping trial
1948: The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry, which had not been seen since 1939 was resurrected at RWHS
1949: A covered stand as well as an open one was introduced to provide a much better and more comfortable view of the ring
1949: Mountain and Moorland in hand classes were introduced
1950: The BBC put out a live broadcast for the first time
1950: A new class for Polo Ponies was introduced
Her Majesty The Queen became Patron of the RWHS Club.
1952: The first floodlit evening performance took place during Festival of Britain year
1954: The Queen donated a cup to be given to the winners of a competition for Services Team Jumping.
1954: The show was televised on all three days for the first time
1955: Windsor became the focus for international attention in 1955 when the horse show was the start of an eight day festival that continued with two days of international dressage followed by the European three Day Event Championship, both held in Windsor Great Park
1962: RWHS organisers put on the first Concours Dressage International to be held in Britain
1963: John Bloom’s Rolls Prestcold Company sponsored the entire show, which was the first time the show had ever been sponsored
1964: The show was cancelled because of an outbreak of equine influenza
1967: The show was extended to four days to cope with the ever-increasing entries
1970: The first International Driving Event was introduced
1977: The show was extended to five days
1982: The Duke of Edinburgh won the Horse Teams Class in the International Driving Grand Prix with HM The Queen’s team of Bays
1983: Not only did The King’s Troop RHA perform their familiar and spectacular Musical Drive but Pairs of magnificent heavy horses performed their own Musical Drive too
1985: Finn Caspersen’s team of Bay Holsteiners, driven by Bill Long, won the Horse teams in the International Driving Grand Prix. This inspired Beneficial Corporation’s sponsorship of the show
1989: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh won the Pony Teams Class in the International Driving Grand Prix
1992: The show celebrated 50 years with an anniversary ball attended by HM The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh
1995: Geoffrey Cross, founder of the show died
1997: International show jumping was re-introduced at the show after a break of some 14 years
1998: The show was moved to the River end of Home Park Public
2001: Cancelled due to Foot & Mouth
2002: Hosted the sell-out All The Queen’s Horses the first of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. 1,000 horses and 2,000 human participants
2003: The show plans to celebrate its foundation in Wings for Victory but the Gulf war interrupts plans and military displays are cancelled
2004: The show returns to four days and hosts its first World Cup Qualifier for Driving
2005: The Show moves completely into HOme Park Private and puts down a permanent all-weather arena in this beautiful setting. Thursday evening sees a charity ball and Friday has a Gala Dressage and Polo Evening.
2006: The Show celebrated HM The Queen’s 80th birthday with a private party.
2007: The Show celebrated the 60th Wedding Anniversary of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh with a parade of vintage state Land Rovers. The King George V1 Puissance was introduced to the show on the Saturday evening performance and was warmly received by the visitors.