HARMONY IN HARNESS !!

The Royal Cornwall Show
7-9 June 2007

There will be a "proper" Cornish feel to one of the leading performances in the main ring at the Royal Cornwall Show in June.

Local members of the British Driving Society are currently working on a musical drive which will be performed to a specially-recorded medley of traditional Cornish tunes.

This unique presentation will involve 12 carriages, horses and drivers who will present a half-hour programme each day of the show (7th, 8th & 9th of June).

Entitled Harmony in Harness, the programme has been developed especially to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the British Driving Society and will be sponsored by Southern Electric Contracting Ltd, which is the Royal Cornwall Show's main electrical contractor.

"There is a strong following for driving in Cornwall, with a very committed membership. I don't know of any other county that has ever put on anything as impressive as this with just their own members," said Brian Ball, who is area commissioner for the BDS in Cornwall and a member of the national council.

The vehicles which will make up the display will be both traditional and non-traditional. Although to the untrained eye they look much the same, the newer ones are more likely to be made of metal, whereas originals and those that have been refurbished, are of mainly timber construction.

Although they are used for demonstrations and recreation these days, these vehicles were a normal mode of transport in days gone by.

"A gig would be equivalent to the sports car of the day, whereas a dog-cart would be more of a country vehicle. The ralli car was something like a modern-day estate car," said Brian.

All are kept in sparkling condition by their owners and will present a superb picture at the show.

The programme will be designed to fill the whole main ring - which is a big arena - so all the audience will feel involved.

A "foot-tapping" musical background will make the presentation bounce along.

"It will be a medley of Cornish tunes such as the Floral Dance, Lamorna, Camborne Hill, White Rose and probably finishing with Trelawny," said Brian .

"This is being arranged by Cecil du Valle from Cornwall College and will be recorded by the Cornwall College Big Band. It should be something special."

The discipline needed to present a first class musical drive is a very positive thing for the whole team, says Brian.

"It is a good way to train horses and drivers together. It makes them good drivers because they have to keep up with their fellows who may be doing a mirrored manoeuvre on the other side of the arena."

This will be a memorable occasion for Cornwall BDS member, Jane Reed from Budock, who choreographed a similar musical drive back in the 1980s.

"She's not actually a driving person herself but she is very good at this. It is still in the planning stage but from what I know of it so far, it will be a brilliant main ring attraction," said Brian.

Cornwall BDS members will also be mounting a static display of their carts, with information on their history and renovation.

In addition, Brian Ball will be appearing in the Countryside Area once a day, talking about driving and the vehicles.

The competitive driving classes, at the Royal Cornwall Show are judged over two days, the Thursday and the Friday and will again be sponsored by Francis Clark, Chartered Accountants.

The second day is when the Cornish classes will be judged. Entrants have to be a bona fide resident of Cornwall and entries have grown enormously in recent years. There were 19 last year.

So this year, the Cornish class will be divided into traditional and non-traditional vehicles.

"It is difficult to judge one type against the other so I hope to see a good entry in both classes this year," said Brian.

Keep in touch with the Royal Cornwall Show at: www.royalcornwall.co.uk