About Us

Drawing on a diverse career in the Armed Forces and in national leadership roles, I stepped into the role of Chair in April 2022 to champion inclusivity and excellence in carriage driving.

In addition to my professional experience, my lifelong passion for horses in owning, riding, and driving has enhanced my desire to enable others to share these experiences. I am a UKCC Level 2 Carriage Driving Coach and RDA Carriage Driving Coach. The above combined with my training as an Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner and a Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming has deeply influenced my approach and mindset in making driving accessible.

I have worked with drivers and colleagues in designing/using adapted equipment and coaching methods to offer driver independence and enable drivers to fulfil their ambitions including competing at the RDA National Carriage Driving Championships and attending driver camps and clinics.

I am very proud of the work initiated and completed by CDSGdd regarding the “Drivers with Disabilities Protocol” which is now adopted by British Carriage Driving and driving clubs around the country.  This, has opened up greater opportunities for drivers to compete at events, on a level playing field whilst recognising they may require specific adaptations.  There are also more events with classes for drivers with disabilities such as the Indoor Driving Trials and Certius Short Format competition with more to come. Reflecting CDSGdd’s aims I am committed to ensuring that every aspiring driver, regardless of ability, has the support and resources they need to thrive in carriage driving. 

Averina joined the CDSG committee as Treasurer in 2025. She is a Chartered Accountant and brings a wealth of experience from a successful corporate career in both Finance and Risk within the Financial Services sector.

Averina has been driving for many years and represented GB at three world championships with her pony pair. She became involved with Drivers with Disabilities in 2020 when she lent one of her ponies to the GB Para driving Team. Since then, she has become increasingly involved in helping make the sport more accessible to all. She is a member of the British Carriage driving Committee for drivers with disabilities and also volunteers with her local RDA Group.

Claire took on the role of secretary in 2022. Claire likes to keep busy and this role, on top of her job with NHS Highland as a
programme manager, and her volunteer role as group organiser with Lochaber and Argyll RDA carriage driving group certainly keeps her very occupied.

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Claire has an active interest in all things equestrian and has owned, ridden & driven horses all her life. She has competed in British showjumping and horse driving trials but now hung up her competition hat and boots to support others fulfil their driving
and competition dreams, help them achieve their goals and live as full and active life as possible.

Claire strengths are organisation, planning and she is looking forward to supporting the group to grow and fulfil its goals and make the wonderful sport of driving as accessible and inclusive as possible to all.

I have been fortunate to have been involved with training for the CDSGdd group for a number of years and I am passionate about making this wonderful sport accessible for all, sharing my knowledge with others to help them on whatever journey they are on with their horses.

I was literally born in the saddle as my parents owned a riding school, and I have spent my whole life competitively riding and carriage driving. My father was instrumental in setting up the RDA organisation nationally and our family centre has always been very involved in coaching riders and drivers with disabilities for over 60 years. I am an RDA coach and assessor which helps me to have a good understanding of the participant’s point of view and the national organisation’s considerations for health and safety. Having established Bradbourne Carriage Driving Centre in 1989, I have taught people of all ages and abilities to drive for over thirty years. I am a UKCC Level 3 coach and have my AI. There are those I coach who have their own equine and others who hire one of my turnouts to learn to drive. I bring to my role as trainer much experience and knowledge in teaching that enables me to quickly assess the needs of the individuals that I coach to ensure they feel at ease, have fun and achieve their full
potential.

Furthermore, as a national and international competitor in singles, pairs and teams for over thirty years, I equally understand that competitive spark that is ignited in many who wish to enter competitions and push themselves even further. Working as a coach, I can help drivers set their own personal goals and support them on their way to achieving them. There are no limitations in those
who have the positive mindset and determination to want to achieve their goals. My aim is to continue to support the group and all those who join us in our love of this wonderful sport. 

Robert has an exceptional ability to assess equines, quickly identifying their potential and creating tailored training pathways to help them reach it. He is passionate about developing a secure foundation of training that allows both horses and drivers to progress confidently towards advanced levels. His approach focuses on stabilising partnerships, building trust and balance before developing through each stage of the training pathway.

Robert trained Team GB for the 2005 and 2007 World Championships alongside Boyd Exell, and has since gone on to train the British Para Squad and Team at the last two World Championships, achieving bronze medals at both.

He has prepared ponies and horses to compete successfully from Novice to Advanced level across carriage driving, eventing, and dressage, and has produced ponies for Julie Camm, competing with them successfully throughout Europe.

Robert is also passionate about supporting drivers at competitions, whether they are taking part in their very first event or representing their country at International or World Championship level.

Specialising in the classical and correct way of going, Robert is dedicated to developing harmony, balance, and performance in every equine he trains.

Julie began her carriage driving career in 1993 moving over from eventing. Julie has represented Great Britain in five Combined Pony World Championships, has been involved with the GB Para Squad since 2016 and is currently Chef d’Equipe for the British Para Driving Team GB.

Julie is passionate and dedicated about integrating drivers with disabilities into mainstream competitions and as well as being CDSGdd Para Liaison Officer she also runs the GB POD Training Group, which specialises in the training of drivers and equines in the art of sports driving.

Julie is always looking out for driving talent as well as committed to ensuring drivers at levels can access high quality training and reach their potential. She owns 3 school master driving ponies who have played a key role in helping para drivers hone their skills.

Deborah Daniel is a retired police officer and has been a paraplegic for 26 years. Deborah started carriage driving she was a paraplegic and wheelchair dependent some 19 years ago. She started with the RDA and attended with her RDA group (Perry RDA, now renamed the Cavalier Centre) to the CDSG training clinics. She did lots of fun things with the RDA but decided she wanted to do outdoor Carriage Driving Trials.

Deborah has represented GB 5 times as part of the Para Team at the World Para Championships and hoping to make 2023 her 6th year. She has also been the Para National Champion a number of times and also competes in able bodied competitions and Nationally at Advanced Single Pony level.

Deborah is available to any member of the CDSG to help with any aspect of driving, whether that be advice through her experiences, adaptations to carriages, seats, or a lesson. Passionate about carriage driving and supporting drivers with disabilities she aims to help make people feel comfortable, relaxed, secure and happy so that they can enjoy their driving just as much as she does, whatever limitations or ambitions they may have. It's all about loving our horses and ponies, enjoying ourselves and
having fun.

Chris Van Reen Chris started carriage driving on Sark (Channel Islands) and went on to compete in Driving Trials and Private Driving with single and multiples. She became involved with the Para Carriage Driving Team GB about 25 years ago and been active in
supporting them ever since including at International competitions. Chris is a qualified L.H.H.I. and U.K.C.C Level 2 coach. As an experienced driver and coach Chris has a strong interest and knowledge in harness and its correct fitting. Chris uses her knowledge to ensure safety, performance and equine welfare at CDSGdd/GB POD clinics.

Injured as a result of a diving accident in 2005, Mick was first introduced to carriage driving by the Springbridge Carriage Driving group where he developed his love of driving. Later inspired by fellow para drivers at the CDSG-dd training Clinic at the Unicorn Trust, Mick was determined to take competitive driving further, hasn’t looked back and a great advocate and inspiration for others.
As a grade 2 para driver Mick has represented Great Britain in 3 World Championships and has 2 bronze team and one individual bronze medal. With this behind him he will once again be representing Great Britain in the 2023 World Championships taking place in Holland in August 2023.

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He is currently driving Douglas a 15.2 Welsh x Hackney and a 14.2 Welsh C (owned by Mr and Mrs Masters) and feels blessed to have such great horses Mick regularly trains with GB POD Training Group and competes all over the country. Mick is also CGSD-dd’s Equality and Diversity Officer and his driving journey and experience makes him well placed to represent drivers.

Martin and his wife Anne have been supporters of CDSGdd for many years and Martin took on the role of Treasurer, stepping down in 2025.

They have had ponies for over 4 decades and Anne has ridden from childhood. Originally Anne was the rider and Martin provided the support but following a stroke and Anne’s ill health Martin took over the reins and started driving and competing their
ponies. Martin did this at British Carriagedriving affiliated driving clubs, driving single and also tandem, and is a member of the Tandem club of GB.

Although Anne has been very physically limited by her stroke, she longed to be able to drive her ponies again. CDSGdd (and RDA) have opened up this opportunity and Martin and Anne encourage and help others who find themselves in similar situations.