Spring is fast approaching and Royal Windsor Horse Show will soon be upon us. Driving has been at the heart of the show for many decades. In 1947, the Coaching Marathon was introduced and in 1958, the Meet of the British Driving Society.
Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society
Spring is fast approaching and Royal Windsor Horse Show will soon be upon us. Driving has been at the heart of the show for many decades. In 1947, the Coaching Marathon was introduced and in 1958, the Meet of the British Driving Society. Yellow carnation buttonholes were presented to members and passengers at the inaugural meet and the tradition continued for many years,
establishing the flower as the BDS emblem.
The inaugural ‘meet’ played host to an entry of 54 turn outs while in recent years we have
witnessed in excess of 30. The entries continue to demonstrate that driving people enjoy such an occasion to meet, genuinely take pleasure at the opportunity to drive through the incredibly
beautiful surroundings of Windsor Great Park, and at such an esteemed event.
Historically HRH The Duke of Edinburgh led the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society, however his granddaughter Lady Louise has taken ‘over the reigns’ so to speak in the last couple of years. Last year Lady Louise led the Meet, driving her mother Sophie,Countess of Wessex, driving a pair of Fell ponies owned by Her Majesty the Queen.
This year’s Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the BDS takes place on Sunday 12 May 2019. It is always a pleasure to witness such a high turnout for this historical 5-mile drive and it is hoped that many BDS members will take part this year. For those interested in taking part, driving entries open on 7 March and are direct to RWHS www.rwhs.co.uk