CIAT de MANOR HOEVE (B)
1st and 2nd october 2022
The CIAT Manor Hoeve, in Belgium, was a great success in the best possible conditions, thanks to an excellent organization.
The Huyghe family had offered its beautiful estate, all orientated towards the horse and tradition, including excellent infrastructures - and done everything to facilitate the job for the organizers and carriage drivers.
They also offered a beautiful exhibition of old motorcars, which was well adapted to the atmosphere of traditional driving.
In spite of all the efforts to promote the event, the number of participants was below the expectations, with fourteen turnouts, but of first class quality.
A great number of spectators could appreciate the beauty of the carriages, horses and the general harmony of the equipages.
The Presentation was judged by Ad van der Pluijm (NL), Reinhold Trapp (F) and Dirk Depaepe (B), as Matteo Bianco, who originally should have been the third judge, had just died in a tragic traffic accident, which was for all the AIAT world a terrible loss.
The judgment went very well, except for a divergence between the judges, which can happen in these events. The arguments of Mr Trapp were were quite understandable and convinced the other judges after a quiet discussion.
The Road Track went without any problem, with the following difficulties : the glass, the carpet, the on-handed loop, the stop and the rein-back.
In spite of the bad weather conditions on the Sunday, the Cone driving could take place in the large indoor arena, with a very interested public, which decided for the Prize of the Public to be offered during the general Prize giving ceremony, also in the indoor arena.
As a whole, the drivers were very happy and satisfied of the event, and will be the best ambassadors for its future ! The President of AIAT Belgium spoke about the next competition with the Huyghe family, and the organizers will to their best to welcome more foreign drivers next year. Anyway, it was a great international success and everybody was happy !
The Road Track went without any problem, with the following difficulties : the glass, the carpet, the on-handed loop, the stop and the rein-back.
In spite of the bad weather conditions on the Sunday, the Cone driving could take place in the large indoor arena, with a very interested public, which decided for the Prize of the Public to be offered during the general Prize giving ceremony, also in the indoor arena.
As a whole, the drivers were very happy and satisfied of the event, and will be the best ambassadors for its future ! The President of AIAT Belgium spoke about the next competition with the Huyghe family, and the organizers will to their best to welcome more foreign drivers next year. Anyway, it was a great international success and everybody was happy !
Dirk Depaepe
