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Bennington
Carriages Newsletter
The Dastardly Drive June 07
“
Hector the Highland” takes a well earned break
on the biennial round Devon cliff tops drive. A splendid
weekend pleasure event run by the Great western Harness
club unsurprisingly attracted outfits from all over
Southern England; it was made even more enjoyable
by champagne provided by landowner David Rogers to
drivers as they passed. The 6 miles long cliff top
carriage drive was built by Lord Revelstoke in 1890’s
has special walls around bends so horses can’t
look directly down steepest cliffs.
Owner driver Jonathan Mathys said the ‘super
fun bug’ with lots of modifications, brakes
etc gave confidence on hair-raising 100 foot drops
to the sea. It’s straight running (lack of
turntable) and easy to jump out design was just what
was needed. Groom Andrea said it was a comfortable
ride but deep muddy tracks and river crossings threw
up a lots of mud, water, fish, seaweed... etc.
NEW FROM BENNINGTON IN 2007 |
During the winter months and as the New Year
approaches we at Bennington, research, develop,
create and design ready for the season ahead.
Gathering information, investing in time and
money, listening to drivers and solving problems
allows us to continue manufacturing the most
technologically advanced, highest quality carriages.
Continually progressing and developing,
we have just purchased a numerically computer
controlled (CNC) lathe for our vastly expanding,
increasingly technological workshop. The
lathe is computer controlled so that when
the cutting tools are programmed and applied,
components are produced. The Bennington engineers
have completed their training and are utilising
the machine for many applications, Including
hubs and axles.
Every individual department of Bennington
Carriages plays a huge role in the design
and manufacture of each individual Bennington.
Not only is the workshop and engineering
department advancing, but the powder coating,
woodworking, assembly and upholstery departments
also. Recently a computer-aided sewing
machine was added to the upholstery department
enabling a greater variety of fabrics and
techniques to be used. From early 2007
a detachable hood will be available for
the Fun Bug. Currently researching the
latest waterproof fabrics, designing and
creating prototypes, the hood is eagerly
awaited.
The popularity and craze for the Fun Bug
is continually growing, with drivers wanting
to get more and more from their carriage.
Always listening to our customers we are
catering for their requests. Disc brakes
can now be added as an optional extra (£495.00
inc. VAT) so any terrain doesn’t
restrict the carriage. Going down hills
the brakes can be used taking some pressure
off the horse. The disc brakes we have
used for the Fun Bug are the same as on
our high-end competition vehicles. During
2007 we shall continue to utilise and combine
processes, components and techniques and
provide solutions for our customers.
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By
appointment to
HRH Duke of Edinburgh
Carriage Builder
Artistic Iron Products Ltd,
Newark
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Royal
Warrants
are a mark of recognition to companies who have regularly
supplied goods or services for at least five years to
certain goods or services for at least five years to
certain members of the Royal Family. They have alwyas
been regarded as a mark of excellence and quality and
are highly prized. Warrants are regularly reviewed and
may be cancelled at any time. We are very proud that
we have held the Royal Warrant by appointment to HRH
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Carriage Builder
since 1979
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HRH
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
at Farleigh . Driving his Bennington
Pony Team Marathon Carriage
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Prince Philip at Catton
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The
Duke has been carriage driving since
1971, competing in his first national
competition in 1973 and continues
to drive today. He has won two team
gold medals at World Championships
and the four in the hand individual
title at Windsor. The most recent
event the Duke could be seen competing
at was Farleigh Horse Driving Trials
(June 06 - results below) driving
his Bennington Pony Team Marathon
Carriage. |
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"Superb
Service" - Mick Peace
On
the Friday of Farleigh, Mick Peace unfortunately
broke a spring whilst driving his 1994 Bennington
Horse Pairs carriage on exercise. Rising
to the challenge the Bennington team made
a new spring within 4 hours. despatched the
same day on Interlink overnight carrier it
arrived Saturday morning. At 8.30am the spring
was delivered, fitted and Mick was on his
way to the marathon. All the efforts were
put to excellent use as Mike had a storming
marathon, winning the phase and taking overall
Horse Pairs class title.
The
Bennington Team
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Ready
for the 2007 season?
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Here
at Bennington Carriages we have all you require
for the new carriage driving season.
Known for our carriages, we are perhaps lesser known for advising
on and supplying all spares and accessories. There are products
for all disciplines and drivers, DVDs and videos, whips, driving
bits, V-Bandz hi-visibility clothing, carriage banners, driving
gloves, FEI driving cones and aprons, to name but a few. The full
range of Tedman and Zilco harness is available, with items happily
swapped out if different sizes are required.
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Getting
organised...
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Our
website is constantly being updated, with
all of our carriages, accessories, spares
and latest products included. Always striving
to source the very best in equestrian products
NEW this year include, from Germany, the
Eskadron range of fly fringes, also the Belstane
range of portable storage products, which
are suitable for both yard and lorry.
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| Bennington's
Monthly Top 4 |
This
month... Videos / DVDs
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'Between
the Shafts'
Ideal for the newcomer, BDS Instructional video / DVD
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'Bit
by Bit'
Schooling tips for the driving horse with Clare Wigmore and Di
Hayes
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'Breaking
to Harness'
Invaluable step by step guide to safely training a horse to harness
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'Doubling
Up'
Instructional video / DVD for pairs driving
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All
of the above are available to order from
Bennington
Click below to view
Videos / DVDs
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Fun
Bug lands Stateside!
The
first batch of Bennington Fun
Bugs have been shipped over to
the USA. From Connecticut to
South Carolina, the Fun bug is
taking the States by storm!
NEWS
The option to have the Fun Bug made to 125cm, which would comply
with the Indoor Driving Trials rules, is now available at no
extra charge.
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