Dear Exhibitors and Friends:

We are very pleased this year to welcome you to the fourth Great Lakes Carriage Classic (GLCC) Pleasure Driving Show.

This is a year of change for the event. The date has changed from late August to the “Civic Weekend”- July 30 to 31, 2022. This August long weekend will be the date for this show moving forward. By this change the show has avoided timing conflicts with other established shows.  The Ancaster Fairgrounds remains the event venue as a new and improved site with the construction of a 75,000 square foot building containing a 120 by 300-foot indoor show ring and 100 indoor stalls.  Camping, expanded RV hookups and washrooms with indoor showers are all available on site.

The objective for this show is to provide a diverse range of driving enthusiasts with a Canadian experience to show their equine partners and advance their driving skills. Welcoming to new through to experienced competitors this show offers something for everyone. Junior and para drivers are encouraged to participate in this and all TCCA shows. 

Public education will be one of the show focuses with commentary explaining the rules and features of the different classes. A carriage parade will highlight the different vehicles used in the sport.

In this year of 2022, The GLCC will be a two-day pleasure show and with sufficient interest, the CDE dressage and cones third day will be reinstated in 2023.

The GLCC judges are Francois Bergeron from Quebec and Nicole Cable from New York State, with Mary Cork from Ontario acting as TD.  Brian Errico returns as the announcer.

The classes within each division will include turnout, working, reinsmanship and now two cones’ classes. The same vehicle will be used for all five classes of a division. The divisions have expanded with the splitting of the utility division into utility horse and utility VSE/ pony.

Besides the divisional classes, competitors will have a choice from a wide variety of fun classes such as the ride and drive, costume and carriage dog. Youth will be introduced to driving in the red light/green light class.

The beginner division has changed into the coach assisted division with new rules for competitors in this division. The Audrey Bostwick Memorial Trophy will be presented for the first time to the top junior competitor at this year’s show. 

A ticketed sit-down dinner catered by Alice’s Restaurant will be held on Saturday evening and a box meal hosted by Tri-County Carriage Association will occur during the Awards Ceremony. Food will be available on site from early morning to late afternoon and a variety of vendors will be present.

All are welcome to attend as spectators at no charge. Volunteers are welcome and encouraged to participate in and enjoy the show’s activities while gaining a better understanding of the historical sport of carriage driving.

As the Covid pandemic continues the show committee will remain up to date with national and provincial mandates and appropriate changes in protocols will be made as required.

TCCA expresses its appreciation to supporters for making the club’s events and this, the 2022 GLCC possible.

Sincerely.

Jean McLean, GLCC Show Manager