New attraction at Mid Argyll Show
STYLE from a bygone era will return to Mid Argyll Show in August.
A carriage-driving enthusiast originally from Lochgilphead will return to Argyll to offer people the chance to travel to the show in horse-drawn carriages.
Four horse-drawn vehicles will carry passengers – two charabancs and two wagonette/brakes from Kilmartin, via Bridgend and MACpool, to the Mid Argyll showground. The carriages have the capacity to take 35 passengers, and the plan is to leave Kilmartin at intervals from 10.45am to 11am bound for the show.
Carriage driving has been a big part of Ewan MacInnes’s life since the 1970s when he bought a carriage – which had once been owned by Poltalloch estate – from the late Hugh Pate at Slockavullin.
Ewan said: ‘After the vehicle was refurbished, I was off on my carriage-driving career. Since that time, I have competed in driving trials with various horses, single and pairs, and more recently have enjoyed putting together a coach team.’
Since 1990, Ewan has lived at Maryculter, Aberdeen, with his wife Jane, where they established the Carriage Driving Centre.
The couple enthusiastically embrace charity driving work, and it was on one of these rides that Mid Argyll Show president, Tim Lister, invited Ewan to bring his horse team to the show.
Ewan was brought up and schooled in Lochgilphead, after which he followed a career with Clydesdale Bank and subsequently with NFU Scotland.
Tim Lister said: ‘This is going to be a spectacular addition to this year’s show.
‘We can consider ourselves fortunate that Ewan has decided to come along and support us, which he has done so with great enthusiasm.’
‘I haven’t stayed in Lochgilphead for many years,’ added Ewan, ‘but it’s always home and I am very much looking forward to coming down with my team for the show.’
Tickets for the carriage ride from Kilmartin cost £50 and are available via the Mid Argyll Show Facebook page or call Tim Lister on 01546 605239. ‘I should stress that there is no element of profit in the ticket price,’ added Tim.
‘This purely covers the substantial costs of getting the horses and vehicles here and ready for this great occasion.’