This idea has been inspired by an adult Flutewise member, Carla Woods. Do you have another passion in life as well as flute? The challenge is, can you combine them? See here for details of how you can be involved.

Carla, who has been involved with Flutewise since the 1990s, lives with Cerebral Palsy and is now a full time electric wheelchair user. Carla combined her love of the flute with her other love of horse riding. Do read this article:

My Dream Fulfilled

Once again the regional Championships were upon us, this time nearer home as well, at the Arrow Riding School in Dartford. Just a case of having nerves of steel to cross the Dartford Bridge to get there!

Six of us went from Chigwell this year and all of us were placed which was lovely, well done Liz, Katheryn and Wendy (there first time), Chris and Adrian. For me this Regional Championship was rather special, as at long last I fulfilled a life-long dream combining my two main interests, music and riding.

The weather was glorious, the breeze keeping the temperature down. I was the first to kick off in our group and I mounted Beau, after having worked him in I proceeded to the arena for my Test 5A. Beau was not as forward going as I would have liked, but then I suppose one could say he had an excuse, what with the weather and different scenery. A few hiccups but I completed the course with a deep sigh of relief.

Lunch time approached and very nervous about my Kur, I did not really feel like eating, but I knew I had to as I would not have been fit for anything!

After the presentations for the morning tests, the Kur tests soon got underway and again I mounted Beau. The Kur tests took place in their menage, which was brilliant but rather dusty. Debbie, armed with my tape (recording)* did the honours of starting it for me. Once settled at X and as square as I could get Beau, I saluted, this was the signal for Debbie to start my recording. I was horrified to hear it was the end of the music that was playing but carried on wondering how I was going to complete the whole four and a half minute test in under a minute. Especially in the lethargic mood Beau was in! By the time I reached where Debbie was standing the mistake was realised. Everything grounded to a halt, Debbie desperately rectified the matter and I left the arena and started again.

On hearing the opening of the 2nd movement of Mozart’s Concerto in D, I was oblivious to anything from then on and I cajoled Beau to try and walk out with the music, singing it to him as I went along. As we approached B, and ready for the 20 metre circle, I urged Beau to flow with the rhythm of Telemann’s Sonata in F. He was reluctant but with me desperate to complete this test I succeeded and round he went. I did not quite reach K as ‘Ye Banks and Braes’ filled the air, but despite that I was thankfully walking down the centre line as the cadenza in Mozart’s 1st movement of Concerto in D rang out, the trill, last note halted, saluted. We had done it, Beau and I had completed our first Kur.

Beau and I thank everyone at Arrow, Gill, Kate and Chris for getting everything ready, but we would especially like to say thank you to Debbie who choreographed the Kur for us and made the riders dream turn into a reality, Although I did not qualify for the National Championship in either of my tests, it was a truly magical day.

Carla Woods, June 1996

You can read a bit more from Carla here.

*ask your parents or grandparents about the joys of cassette tapes in the old days!