LONGWOOD rang to the sound of hooves all Easter weekend as they kicked up dust, splashed through water, and courted both obstacles and judges in the 2025 Australian Carriage Driving Championships 2025.

Hosted by Longwood Carriage Driving Club, the three-day event was made up of carriage dressage on Saturday, marathon obstacles on Sunday, and cone obstacle on Monday.

Marathon obstacles included assorted barriers with gateways which the rider and groom needed to negotiate with their horses to pass through correctly.

The water barrier proved a hit with spectators and was challenging for some horses who needed several attempts to be coaxed into it by their drivers.

Event director Jenny Martin said the competitions attracted over fifty entries from as far as Western Australia and New Zealand.

"One of the Queensland girls did very well actually, and one from Western Australia," Ms Martin said.

"And there were terrific spectator crowds as well on all three days."

Events were divided into the three classes of novice, intermediate, and open, with horses divided into three sizes.

In addition, there were horses in pairs (side-by-side), tandem (in line), and a team of four, as well as singles.

Two Longwood Carriage Driving Club members Jason Mullinger with his horse Lawson and club president David Cockcroft won their individual classes.

Ms Martin scoffed at any notion of a home ground advantage.

"Not at all," she said.

"It just comes down to hard work.

"But we do in Victoria at the moment have a slight predominance of lady drivers, so it is good to see the male drivers get up a bit."

The event was 12 months in the making and the catering was particularly well received.

"It's nice when we're all working together," Ms Martin said.

"The catering was sensational with a massive meal on the Friday night.

"People come from all over just for the dessert table - they really do."