Coaching Weekend: Behind the Scenes

Coaching Weekend: Behind the Scenes

August 14, 2025

4:00 – 5:00 PM

• Free for Preservation Society members; registration is required. Members, please log in to your account to receive your free tickets.
• Live at Rosecliff and via Zoom.
• If attending via Zoom, you will receive your Zoom link 24 hours in advance.

The sport of coaching, inspired by the English mail runs of the 18th and 19th centuries, blossomed into a symbol of leisure and prestige during the Gilded Age. Kick off the triennial Weekend of Coaching by delving into the rich heritage of coaching in Newport.

From this moderated panel of experts, you will learn about the painstaking care that goes into preparing the coaches, the rigorous training of the horses and the expertise of the whips who guide them. Coaching is more than a sport—it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, elegance and living history.

Since 1968, the Preservation Society of Newport County has proudly hosted the Weekend of Coaching every three years. This year is particularly special as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Coaching Club itself.

Our panel:

• James Miller, Vice President of the Coaching Club
• Walter Eayrs, Chair of A Weekend of Coaching
• Melissa Warner, Driving Manager and Coachman for Tucker Johnson, President of the Coaching Club

Conversation moderated by Brian Owens, Coaching Club member and Newport resident.