Deerness Valley Ride Report – Mud n'all

After Sylvia and I marked the route on Saturday the weather certainly took a turn for the worse.  It was a deluge rivers running everywhere and I honestly thought that quite a few would not turn out, but you endurance riders never fail to surprise. Only four declined to join us on our swim.
I think everyone had an achievement one way or another.  Young horses who had not seen all the water or the wind turbines. Or some cows who insisted on jumping in and out of the field.  Lisa Johnson and her husband John had to keep putting them back much to the amusement of their children.
I took a few photos of wet riders and then on Monday when I went out to demark and I was only wearing a tea shirt and cotton trousers, couldn’t believe the change.  How nice it would have been if this weather had been on Sunday.
Only four riders decided to tackle the longer ride – brave souls – but all but six finished the ride. Although times weren’t fast they all completed. We had a moment in the woodland were some member of the public had deliberately put a couple of branches of the route, but most found a way through, others came back onto the road and followed along and picked up route further along.
All dried off and left the venue except two horses who did not want to go home. One eventually got chased in with a xmas tree (we were on a plantation – did not pull it out, it was lying dead already).  The other horse had to lodge with me for the night as it was just getting more frustrated as time went on and the poor girl was near to tears I think.  And it was nearer my farm than riding back to Sunderland.  Molly settled in very well as long as she had her grub.  Took a while to get her in the trailer the next day- but I think she thought better of it eventually.
Anyway, a very big thank you to all my wonderful helpers: Sylvia Briggs, Alison Wanless, Ian Savage, Angela Shutt, Dot Coe, The Stanley girls (very dependable – and thanks for opening all those gates) Lisa Johnson and family and Bernie Pugh and to all you brave souls who turned out – I don’t think I would have done.

Sue

 

Name of Rider	Name of Horse	Distance
Liz Campbell	Indian Ra	35
Carolyn Cummings	Peterbrook Sunset Surprise	35
Sarah Thompson	Flint	35
Sue Russell	Jess	35
Jane Davison	Bertie	20
Karen J Hynes	Sammie	20
Savannah Holmes	Rhiannyth	20
Karen David	Al Zahi Khazan	20
Karen Fairbairn	Painted Lady	20
Claire Stanley	Chance 1	20
Louise McWilliams	Alex	20
Heather Nixon	Whisperdale	20
Demi Bate	Prince	20
Sharon Bate	Ricky	20
Judith Ruth	Paddy	Retired
Pauline Pugh	Autumn Ruby	20
Rachel Pugh	Blue Bell	20
Tammy Laskey	Kat	20
Vikki Grieves	Mac	20
Carole Bell	George	Retired
Ann Clay	Molly	Out of time
Jade Wood	Domino	Out of time
Ailsa Gardiner	Keaton	Out of time
Lesley Smith	Midnight Amethys	20
Emily Smith	Mr Monty	20
Wendy Greenshields	Buddy	20
Leah Bowlie	Holly	20
Helen Boston	Burfield Court Appearance	20
Debbie Wardle	Bey Danzig	20
Hayley Watson	Bobby	20
Sarah Jayne Pickersgill	Tina	20
Christopher Anderson	Chanel	Retired
Robin Owens	Shadow	Retired
Kevin Smith	Eternaly Magnum	20
Julie Smith	Coatham Quest	20
Sarah Owens	Savannah	20

 

durham.teesside@ukonline.co.uk