Tanfield 7th March 2010 Ride Report

The Durham & Teesside season started with the Tanfield Ride on 7th March 2010. There were 63 entries and 61 turned up on the day, which was absolutely brilliant. It was a lovely fine dry day, the sunshine being an added bonus. After all of the snow, snow and more snow everyone and their horses looked happy to be out and about.

A huge big thank you to all helpers as rides cannot run without people being willing to give up their time. Thank you to Laura-Jane and Ed McHolic who manned check point 1, to Michelle and Claire Stanley for check point 2 and to Jane Evans for her marshalling of the car park. Thank you also to Michael Evans, (and his very patient horse). Michael arrived early to ensure that we had first aid cover before the medics arrived. Thank you to Sue Gamble for collecting all of the necessary equipment from the caravan for me. A big, big thank you to Stuart my husband, (he being of the none horsey kind), for helping to mark the route the day before, for time keeping and for donating a bottle of Whisky for a free bib draw. The lucky bib number was 37 with the prize being won by Ami Clark.

Joanne Robinson, a non member, enjoyed her ride so much she refused to take her bib deposit back. She was happy to accept my suggestion that it be donated to charity and this will be sent to the Air Ambulance.

The Countryside Ranger who is in charge of the venue, Watergate Forest Park remarked that members of the general public had been delighted to see the horses. She did however comment on some people riding at speed and inappropriately through the park. I have requested that should this happen next year she record bib numbers and let me know.

Horses as we know are messy at both ends and a number of people did clean up before they drove away. Unfortunately quite a few did not. It took Stuart and me 40 minutes to clean the car park. To leave hay and droppings for someone else to pick up is not fair or acceptable. Please in future and at all rides tidy up after you. It will be appreciated and help the group to keep its venues.

Enjoy your season,

Karen.

 

Can I just pass on what I great time we had at Tanfield - thanks for organising such a great ride.  I have well and truly caught the 
endurance bug for the second time after a break of quite a few years after I retired my pony (Yasmin).  I am now back with a new horse 
(Phissarni) and me and Steph (Jack) are looking forward to doing as many rides with the group  as we possibly can - and if we can't will 
try and volunteer to help.
We also took around someone who has never done this type of riding before Jo (Meg).  She had such a great time I am sure she will enter 
again and she donated her £5 deposit for number bib over to Air Ambulance.

Lisa Johnson/Stephanie Woods
(Phissarni/Jack)

 

TANFIELD RIDE RESULTS

durham.teesside@ukonline.co.uk