|
BRC Team Endurance
Event for 2011
Congratulations to the SWRC team! Report by Ann Raymont below:
SWRC qualified for the BRC Endurance final at Ludlow in July when
Tessa Heathcote, Anna Weston and myself rode the quite hilly but
very scenic 35km ride. Not the easiest for a first ride I was later
informed!
The final was to be held at The College, Keysoe in September.
The four humans in our team were fit & ready to ride,
unfortunately the same could not be said for our four legged
friends so we were unable to field a South Warks team. However
East Cheshire Riding Club very kindly invited me to join their
team as a fourth member which meant that I could now ride as an
individual. I eagerly accepted but felt a bit apprehensive as my
pony Frank had only just recovered from a nasty infection and
this would be his first outing.
The College venue was impressive with gleaming white fencing,
excellent facilities and huge pot plant arrangements ideal spook
material. The East Cheshire team were very friendly. They made
me and my other half who had come to help crew and be general
dogsbody feel very welcome.They had ridden a few rides together
so were quite experienced as a team. The initial vetting went
well, all horses passed with low pulses. We were the second team
to start and we went off at a cracking pace,which we maintained
for most of the 33km, so much for my intentions of starting
slowly! We were grateful for our crew who met us at checkpoints
to cool & water the horses.
Frank was full of running and felt back to his normal self. Its
amazing how fast 4 women can go & still manage to chatter! It
was brilliant being able to canter for mile after mile through
lovely countryside. Our team finished in 2hrs 30mins with an
avarage speed at 13.5k. That was the fastest I'd ever
ridden.After 30 minutes to rest and cool the horses we had to
present to the vets. All four passed having finished with really
good low pulse rates. Fantastic now we could relax and fill our
own faces and catch up with others .After tea and home made cake
I had to head for home prior to the results. Frank had been a
little star and I felt grateful to have been given the
opportunity to take part and very relieved to come back with a
sound pony.
Pat the team leader rang me later to tell me not only had the
team come second I had been awarded second individual place.
What a day and what a bonus! I felt tired, aching but elated.
I am looking forward to next season and who knows perhaps South
Warks R Club can field a couple of teams. You don't need an arab
just any type of fairly fit horse and an enjoyment of tackling
different terrain and diverse countryside in very good company! |
