Offa’s Dyke Group at the 2011 Golden Horse Shoe
Winners Rob & Gill
Talbot, Belinda Stewart
Piers Geddes, Sue Loveridge, Chris Wray's Mum,
Chris Wray, Karen Jones, Sue Rich
Offa’s Dyke members have often enjoyed success at the Golden Horse Shoe on Exmoor and this year has proved to be particularly good with Offa’s Dyke members competing in all the classes.
Gill Talbot at the start of day 1
Their individual accounts will appear in the July newsletter, but there is so much news that we have decided to produce a ‘special’ Offa’s Dyke web page with their results and a selection of photos.
Belinda Stewart at the start of day 1
Much more information is available on the Golden Horse Shoe web site which was kept bang up to date by its web master Liz Hinings. Your own web master appreciates how impressive this feat is, having struggled with internet connections in the Exford area!
Liz was awarded the EGB ‘Unsung Hero’ award in a very moving presentation by John Hudson. She could not attend the Annual EGB Award Ceremony last year so the EGB Management Team decided to surprise her at the Golden Horse Shoe, much to the joy of everyone there who gave her a ‘standing ovation’.
We would like to thank Barbara Wigley and the Golden
Horse Shoe Committee for another excellent and enjoyable event. We
are extremely grateful for their hard work and dedication without which
this ride would not have continued and for all the supporters who come
and man the gates, check points, vet gates, etc. (can you guess that we
are fans of this ride!).
Karen Jones at the
start of day 1
The photos are a selection of casual shots taken by Doug Bond, Carolyn or Robin Edwards. The official photographer was David Saunders who was offering a ‘print while you wait’ service at the venue. His photos are available to view and order on his web site and a selection also feature on the Golden Horse Shoe web site.
David is the official photographer for our own Ludlow Ride
which is now only a few weeks away.
Click here to check out the latest
news on the Ludlow Ride web site.
Results
Carolyn Edwards and Gina Harris - Sunday's Pleasure Ride
The best news for
me was that Carolyn completed the Pleasure Ride on the Sunday, with Gina
Harris acting as ‘Nanny’. This was Carolyn’s first ride since her ‘dog
bite’ accident five weeks ago. We spent the rest of the week near Exford and she managed a couple of rides out and is well on the road to
recovery.
However, many other Offa’s Dyke riders celebrated significant
successes in each of the Golden Horse Shoe classes. Agneta Pallinder of
Free 'n Easy Saddles, one of Golden Horseshoe's sponsors very kindly
presented the awards.
Piers Geddes receiving his Silver Award
In Class 4; the Exmoor Eighty which is a ride on the second main day (Tuesday) of 80km,
Piers Geddes celebrated success with a Silver award on Arabella Shaikh
Al Jassan at a speed of 11.6km.
Sue Rich receiving her Gold award (on the right)
In Class 3; the Exmoor Experience which
is a ride of 40km on both Monday and Tuesday (80km in total), Sue Rich
and Chris Wray both achieved Gold awards. Sue rode Ground Kontrol and
Chris rode Zawadi. Zawadi was bred by Chris’s mother who also crewed
him at this ride. Chris says Zawadi is his mother’s horse, she told us
that she gave him to Chris ‘years ago’!
Karen Jones (2nd from Right) and Sue Loveridge (far right) receiving their Silver awards
Sue Loveridge and Karen Jones
both achieved Silver awards; Sue riding Siiberia and Karen riding Indian
Princess.
Chris Wray receiving the 'Progression Award' from Mary Bromiley
This was Chris and Sue’s first time at the Golden Horse Shoe (Carolyn has raved about this ride for years!) and we were all very pleased when Chris was given the ‘Progression Award’ by Mary Bromiley for the horse and rider who she was judged, on performance and sympathetic riding, successfully complete the Exmoor Experience for the first time - neither horse nor rider having previously entered any other competitive class. Mary judged the whole performance throughout the ride - but it also had to go to a 'newcomer' who had the highest award. Mary had her brief & covered the whole course, looking to see who was most likely to be able to progress to class 1 or 2 next year. She was very unobtrusive but had her 'beady eyes' on everyone!
This is a tremendous, well deserved, achievement and we were all really pleased for Chris as he had worked so hard to prepare for this ride. Chris seemed surprised with the award at first but after his initial shock, we think there was no one happier in the marquee than Chris and his Mum who had crewed him!
This gives him an
automatic entry to the Stag or Horse Shoe classes for next year, so we will see you
at Exford in 2012 Chris!
Belinda Stewart receiving the Saillard Fuller Silver Trophy
In Class 2; the Exmoor Stag which is a ride of
80km on the Monday and 40km on the Tuesday (120km in total), Belinda
Stewart riding Colliga Starling achieved a Silver award and the Saillard Fuller Silver
Trophy for the competitor achieving a Silver Award with no penalties,
and nearest to the time of 10.5 kph.
Gill and her Crew (husband) Rob Talbot receiving her Gold award
In Class 1; the Exmoor Golden Horse
Shoe which is a ride of 80km on both the Monday and the Tuesday (160km
in total), there was a tremendous performance by Gill Talbot riding
Malabar Storm and her
crew (husband Rob) who achieved a Gold award and also:
The AHS SUMMER
SHEET; To the Pure Bred Arab finishing in the highest category with the
best recovery rate throughout the competition.
The LAYBROOK CHALLENGE;
Presented by the late Mr Charles and Mrs Shippam to the highest placed
Pure Bred Arab.
The TOP LADY; Presented by Mr W D Francis to the highest
placed lady.
The HILTON HERBS VETERAN HORSE; To the highest placed horse
foaled prior to 1996.
The PREMIER AWARD; To the highest placed horse
that, in the opinion of the veterinary panel, is best capable of
travelling a further 40 km.
Gill Talbots 2011 GHS Awards!
We were all extremely pleased to share in
Gill’s success and her long time ambition to win the Premier Award at
the Golden Horse Shoe.
There was an extra special award with a cake
baked especially for the occasion which a few of us enjoyed later that
evening in celebration of everyone’s success this year (and very nice it
was too – despite Rob’s method of cutting it up!).
Rob Talbot prepares to carefully cut the
cake!
We can’t wait for the 2012 Golden Horse Shoe!
A very happy Gill Talbot at the half-way vet
gate
A mass of riders flank Mary King leaving the
Landacre Bridge crew point
Chris Wray being crewed at Landacre Bridge by his Mum