Latest News!
03/09/10 - Don't forget the Tintern Ride in two weeks time - Closing date is this coming Monday 6th September. Also don't forget the Plump Hill Group Social Ride the following weekend. See the Rides & Events page for more details.
03/09/10 - Congratulations to Angharad and Comet at the Home International
Offa's Dyke member Angharad Morgan was selected for the Welsh team for the recent Home International at Burgie in Scotland.
We have received the following brief report from Angharad's Father, Alan:
Burgie is a LONG way North but Angharad and Comet were real stars. In Scottish terms they needed to do the 40K Novice in 3hrs 38 minutes at a speed of 11 kms per hour and a heart rate below 48. They past the finish line at 3hrs 37 mins and 54 secs which was rounded down to 3hrs 37 mins giving a speed of 11.06. Comet's heart rate was 38 before the trot-up and 41 after. A Gold rosette and no penalties incurred for the team from Harri and Comet, so a job well done.
We've taken some photo's so I hope at least one or two will be worthy of sharing and submitting with an article for the newsletter.
We would like to congratulate Angharad and her family on their success (and also say 'yes please' to some photos and a report!
######################
30/08/10 - A very big Thank You to Gabbie for Under Hay Bluff
Almost 50 riders enjoyed this new ride on Sunday
despite a turn in the weather which actually obscured Hay Bluff for some
of the morning and Gabbie has already received requests to put it on
again next year.
We would like to give Gabbie a very big Thank You for
taking the time and effort to put on this new Group Social Ride, giving
us all the opportunity to ride in this fantastic location.
We did plan to send out our roving rider with the camera but decided
against it with the low cloud, however, Celia Saunders was out on course
and will be uploading photos onto her web site:
www.artantix.co.uk
############
30/08/10 - Gower Gambol Ride needs more helpers
We have heard from David Singleton, the Ride Organiser of De Cymru's Gower Gambol Ride, that they need more helpers for this two-day ride. If anyone can help they should contact David via this link to the Gower Gambol Ride page.
27/08/10 - Under Hay Bluff Group Social Ride is DEFINATELY ON!
Organiser Gabbie Franklin had a phone
call tonight (Friday) from a panic stricken rider who had heard that the
ride was cancelled.
IT MOST CERTAINLY IS NOT!!!!
Everything is going to plan and even the weather forecast is looking
better for the weekend.
##########
25/08/10 - Forest Horse Riders get Cash Boost for Bridleways
We have received the following email from the BHS via Margaret McKiddie:
Horse riding and carriage driving has never been so popular as it is today. With Gloucestershire being voted the horsiest county in the UK by Horse and Hound there has never been more of a need for access to safe off road riding.
Now horse owners, riders and drivers are receiving a much needed grant of £11,000 to improve the bridleways for all non- motorised users in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.
The Forest of Dean Horse Riders and Carriage Drivers Association (FODRCDA) who are affliated to the British Horse Society, have secured the money which is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for European Development 2007-2013: Europe investing in rural areas and which is being delivered through the South West of England Regional Development Agency with Defra as the managing authority.
Jenny Carling, Chair of the FODRCDA who has worked for over three years to secure the money, is positive about the benefits to the area. ‘We are hoping that this work will provide the basis for us to develop a trail that will provide a short break destination for horse riders, carriage drivers, mountain bikers and walkers. Also local equestrians desperately need safer off-road riding and driving opportunities.’
This is good news to Offa's Dyke Group Members as we put on two Group Social Rides and two National Rides in the Forest of Dean each year.
###########################
24/08/10 - What a difference a day makes!
Margaret McKiddie, the organiser of Sunday's Cranham Ride says:
"Many thanks to all those who volunteered to help, at Cranham this year which meant we were able to man a few awkward gates and also provide water at two points on route. Thanks also to those whose prayers produced such a glorious day after Saturday's downpour. A special mention to Piers who not only walked a long way to man an awkward gate but also supplied riders with delicious toffees! Margaret"
Please accept the Web Master's apologies for the delay in posting which is partly due to helping our daughter move house yesterday and partly due to drying out - it was also pretty wet de-marking the route on Monday!
###########################
22/08/10 - More details for the Plump Hill Group Social Ride added to the Rides & Events page.
10/08/10 -
The
Cranham Ride web page has been updated with a revised
ride map and talk through (including distances to the
Check-Points).
#############################
07/08/10 - Cranham Ride update
Update from Margaret (Ride Organiser):
Carolyn now keeps her horse very close to me and we have been riding the
route together and made several alterations, including cutting out the
stony track over Sheepscombe common and the bridle path that skirts the
polo field, where a match is often in progress (rather too exciting for
some). The start and finish of the ride are completely different and all
classes now get to ride the nice top loop through Duntisbourne Abbots.
NCR now also has 2 distance options and other class distances have
changed. The Cranham Ride web page will be updated shortly with a
revised ride map.
Please remember that the closing date for entries is for them to
be post-marked no later than this Monday (9th August) to avoid paying
the late entry fee.
##########################################
07/08/10 - July Newsletter available
to download.
Click here to download
30/07/10 - Under Hay Bluff Group Social Ride update!
Latest update from Ride
Organiser Gabby (30/07/10):
Preparations for the ride continue well, so set aside Sunday 29th August
to join in the fun! There are many opportunities
for long canters and the ride potentially could be quite fast. The
forest long loop making the full 29km is a personal favourite ride of
mine as the tracks are relatively unused and you can bowl on nicely.
So come along and try out ‘Under Hay Bluff’, there is the possibility
that a longer route still could be added next year – I am always one for
planning ahead!!!! Look forward to seeing you on the 29th August.
Gabbie.
Check out the latest news on this new ride on the Under Hay Bluff ride page.
##############################
30/07/10 - Thanks to Karen and John Jones for an excellent Black Mountains Group Ride.
44 riders enjoyed good weather and spectacular views and raised £200 for the local Riding for the Disabled group. A very big thank you to all who rode and especially to Karen, John and all their helpers for putting on this super ride. A ride report from Belinda Stewart will appear in the next newsletter (due out next week).
#########################################
22-06-10 - Help required for the Festival of the Horse
EGB has asked Margaret McKiddie to organise an
Endurance demo to be held at Margam Park on 4th and 5th of September and
she is looking for volunteers to help and to take part in the
demonstration.
5 horses with riders and 8 stewards are needed on each day to put on the
demo, but the more the merrier as it’s an ideal opportunity to talk to
people in and around the area and perhaps recruit some to the sport, or
at least come to some of the rides.
The demo is to be in main arena for 25 minutes and the current thinking
is to use:
3 ER horses/riders
2 pleasure horses/riders
4 people to crew
4 people to Timekeepers/steward /VETS
We expect there will be camping and corralling if people can help on
both days.
Support for Margaret would be much appreciated so if you can help in any
way please contact her on 01452 813670
######################################################
15/12/09 - Adam Henson, owner of the Cotswold Farm Park and TV presenter on Country File has agreed to give a £3 reduction (to £15) on 2010 Cotswold Farm Park Fun Rides to Offa's Dyke members in exchange for an advert in our January Newsletter & on the web site. This is a big boon to any of our riders who go there. The web site is www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk and the leaflet with all the details is available here. Members should take along their membership card and trophy card to identify them as Offa's Dyke members.
15/12/09 - Observant members will have noticed that we feature the Khazan logo on our web pages. They have paid to advertise in 2010 on the web site and in the newsletter. It would be appreciated that you mention Offa's Dyke Group if you buy anything from Khazan in 2010 so they know that their advertising was worthwhile (and encourage them to continue with their advert in the future).
Note - old news has been archived. Click
here if you want to access the news archive.
© Offa’s Dyke Group of Endurance GB – All rights reserved