Govilon Group Social Ride
Please note that this ride will not run in 2012
We would like to give a big THANK YOU to Nicola, Belinda, Nicola's family and all her friends who helped make this ride so enjoyable in 2010 and 2011. We have decided to run this ride bi-annually and so the next opportunity that you will have to experience it will be in 2013.
Equine Pix Photography were at Govilon in 2011 to capture the day and appeared to be everywhere! The photos have been uploaded onto their web site at:
Just click on 'Events' and open the Govilon web pages.
Our thanks go to EquinePix for sending us these photos for the web site.
Report from 2010:
This was a new ride for 2010 and we would like to give a Big, Big "THANK YOU" to Nicola and all her family & helpers for a fantastic ride. We’d also like to give a big thank you to Belinda (organiser of the nearby Blaenavon Group Social Ride in July) for guiding her through the many potential pitfalls. We noticed lots of clearing & sawn branches so someone (Dad?) been very busy. Thanks as well to the helpers and check point stewards. Everyone we spoke to really enjoyed it. We were certainly blessed with the most perfect weather - and the views were absolutely spectacular! It was a fantastic route, superbly marked, wonderful venue field and perfect weather - what more could you ask for. What a beautiful part of the world we live in. How lucky are we!
The views were amazing and Carolyn was tasked by the web master to take lots of photos for the website. A selection of these have been added to this web page (an exercise that took us longer than expected as some photos needed a bit of work as anyone who has tried to take photos with one hand whilst steering your horse up a Welsh hill will appreciate!).
Thanks again to Nicola and all her family & friends for giving up their Sunday for us. What a fabulous turnout with 83 entries!
There were two routes; 16km & 25km (10 & 16
Miles) with some
steep climbs over the Blorenge offering beautiful views. It
wasn't intended to be a fast ride, but some tracks were suitable for long canters
and the ride provided excellent training.
The O.S Landranger Grid reference is 263 142 for the venue.
Photo's by Carolyn Edwards (click on the picture for a larger image)
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The excellent venue overlooked by the Blorenge. The route took the riders around the Blorenge just above the tree-line giving good fittening climbs and spectacular views. |
| A gentle start over the canal provided a good warm-up to the subsequent climb around the Blorenge. |
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Stunning views from the Blorenge near the start of the ride show how lucky we are to be able to ride in this area. We were also very fortunate with the weather, as the previous few days had been appalling (which is when the course was being marked!). |
| Two riders enjoying the beautiful weather and good riding conditions. |
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Jan Rath (who was riding with Carolyn) approaches the 'chicken' rock (I don't know if that is what it is called, but we think it looks like a chicken sitting on some eggs!) |
| Riders enjoying this new Group Social ride and the stunning views offered in this part of Wales. |
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Jan Rath pauses (or is that poses?) and admires the view allowing our intrepid photographer a chance to take a picture using both hands for once! |
| Jan Rath and Lady Dancer enjoy the fantastic view from around the Blorenge (how lucky are we to be able to ride in such a superb location and have great weather as well!). |
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Gill Talbot and Jan Rath ride out on a wilder part of the route. |
| Riders coming up from the road into a wilder part of the Blorenge. |
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Typical of the stunning scenery from the Blorenge made all the more impressive by the beautifully sunny conditions. |
| Gill Talbot checks the location as the riders turn for home. |
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Jan Rath and Lady Dancer are caught almost in silhouette as they turn to head home from a fantastic ride. |
| The proud photographer celebrates getting round, succeeding in the task of taking pictures and not loosing the camera! (Photo by Jan Rath) |
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