Scottish Endurance Riding Club - Grampian Branch
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Scottish Endurance Riding Club - Grampian Branch
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Strathdon Ride Report – Tony Comerford
Well we call our club the Scottish Endurance Riding Club, and this was meant to be an endurance ride. It was meant to be challenging, exciting, fun, but the parameters were also meant to be achievable. There was meant to be something for everyone, from the extreme to the straightforward. But it was not meant to be a stroll in the park. I think we achieve this. The organisers were upset by some negative comments which often manage to hit harder than the positive ones, but after a while calmed down and started to listen to the positive ones – a true endurance ride; great country; wonderful views; well marked; friendly venue; good training for the Golden Horseshoe. I think on balance that we had a good day, we beat the weather, the sun shone, the snow melted, and the water level in the Don dropped. The helping team named below were amazing. They were cheerful, efficient, and dedicated all day from 8 am to 6 pm. Vet, Farrier and Raynet too were all great. Thank you. However, there was an accident and we all wish those involved a full and speedy recovery. The only positive thing about this was that it tested our emergency procedures – and I have to say that we passed the test. The vet was on site within a few minutes due to accurate reporting of location and efficient communications. As for the dreaded drainage boxes which caused this accident and also removed a few shoes, they are a hazard of hill tracks and are designed to stop the roads being washed away. Here are a few things you can do .. 1) Dismount and lead downhill over these 2) Walk round them 3) Train your horse to step over them with care. The boxes are not going to go away so it is up to us to deal with them. This was the last Strathdon ride – the venue is due to be ploughed, and the organiser is needing a break. I would like to thank everyone who has supported and ridden this ride over the last ten or twelve years. It has been both a challenge and fun to organise, stressful but satisfying. Perhaps someone else may care to take up the baton – I’ll happily pass on all contacts and route ideas. Helpers were: Lorna Hogg – Chief Steward Gordon Munro – Vet Steward and PR trot ups Ruth McMinn, Ruth Riddell & Pat Williams – Administration Debbie Wilson – Vet writing & demarking Karen Comerford – Vet writer, marking, demarking, typing and moral support David Clucas – Timekeeper Marc Schulter – Road steward Lachlan & Angela Wilson – Road stewards Roger & Brenda Searle – marking and demarking Tony Comerford – Organiser Neil Crosling – vet Bill Chapman - Farrier ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Strathdon comments
David and I so enjoyed Strathdon - it had looked as though
we were doomed not to go - lost shoe, flat tyre etc but we got there and loved
it. The views were amazing and the weather was better than we could have hoped
for. Both our horses were sound as a pound the next day - even old boy (18) and
his Boa boots (without gaiters - the gaiters had given him a small rub the day
before) were perfect. Would recommend them - they didn't move or rub at all. _________________________________________________________________
Wow - that's really good news (Best Condition in the 30k
class) - Blue loved the route - Thanks again Grampian. Blue is having a
deserved break & is looking a bit um.. rounded!
Marion McDonald, Argyll Branch phoned Lorna regarding
Strathdon to give her thanks for the ride and her special thanks to Tony for the
care, advice and time he took to make sure that everyone was ok at the snow
area- she thought he did a great job by going up there on foot and building a
wee cairn to mark the safe way and for meeting them coming off the hill. _________________________________________________________________
Thank you Grampian for today's ride, true endurance ride.
Disco went well with Temba (after losing Fiona and Nico. glad you're both ok x).
We even picked up BC!!! Sooo chuffed. Really sorry for all who had mishaps at
these horrible things. _________________________________________________________________
Thank you Grampian for a great ride today, really enjoyed
it, superb views and even some red deer. We were a bit behind time on the first
part but caught up easily on the homeward stretch, almost too much! _________________________________________________________________
Hiya, _________________________________________________________________
Thanks to the ride organisers and folk who helped on the
day, they did a fab job. I found it a very challenging ride as its only my
second competitive one. _________________________________________________________________ Thanks very much for all the info, also a big thank you for a very good viewing ride, please pass on my thanks to everyone involved in the organisation of a very testing ride at a very good location. (Endurance as I remember it tough and friendly) Thanks again for a very good day. Regards Ali _________________________________________________________________
Hi Ruth _________________________________________________________________
Really enjoyed yesterday. The scenery and weather were
amazing!! _________________________________________________________________
Can you pass on a big thankyou to everyone from Grampian,
you made me feel very welcome and regardless of the problems we had I really
enjoyed the ride and hope to get over to some more during the season. |
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