Tough Exmoor produces medals galore
A combination of Exmoor's weather and terrain proved just too much for riders and horses in this year's two-day, 100-mile Exmoor Golden Horseshoe.
No one achieved Gold standard, but there were two Silver and three Bronze awards.
But the new Exmoor Experience class, designed to give riders the taste of a two-day ride over the moor, but limited to just 25 miles each day, produced two Gold, seven Silver and five Bronze medals and a batch of hopeful, 100-mile riders for the future.
Organiser Barbara Wigley, who this year found a new venue and a new course, said: 'The elements plotted against us, although I think the rain and mud were less harmful to the horses than the baked ground just a week before the event.
'We are thrilled with the enthusiasm and support we have had this year and the results from the new Exmoor Experience class. It is sad that there were no gold awards in the hundred, but it is classed as the hardest endurance course in this country.'
Belfast solicitor Helen McFarland and her partbred Arab, J St Jake, winner of last year's 100-mile Highland Fling and the 75-mile Northern Championships, took home one of this year's special prizes - a free entry to next year's Tevis Cup in California, 100 miles between Lake Tahoe and Auburn.
Exmoor Experience Gold winner Alex Nicholls, from Tregaron in Wales, was a member of the successful 2005 Welsh endurance team with her Arab/Cleveland Bay gelding, Jimmy Mac. Alex's answer to the heartbreak of losing her first husband was to buy a new trailer and 4x4 and 'go to lots of rides.'
'Lots of friends and my horses got me through it,' she says.
The second Gold went to Liz Taylor, from Newent, Gloucestershire, and her purebred Arab, Karaanza, who were on their first Golden Horseshoe campaign, were second in last year's Red Dragon and won the 75-mile Lindum Spirit.
The third two-day ride of 50 miles and 25 produced three Silver and two Bronze Medals.
Results
Exmoor Golden Horseshoe, two days, 80/80kms.- Silver, David Yeoman (Eleazar de Landas); Helen McFarland (J St Jake). Bronze, Avril Bruce (Auchengean Khalif); Candy Cameron (King of Darkness); Carolyn Baxter (Nadezdha).
Exmoor Stag, two days, 80/40kms.- Silver, Brian Davies (Greystone Taurus); Carolyn Paget (Midnight Mischief); Libby Whittome (Imagine). Bronze, Katherine Letherby (Diamonds Belkira); Jo Chisholm (Grey Medlar).
Exmoor Experience, two days, 40/40kms.- Gold, Alex Nicholls (Jimmy Mac); Liz Taylor (Karaanza). Silver, Delwyn Hall (Duette); Jo Williams (Siyah); Ray Davison (Saintwestwell Silver Mask); Peter Friend (Totem Blue); Anne Short (Another Chance); Jill Wilson (Aveiro); Carol Fricker (Silver Linnet). Bronze, Karen Jones (Wolferlow Dakota); Vicky Clink (Drumghigha Shanti); Jan Rath (Lady Dancer); Kaz Jones (Her-Maori Serenade); Susan Cox (Trioletta).
Exmoor Eighty Competitive Ride, one day, 80kms.- 1, Sara Hymas (CJ's Bluemoon); 2, Annie Lang (Windy Miller); 3, Debbie Williams (Clinwil Charmaine).
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