Long Distance Ride

SUNDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2022

After nearly 2 years due to restrictions we were fortunate enough to eventually run our long distance ride on the 3rd October at Hasketon by kind permission of Julia Taylor. This was a 12 mile route over lovely grassy tracks. The rain the night before meant that the going was perfect and it was lovely to see so many horses out enjoying a good gallop. Hopefully we will organise another event there in the spring.

SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2019

It was a cold and rather damp start to the day and the forecast was for strong winds later but nevertheless the route was marked out by James for our Christmas ride in Rendlesham Forest.

Trailers and boxes started to arrive and slowly the riders set off for their 12 mile ride. The weather did get brighter and the sun came out but it did slowly get more windy that did not deter our riders and although we only had 16 set off all enjoyed themselves and returned to hot soup, rolls and a mince pies.

Thank you to Jacquie, Colin and Cress for manning the check points, James for marking the route and Anne for her soup. It was nice to see some Finn Valley members Isabella, Julia, Anne, Becky & Luisa support the ride.

Lets hope when we have the next one in March the weather will be kind to us and we will see many more riders.

March 31st 2019

It was a rather chilly start to the day for our Long Distance Ride in Rendlesham Forest.

With it being Mothering Sunday we were not sure how many people would turn up but slowly they started to arrive and soon there were a few ready to start the ride just before 10am which had been marked out by our Chairman James, 12 miles round the forest.

We had 27 riders pre enter but as the morning progressed more started to turn up the last ones to start the ride set off at 11.25.

After a couple of hours riders started to return and said what a lovely ride it was, after untacking their horses they were given a cup of soup, roll and a rosette and all said they could not wait for the next ride in October.

It was nice to see some Finn Valley members taking part, Julia Hicks, Rosie Stevens, Becky de Bree, Anne Corke and Luisa Edwardes.

Thank you to all the helpers without them we could not run these events, Jacquie & Colin at one check point, Anne Chaplin at another, Julia being the photographer for the day, Cress helping and James for marking the course.

Another very successful Long Distance Ride.

Report by Barbara Smith

October 2017

It was a beautiful Sunday morning on arrival at Rendlesham Forest the sun was just coming through and we were set for lovely weather and a long day. James and Thomas were out on their bikes marking the route. People started to arrive as from about 9am all eager to get started on their ride, first ones setting off at 10am.

During the morning more and more riders arrived and by 12 noon all had left the start. The sun was out and it was very warm for an October day. Slowly riders started to return and after untacking their horses/ponies finished their ride with a hot cup of soup and a roll (ice creams probably would have been better!) plus a rosette.

We had 75 riders unfortunately only 4 of them were Finn Valley members, the most we have ever had on one of our rides and everyone said they had a lovely time and look forward to the next one in March, plus we made a fantastic £948.76 profit. Thanks also must go to Cress, Jacquie & Colin for manning the check points and of course James for marking the course.

Report by Barbara Smith

March 2017

On Sunday 19th March we ran another one of our Long Distance Rides in Rendlesham Forest. It was a lovely morning and slowly people arrived and then left in groups for either the 12 miles or a shorter ride. This time James had marked the route in the reverse direction.

We had 44 riders in total, 7 being members Becky Chaplin, Anne Corke, Isabella and Shirley Stagg, Ruth Everard, Becky de Bree and Luisa Edwardes. As people started to return they said how lovely the ride was on such a beautiful day and looked forward to the next one. Everyone enjoyed a mug of soup and a roll after sorting their horses.

Thank you to James for marking the course, Cress, Laura, Jacquie and Colin for doing the check points and Anne Corke for making some lovely soup.

See you all at the next one on October 15th.

March 2016

Another successful Long Distance Ride for Finn Valley RC on the 20th March in Rendelsham Forest with 45 riders, slightly down on the last one. Nine of those were members.

The morning started dry with some sunshine and as the riders arrived they set off over the 12 mile route through lovely countryside marked out by James who went round in the morning on his bike with his can of marker spray.

All of the riders came back and said what a lovely ride it was and looking forward to the next one later in the year. At the end of their ride they all had their cup of soup and a roll, and also went home with a rosette. We only lost two or three riders but they did make it back after a while!!

It was nice to see members from the club riding. Thanks also must go to Jacquie, Colin and Gordon for doing the check points and for Cress marking them off when they leave and checking them in on their return, especially as she was about to go on holiday and should have been packing! A big thank you to Anne Corke for the lovely soup and especially to James for marking the course.

Hope to see you again at the next ride.

October 2015

Another successful Long Distance Ride for Finn Valley RC on Sunday 18th October. I have forgotten how many of these rides we have organised but each one seems to get better. We started off with about 35 riders who had pre-booked and then lots started to arrive during the morning and we finished up with 66 riders, the best ever numbers.

It was over 12 miles of lovely countryside round Rendlesham Forest marked out by James Smith who goes round on his bicycle with his can of marker spray. All came back and said what a lovely ride it was and looking forward to the next one in March.

At the end of the ride they all had their cup of soup and a roll, and also went home with a rosette.

It was lovely to see so many Finn Valley members riding this time 11 in fact. Thanks also to our helpers, Cress doing the checking out and in, Colin and Jacquie on one check point and Gordon wearing his recently awarded Club Member hoodie, on another check point. Also a big thank you to Anne Corke and Jackie Street for making lovely soup.

Hope to see you all back next year.

Report Barbara Smith