Press
release – Carn Marth Ride Sunday 7th
Sept
The
countryside surrounding Redruth and Cambourne
in Cornwall doesn’t immediately leap to mind
as an ideal area for endurance riding but, as every
local rider knows, it has hidden potential.
Among the disused chimneys, engine houses and
old mine workings, there are masses of bridleways,
green roads and multi-use tracks that are linked
together to form the amazing 20 mile route of the
Carn Marth Endurance Ride.
“We do have the most road crossing stewards
at any ride in the south west,” said ride
organiser Alex Prout. “There are seven altogether,
all manned by volunteer helpers. I couldn’t
put on the ride without them.”
There
were 66 competitors and pleasure riders at the
ride last Sunday, who enjoyed this year’s
rarity – a dry and sunny day without a single
drop of rain.
Crews
meeting their riders en route do have to be good
map readers. It’s a complicated route
for those new to the area. Fortunately the route
marking was done by the motorcyclist members of
the Cornwall Group of the Trail Riders Fellowship
(TRF), who are very experienced at marking routes
for horse riders. They also patrolled the route
while the ride was taking place and demarked at
the end of the day.
The riders started from the Scorrier X-Country
course and headed southeast to start with, down
the Poldice Valley, returning via the Tailings
Dam then turning west towards Carharrack Sparry
Bottom and on past the Carn Marth open-air theatre
site.
The A393 was crossed between Redruth and Pennance
and the competitors then continued along the sandy
track from Wheal Buller, south of Carnkie, for
a small loop around Treskillard, and then on to
the green road past Bowling Green and the track
around the Carn Brae hill and monument.
From here, the ride skirts Church Coombe before
returning across the main road and heading north
via Busveal and Vogue back to the venue.
Stony
tracks, muddy tracks, grassy tracks and stubble
fields – this ride had them all – plus
some fantastic views of the hills clad in the russet
of autumn bracken with the sea visible in the distance.
Carn
Marth this year, was sponsored by Dobson & Horrell
and the “Horse Box” feedstore, Brinicombe
Equine and First Great Western.
Among
the prize winners were Annie Joppie from Goonhavern
with Fantom, who won the Best Arab.
In the 40 mile class Shannon Smith’s pony
Bomber had the Lowest Pulse. Shannon also won the
prize as Youngest Rider.
17-year-old
Yakamin, ridden by Sue Speed from Minions, had
the Lowest Pulse in the 20 mile class
and the Lowest Pulse for a Novice was won by Tamzin
Williams from Redruth on Ruby’s Moment. The
Best Veteran in the competitive classes was Nimbus,
aged 30 years, ridden by Trudy Hall from Treviscoe.
Other local winners were Tanya Paul from Redruth
on Dixie, who won the Best Shod Prize for their
farrier Chris Burtwell of Equine Footcare and Louise
Selward on Bella, also from Redruth, was the youngest
Pleasure Rider.
Liberty, ridden by Susan Moyle from Camborne,
won the Best Condition award and was also Best
Veteran in the Pleasure Class.
"Caroline Paget on her young Arab Crystal,
riding along the track from Wheal Buller."
Photo by mbaphotos.
Jane Holden
