Press
release – Camelford Ride Report
The last competitive ride of this season for members
of the South West Group of Endurance GB was the
Camelford Ride - and what a ride it was.
Organiser Jan Kane provided a route that went
out onto one of the remotest and most spectacular
parts of Bodmin Moor, where only the local farmers
and really serious walkers venture.
Two of the competitors in the 20 mile class were
Janthea and Charles Newman from Cullompton .
“We usually go to the rides organised by
the Wessex group,” said Janthea. “But
this year we have come to as many south west rides
as we could. With the M5 and the A30 it only took
us just over an hour and a half to get here and
where else would you get such beautiful country
to ride over.”
A golden autumn day provided the ideal conditions
for the ride and the last few dry weeks meant that
the going was excellent over the springy turf of
the moor. It was fortunate that the weather was
good, as this ride goes right out onto the high
moor where you can ride for hours with only the
sheep and the buzzards for company.
Fortunately, the motorcycle members
of the Cornwall branch of the TRF (Trail Riders
Fellowship) had
marked the route with their usual expertise, and
only two out of the 60 plus competitors took unplanned ‘diversions’.
From the venue, the route climbed
steeply up through narrow lanes and tracks to
the moor at Harpur’s
Downs. From here the riders turned south to ride
across Treswallock Downs to Checkpoint Two by Bolatherick.
From here, to where I was sitting
at Checkpoint Three on Davidstow Moor, is a long,
long stretch
of wild moorland that goes right across King Arthur’s
Downs and Steping Hill towards Rough Tor. On the
outward route, competitors kept to the eastern
slopes of the Tor, skirting the boggy area above
Rough Tor marsh and passing the end of the plantation,
heading north acrodd Davidstow Moor.
From my position on the track near Moorhead, I
could see them in the distance, cantering and trotting
downhill past the dark shape of Lanlavery rock
and then uphill to the road, where most of the
crews were waiting with drinks for horses and riders.
The return route went along the western side of
Rough Tor and Checkpoint Four near the carpark,
giving the many visitors and walkers there a wonderful
view of the horses and riders as they cantered
past.
From here it was a shorter stretch,
back past Logan Rock to Harpur’s Down and
home.
Thanks must go to Jan Kane for
all her hard work in organising the route, and
all the stewards and
volunteers whose hard work provided such a wonderful
day to end this summer’s competitive endurance
rides.
“Janthea Newman on Aden Silver Moonlight with her husband Charles on
Semil Lady Victoria Plum, competing in the Camelford Ride on Bodmin Moor.
Photo by Kim Goostrey, mbaphotos.
Jane Holden
