Endurance Riding Ireland

Classes:

CTR (80km), PR, PC & RH2RH

Date:

Sun 26 May 2019

Branch:

   Ulster Branch

St. Patricks Coast Ride

Report & Results:

ILDRA (Irish Long Distance Riding Association) headed to the North of the country for their ride at Cam Forest near Limavady on the 26th of May. A remote and rugged location, several Competitive Trail Riders and Pleasure Riders turned out to brave the four seasons of the weather on the day and enjoy the quiet forest trails offering views across the edge of the Sperrins Mountain range.

From a cloud-coated forest to bright sunshine, all the weather Northern Ireland has to offer was on show. The attending veterinary was David Nealon, MRCVS, who checked over all the CTR horses, with all competitors passing their respective distances. Congratulations go to Gail Hadden and her horse ‘Diesel’ who successfully completed their first Pre-Novice CTR with ILDRA, riding 11 miles through Cam Forest’s mountainous woodland. Gail was ably guided through the process of endurance riding and the vetting procedure by experienced endurance riders Karina McVeigh and Helen McFarland. There is always plenty of help and guidance available on the day of a ride to assist anyone who is interesting in trying endurance riding and learn more about the discipline.

Thanks go to the ride organisers of Kim Fields, David McAdoo and the Conly family for marking and running the ride on the day. Thanks also go to the Forestry Service for allowing access to Cam Forest. ILDRA’s next ride is on the 9th of June at Tollymore Forest Park offering CTRs and pleasure rides, for further information contact ILDRA’s facebook page or through ILDRA’s website.

Results

18km (11 miles)

Gail Hadden on Diesel.

40km (25 miles)

Emma Hayes on Yasser Arafat.

52km (33 miles)

Karina McVeigh on Cheyenne.


Image Ref: 2478728715484929

More Details:

Cam Forest has extensive tracks available for riding and our route will take in many of them. Cam Forest covers a total of just over 1,300 hectares about five and a half miles east of Limavady, straddling the North Sperrins ridge. The Forest contains a multitude of wildlife from badgers and red squirrels to kestrels and buzzards.

The entrance is off the B66 Limavady (Ringsend Road), which is halfway between Limavady and the main Coleraine – Garvagh A29 road.