2012 Rides and Events

Please note that most rides have their own web page which contain more details and information. These can be accessed by clicking on the underscored title of the relevant ride.

Introduced in 2011, the Try Before You Buy scheme is an opportunity for those new to endurance riding to enter a novice competitive ride up to 40km before applying to become an EGB member and registering their horse. Successful completion of the ride is awarded with an appropriate rosette. No trophy points can be gained and no progression towards novice qualification can be gained. This offer is purely to allow non-members to experience a competitive ride and is limited to two rides per applicant.

Try Before You Buy can be only applied for online and rides must be entered on line.

Link to TBYB details

Sunday 13 May

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Adam Henson, owner of the Cotswold Farm Park and TV presenter on Country File has again agreed to give a £3 reduction on 2012 Cotswold Farm Park Fun Rides to Offa's Dyke members in exchange for an advert in our Newsletter & on the web site. This is a big boon to any of our riders who go there. The web site is www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk and the leaflet with all the details is available here. Members should take along their membership card and trophy card to identify them as Offa's Dyke members.

Sunday 20 May

Beyond Novice Training Afternoon - Session 1

Sunday 20 May at Delwyn Hall's home, Holme Lacy

The Offa's Dyke group will be providing training for those who are in the process of moving on from Novice rides and 40km - and those who are considering (or may be in the future) doing so.

The training will be in two phases - the first will be without horses, and the second will be a session practicing the skills discussed in the first session - so to get the benefit of the training you should plan on attending both sessions.

Session 1 will be held at 13:30 on Sunday 20th May at Delwyn Hall's house just outside Holme Lacy. The format of the session will be a moderated panel discussion so will cover subjects those attending wish to raise - but the intention is to cover all aspects of preparation for longer rides and vetgates, undertaking them, and aftercare. We expect much of the time will be spent getting everyone comfortable with doing vetgates, including checking pulses.

We intend to have a vast amount of the Offa's Dyke experience on the panel - Lesley Dunn, Gill Talbot, Sarah Rogerson and Rachael Rogerson have indicated support for the training (though foaling duties would take precedence on the day for some panel members!) - moderator will be Chris Wray.

Session 2 will be commence at 12:30 on Saturday 2nd June at Treworgan Farm (between Welsh Newton and Llangrove). Here there are miles of field headlands to simulate a ride, crewpoints, and we will set up a dummy vetgate with timekeepers, stewards and "vets".

This session will be for those attending to practice what they learned on the first session, and to go through several vetgates during the afternoon. The "panel" from the first session will be there to watch, offer suggestions, and help you. So you would need to bring your horses and equipment and your crews! Don't worry if you don't have crew to bring - you will be taking turns at being crew so you get to see the vetgate from all perspectives!

All enquiries and entries to be on the Offa's Dyke Social Ride entry form - per the link below - price will be £20 covering both sessions.

Send your entry forms and cheques to:

Chris Wray, Pentrewheeler, Cwmcarvan, Nr MONMOUTH, NP25 4PL.

other contact details: , 01600-860938, 07856 500519.

Please send your entries to arrive by 17th May, after that date we intend to open up, space permitting, to other EGB Groups.

Click here for the entry form

Sunday 27 May	Novice Training Afternoon
Sunday 27 May 1.30 to 4.30pm at Tump Farm, Whitchurch. Each year we run a novice afternoon seminar. This is an informal event, for all our newer members and associate members. Anyone who is riding at Novice Level or doing non-competitive rides (pleasure rides) is welcome to come along free of charge. Crews also very welcome. Click here for more details

Saturday 02 June	Beyond Novice Training Afternoon Session 2
Saturday 02 June at Treworgan Farm, Welsh Newton. Details as per Session 1 - 20th May above.

16 & 17 June

Ludlow NCR, CR & ER, Ludlow Race Course

We have unfortunately had to cancel Ludlow 2012.
Thank you to all who offered to help.

The Organisers, Judith and Richard Taylor, have moved to Cirencester and because of the distance, they are unable to develop the route, liaise with the landowners and take on the local side of organising this great ride. They therefore felt that at this stage they would prefer to cancel this years ride. However, they hope to be able to form an Organising Committee which would then be able to concentrate on planning a really great ride in 2013.

Please if you are able to be involved in Ludlow 2013.

Sunday 17 June

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Thursday 21 June	Committee Meeting
7:30 pm at Whitchurch and Ganarew Memorial Hall

Sunday 8 July

Blaenavon Group Social Ride, Whistle Inn, Waunafon

Plenty of cantering over open hills with fantastic views. Incorporates part of the National Cycle Network. Pub open all day. Non riding members can visit Big Pit National Coal Museum within walking distance of the venue. 16km & 26km routes.

Click here for a copy of the 2011 ride map

Please note that this is a Group Social Ride so your entry fee cheque should be payable to Offa’s Dyke Group of Endurance GB.

Entry Fees: EGB members and Associate members £10, temporary day-members £18.

Click here for more information

Click here for a Word version of the Offa's Dyke Group Social Ride Entry Form
or
Click here for a pdf version of the Offa's Dyke Group Social Ride Entry Form

Sunday 8 July

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Saturday 14 July	Offa's Dyke Social BBQ
Saturday 14 July 6pm to 9pm - rain or shine. Colliers View, Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean. Group BBQ - bring your own meat/veggies, bread, booze and chair. We provide the salads, sauces, hot BBQ's and a great atmosphere! Nice to have a social event in the forest where we have such happy rides at March Hares & Bluebell. Click here for further details

Sunday 29 July

Cranham NCR & CR, Cranham, Gloucester

We have built on the successful route developed last year where we kept the best bits of earlier routes, removed the more stony sections & rode others in a different direction, which all made the route ride better. The 40km route now has no repeat sections. The 48km (50km) route repeats the 24km route twice with a return mid point to the venue. The advantage of this is that it is now more achievable with a limited crew. The 64km class does the 40km route followed by a short 24km route.

The Non Competitive Ride (NCR) now has a choice of 30km or 16km.

Please Note! - this is a National ride (i.e. in the National Schedule in the EGB Handbook and on the Endurance GB website). It is not a group Social or Training Ride.

Non-members and Group Associate Members may enter Class 8; the NCR 30km where the entry fee is £24 or Class 9; the NCR 16km where the entry fee is £21. You will have a farrier check and will trot your horse for the vets before and after the ride.

Click here for more information

Sunday 29 July

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Sunday 19 August

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Sunday 2nd September	Tintern NCR & CR, Trellech, Monmouthshire
Very scenic, views of River Wye. Mostly in Forestry Commission evergreen woodland. Made-up limestone forest tracks and routes of earth, grass, round gravel, earth/fixed rocks or tarmac. Classes from 15km to 65km. Please note that Group Associate Members and Non-members may only enter Class 8; the 27 km NCR or Class 9; the 15km NCR (Non Competitive Ride). Click here for more information

Sunday September TBA	Plump Hill Group Social Ride, Drybrook, Forest of Dean
16km & 25km routes (10 & 16 Miles). Over undulating forestry tracks in the northern Forest of Dean. Includes a couple of steeper climbs and good views of the river Severn. Please note that this is a Group Social Ride so your entry fee cheque should be payable to Offa’s Dyke Group of Endurance GB.

Sunday 9 September

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Sunday 30 September

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Sunday 21 October

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Sunday 11 November

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Sunday 2 December

Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride

Saturday 8 December

Offa's Dyke AGM and Trophy Evening, 7:30pm,
Agincourt Hall, Bridges, Monmouth, NP25 5AS

All Members, Associate Members, friends and partners are very welcome to come along and enjoy this fun and sociable evening. The Agincourt Hall at Bridges is a lovely venue with bar facilities available to us (see below for details). This year we have again been lucky enough to book the largest room, so loads of space to spread out and enjoy ourselves!

There is no charge for this evening and anyone is free to come along. To help towards the costs, we always have the ever popular raffle, which helps pay for the hire of the hall. We’d be grateful if everyone brings a small raffle prize along on the evening.

Once again we are having an ‘American Supper’. Please bring along a plate of savoury food to share. We will provide deserts, plates, cutlery etc. Drinks are available to buy from the bar.

Food will be followed by a brief Annual Meeting - hear how the group got on this year and how well our members did in competition. This will be followed by our Awards Presentation. Rosettes and trophies will be given to Members and Associate Members, from pleasure ride rosettes to highpoint trophies! To see last year’s winners and trophies visit our AGM 2011 page.

Finally the ever popular raffle will be drawn. So please bring along a raffle prize to share.

Directions:

From A40 Ross-on-Wye, A466 Chepstow (turn left off the Monmouth Wye Bridge): After the Monmouth Wye Bridge traffic lights take the slip road before the tunnels (caution, 30mph) and turn Right at the end, then Left at the mini-roundabout at the bottom of the hill.

From A40 Raglan: Immediately after the tunnels approaching Monmouth, take the slip road, and go Straight Over the mini-roundabout.

From the mini-roundabout, take the left lane and go straight on at the traffic lights, straight over the roundabout and right fork at the mini-roundabout (Drybridge House is on your left at this point). After about 30 yds, turn left into Drybridge House grounds, and follow the road round left to the car park.

Type NP25 5AS into satnavs.

Further details at http://www.drybridge-house.co.uk/contact-us.html

Sunday 30 December

Christmas Cracker Ride, Staunton, Forest of Dean

Note the earlier date for our Christmas Cracker Ride!

Chase away those post Christmas 'Blues' with our last ride before the new year!

January's ride organiser, Suzanne Garlick, has very kindly agreed to run this ride again and takes the prize for organising the same ride twice in one year!

As usual, mulled wine and mince pies will be available at the finish!

Click here for more information

More details will be added as soon as we have them.