West Riding Group EGB

Chair/PR/Welfare/Equipment/Rides Co-ordinator

Scholes

Holmfirth

Tel: 01484 681423
Email: juliemartin140@tiscali.co.uk

I was introduced to Endurance Riding in 1975 when I picked up Ann Hyland’s Beginners Guide to Endurance Riding.  Joined the Endurance Horse and Pony Society the following year, and in 1977 joined the British Horse Society Long Distance Riding Group. 

Did my first rides in 1977, a 30 mile qualifier followed by a 50 mile championship which turned out to be 56 miles on the day – a baptism by fire!!  This was on Mystic Spice, an arab cross connemara, mare who was followed the next year by Swansong of Shamala and we formed a good partnership. 

We went on to do the North Yorkshire Championship, the Golden Horseshoe 3 times, Goodwood 100 miles in 2 days (1^st 1983), Summer Solstice 100 miles (twice), Montcuq (3^rd), just a few of the highlights of Songs’ career.  BHS high point champion in 1983, Endurance Horse & Pony Champion 1986. 

Other horses I have owned and ridden in endurance: Martini Myxit, Whisper, Fenland Crown, Ridel, Martini Moonlight (Billy), and Solitaire’s Star (Jilly). 

I have also ridden horses in competition for other people including: Coxwold Whisper, Coxwold Blue Grouse, Coxwold Dollar Grouse, Masquerade, Silver Zora, Zorexa, and Manichee.

Have spread the word, or in other words infected many people with the endurance bug and will continue to do so as I believe the bond built with your horse through training and competing is a magical one.

Looking forward to helping the group enjoy the future.

Julie is pictured wearing the number 10 bib at the Lindum Team Spirit ride in 2005 - she was the only one in our team to pass the vet!

Kerry Dawson
Castleford
West Yorkshire
Mob: 07818 283144
Email: kerrydawson2319@yahoo.co.uk

Kerry and Spud (Ffortune) pictured at North Norfolk Coastal Ride 2009 - Photo taken by West End Photography

Actually, it's all that Julie Martin's fault! 

A long time ago, back in the dark ages when I was nowt but a wee nipper, I started riding at a little riding school in Carlton, Claypit Lane Riding School, on the outskirts of Snaith.  Julie Martin and her daughters Emma and Lucy ran it and we spent most of our time having the time of our lives hacking around the surrounding countryside (mostly on a grey arab called Kes) up and down the back lanes around Camblesforth and Hirst Courtney. 

See!!  Evidence of it all being Julie's fault!!!

I was lucky enough to meet Julie when I was a youngster and the long distance hacking bug was well and truly set in my heart through riding with both herself and her daughters.  Several years later, I bought my first horse, Joe and as both of us loved hacking and we weren't going to have that glittering showjumping career I'd bought him to aim for, I started looking into long distance riding.  It was then I stumbled across an endurance forum named EuroEnduro.  When Pat Dodd put out a plea for a crew for Normanby Park ride I jumped at the chance to learn more about the sport and I've been well and truly hooked on Endurance ever since.

I am owned by several horses, my ex point-to-point Thoroughbred Joe who occasionally comes out of his very comfy retirement home to go and do an EGB pleasure ride or two, another ex point-to-point Thoroughbred called Oliver who's his bestest buddy and thoroughly enjoying retirement, my grey Arab Spider/Spud/Ffortune who I share with Esther who's currently doing 40km+ rides who features heavily on this website, and my Welsh x Shetland Toby who we're aiming to break to drive if I ever get the time 

I ran the Moorhouses Endurance Ride (with Esther) held at the beginning of September on the outskirts of Doncaster for several years; I have crewed for many different riders at all levels from pleasure riders to international riders in major ER's.  I have also served time as vet gate steward/vet writer, time keeper, gate and road crossing marshal, and route marker at many events around the country.  

I am committed to the welfare of the horse and fully support the ethos “to finish is to win”.   

Esther Young
Castleford
West Yorkshire
Email: essy@mrstiggywinkle.freeserve.co.uk

Esther and Guadalcazar pictured at North Norfolk in 2005 - Photo taken by West End Photography

I've always been into long hacks, and I only wish I had discovered it when I had my old mare. I didn't get involved in those days because I thought you needed a crew and I thought it was all really competitive. So we just carried on trail riding and hacking and hunting.

Anyhows, after doing loads of long slow distance work to get Harry's ligament right, I figured I may as well give it a go. I wrote to the EHPS and BERA, and the EHPS was the only one that replied. I also remember
reading about Ossie Hare's death and thinking that he sounded like someone who was really passionate about what he had been involved with, and that it was worth a second look.

Then a short while later I bumped into 2 EHPS members when I was on a sponsored ride (have no idea who they were, but thank you if it was you), and they told me a bit more about it so I took the plunge and sent my cheque off. Did some rides and me and the horse loved it.

Then a couple of months into the next season, I realised I had to kick my farrier into touch, so I rang my local group chairman for some farrier recommendations.....she (Val) seemed OK (I never did have very good judgement :-P), so I joined the local group. Next thing I know I'm crewing for Val on a 75 mile ride! The rest, as they say, is history.

Treasurer/Membership Liaison

Heck
Near Goole
East Riding
Tel: 01977 661107
Email: sue@headlandelectrics.co.uk

A snowy Sue riding Kalisha at the Wombwell Pleasure Ride showing off our new bibs - Photo taken by Terry Headland

Kath Lomas
Laughton-en-le-Morthen
South Yorkshire
Tel: 01909 565151
Email: kath_buttonmoon@live.co.uk

I did my first competitive trail ride on 26 May 1996 as an EHPS member.  It was Salisbury Plain and it was 25 miles.  I was hooked!!! 

I have been involved in horses all my life and have tried a number of different disciplines but Endurance is the one I like best.  The friendliness, helpfulness and general camaraderie at events cannot be found anywhere else and I am convinced that this is because nobody wins on the day - unless you are in an endurance ride but even then the welfare of the horse is paramount.

I work full time and have two horses, two dogs and a rabbit.  My arab is 21 and reitred from competition and my thoroughbred ex-racehorse is 6 and waiting to burst onto the endurance scene!!!

I also work as an animal communicator and Reiki practitioner and am a qualifies Essential Oil Therapist for animals.

Groups Liaison/Health and Safety

Jeni riding Flurrie to victory in the 160k national ride held at Dukeries EGB event - photo by Terry Headland

Jeni Gilbert
Skelmanthorpe
jeni_gilbert@hotmail.com
Tel: 01484 863 506

PR/Pony Club and Riding Club Liaison

One fateful day in 1982 Pauline Morris , a fellow member of Ackworth Riding Club , suggested I should accompany her on a long distance ride organised by EHPS at Wentbridge , just down the road from where we live. Both I and my then Welsh Cob , Okeden Frenin , thoroughly enjoyed ourselves finishing with a Grade Two and the rosette for the Best Native . We were hooked and the following season signed up with EHPS . Frenin , who became John's regular mount , was succeeded by nephew Meteor , who completed 15 seasons and clocked up 5,000 competitive miles . He wasn't the fastest or most co-operative of animals and it was a relief that Okeden Orient Express turned out to be so different.. I should have had him 20 years ago !

Pauline and I started the South Yorkshire Ride in the mid-eighties and I carried on with it when she left Yorkshire for Cornwall , finally giving up as organiser in 2000. I served two and a bit terms on the Council of EHPS during the period of negotiations to bring about the merger of EHPS and BERA. I have been on the West Yorkshire Group committee before and have done the jobs of secretary and newslettter writer.
I am also involved on the wider equestrian scene having been BHS Regional and County Chair for longer than I like to think.

I help to run the Ackworth Group of RDA which I started in 1976 and I'm also a trustee of the Northern Racing College at Rossington .
I think I can claim the credit for having influenced a few EGB members in the Ackworth area to get involved in long distance riding !

Alison Harris
Ackworth
Pontefract
Tel: 01977 795 450

You can email us with any news, ride reports, diary dates, or about anything and everything by emailing us at kerrydawson2319@yahoo.co.uk 

Alternatively, just take a look above at our individual introductions and you'll find our individual address and telephone number details posted up there.  Feel free to ring us or send us a letter, we promise we don't bite.

And we LOVE to hear what you're up to!!! Hint, hint!

Go on, do it today!