Exmoor gears up for 2008 Golden Horseshoe Ride
Monday, January 21, 2008
Entries will open shortly (subs - Feb 1) for one of the UK's toughest endurance events, the 100-mile Golden Horseshoe Ride over the demanding Exmoor terrain. There will also be three other rides over the three days starting May 11, plus a popular sponsored ride in aid of local charities.
Classes this year will be.-
The Golden Horseshoe - 160K (100 miles) over two days, 50 miles on each day
The Exmoor Stag - 120K (75 miles) over two days, 50 miles on day one and 25 miles on day two
The Exmoor Experience - 80K (50 miles) over two days, 25 miles on each day
The Exmoor 80 - 80K (50 miles) in one day.
Base this year has been moved, although it is still within Exford, Somerset. Everything - start and finish, pre- and post-ride vetting, administration, trade stands and parking - will be on two fields to the South of the village which are used for the popular Exford Show.
Organiser Barbara Wigley said: "Although the Golden Horseshoe has remained more or less the same since 1974, when it was just 75 miles, we do like to make it as fresh as possible. This year we are moving west to take in some new country which hasn't been used on the Ride for some years. But it is still challenging."
The new route includes open moorland, steep climbs and descents, river crossings, and deep wooded combes and will take in Winsford Hill, Withypool Common, Horsen Hill, Pickedstones, parts of the Tarka Trail, Cheriton Ridge, part of the Doone Valley, Robbers Bridge, Porlock Common and Wilmersham Common.
The halfway halt will be at Honeymead, on land owned by Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen. Sir Stephen and his brother, Robert, have been given special dispensation by the sport's governing body, Endurance GB, to ride the 100-mile route in aid of one of their favourite local charities.
"Classes over the lesser distances will follow some of the 100-mile route," said Mrs Wigley. "But we can assure riders that the challenge in all four classes is not diminished in any way - it will still be a feather in the cap of anyone who achieves Gold, Silver or Bronze."
The sponsored ride will offer two routes, 10 miles in aid of the Moorland Mousie Trust and 16 miles where proceeds will be donated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
