The Cranmore Ride - March 2010

The popular annual Cranmore Fun Ride, run by Mendip Bridleways & Byways Association, took place on a sunny Sunday in late March. The going was good to soft and riders were able to enjoy some decent canters in fine conditions. This year, the ride was limited to a pre booked 100 riders so that each lorry, trailer and van had somewhere dry and safe to park at the East Cranmore Railway Station Car Park.

Neatly shoe-horned in by the stewards, the car park was full by 11am and most riders had set off in fine form, enjoying the sunshine. As well as the eleven mile route, there was a 3 mile alternative for lead rein riders or those wanting to have a shorter and less busy ride.

This is a particularly fascinating ride as it runs alongside the working quarry, with fine views over adjoining countryside and down into the quarry basin. It then continues through the floor of the disused and spooky quarry, with its amazing rock formations, cliffs and rushing river. Several steep hills proved quite a challenge for the mountain bikers riding with the horses and most were liberally mud spattered by their return.

Once back at the venue the horses munched on haynets while the riders, having collected a well earned rosette, enjoyed a bacon buttie from the popular catering van and chose photos of their ride from the Rexphotography van. MBBA is extremely grateful to the East Cranmore Railway for the use of their car park as a ride venue and to all the stewards and helpers who make these rides possible. Riders raised a large amount of money for the improvement and creation of bridleways throughout Mendip and projects have already been earmarked for this year.

The next meeting of MBBA will be at The Mendip Inn on Monday April 12th at 7.30. when there is a special evening with Holly Davis, Horse communicator. For just £5 you can bring a photo of your horse and via Holly, ask it a question!

Cherry Lawson, Chairperson