From the Chair
The season seems to be flying by. I hope it’s everything you hoped it would be and that you and your horses are enjoying yourselves. I must say that Del and I have been having a great time PR-ing. We went to the Lindum Spirit and did the four days. Del didn’t want to come home – he would have been happy to do another four days.
Kay Counter won the 124k ER at Lindum and our Team Spirit relay team came 5th. Several Derbyshire riders were also well placed in the Pleasure Pairs and the new Lindum Roamer class – what an experience, no markers. Trish and I even managed to find our way back to the venue and came 5th.
Had a lovely ride at Shirley – see ride report. However, after I’d left the venue, Charlotte Curtis was involved in a nasty accident, being kicked by another horse out on course which resulted in her leg being broken in two places. We all wish her a speedy recovery although she will be out of the saddle for several months.
Jackie

Temporary Editor's Note
Well, here I am again. Jean Collins has unfortunately found that other commitments have prevented her from giving as much time as she would like to the newsletter so I have agreed to take over for the next couple of issues.
I have to thank Jean on behalf of everyone for the time and effort which she has put in over the last couple of years – I know it can seem like a thankless task trying to persuade people to put pen to paper (bit of an old-fashioned expression in today’s computer age) – but information is what we are here to give and we have to get it out of you one way or another!!
I think this season has gone faster than any I have ever known. Both our own AGM and the national AGM will soon be upon us. Please at least fill in the postal voting form for the national AGM, even if you don’t make the trek down there. Those postal votes last year really made a difference. I was annoyed this year by people who subsequently complained about the decisions that were made at the AGM and about lack of information. All motions put to the meeting were democratically voted on, especially as everyone had a chance to use a postal vote, and all the results were published in the national magazine.
Both our national rides so far this year were well supported and we still have Carsington and Bakewell to come, as well as social rides at Derwent and Shipley – so plenty still to look forward to. PS – We are going to be looking for a newsletter editor after the AGM, so if anyone fancies having a go but is not quite sure what it involves – give me a ring.
Flick

Helper's Rota
PLEASE CHECK THE LIST BELOW  IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY HELPED THIS YEAR
CARSINGTON – Lesley Cantrill, Gillian Comley, Tracey Edge, Vicky Glaze, Janet Thornhill, Debra Walker, Tracey Walthall, Rachel Walton, Sarah Whiteley.
BAKEWELL - Linda Brewell, Nicola Bunting, Jean Collins, Janie Firth, Gail Hemsley,  Jessica Hotchin, Sarah Hotchin, Ann Pomfret, June Shaw, Ruth Wood
SHIPLEY – Diane Gillings, Carole Counter, Kay Counter, Sharron Fowkes, Ann Harrison, Heather Lilley, Marian Nicholson.
Any problems – please contact the ride organiser at least two weeks before the ride.

Trophy/Mileage Cards
Your trophy cards are soon due for return to Brenda Hallworth. Please make an effort to send them in. We had a disappointing response last year (not disappointing for those people who made the effort and returned from our presentation evening laden with rosettes and trophies).
Even if you have only done a couple of rides – send your card in – those miles soon add up, and you receive a lovely rosette with your horse’s name printed on, for any mileage over 80 km, plus a cumulative rosette if you have been with the group for more than a year.
This year for the first time we are awarding mileage rosettes to all junior riders, 12 years old and under, even if they haven’t done 80km.
If you don’t plan to attend the presentation evening just let us know and we can post your rosette to you. You can even hand your card in to the ride organiser at either the Derwent or Shipley rides if either of these is your last ride of the season. How much more helpful do we need to be? Please try and help us to spend lots of money on you – you’ve done the miles – you deserve it.

Foremark Ride Report
The Foremark Reservoir Ride was held as a competitive ride this year after several years as a social ride. The route largely follows the old EHPS Ticknall ride, but with some new bits added, including 3.5 k of canter tracks along bridleways near the reservoir itself.
The weather was again scorching hot which could have been a problem as there was no water available at the venue, but most people had come prepared and there were no dehydration problems, although quite a few of the pulse rates were higher than normal as a result of the heat, and most of the helpers on the day returned home a lot pinker than when they arrived. Many thanks to those who came to help, you all did a fantastic job.
There were lots of entries which was a relief as the ride was on the same weekend as Ludlow, which is an annual pilgrimage for many riders from the Midlands. The ratio of entries was also very satisfactory at about two-thirds competitive riders to one-third pleasure riders.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the ride, some saying it was the best ride they had done this year, others saying it was the best ride they had EVER done, so there is a strong possibility that we may run a 65k and 50k class next year. We are also thinking of moving the date to May, as this will spread our ride dates out a bit more.
Many thanks to my co-organiser Tracey Brown, who organised the route planning and marking. I think she has now got over the “never again” stage – at least I hope she has. Still, I’ve got plenty of time to talk her round!!
Flick

Shirley Social Ride 9th July 2006
This was a wonderful ride from Linda Reeve’s Park Lane Farm in the tiny village of Shirley, just off the A52 near Brailsford.
It’s several years since I’ve been there and I was quite amazed by Linda’s new route, As I was tacking up it started to rain, but the ride started out through Shirley Park woods and on into Osmaston Park woods, so I kept dry under the trees, when we were in open country it had stopped raining.  I was soon caught up by Sarah Emery and Ginger, so we rode together.  The route went through fields and by hedgerows and through pretty hamlets and up a tree-lined grass driveway by a Hall.  It was lovely, and just goes to show  that a map can be deceiving, there was very little tarmac, and lots of grassy tracks. 
We found Bob looking after a gate, we thought it may rain again, as his car was surrounded by cows – lying down! They were very docile and I think they kept him company!
Sarah and Ginger were experts on the other gates, even the low ones were no trouble for them.  I felt quite guilty letting them do them, but if we’d had a go, we’d still be faffing about now! So thank you, thank you, thank you, to you both, it was great to have your company, we had a good chat as well! On one field we diverted around the well-marked holes, but didn’t manage to catch sight of the badgers or foxes who’d made them!
The last part of the ride was a lovely canter over two of Linda’s own fields.
I was surprised that the numbers of riders on the day was a little lower than on other Derbyshire social rides, maybe like me, those from North Derbyshire thought it may be a little out of their usual travelling distance.  But believe me, it’s easy to get to, and well worth the journey.
However, on the return journey, I missed the turning back to the A52, and as the lane is very narrow, I couldn’t turn around. But hey! now I know which lane to take next time.  (Actually I didn’t get quite that far, I did manage to turn back the way I’d come!)
So thank you Linda and helpers, perhaps you’ll be kind enough to put the ride on again next year?
Jackie and Del

A Note about New Postage Rates
When you send ride entries/SAE’s, please ensure that they have the correct postage stamps.  A5 envelopes over 240 x 165mm will be charged as a Large letter at 44p for first class or 37p for second class. Any under-stamped envelopes will have to be collected from the sorting office with an additional charge of at lease £1.20. You can now buy Large Letter (A4) stamps.

A Walk (Ride) on the Wild Side - NEED TO INC PITURES FROM ARTICLE
Kath Silson [and husband Dick] report on a memorable trip on the PBW.
A journey of two halves – the White and Dark Peak, a woman and her husband [better half] a trusty steed and a bike [borrowed].
A small gap in the awful Easter weather was the signal for the start as we sped [sped?] along the bridleway near Tarmac Quarry, and I tore up the hill to be joined later by a breathless biker [I walked up].  Onwards to join the Pennine Bridle Way at Wormhill in order to miss the picturesque but very steep [quite ridiculous] path out of Wye Dale.
We turned into a lovely low-walled green lane under arching hawthorn hedgerows, down past cowslips [bike slips too] to views of Monks Dale, all very hidden away and secret which made it feel like a real adventure [it was a real adventure].  We followed the route through Weston and onto another green lane, folded into the side of the valley alive with chaffinch and blackbird song to help us on our way [assuming you could hear it above the blood roaring in the ears].
We joined minor roads [tarmac, yippee!] to Peak Forest and Perryfoot and then up the narrow lane [steep again] past alpacas [What are they for, fun?] to Rushop Hall, our first overnight halt.  Homemade biscuits and tea followed by a shower [yes!] and excellent evening meal with wine and coffee by the log burner was just what was needed [Good, let’s go home]. 
Jazz was also well catered for in a roomy stable with loads of hay.  The Hall is a Georgian farmhouse [with much earlier origins] recently completely refurbished and enjoying fabulous views across the fields [alpacas]. Very good breakfast with home-made sausages and a packed lunch saw us fortified for the start of day 2 [raining] as we set off onto the Dark Peak and the 13 miles to Rock Farm [up hill]. 
The bridle way is just up the lane [steep] from the Hall and takes you all the way to Hayfield. This is much more rugged scenery, winding up between the rising peaks, steep in places [most places] and not a person in sight [husbands don’t count]. Skylarks, curlew, pipits and golden plover with the occasional kestrel were our only company. The weather was blustery and damp [raining] but that only added to the pleasure of the solitude.  Great views on both sides along the ridge to South Head dissolved in the mist of the distance [can’t see much up here].
On into Hayfield [look, a pub!] onto the Sett Valley Trail and then turned north onto the PBW, climbing out of the valley [I walked]. Stunning views across the valley to the Kinder Plateau contrasted with the walled lane and small copses of trees we passed [slowly] full of warbling birdsong. The broad sandy track invited a canter [see you later then] past Lantern Pike.  Merlins scythed the heather tops as we moved out across the broad valley side to leave the PBW for the short road section to Rock Farm. Here a friendly welcome, home made cakes, a deep warm bath [yes, yes ] and excellent meal and company completed our trip.
We were rescued at 10 the next morning by a friend with horse trailer and 4x4 [soft comfy seats + heater].  Nice views of the hills as we drove along but nothing to compare to the sense of oneness with the countryside that this short trek had allowed us to experience. 
Great trip highly recommended in all respects. [It was brilliant. I have just bought a mountain bike].

To Lindum with Bob, Jackie and a Tent
I have wanted to do Lindum Spirit for the last three years but I finally plucked up the courage to do it this summer. I planned to ride with Jackie Rose but I felt I needed more in the way of moral support. So I managed to drag Bob Fowler with me (kicking and screaming (Not)), even though he only had one good arm following an operation on his shoulder.
I was absolutely terrified. I don’t know what was worse, Bob winding me up or the thought of the ride. I am sure he was doing it to stop me thinking about the next three days.
We arrived at Market Rasen and met up with Jackie. She had already done a ride that day. While I was settling my horse in, Jackie was putting Bob’s tent up – or attempting to – in the next field. It was rather windy and just as Jackie thought she had managed to put it up, the tent blew away with Jackie and Bob frantically running after it. Eventually we managed to pitch it and left Bob as we were both sleeping in our trailers. We didn’t realise that we had failed to leave him anything to brew up with so the next morning at 5.30am Bob was wandering around the site in search of a cup of tea.
I myself had hardly slept as I was so nervous but with Bob’s encouragement (“Don’t know what you’re worrying about!)  I set off to do the Roamer Ride with Jackie. I really enjoyed the ride and I think Jackie enjoyed it too – even though she had to put up with me wittering on… and on… and on. We came fifth and I was thrilled to bits although Bob said he was not impressed.
That night we had a thunderstorm. When I went across to Bob’s tent in the morning it had collapsed – with Bob in it. When he woke up he thought he had died and been put in his coffin. I think he have been quite glad if that had been the case when he emerged and found me still wittering on.
Jackie and I did two more pleasure rides which we really enjoyed and Fagan, my horse, looked after me all the way.
After all the weeks’ worrying and driving my family (and friends) mad, I was quite sad when it all ended. I want to thank Jackie and Bob for helping me so much and yes, Bob, it is compulsory to come with me next year.
Trish Forrester

Good Luck Linda!
This month we lose one of our hardest-working committee members, Linda Coleman, who is moving to Grantham. Linda has worked tirelessly for the EHPS Cheshire/Derbyshire and EGB Derbyshire group for longer than I think she would care to remember and I am sure that everyone on the committee will miss her a great deal.
Linda has always been a stalwart member of our group and has worked tirelessly and uncomplainingly at the hardest tasks in the worst weathers. She has not competed for the last few years, but this has never affected her willingness to give her time whether it involves attending committee meetings, marking routes or helping to organise our AGM.
I am sure we all wish Linda all the best with her new home and her new job and we may even come across her helping at Lindum next year!!

Derwent Valley Ride
This year Rachel has put on a new route around Ladybower Reservoir. The distance is 10 miles, approximately 20% quiet road with one crossing of the A57, 50% moorland (most of which is canterable) and 40% tracks, some of which are stoney. There are stunning views of  the Derwent Valley if the weather is favourable.
Start time is between 9am and 10am and the entry fee includes bacon sandwich and coffee/tea at end of ride. As usual, the parking is very tight so entries are limited to 30 so enter early if you don’t want to be disappointed.

Handy Hint's
It’s a good idea to keep a large bag packed and ready for each ride, with things such as; spare clothes (in case it rains), money (for burgers at PR’s/forestry permits etc), small grooming kit, fly repellent, spare headcollar, first aid kit (for horse and rider), log book/trophy card/ paperwork from organiser/pen, drinks container, map case, bum-bag (for hoof pick, hankie and mobile phone), also handy to keep a spare set of horse shoes or Shoof (even if you may never need them). I also keep jump leads and a foot-pump in the car.

If you find you suffer from a dehydration headache the day after a ride, even though you seem to have drunk plenty of fluid whilst riding, try upping your fluid intake the day before the ride as well.

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DIY STABLING AND GRAZING. All year turnout. Turnout and bring in available. Furness Vale, High Peak – fantastic riding area. Tel: Sheila Oliver 01663 742423, mobile 07791 438366

FOR SALE – Ray and Sharon Davison are selling their big grey trailer. The internal width is 72 ins which means that horses travel very well in it. It is a rear load/unload and has a full length partition. There is a permanent 39in x 72in oak lined cloakroom/kitchen area with cooker, sink, seat and storage and this opens up to a 75in x 72in living/sleeping area when the horses are unloaded. Price £2,500 which includes a porch awning, giving the option of extra living/sleeping area. Tel: 0115 972 0470 or 07802 317847

TRAVEL BOOTS – Blue medium. Worn once £15. Breastplate for Free’n’Easy saddle, used twice £75. Tel: Trish Forrester 01629 810106 or 07971 965312

Pennine Bridleway Trails Discover the southern section of the Pennine Bridleway with Pennine Bridleway Trails. We are three farmhouses in the stunning Peak District providing accommodation for both you and your horse.
The route offers a variety of riding through the National Park, from the gently rolling landscape of the White Peak, to the more rugged hills of the Dark Peak.
Our package includes not just B&B for you and your horse, but also evening meals, packed lunches and baggage transfer. For more details contact Neil & Jan on 01298 813323, Stephen and Nicky on 01629 636337 or Rachel on 01457 861086

Wanted To Loan or Buy
Cob type 15 – 15.2 gelding for novice rider for hacking.  To be kept with other horses on private yard. Tel: Dawn 01246 450109

Forthcoming Rides
SEPTEMBER 2 – Formby SR (Lancs Group) Contact Michelle Mee, Tel 01772 611652

SEPTEMBER 3 – Rotary Charity Ride from Far Lane, Ockbrook taking in Locko Park.    Full details from www.rotaryclubofchurchwilne.org

SEPTEMBER 10 – HARDWICK SR Contact Val Lancashire 01773 778758

SEPTEMBER 17 – DENSTONE RIDE – 12 or 16 miles round Freehay, Alton and Denstone. Entry £14. In aid of Denstone preschool playgroup[. Contact: Nicky Mace: 07968 946089

SEPTEMBER 23 – CARSINGTON WATER GR Contact Linda Reeves 01335 360743

OCTOBER 1 – BAKEWELL GR Contact Jackie Rose 01246 450592 before 9pm

OCTOBER 7 – Horwich Ride (Lancs Group PR) Contact Rachel Woodruffe on 01254 830900

OCTOBER 21 – DERWENT 16km SR Contact Rachel Dennett 01457 861086

OCTOBER 29 – SHIPLEY PARK SR Contact Carol Curtis 01332 780671

Rides in Red are National graded rides which also have Pleasure Ride classes

REMEMBER – ONLY RIDES RUN BY EGB GROUPS OR RIDES WHICH APPEAR IN THE NEWSLETTER ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MILEAGE POINTS

RIDE ENTRY FEES
Social Rides – EGB members £8, Associate members £10, Non-members £12
National Pleasure Rides – EGB members £15, Associates & non-members £20
Increased fees cover £5 Day Membership charge which includes full third party insurance.

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