fleam dyke
Hildersham and Balsham Cross-country 2009
Did the Hildersham and Balsham cross-country ride last Sunday. This is a 24km ride through South Cambridgeshire including a section along Via Devana, the old Roman road that ran from Colchester to Chester.
They had 180 riders this year (down from 250 last year – the recession I guess) though you didn’t get the sense that there were very many as starting times were staggered throughout the day. (I can just imagine trying to squeeze 180 giddy horses through the horseshoe fence by the start).
Weather held out on the day being mostly overcast with only very slight spitting, and it brightened up in patches during the ride.
Anne and I arrived at Rectory Farm in Hildersham with just enough time to get tea before the Lovely View trucks arrived and started at just after 10 am.
I attempted the first couple of fences, none of which I succeeded in coaxing Tango over. For later fences I learned to made my intentions clearer, kept my pace steadier, gave Tango a little more encouragement the stride before and we jumped a number of them – some less elegantly than others.
Some of the horses were clearly rather excited with all the activity, one man performing a decent saddle bronc on his bucking horse before executing a graceful, though unintentional, dismount.
The first half of the route continued with great long stretches across stubbly fields peppered with fences, past the water tower on Rivey Hill through Borley Wood (along otherwise private avenues past camouflaged huts apparently used for deer hunting) and along sections of Via Devana. The drink stop at the half way point was most welcome.
The second half took us to Dungate Farm on the edge of Fleam Dyke and, by a more direct route, back to Hildersham.
A great thankyou to all who helped organise and marshall a wonderful event!
Other maps: large, speed, elevation.
Official photos: Aurar Photographic.
Raw GPS data: gpx
<a href=”http://markferry.net/gps/hildersham_and_balsham_2009.html”>Large route map</a>
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