Team-Ride-Away have just completed their second season enjoying one of the most exciting horse sports around, which is often dubbed the horse world's 'extreme sport'. Teams of three or four horses and riders compete at great speed over natural cross-country courses. Great skill (and bravery) is shown from the riders – it all comes down to planning the best route, the tightest turns – and not forgetting the course!
Team Ride Away consists of Stephen Clark, MD of Ride - Away, his daughter Ruth Carr, racehorse trainer, and his niece Rachel Andrews, his right hand in the store. The original line up also included Stephen's farrier son Richard but a bad back forced early retirement and on going surgery is his main hope of getting back in the saddle. Meanwhile Team chasing’s highly skilled Bryan Allen has taken the team place, being a tremendous asset with his many years of experience.
The horses are all ex racehorses from the Clark and Carr racing yards. They have all taken to team chasing like ducks to water, and it really is a wonderful thing for racehorses to find a new career like this at the end of their racing life.
The Autumn 2011 season has seen Team Ride Away compete at 8 events, travelling as far a field as Essex and the Cotswolds. There have been thrills and spills for all members, fortunately no lasting injuries!
Despite many hiccups, but lots of fun, the team ended up in the ribbons 7 times, including wins at the Meynell and the Essex and Suffolk events.
And the final result of the early starts, hours spent travelling in the horse box and all the battle scars, was winning the Intermediate Order Of Merit Series, the highly prestigious points award for the season.
Having won the Intermediate Order Of Merit, Team Rideaway’s ambitions for 2012 is now to compete at the highest level of Teamchasing - the Opens!
Come on Team Rideaway!