ONE of the favourite rides in the Scottish Endurance Riding Club calendar took place in the hills and woods around Broughton earlier in the month.

And two riders from West Linton riders performed with credit - Jill Calder won the best condition awards for both the 50km class and the 30km on with Just Silver while Connie Anderson on Snaafi Sarasarnie won the performance formula Pleasure class.

This long-standing 'must-do’ for Scottish and many English endurance riders started as a small Pleasure ride based at Broughton Primary School, and has mushroomed over the intervening years to become one of the largest endurance events north of the Border. Not even the damp and gloomy weather could dampen the spirits of the 150 riders who took part over the three days.

Saturday’s routes took riders south-west from the base at Corstane Farm, over the hills near Coulter and back via Kilbucho. Sunday’s routes pointed east through Stobo and back past Broughton Heights. Riders enjoyed the contrast between the two halves – one more farmland, the other more moorland, and both affording fantastic views as well as being a challenge in terms of terrain.

Disappointingly there were no entries for one of the two trophy classes, but Cumbrian rider Kath McGhee and her indefatigable 23 year-old gelding Foxghylls Folly carried off the Hot Trod trophy for the two-day 60kms class.

As has become the custom, riders raised funds for the Local Hospital Drivers’ Scheme – collecting an astonishing £409 from a mixture of raffle, quiz and straight donations. The club also makes a donation to Stobo Kirk. Thanks are due to all landowners and managers who so willingly gave permission for riders to use the routes, in particular Mary Dunlop of Corstane Farm for her hospitality.