Dialstone Endurance Ride 16th & 17th August 2008

WELCOME TO THE BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS

NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

the home of the Drover's Dash (81kmER) and the Hambleton Hundred (100kmER)

Good ride!            Really enjoyed this one!

The view from the venue, overlooking the Whitestonecliffe, Lake Gormire and Hood Hill.                               

Take a little time to have read about the ride location's history.

Dialstone is situated in an area steeped in local history and horses have played an important part here for many years.

Just below the escarpment of Boltby Scar lies Hesketh Grange, the name Hesketh is believed to have drived from the Scandinavian term for Horse Racing Track. The flat upland turf of Hambleton Down, adjacent to the venue, Garbutt Farm, makes an ideal natural race track. The diary of Thos Clark in 1612 mentions that races for mares were an established event on the Hambleton Hills.  The races consisted of 3 and 4 mile heats, with the actual finishing post believed to have been at Dialstone itself!

During the 17th century both Queen Anne and King George I, were patrons of the race course on Hambleton. Local legend states that the Queen Anne Plate is still buried in the area, which may give your crews something to occupy themselves with!

The racing at Hambleton would deffinately have contravened EGB rules, as in 1753 it was specified that crossing and jostling between the first two horses was allowed and jockeys would often stirke each other with their sticks. Hambleton was a popular venue with 31 starters in His Majesty's Gold Cup in 1719. However due to the lack of suitable accommodation for ladies, the racecourse at Thirsk was opened in 1855 and racing at Hambleton came to an end. I wonder whether our Porta-loos would have pasted muster!!

The area is still popular with race horse trainers, Brian Smart trains over the road from the venue and Kevin Ryan has kindly granted us permission to use his gallops, adjacent to the venue, for the start and finish of the ride.

Should any of you have the misfortune of getting lost on the surrounding moorland, then you will find yourselves in Royal company! Local legend states that William the Conqueror got lost up here in a blizzard. Locals still refer to a person that swears as being like "Billy Norman in a snow storm!". It is though that William used the Drove Road when returning South in 1069, after laying waste to the North. The old ruined barn, called Silver Hill, a few hundred meters up the road from Sneck Yate Crew Point on the way to CP2, is said to be haunted by his ghost!

The Drove Road is part of an ancient highway running from Scotland to the South of England. Scottish Drovers used it to take their cattle, pigs, sheep, turkeys and geese to the markets in York and Malton. The poultry was even "shod" for the journey, their feet dipped in tar and clad with pebbles, for the long journey.