ILDRA RIDE & BBQ AT TOLLYMORE 2005

A scorcher of a day was had by the ninety four riders who turned up to enjoy the ILDRA Time Trial, Pleasure Ride and Barbeque at Tollymore Forest Park on Sunday July 10. The ride organiser Sally Burch had marked out a seven-mile route with every mile along the route marked with a distance card. The time at which riders should pass each mile was also given assuming a speed of seven miles per hour. The idea was to help riders to get a feel for Competitive Trail Ride speeds.

Alison Suffern on her bike accompaned her children Racheal on Mini Milton and Robert on The Wee Grey at the ILDRA ride at Tollymore.

However the day was so hot, very few individuals went for the optimum speed. Of those who did, Michael Parker on Woody and Anne Marie Telford on Arrow rode an accurately timed round to finish exactly on the hour. Ribbons with ‘Time Trial Achiever’ were awarded to everyone who finished within five minutes of the optimum time.

Katie Parker on Jingles, Helen Parker on Trudy, and Emma Foster Comar finish the ILDRA ride at Tollymore.

Sinead Grant, Catherine Beck and Sarah Graham cool down with icecreams after the ILDRA ride at Tollymore.

Most people (including some of our experienced riders) opted to ride at speeds well below 7mph and just to enjoy the views from the top paths and the gossip as they rode. This relaxed atmosphere was carried on to the after-ride social, when a number of groups availed of the barbeques and salads etc. brought on the day by the Ulster Branch committee. The ice-cream van also did amazing trade as riders, organisers and others tried to cool down. Thanks must go to Angie Boyd who sat in sweltering sun most of the day taking entries, and timing riders out and back in! Sally says she couldn’t have managed without you!

Mary Grant with Lady, and Eugene Small with Paris relax in the shade after the ILDRA ride at Tollymore.

The next ILDRA ride will be at Crocknagrally near Fivemiletown on Sunday July 24. Pleasure Rides will start between 10.30am and 1pm. Competitive Trail Rides of up to 50miles will be available to suitably qualified members (pre-entry required for CTRs) and will start before Pleasure Rides. Please note that the location of the start has not yet been confirmed so do check on the website www.ildra.co.uk or contact ride organiser Kathy Conly on 37524809 for final details.

Mark Hyndmann on Lucky is led home by his mum Judith Hyndmann on Ardkill Mo on the ILDRA ride at Tollymore.

As always, we are delighted to welcome non-members. Please remember that junior riders should be six years old before starting to Pleasure Ride, and that an adult must accompany them.

Junior non-members who are fourteen years old or more may ride without an adult (with their parent’s consent).

We look forward to welcoming you to an ILDRA ride.

Billy Gallagher, Alison Larkham and Gillian Stevenson arrive at the finish of the ILDRA ride at Tollymore on Sunday July 10.

Nina Foster on Jasper finishes the ILDRA ride at Tollymore with her mother Caroline Foster on Megan.