THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

FINDON ENDURANCE — IN THE KELLEWAY TRADITION — 2004

In 2003 the Endurance South Downs Festival was held at Fontwell but problems prompted the organisers to seek out an alternative venue.  Muntham Farm in Findon was selected.  It had all the space lacking at Fontwell with the added advantage of riding straight out into the Findon countryside.  Negotiations started with landowners to have gates either tied open or manned by volunteers on the day. 

Regular visitors to this website will recall Sarah Kelleway's e-mail to me ...

It occurred to me that there was no coverage of this Findon equestrian event in the local newspapers (what an omission!)..... or, at least, I didn't see any, so I have decided to remedy this lacking.

At almost exactly 4.30 a.m. the Findon dawn was breaking over the picturesque downland as nine steeds lined up for the commencement of the FEI three-star class at the South Downs Festival held in Findon over the weekend 15th/16th May 2004.  

The course was a succession of loops around the Findon countryside (each returning to the venue for the vet gate).

To give you some idea: the first circuit took the riders east over the A24 on a 28 km loop to vet gate No. 1  and took some two hours.   During the day they traversed the Western Escarpment of Cissbury Ring and passed behind Rogers Farm on the western side of the A24.

Later that night as darkness fell on Findon at 9 p.m. Franzara and Lesley Dunn proved their supremacy by coming in first after a most gruelling 160 km, at an average speed of 12.09 kph.

Half an hour later, two grey horses appeared through the gloom at the top end of the field.   They were lit by the headlights of their faithful escorting trail bike riders.  

I am pleased to report that carrying on the Kelleway tradition of keeping well at the front, third place went to Sarah Kelleway and Lamys De Carrere at a speed of 13.12 kph

The crews had to work hard the following day for the further events as it looked as if summer had arrived in Findon.   The temperature soared and the horses had to be kept cool and hydrated.    Riders also had to do battle with the vehicles streaming down two major roads to the coasts as they traversed the Findon countryside to crewing points.

Continue if you would like to read about Doug Barrott (1947-1972), the jockey who rode for Captain Ryan Price and later Josh Gifford.

This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.