[Josie Ratter and her horse Buckskin Shadow achieved a Grade 1 in the 32km Graded Ride at this year's event. Josie kindly sent in this report on the ride. Thanks Josie and well done.]

Hopwas Hop is a brilliant ride, it was well marked and the ground was good. Not many stones and well organised. The venue was easy to find and there were some lovely tracks to follow much of which are bridleways anyway. Through the forest, which the army use, was good with no chance to get lost and the scenery changed often enough to make it interesting. There were one or two gates but these were easily opened from horseback.

A well organised and easy ride makes a great start to the year.