Article The Portugal News

Many thanks to Chick Hood for kindly writing yet another article for us!

Pictured: Jinny Harman, Rod Frew and his horse Touriga.

The countdown to an epic 240 km charity ride clear across the Algarve is now under way. Horses, riders and support teams are preparing for their challenging six day marathon, that will raise much needed funds for ‘Riding for the Disabled in the Algarve’ and for the ‘Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) Association’.

With the main group of 20 riders now fully subscribed – each having raised Euros 1000 of sponsorship – and with other sponsorship continuing to mount, the organizers are confident that ‘Ride the Algarve Way’ from 13th to 19th May, will bring the success its charities deserve and that its participants and supporters will earn – mostly the hard way!

Steering the organization of the event are Jinny Harman, responsible for all equine and logistic matters, and Rod Frew, routemaster supreme and veteran of two previous rides, who first walked the course in 1998. Rod will navigate the group, along with accompanying ‘day riders’, from Alcoutim on the Spanish border in the east, to Cape St. Vincent in the west, along the medieval era trail created by Mocarabe pilgrims, in homage to St. Vincent, martyred in Valencia in AD 303 and subsequently enshrined on the Cape.

Daunting as the ride itself may be – especially for the 10 UK-based riders taking part – even more challenging perhaps are the logistics and planning involved. Months of work have been underway on everything from feed to fitness (both horses and riders), transport to tack, and from sponsorship to stopovers.

For an undertaking of this nature, extensive back-up is needed, including spare horses, veterinary, medical and farrier support, and mountains of material – feed, water, fencing, spare tack and transporters for horses, people and supplies.

The route must be checked out, just days ahead of the event, to ensure clear passage (a challenging solo task for Rod, by horse, by foot and by 4x4); night time stopovers for horses must be identified, provisioned, fenced and supervised (a support team member will sleep in a horse-box overnight, with the horses); overnight accommodation and feeding must be found and arranged for riders and supporters (difficult in some country districts); communications must be set up for areas where mobiles cannot function (walkie talkies will be used between the group leader and the ‘sweeper’ at the rear, responsible for ensuring that no rider gets lost or is abandoned); fit horses must be found, trained and then allocated to visiting riders; lunchtime water stops must be found that are accessible by jeep (at least 125 litres are needed for the horses at midday each day, along with picnics for the riders, provided with generous sponsorship from Baptista and Apolonia supermarkets); facilities must be provided for the camera crew that is filming the event; and emergency first-aid, spare water, miles of bandages and wound cream must be carried by the back-up crew.

With many of these daunting tasks falling on Jinny Harman’s shoulders, it is no surprise that she will be fully occupied both before and during the event, even without contemplation of contingencies such as accidents, lameness or bad weather, that may affect the ride.

Much will devolve on the riders themselves, who are expected to be fit, ready and mounted on time each day, wholly responsible for morning and evening grooming and properly careful of tack and equipment – not to mention keenly aware of the opportunities for mishap in some very severe terrain, including many hills, steep rocky tracks, deep valleys and several river crossings.

Support for the event has been coming in from many quarters, both private and public. ‘Day Sponsors’ – given full ‘ownership’ of one of the six days – include Medal Insurance and Danshape Construction, whilst material support, in the way of both horse and human feed, transport and cash donations, has been received from bodies as disparate as the RTA, Winkworths Estate Agents, Luzdoc, Luzcar, WorldRent Car Hire, the Civil Governor of the Algarve and a number of the Camaras through whose territory the ride will pass. After long days in the saddle, and in support vehicles, riders and support team members will be especially appreciative of the fine dinners to be offered by these generous hosts.

For spectators, there are innumerable points on the route from which to view the ride and to share in the excitement. Maps and instructions can be found on www.algarveway.com with further information available on www.ridethealgarveway.blogspot.com

Riders will certainly want to be cheered on their way as they stretch stamina and sinew for these two worthy charities. The Algarve itself can certainly be proud to be mounting a truly epic and exciting event such as this, all for such good causes.

Contacts:
Rod Frew
Tel/Fax: +351 282 443284
Email: rfrew@clix.pt

Jinny Harman
Tel: +351 91 7563050
Email: qpahorseriding@gmail.com

Nathalie Baart
Tel: +351 91 4248714
Email: algarveride@gmail.com