THREE North East endurance riders did the region proud after taking three of the top four places in 50 mile competitive ride in South Yorkshire.

The Northumberland & Tyneside Endurance GB (EGB) group members, along with horses and crews, travelled to Wharncliffe Chase near Sheffield to compete last month.

The area has some of the best facilities in the North, despite being a much more densely populated area than Northumberland.

The whole of the ride was completely off-road, including stretches of the Transpennine Way, which riders share with walkers and cyclists.

Andrew Richardson from Hexham came second on Sun Diva GFA. He averaged 15.35km per hour, despite the fact the ground was so hard there were few places to canter.

Hannah Shotton, also from Hexham, was third on Razaaq and Newcastle-based Mandy Ball was fourth on Lambwath Supermario, who was also awarded the prize for best turnout combination.

The British Horse Society has long been campaigning for riders to be able to use cycle routes and has now won support from a Government Minister.

Richard Benyon, the Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, is urging local councils to allow riders to use cycle trails, routes and any other ways that they control and to encourage other landowners to give permission when the tracks cross their property.

He said: “Unless there are good and specific reasons not to expressly allow horse riders to use such routes, local authorities should take steps to accommodate them.

“Local authorities should be making the most of their off-road networks through integration of use. Multi-user routes have been shown to be readily adopted and well appreciated by local people.

“Where they are done well they bolster community cohesion and create a better understanding between users. Past research has shown that user conflict on shared use routes is actually infrequent but exaggerated, and that additional maintenance cost to ensure appropriate surfacing is minimal.”

The BHS said the announcement was “most welcome”.