Car and lorry parking for the Melton Hunt Club Ride 2017 are at the Finish Area, East of the village of Great Dalby on Gartree Hill but PLEASE NOTE you can not access this area from Little Dalby Road, you must instead use the B6047.
Competitors need to be ready to go at 11.30am, when you will be led to the Start Area in time for a prompt 12 Noon start.
The Start Area is South of the village of Great Dalby, to the East of the Thorpe Satchville Road. Access is via a gateway on the edge of the village on the East side of the road, then turn right and you will see the Start posts.
The course begins in a South-Easterly direction
Melton Hunt Club Ride 2017 Fence 1 from the Start, Fence 2 is slightly to the left of this image.Fence 1 take off sideFence 1 landing side
The direct line from the start to turning point 1 means taking Fence 2 at an angle. There are several areas of post and rail to aim for.
Fence 2 take off sideFence 2 landing side. The fence posts will be removed. Fence 1 can be seen in the distance to give an idea of the angle.Fence 3 approachFence 3 landing side. Fence 2 is to the left in the distance.Fence 3 landing side.Fence 4 and Turning Point 1, visible to the left hand side of the gate.Fence 4 and Turning Point 1, take off side.Fence 4 and Turning Point 1, landing side.View back towards the start from beyond Turning Point 1.
After Turning Point 1 the Melton Hunt Club Ride 2017 course turns left, parallel to a hedge, and continues straight to the road crossing and Turning Point 2.
Road crossing and Turning Point 2.Road crossing and Turning Point 2, take off side.Road crossing and Turning Point 2, landing side.
Turning left at Turning Point 2 you are in an undulating field which contains two water-filled gravel pits. The direct line to Turning Point 3 is through the pits so you have to decide to go left or right of them and find your route.
The pictures which follow are some of the hedges between Turning Points 2 and 3, depending on which route you take.
Fence on left-hand (West) side of gravel pitsHedge beyond gravel pits on direct line to Turning Point 3Hedge beyond gravel pits on right-hand (East) route to Turning Point 3Hedge on route to Turning Point 3.Hedge on route to Turning Point 3.Hedge on route to Turning Point 3.Hedge before Turning Point 3 which is visible right of centre.Take off side of last hedge before Turning Point 3.Turning Point 3 - and now the fun starts!Hedge at Turning Point 3 - landing side.
Turning right at Turning Point 3, the direct line to Turning Point 4 is parallel to Little Dalby Road which runs to the left of the course, the course taking you in a South-Easterly direction once again.
There are many different ways to get between TP3 and TP4, and it is not possible to photograph every route or obstacle so what follows are a selection of the obstacles with a rough guide to which route they are one. Most are on the more direct route, just South of Little Dalby Road.
The direct line view towards Turning Point 4. Little Dalby Road is on the left of the shot, above the stream.Another view of the direct route to Turning Point 4.Hedge parallel to Little Dalby Road.Hedges on the direct route.Hedge on the direct route.Hedge on the direct route.Another option.Hedge close the road. Take off side.Another view of the same hedge, take off side.Another hedge close to the road, take off side.Another hedge close to the road, take off side.Another hedge close to the road (to the left), take off side.Another hedge alongside the road. Take off side.Another hedge and gate alongside the road. Take off side.Another hedge alongside the road. Take off side.This gate is very close to the direct route but slightly further from the road.More obstacles.And more...And more...And more...
Not all the above obstacles need to be tackled, depending on which route you take. We stayed on a fairly direct route to Turning Point 4.
First of two hedges at track cross and Turning Point 4...Another view of the first hedge, landing side....and the second hedge at Turning Point 4.
At this point the course turns right and crosses a small stream in a gap in a line of trees. The main race then veers right, towards Gartree, while the Household Cavalry Race continues to finish close to the Little Dalby Road.
The main course now follows the headland on the North side of the spinney and crosses some small hunt jumps, before reaching the last hedgeline before Gartree Hill Farm.
Last hedge before Gartree road crossing, take off side.Last hedge before Gartree road crossing, landing side.Gartree Hill Farm road crossing and Turning Point 5.Gartree Hill Farm road crossing and Turning Point 5. Take off side.The last hedge on the course, beside Gartree Hill Farm.The last hedge on the course, beside Gartree Hill Farm. Take off side.And finally the steep hill to the finish, on top of Gartree Hill, where there is a small hunt jump. This is the view South on to the rest of the course.
I hope this was useful. It is not intended to replace a proper course walk but hopefully gives an idea of the options available and the areas around the Turning Points.
Feel free to comment but I can't promise I will know the answers to any questions!
Hi Georgie. The finish area gives you a great view of the middle of the course and the different routes people will take. You can also then see the Cavalry race finish.
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Best place to watch Nico after you walked your legs off looking so thoroughly ? X
Hi Georgie. The finish area gives you a great view of the middle of the course and the different routes people will take. You can also then see the Cavalry race finish.