Hundreds of riders enjoyed a fundraising day out across the Norton in Hales countryside last Sunday.
The village united to hold its first ever fun ride in aid of a new community sports pavilion to be used by Norton in Hales sports clubs and schoolchildren.
Around 235 riders took part in the event which was set across 15 different pieces of farmland and featured 40 optional jumps.
Organisers will meet later this week to discover the final amount raised towards the pavilion, which will replace the cricket pavilion destroyed by fire last year.
One of the organisers Sandra Keissling said: “It was an absolutely marvellous day, the riders were very positive and we had good feedback.
“The quickest round the course was a walker who did it in one hour 20 minutes and the quickest rider finished in one hour 30 minutes.
“Everyone thought it was a very scenic course, a great day out and said they would come again next year.”
Riders aged between four and 82 took part in the fun ride which was based on an annual event in Adderley which has raised almost £50,000 for village causes and charities over the last 13 years.
Sandra added: “The people were absolutely delighted about the course, how it was marked out and the marshalling of it.
“The organisers were all enthusiastic, there were no accidents and riders came from as far away as Oswestry.
“It was a pleasure to see happy people returning from the ride who were smiling and collecting their rosettes.
“These included little children on their ponies, proudly collecting their rosettes to say ‘I’ve done it.’”
A number of donations were received from businesses in the Market Drayton area and organisers hope it will build on the reputation gained by Norton in Hales after staging an international equestrian event in June.
Sandra said: “It was a lot of work and we had to get the support of local farmers but if we can make it happen next year, I’m sure the riders would be very pleased to come back.”
