Cycle the Sheriff’s Ride
Saturday September 7th 2024
Join us at Stowe Field (near the City Centre https://what3words.com/hood.roses.carbon off Cross Keys Lane) for registration to allow you to access private land. Then participate in the ceremonial departure at 10:00am of the Sheriff's Carriage and a group of horses to celebrate the 470 year old tradition of the Sheriff's Ride. The cycle ride will then peel off through Beacon Park and begin a circuit of the old City and County of Lichfield with extended loops into the surrounding area. The route will involve access to private land as well as permission to ride cycles across what would normally only be public footpaths. This access will be restricted to registered riders and certain times.
Details
The annual perambulation of the boundary of the old City and County of Lichfield, each September, in accordance with the 1553 Charter from Queen Mary
The ride timings below are provisional as the route is subject to change depending on the available access to farmland and weather conditions. The final route and timings will be confirmed later but we do have a provisional route map here which we will update and it will involve access to private land as well as permission to ride cycles across what would normally only be public footpaths. Private Land access will be restricted to registered riders and certain times.
We intend to begin and end the cycle ride in conjunction with the traditional equestrian event with points en route (e.g. at the refreshment stops) where the two rides can coincide and the participants can meet up. Horses and cyclists will not, however, be mixing along the route. Where cyclists and horses are together there will be at least one support vehicle between horses and cyclists for safety.
The final arrival into the city will be in combination with the horses with at least one support vehicle between horses and cyclists for safety. During the ride we also need to keep a safety distance between the equestrian and cyclist groups but we also want to promote the integration of the two aspects of the event.
Cyclists have an advantage on the road and prepared tracks (Horses have the advantage over muddy fields and loose gravel!) We are using loops for the cyclists out and back into the city in order to try and link in with the shorter equestrian route and enable us to (safely) meet up.
Information
This year the Sheriff’s Ride ride will begin at Stowe Fields https://what3words.com/couches.mutual.over where there is parking for horseboxes. Public (paid) parking is available for other vehicles but with limited time. Please be ready by 10am as a small group of horses will go into the City Centre to officially start the ride at 10:00am with the cyclists following through to create a spectacle. As the ride proceeds the cycle ride will separate and the main equestrian ride will join via the Cathedral Close to begin the annual perambulation of the City & County of Lichfield.
At approximately 11:15 we will have a short stop at Bod Lichfield, Streethay (toilets) https://what3words.com/exists.plots.often and then we will move on to Freeford Manor arriving around 12:00.
We intend to have a 45 minute stop at Freeford Manor for refreshment. Toilets will be available. Horseboxes or other support vehicles can access via https://what3words.com/wires.chin.gladiators
We will be leaving Freeford at approximately 12:45pm and riding across farmland, trackways and some roads to Pipe Hall for another refreshment stop (toilets) after which we will move on to Maple Hayes Hall for the last canter.
The ride will then combine with the cyclists with the horses to form a procession into the City Centre with a ceremonial arrival via the Cathedral Close around 4:30pm in order to maximise our visibility to the public and then to finally return to Stowe Field at about 5pm
The entry fee will be £20 for the cyclists’ ride, part of which will be donated to the Sheriff’s of Lichfield’s chosen charities.
If you wish to take part and support this historic event - please follow the link below
Thank you for your support
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We will keep data for a year in order to inform you about next year’s ride
Please note that this traditional event will take place regardless of the weather but in the interests of safety during adverse conditions the organisers may change the published route.