SHERIFF'S RIDE Saturday 4th September 2010

Published: 06 September 2010

Photos:(Top left) The Sheriff and Lady, Councillor Colin and Mrs Donna Greatorex start the Ride at the Guildhall
(Top right) The Ride returns via the Cathedral Close
(Bottom left) Marshalls from the Cannock Chase Trekking Centre
(Bottom right) The Sheriff and Lady, Councillor Colin and Mrs Donna Greatorex

The Lichfield Sheriff's Ride was held on Saturday 4 September, maintaining a unique tradition which has taken place every year since Queen Mary's Charter of 1553.

The Charter created the 'City and County of Lichfield' and established the office office of Sheriff. The Charter also decreed that the Sheriff should "perambulate the new County and City annually on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary".

The 457th Sheriff's Ride was led by Sheriff Councillor Colin Greatorex, accompanied by his wife Donna - both having learnt to ride especially for the occasion. They started from the Guildhall at 10.30 am and followed by a retinue of over 40 riders the Ride headed out of the City to complete the 20 mile circuit of the boundary across fields and bridleways, before returning to the Guildhall at 6.30pm.

"It was an exhilarating and humbling experience to have led such a good Ride this year", said the Sheriff. "I was very pleased to see that we had riders from as far away as Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield as well as good local support. Thankfully the weather was perfect, the company was good and the injuries were minor."

Councillor Greatorex added that he was highly indebted to the many volunteer marshals and organisers who had been involved both before and on the day, and also to the landowners for their support and arrangements in allowing the Ride to cross their land.