Prize money will help riders to navigate routes across country (From Worcester News)

Prize money will help riders to navigate routes across country

2:25pm Monday 25th January 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

HORSE riders and carriage drivers in Worcestershire and Herefordshire are closer to being able to enjoy hundreds of bridleways and equestrian routes across the UK.

The British Horse Society (BHS) has been short-listed for the GeoVation awards due to take place in London next week.

If its Mapping Britain on Horseback project is successful in scooping the £10,000 first prize, then thouands of people will benefit.

The venture aims to digitise every equestrian route in Britain and make them available as free downloads on GPS devices and mobile phones to help riders navigate routes.

Horse riders from Worcestershire and Herefordshire have already responded to an appeal made in Country News a year ago by the BHS for its EMAGIN database by highlighting riding and carriage routes in the area.

If the BHS wins the competition more mapping volunteers will be requested to help boost the project.

Heather Clatworthy, BHS access and rights of way senior executive, said: “ With speeding and road traffic at an all time high the need for access to safe, off-road routes for vulnerable road users is significant.

“The investment would make such a positive long-term difference to the outdoor enthusiasts of Britain and mean equestrians can locate and access the national bridle route network they so desperately need, simply through utilising geography. I would like to thank the GeoVation panel for giving equestrians this opportunity.”

The British Horse Society is one of 380 applicants to make it to the short list of 10 to be invited to pitch at the Dragons’ Den style GeoVation showcase.

It will be held the headquarters of the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington, London, on Tuesday. If it wins, the BHS will collect £10,000 which will then be spent on 100 GPS units, together with expertise and advice.

The society intends to digitise every equestrian route which is in existence in Britain.

Routes which have been recorded by BHS mapping volunteers will be sent to the society, collated through databases and those which are confirmed as legal to use will be made available through the EMAGIN site for users to access for free, to print or to download.

Horse riders will also be able to download photographs and the routes will also be an advantage to both walkers and cyclists.