TWO horse-riders have raised £840 for Brentor-based charity CHICKS with an epic 23-hour ride across Dartmoor in torrential rain and high winds.

Claire Bruff and Claire Bettinson and horses Bella and Cougar were waved off by family and friends from the CHICKS headquarters at Brentor.

The 40-mile journey, expected to take 13 hours, ended up taking 23 due to the harsh weather and rough terrain. Both horses completed the challenge barefoot and bitless despite tackling some of the worst terrain they had ever encountered.

They relied on map and compass to get them to Widecombe-in-the-Moor and back again, with an overnight stay in a B&B in Widecombe.

‘It was a lot more challenging than we ever imagined it would be, but our horses were amazing,’ said Claire Bruff.

‘We did get lost, but overall Claire did some fantastic navigating despite at times not being able to see very far in front of our faces because of the mist, rain and wind.’

‘I think we both understand what they mean now when they say Dartmoor is unforgiving, but we made it back safe and well, if not a little cold, hungry and completely wet through.’

The women beat their Just Giving target of £600 for CHICKS, which provides holidays for disadvantaged children at Brentor and two other centres. To donate see www.justgiving.com/claire-bruff.

l The picture above shows Claire Bruff and Claire Bettinson and their horses setting off from the CHICKS headquarters in Brentor