YOUNG riding enthusiasts looking to emulate Essex Olympic hero Ben Maher will literally be able to follow in his horse-steps after the delivery of sand from the Greenwich equestrian venue where Team GB triumphed last summer.
This tangible piece of Olympic history was delivered to the old Wheatsheaf pub in Rettendon, which is set to become a riding centre after plans were given the go-ahead by the council last week.
The 360 tonnes of sand cost about £54,000 and was the scene of much celebration during London 2012 as Team GB won nine medals – five bronze, three silver and one gold.
Elsenham-based Maher was part of the show jumping team that won a dramatic gold medal.
Andrews Bowen Ltd supplied the sand at Greenwich, which is also used at some of the most prestigious riding venues in the world, including the Al Shaqab centre in Qatar, which boasts the world's only indoor air-conditioned race track.
The new centre in Rettendon, to be constructed on the site of the Wheatsheaf on Main Road, may not be as grand as the Qatari facilities.
But it aims to help many in the village by connecting to much-used bridleways, opening new ones, and linking up with nearby Rettendon School, so children can enjoy the proposed wildlife pond.
The Greenwich sand was rigorously tested using a mock of a horse's leg to measure the impact on a real equine tendon.
With this technology, the Rettendon centre hopes to prevent damage to horses' hooves and joints in a similar fashion.
Local millionaire David Bishop who bought the pub at auction and is set to spend £500,000 converting the site, plans to give it to a charity once it is complete.
He told the Chronicle: "My daughter knows the equestrian market and thought it would be an absolutely wonderful opportunity to get an Olympic surface in the area. None of the sand is diluted, every grain comes from Greenwich. It's the same as a footballer playing on the Wembley turf.
"It is a wonderful Olympic legacy for Chelmsford and I don't think there's anything like it anywhere in the area. We want it to be a truly unique facility."
One of Mr Bishop's primary objectives for the centre is to create a safe place for riders after his daughter Katie was knocked down by a lorry 14 years ago in a crash which killed her horse.
He added: "I want to create somewhere where this can't happen to anyone else's child. We're looking to connect directly to bridleways so when riders can't go outside they can move safely inside."
But the transition has been far from smooth – the proposal has been met with animosity from some residents in the village that oppose the potential scale of the development.
The final agreements to be ironed out with the parish council concerns a Pegasus crossing, bus shelters, better bridleway connections and a tree planting scheme to eventually obscure the riding centre from the view of residential properties.
There are also plans for a restaurant, salon, a general store with a Post Office and two shops.
"We plan to set up a charity called Ride Safe, run by trustees, who will operate it for the benefit of the community," added Mr Bishop. "I see this development as a vital part of the regeneration of the village."
