Horsing around for comic relief :: Wessex Scene Online

Horsing around for comic relief

20th March 2003
Laura King Sports Editor

Rate this story

May 03 - Sorrell Rides high in Nationals
Feb 03 - More success for Ladies Sailing
May 07 - Gold rush!
Nov 02 - Windsurfing Competition
Mar 02 - BLOODY MUDDY

More by Laura King

Nov 03 - Welsh way for the riding club
May 03 - Sorrell Rides high in Nationals
Feb 03 - Mustangs get coaching BOOST
Feb 03 - Rough and Tumble requires Ref
Nov 02 - Matt Le Tissier

It was a day of horsing around at the Gleneagles Equestrian Centre as the University Equestrian Club held a fun competition day in aid of Comic Relief.

The competitions included a best turned out pony class, with four extremely muddy little grey ponies in need of a makeover. We were also challenged to gymkana style races on a variety of different types of horses and ponies, from Colonel at a huge 17(ish) hands high to tiny Sidney at about 12hh.

The races were tailored to suit riders of all abilities and even Tiger de Souza after a 9 years absence from the saddle made a cameo appearance in full Zorro regalia. The races were run at a trot so as not to give an advantage to more experienced riders and with closely matched teams this did not detract from the enjoyment of the day.

The Equiclub also managed to place a comic relief spin on the proceedings with the invention of several slightly more unconventional races. The Red Nose race involved a blindfolded rider being led up the ring to a comic face and then having to place the red nose in the correct place before riding back. There was also a similar relay style race with a large pair of underpants being the desired accessory to be put on at one end of the arena.

Later in the afternoon there was jumping relays for the more ambitious and then a treasure hunt to finish. The club hopes to have raised over Ł300 pounds for Comic Relief from entry fees and from the sale of refreshments.

The competition was arranged on the back of recent success for the Equestrian Club in the regional competition final where the B team of Emily Pearce, George Fletcher, Lucy Borton and Charlotte Risius, achieved an impressive 3rd place. One member of the club, Sorrell Klatzco, also managed to qualify for a place in the national finals of the individual competition which take place in Uttoxeter early next month.

equiclub@soton.ac.uk