AFTER much anticipation, the eighth annual Donaghadee beach relay was held last Saturday, as part of the Donaghadee Festival in Co Down.

Organised by the accomplished team from Gransha Equestrian Centre, along with the Donaghadee Community Development Association and very generously sponsored to the tune of £1,000 by Pier 36, the event is unique and an exciting and competitive addition to the festival schedule.

Large crowds of onlookers gathered along the street to witness the thrills and spills of seven teams of horses racing against the clock in an attempt to claim a share of the prize fund. Each team sent out four combinations, with the two top-placed teams each having three members, one of whom went twice.

Acclimatised

Participants gathered on the local hockey pitch and were escorted en masse across to the beach, where they were able to get acclimatised and warmed up before taking on the course of eight cross-country type fences.

The first rider on each team was counted down in the start box and the clock started as they exited and then rode round the course as fast as possible, coming back to the start box to pass the ‘baton’ (in this case a riding whip) to their next team mate.

The fourth and final rider on each team had to gallop through the start box, when the timer was stopped.

Fast and furious

It was a fast and furious affair. The first team to go, the Down Dashers, held the lead right up until the last team, Neigh Scope Neigh Hope, sprouted wings and flew round the course to win by a large margin.

The winning team, Neigh Scope Neigh Hope, was made up of Lauren McGlennon on Leo, Jenny McBride on Lady and Alex Ryan on Misty, with Lauren and Leo going twice.

In second place were the Down Dashers, Megan Dumigan on Marvel, Abi Gardner on Ollie and Freya Bevan on Buddy, with Megan and Marvel riding a second lap. Third place went to the Port Devine Heroes, Bree Rutledge on Jewel, Jim McShane on Denzil, Debbie Smith on Bruno and Cassie Huddleston on Bailey, who were also delighted to receive the Best Turned Out prize.

The members of the top three teams are most grateful to the sponsor, Pier 36, for the very generous prizes.

Lap of honour

No competition would be complete without a lap of honour and all seven teams got a chance to have a last blast round the beach, with a few braking issues noted, before heading back to the car park to untack and relive the excitement of the afternoon. Roll on next year!