Mary Tuckett

EQUO EVENTS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

“Idon’t sleep an awful lot — and I spend a great deal of time in my car,” said Mary Tuckett with a smile, after being crowned the Equo Events Volunteer of the Year. “Anyone involved in equestrian sport knows how many volunteers it takes to make things possible and giving something back by volunteering is rewarding. Apparently it makes you live longer, too — so I’m going to be about 103 by the time I finish!”

Mary, 56, has been chairman of the Pony Club — a voluntary position — since 2014 and she also gives her time to other roles, including at British Eventing fixtures. Even though the winter season is upon us, Mary remains as busy as ever.

“In the old days, you Pony Clubbed in the summer and went hunting in the winter, but now all-weather surfaces mean the Pony Club is

365 days a year,” she said. “We’ve got the Dengie winter league and all the training days. At the moment we’re also going through the process of finalising the 2018 rulebook, having sports meetings, arranging competition venues and dates — before you know it, we’ll be in the spring.”

Mary added that her downtime is driving her tractor at home on the farm.

“I volunteer because I love it,” she added. “I was shocked to be nominated and can’t believe I’ve won this award; it’s nice to know that people notice what I do.”

‘It’s nice to know that people notice what I do’ MARY TUCKETT