Get me to the match on time

A WOMAN has been crowned the UK’s Best Bridesmaid after organising a rugby-themed hen party for her Welsh best mate.

Harrie Cater-Pugh, from Llantwit Fardre, has a congenital condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

She didn’t start having symptoms until she was around eight years old.

It causes her to dislocate all her major joints.

This leads to her experiencing considerable chronic pain and she has had 30 operations to try to stop the dislocations.

Harrie now has to use crutches most of the time.

The 41-year-old was 19 when she was diagnosed with EDS, and she has since had to give up her career.

But, with the help of a very special friend, Harrie was able to have the hen party of her dreams.

It was all down to her bridesmaid Rachel Barton, who lives in Scotland.

Harrie said: “We have been friends for around 16 years.

“Rachel has been by my side through good and bad, and I have been there for her as well.

“The distance does mean we don’t see each other as much as we would like to, but we make sure that we get at least one weekend a year.”

Harrie is a big rugby fan and the girls ensured the hen party coincided with a Wales match.

As well as watching an Wales v England rugby match, they also toured the Principality Stadium.

In great hen-do tradition Harrie was also fake arrested and forced to wear an England shirt.

Harrie said: “Rach went above and beyond in organising a hen do for me that I could totally enjoy.

“Not many bridesmaids could pull off the brief of rugby, cocktails and ’80s while not knowing whether the bride would be able to walk that day or not.

“It was great, although, being forced to wear an England shirt wasn’t so much fun!”

Over the past few months, Hen Heaven and Butlers In the Buff have been searching for the UK’s best bridesmaid, to coincide with National Bridesmaids Day today.