Strathmore and district

STRATHMORE AND District Riding Club held their autumn showjumping derby show at the club field at South Leckaway.

ROSULTS Nursery novice: 1 Lauren Webster, Stumpy; 2 Linda Johnson, T-Biscuit; 3 Charlene McDonald, Darby. 1 Zoe Gillian Gillian

Novice derby: Guild, Aragon; 2 Rosen, Anni; 3 Carnegie, Tilly.

ntermediate derby: 1 Kate Clark, Fergus; 2 Gillian Carnegie, Tilly; 3 Zoe Guild, Aragon.

Open derby: 1 Anne Shaw, Bella; 2 Anne Shaw, Eugene. SCORES OF volunteers work endlessly across the country week-in, weekout, to ‘keep the show on the road’.

Whether it is a riding club, Pony Club, national or even an international event, they all require an army of willing helpers in the run-up to an event as well as on the big day itself.

Any office would be proud to have such a dedicated team of people pulling their skills together to ensure the smooth running of an event.

Teamwork, long hours, cool heads and patience as well as mathematicians, statisticians, jump judges, writers, form fillers, score collectors, and caterers are all needed in abundance at these events. And even tractor drivers, this year in particular, to tow lorries in and out of fields!

Many people do it for a day out with friends; others do it to put something back into the sport.

Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends all get drafted in.‘Horsey’or not, there is always a job for them.

Low-key local events such as riding club dressage only require a handful of helpers to make the day go smoothly.

Bigger events such as British Eventing require anything in excess of 65 volunteers on the day, as well as a dedicated team of paid experts.