7/8/2007

News

And they're off...oh no they're not!

This horse had Neigh Chance of winning with this rider on its back!

A DISQUALIFICATION for “camelling” meant Neigh Chance took the prize at the Mayor’s annual Pantomime Horse race.

Poppy, a West Clandon Royal British Legion horse, was the first to cross the finish line, but officials ruled that the horse had grown a hump as it dashed down 100 metres of the Sandown track.

So, jubilant Paul Wycherley and Matt Almond, who made up Elmbridge Borough Council’s entry Neigh Chance, were named as the winners. Comments straight from the winning horse’s mouth included: “I have lost about two stone”, “We are ecstatic” and “It was the three Ws, win, win, win”.

A dozen horses paraded from Elmbridge Borough Council offices to Sandown and around the parade ring before sprinting along the track to raise funds for the Mayor’s charity the Walton Firs Foundation.

Competitors included GlaxoSmithKline’s Equafresh, Sandown Park’s own Snowy, P&Gs Flash and Walton Firs’ Flyer.

The winner surprised many as Wycherley suffered a serious ankle injury a month before the race. But his determination and a bit of adrenaline helped him over the finish line.

The race was the first event at the Professional Footballers’ Evening, sponsored by the PFA and drew a large crowd as well as raising money for Walton Firs.

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First printed in: News & Mail Series

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