At this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show, a major tent pegging title was claimed by a woman for the first time.
Sussex-based Sarah King – who has been tent pegging for 10 years – won the Sword, Lance and Revolver competition.
The hotly contested class involves jumping holding a sword, firing at balloons with a pistol and “engaging” with sword dummies.
Sarah fought off competition from the Royal Logistic Corp, Legion of Frontiersmen, Household Cavalry, Kings Troop, South Yorkshire Police plus other civilians to take the title.
“I have qualified for Windsor for the last four years, so this is a class I really wanted to win,” Sarah told H&H.
Sarah was introduced to the sport by president of the Sussex Peggers Riding Club (SPRC) John Dudeney when she was sixteen. She is now a member of the SPRC, along with Samantha Wallace and Gerald Nott, who came second and third in the class.
“Some people describe it as an adults version of gymkhana games,” Sarah added. “It’s a bit of fun.”
Over 2,000 people compete in tent pegging across the UK. It is based on an old cavalry sport involving mounted games using lances, swords and guns. But today civilian riders make up the biggest percentage of people currently taking an active part in the sport.
For more information on tent pegging visit www.britishtentpegging.com
