Olympic jacket snapped up in auction

A jacket worn by dressage rider Carl Hester in the opening ceremony at the Sydney Olympics made the top price of £275 at a recent auction in aid of the British Dressage Trainers’ Scheme at Chester Racecourse.

Modelled on the night by British national champion Peter Storr, Carl’s personally -signed jacket was bought by Bill Perratt , managing director of Chester Saddlery who plans to frame anddisplay it in the shop.

Among the 30 lots on offer was a portrait by equestrian photographer Clint Hughes, which was snapped up by Sally Doyle for £210.

International event rider Polly Stockton (n‚e Clark) also sampled the catwalk when she modelled a stylish competition outfit from the Lucinda Green collection. The event was organised by three North-West trainers currently on the British Trainers’ Scheme – equestrian artist Diane Breeze, Janet Horswill and Gillian Murray and train with Dutch Olympic Silver Medallist Ellen Bontje.

Models from Mike Jones’s Faces Model Agency showed off a range of outfits from a number of leading equestrian leading manufacturers, including Sarm Hippique, Toggi, Mountain Horse, Pikeur, Charles Owen, Kyra K and Anky.

Joint organiser Janet Horwill summed up the event, which raised £2,000, saying:”It was more tiring than a lesson with Ellen Bontje! But it was well worth it. We’ve exceeded our target and were delighted.”