The Ugly Duckling meets Scooby Doo: British Olympians dress up for charity

Jennifer Donald's avatar
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Published In Features
Jessica Mendoza competing in the Charity Challenge at WEF 2022
jessica mendoza
(Image credit: Sportfot)

Showjumping is often a very serious business but the annual Great Charity Challenge at the Winter Equestrian Festival is the perfect opportunity for riders to unleash their inner superhero, cartoon character or alter ego and raise astonishing sums of money for charity, and this year’s contest certainly didn’t disappoint.

The theme for Saturday night’s (5 February) charity showjumping competition was favourite childhood story books and 33 teams of horses and riders entered the arena as everything from Scooby Doo (step forward Ben Maher, pictured below in his Shaggy costume) to The Ugly Duckling (Jessica Mendoza).

Jennifer Donald
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.