Rider commutes by horseback, cycle, canoe and in the pool
A Leicestershire rider hopes to raise £10,000 for the East Midlands air ambulance services following a week of unusual alternatives to his 17-mile drive to work (28 September-2 October).
On the fourth day of his challenge (1 October) Harry Whinney, 38, rode polo pony Sherman, from home at Barkestone-le-Vale in Leicestershire to Langar Hall hotel.
From there he cycled to hitch a ride with Friesians Jack and Danny (pictured right) pulling a fully liveried wedding carriage for the last six mile section into the centre of Nottingham.
The carriage was donated by Sue at the Nottingham Horse & Carriage Company and Sherman was loaned by Kim Lampard (former Zimbabwean international polocrosse player) who coaches the England polocrosse team.
On the other days he canoed 23 miles along the Grantham Canal, cycled, ran and swam 17 miles in a pool mounted on the back of a lorry.
“I wanted to highlight the work of the air ambulances and how they support riders and other countryside pursuits — plus to raise the much-needed funds,” said Harry who is operations manager and graphic designer for the BBC at Nottingham.
“Having friends and acquaintances who’ve been injured whilst riding, cycling or playing rugby, I wanted to raise £10,000 because that is roughly the cost of one mission.”
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The money raised will go to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance and Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.
To sponsor Harry and read more about his adventure, go to www.harrys10grandchallenge.co.uk
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.