Winning ride eases mum's grief

Grief propelled a Sutherland horse rider into winning a major trophy for the second time in 19 years.

Former primary school head teacher Pat May, Dornoch, was devastated by the deaths from cancer of first her good friend Karen Williamson five years ago and then her son, Douglas last year.

In the midst of mourning, she decided she needed a challenge to help get her through."

A keen long-distance rider, Pat first won the Dinero Cup at the Scottish Endurance Championships in Traquair in 1999.

Her friend Karen had won it the previous year and went on to win again the year after Pat scooped the trophy.

Pat (75), decided she would try for the 2018 title on her Arab horse, called Ammar, which in Arabic means sure and steady.

She said: "Ammar is indeed sure and steady but he is also a very good competition horse – he can go fast and steady."

The Scottish Endurance Championships were held at the Scottish Endurance Festival on August 17-19 at Brodie Castle, near Forres.

Entrants in the various competitions are given a map and have to follow a marked route over natural countryside.

But one of the most important factors is that contestants must finish with a "sound and happy" horse. Vet are on hand at stages during the various races to take horses’ heartbeats and assess their condition.

Pat was up against 13 other riders for the cup which is awarded to the fastest horse with no penalties over a ride of 80k over two days.

She said: "You have to ride 30k and then come in to pass a vetting

"The horse’s heart rate must be below 64 beats per minute.

"Then you ride another 20k and go back in to vet again.

"The second day I was out first because I had come in fastest the day before. Ammar kept up an amazing trot to get us back with the fastest time.

"But we had to pass the vetting with a heart rate of 48 or below to incur no penalties. The first heart rate was 51 and we were on tenterhooks.

"He was trotted up and the second heart rate was taken. All was silent until the vet said "48" and we all whooped with joy.

"I had won the Dinero Cup again, but more than that I had gained belief in myself that I could still do it at my age, belief in my horse, who was such a star and belief that there is a way through grief."

After her success, Pat and her daughter Lesley decided to organise a fun horse ride to raise funds for Marie Curie.

She said: "Douglas was nursed in the Marie Curie hospice in Stobhill the month before he died. The nurses and staff at the hospice were amazing and so caring and so we wanted to raise money to pay back in some way for that care.

The fun ride was held in perfect weather at Dornoch last Sunday, September 9.

A total of 30 riders took part, enjoying the ride and entering a raffle before sitting down to a meal of soup, sandwiches and cake.

Pat said: "From the fun ride and our JustGiving page, we raised an amazing £1900.

"People were so generous. We are overwhelmed and thankful to all."