Jackson wins Ayr Equestrian Masters Challenge for second year running

 

 

In this competition, if the height of the gate proves too much to handle for the riders, then items of clothing can be removed, in order to buy a life and continue with the challenge, which this year raised money for the World Horse Welfare Trust.

 

The reigning champion Mike Jackson, Field Master of the Heythrop, returned to defend his title, but, just incase his mount, Profit decided to knock the gate, he’d come prepared and topped up his tan!  His competitors this year were:   fellow Heythrop Field Master, Sam Butler from the Warwickshire Hunt, Ollie Filligan, Master of the Atherton Hunt and the sole female contender was Nicky Wilson, Field Master with The Surrey Union.

 

The gate started at a height of 1m 30 and all competitors took their run ups. Sam Butler was the first to bare all for the crowds and lighten the load for his horse. 

 

Commentator, Jonty Evans, was not impressed with the riders cheeky additional items of clothes including Sam Butlers waistcoat and Nick Seal’s braces and additional t-shirt.  As the tension rose, along with the gate, more men became shirtless and the crowd got louder. 

 

At 1m65 the competition hotted up:  Sam went out, Nicky jumped higher than the height of her horse (but then retired her 6 year old horse who had done so well). The only one to jump 1m70, a ‘ripped and well tanned’ Mike Jackson, went on to claim victory.