Last weekend, I ended up doing something I never thought I'd do – and never dreamed I'd admit to in a national newspaper. I ran a hobby horse race at Lingfield Park Racecourse, alongside Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden and Naked Attraction presenter Anna Richardson. And believe me, running on a grassy track in a long dress and sandals, with a toy horse clutched between your legs, isn't as easy as it sounds.
Charity Event with a Twist
This was all in aid of breast cancer charity Coppafeel, and hosted in conjunction with Pink Lady Apples. The brand has launched its Find Your Fizz campaign, which encourages people to celebrate the joy of doing something different in their lives – and hobby horse riding certainly was different.
BBC star Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 after finding a lump in her breast, and later underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy to treat it. She's since become an avid supporter of CoppaFeel, which encourages everyone to check their breasts for lumps and raises awareness of breast cancer.
From Reporter to Participant
I was invited down to the races to cover the event as a reporter, and didn't for a minute dream I'd end up running in it. 15 women came together to race – some of whom had entered a Pink Lady competition, some influencers, and some just because. And in the end, they needed a few more volunteers… so I found myself unable to refuse.
We geared up at the starting line and posed for a photoshoot with Amy – who, in all her Welsh glory, was as lovely as ever – before being joined by Channel 4 star Anna, who decided to take part last minute – chucking off her heels and going barefoot on the grass.
The Race and the Result
Anna took some time to hype us all up, encouraging volunteers to do a "comedy fall" for the cheering crowds before we got going. And then, at 4:10pm – before the real horse racing kicked off at 5:30 – we were on the start line and ready to race.
After a string of school sports day failures as a child, I was ready to finish last; but lo and behold, I actually surprised myself and ended up placing 4th out of 15. Not bad for a hobby horse novice! Amy didn't end up running the race, but was at the podium to congratulate the winner, while Anna ended up somewhere behind me.
Strictly pro Amy said afterwards: "Seeing the ladies throw themselves into the Pink Lady hobby horse race, cheer each other on and completely let go was brilliant. It was a reminder to not take yourself too seriously."
