ORGANISERS of the Hampton sponsored ride have been forced to cancel the event for a second time, due to the latest reported outbreak of foot-and- mouth. Having already been badly affected by the recent FMD outbreaks, resulting in the original ride date being moved, this second cancellation is a further severe blow. Event organisers had rescheduled the ride for this weekend, and were hopeful of seeing an increased number of entrants. The ride, which usually attracts horses and ponies from thoughout Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex, should have been celebrating its 27th year when reports of a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Egham resulted in a second cancellation. The news means that charity groups such as Riding for the Disabled and the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which benefited to the tune of around £23,000 last year, will now almost certainly miss out on much needed funds. Full details are available at http://www.ridingdiary.co.uk">www.ridingdiary.co.uk. No rescheduled date for the ride had been announced as The Herald went to press.
