Horses for courses
Date published: 30 March 2009
Les Leech took part in the ride with Billy, his thirteen-year-old Lakeland fell pony (pictured)
Horse-lovers staged a spectacular to raise money for the mountain rescue team yesterday — unaware that some of the team members were involved in a real-life drama.
While the convoy of horses towed a colourful array of traps, rigs, dray and exercise carts around Saddleworth, a squad from Oldham Mountain Rescue Team remained on standby for a missing man.
And, less than 24-hours earlier, the team had been called to an incident on Slatepit Moor, above Carrbrook, to help a 30-year-old woman with suspected anaphylactic shock.
A rapid response paramedic was at the scene after a 999 call, but the mountain rescue team provided a vital insulating casualty bag to keep her warm while they carried her to the ambulance.
Les Leech, who organised the horse and cart drive, said: “It just shows how valuable the mountain rescue is to our community.”
Les (52) who lives at Dobcross, declared the drive a galloping success with more than 15 horses, carts and riders greeted along the route in bright sunshine.
The procession set off and finished at the Church Inn in Uppermill, visiting Greenfield, Grasscroft, Lydgate, Scouthead, Delph and Diggle en route. Now Les is hoping the drive could become part of Saddleworth’s summer calendar.
“Today’s test bed event has been a great success. Everyone — horses, riders and the public — enjoyed themselves,” he said. “It’s been a great atmosphere.”
Les took part in the ride with Billy, his 13-year-old Lakeland fell pony. He organised the show with his friend, Jimmy Carter, from Scouthead, whose six-year-old grey cob, Sid, hauled a 1920sLondon trolley.
Mick Nield of Oldham Mountain Rescue Team said: “We had one of our teams on stand-by for part of the drive, but the missing person turned up. That was our 24th call for assistance so far this year —more than half as many as for the whole of last year.”
The woman taken to hospital on Saturday was believed to have suffered an allergic reaction.
