Olympic equestrian goes over the jumps

AN OLYMPIC show jumper with a reputation for foaling around in the arena delivered a master class at an Ospringe farm at the weekend.

More than 100 aspiring horse riders and enthusiasts turned out at Willow Farm Saddlery on Sunday to watch Geoff Billington give a demonstration featuring three horses, plus tips on course walking and how to approach jumps.

Geoff, an Olympic 2012 hopeful, was awarded the Horse and Hound Equestrian Personality of the Year in 1996, and was best known for his partnership with horse It's Otto.

They became Britain's highest-placed duo at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and represented Britain again in Sydney in 2000.

Something of an entertainer, Geoff has also made a name for himself with impressions of his fellow riders.

Sharon Paskell, who owns the farm, which is a saddlery, livery, riding school and horse sanctuary, said she was delighted to secure Geoff's services.

She said: "It was great to have Geoff here; he was wonderful and took a lot of time with a special needs group, signing autographs for them.

"It was mainly aspiring show jumpers who turned up, but some people just came because they wanted to see someone famous in Faversham, because he's internationally-known.

"I think people got a lot out of it and learned a lot. He was a very amusing man with plenty of little quips, so there was a lot of laughter."

To find out about events see www.ridewithwillow.info