Relay Race - 'Beat the Teacher'

[Stern]

Beat The Teacher

Entries
Students
Ivan Theodore Mallon - The Thyme Traveller
Andrea Valentine - Flash of Onyx
Stefano Rice - Black Hawk Down
Katherine Lorelia - McGinty's Pride of Place
Teachers
Ráhel Sárközi - Elucubrate
Kate Richardson-Hall - Maiden of the Mist
Ailsa MacLeary - Stars of Coal
Bruce Ropata - Wâhi Ngaro

[Stefano Rice]

When he had signed up for it, the relay race had looked like fun, and a couple of years on the mounted games team had to count for something, right?

He was pleased that his gelding wasn't completely winded after their cross country event; in fact the gelding was beginning to feel rather fresh again, as Seth kept the horse moving around as they waited for the rest of the class to arrive and them be broken into groups. He was a little nervous as he was handed the baton, and even more so when he saw that Mr Ropata would be racing for the teachers, at least he had Andrea too.

Lining his horse on the star line, he suddenly understood how much easier this would be on a trained mounted games pony, but then he guessed that would defeat the whole idea of this being for fun. He gathered his reins, telling the Sporthorse that he needed him to stand still for the time being, and just because he had a horse right behind him, he needed to keep calm. He swallowed hard as he looked at the person he would be handing the baton off to and at the word, he dropped the hold he had on the horse and Hoot shot forward.

Quickly remembering that his horse had no real idea of what he was supposed to be doing, he sat back as he did his best to hold the reins with both hands and keep hold of the baton, and as they neared the other end, he took the reins in his left hand, as he held out his right, and the baton, toward his team mate, releasing the baton as his hand brushed their's. A few stride later, he pulled Hoot up and circled him back to go and cheer on his temmates.""

[Katherine Lorelia]

Kitty gave Seth a friendly nod as she saw him looking at her and tightened her hold on the reins as Pride tried to prance sideways. He could be an idiot at times, but she was quite used to him by this point and she could generally stop him before he really had the chance to get started. Mounted games were not on her timetable this year, and she had no plans to put them there for the next year, but this had looked like fun and so she had put her name down for it. Well. That, and to help Teddy out. Briefly, the blonde spared a thought for her friend, probably at the hospital by now, but she shook her head briskly and brought herself back to reality. The best that she could do for him at this point was to win. Well, that and a big box of chocolates.

She glanced up at Seth as he approached, her left hand keeping a tight control over her horse, who wanted to dance sideways again as he saw the other horse approaching. No, she wasn't going to allow that. God above, the race hadn't even started yet, and he was already being awkward...

The two were moving as her hand brushed against her fellow Red Ribboner, and Kitty made a mental note to hug him later as she felt the baton sliding solidly into her hand, and then they were off. Well used to riding with one hand on the reins, she didn't try to emulate her teammate with both hands on the reins and the baton as well. Baton in one hand, reins in the other, that was the way to do it.

They covered the ground rather more quickly than she had expected and, dispensing with the niceties, she yanked the reins to one side to steer in the right direction, releasing the baton into her successor's hand before reining in sharply and turning back to face events.

[Bruce Ropata]

Teaching a class, and riding his own horse in a normal mounted games activity, Bruce decided, were two completely different things. His horse was made for endurance and sure-footedness, rather than speed, so this would at least be fun. "I should have signed up with one of the class ponies." He laughed as he followed the directions and lined his horse up, shaking his head in amusement as Boss shifted his weight into a relaxed pose and dropped his head a little. Maybe it was time for Boss to return home for a well deserved retirement?

Accepting the baton that was handed to him, he asked his horse to shift his weight back, without actually stepping back, and the man's attention was on the game official in the centre of the arena. He gathered the reins in his left hand, holding the baton with his right as as soon as they were given the word, he used his seat and legs to push the gelding forward. He kept with the horse as they shot forward, using the reins against the horse's neck to direct his movements as Bruce asked for a little more speed.

He rose out of the saddle, leaning forward and slightly to the side as they neared the person on the other side and he held the baton out toward them, releasing it as his hand brushed that of the other person before they thundered past. Boss didn't need to be told to slow down as he came to a sliding stop and slowly turned around and ambled back to watch the rest of the game.

[Ailsa MacLeary]

Ailsa felt very regal on her steed. She'd changed out of her habit in favor of more comfortable breeches, so she looked more casual now than she had for show jumping. It was a cooler outfit, too. Oscar chewed on the bit, more out of boredom than a want to get started. She kept contact with his mouth in case he tried anything, but at the moment he was standing nicely. Ailsa looked across the way at Bruce. She'd seen him around and he seemed nice. His big old horse was just precious - and half asleep from the look of it. She smiled. Before the relay began, she made sure the strap of her cane was around her wrist. It was the only way she could communicate with Oscar on the off side, so she had to make sure she wouldn't drop it.

When it looked like things were about to begin, she took a deep breath and gave Oscar a pat. He snorted when Bruce nudged his horse toward them. They were coming up fast and she held her hand out to catch the baton. Just as soon as she felt it touch her hand she clucked and tapped Oscar forward. In a matter of seconds, his hindquarters bunched up and his ears went back as if asking Ailsa if she was serious. "Go on," she cried, and he took off.

Cantering whilst riding aside was one thing. Galloping was another thing entirely. She gritted her teeth - really, it was more of an aggressive smile - and reached the other person. She leaned out to get the baton into their hand and passed it off. It took her a moment to gather the reins up and pull Oscar down to a trot and then to a walk so they could watch the rest of the race. She'd been giggling since she got rid of the baton. Adrenaline was coursing through her system from the short gallop and she thought she'd have to do that again for sure.

[Andrea Valentine]

Andrea tugged on Felix's mane as the gelding did his best to act like a moron. He tossed his head, sputtered, pawed, swung his tail. Andrea narrowed her eyes at the back of his head. They were looking at Seth and Hoot's backsides. Across the way stood Pride, with Kitty on his back. Andrea wanted to wink at her roommate or nudge her because she was so excited and she was sure Kitty was, too. And Felix wasn't even tired from the earlier events, either. Or, if he was, he was doing a great job of hiding it.

She carefully moved Felix forward in line so they could wait for Kitty to bring the baton. Felix went so far as to half-rear when Pride got closer. Andrea simply grabbed the baton and leaned forward so he could finally run ahead. Andrea whooped as they went full speed toward the next in line, reins in one hand, baton out in the other. For a second, she imagined she was a knight with a sword, charging forward on a mighty warhorse.

And then she lost her stirrup.

But no matter! She held on to his mane just long enough to pass the baton, feeling her hand brush the other person's for a moment. As quickly as she could, she pulled Felix into a trot but had to grab his mane again until he stopped. And then she could get the stirrup back. He stomped a foot when she asked him to be still. She huffed and nudged him into a brisk walk. At least she could sort of watch what was going on.