Scurry driving will return to this year’s British Open at the Birmingham NEC in April. The thrilling curry competition sponsored by Osborne Refrigerators is one of the most exhilarating equestrian sports for both the competitors and spectators and will complement the exciting line-up of international show jumping and equestrian entertainment on offer.

Pairs of ponies pull a scurry vehicle round a twisting course at break neck speed and the fastest pair wins. The aim of the competition is for the drivers to steer their ponies through a series of gates made up of between 12 to 14 pairs of cones.

Each cone has a ball balanced on the top so that if a pony or scurry cart makes contact with the cone the ball will fall off. For each ball knocked from a cone a penalty of four seconds will be incurred added to the competitor’s time. The winner is the team with the quickest overall time.

Last year’s winner Amanda Saville, from Lockerbie, and her ponies Mac and Munch.
Please credit Nico Morgan - A high resolution version of this image is available on request.

This year Osborne Refrigerators are celebrating 50 years of manufacturing refrigerators designed for the chilling and storage of wines, beers, cold beverages and foodstuffs. For half this time the company have been involved with scurry driving and have supported the sport at events across the country.

Managing Director of Osborne Refrigerators, Jeff Osborne, a keen scurry driver who will be one of those at Birmingham to contest the title, said: “Osborne Refrigerators is delighted to be involved with the British Open Scurry Challenge again this year. The Show gets bigger and better each year, the atmosphere is fantastic and the crowds really get behind their favourite competitors and ponies throughout the week.”

The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or visit the website at the link below.