THERE WAS no need to rein in runners competing in the New Forest Marathon on Sunday (September 19) when a pony drift that threatened to disrupt the race was rearranged.

The pony round-up was scheduled for 10am at Burley and could have sparked chaos for the event's 600 marathon runners who would have reached the village at the height of the drift.

But disaster was averted when race organisers expressed their concerns to the Forestry Commission and the New Forest Verderers, who agreed to start the pony drive two hours earlier than planned, ensuring most of the ponies were gone by the time the athletes arrived.

Assistant race director Chris Harris said: "We were slightly concerned that some of the runners might get caught up in the drift.

"Some runners did report more ponies along the road than usual, but no one said that they caused any problems."

The annual event consisted of a 26-mile marathon and a 13-mile half-marathon, which were both started off by actress and former beauty queen Maria Rice-Munday at Station Road, New Milton, in the morning.

Volunteers were up at 4am marking out the courses and then manning sponge stations and checkpoints along the route.

Mr Harris said the race went smoothly, although one of the 2,000 competitors taking part in the half marathon collapsed half-a-mile short of the finishing line and had to be taken to hospital. He was released the next day.

"St John's Ambulance were absolutely splendid," the race director said. "They were all connected by radio and if there were any problems we knew we could count on them."

Organisers hope to have raised more than £20,000 for charity from the event, which will be divided between this year's three principal charities New Forest Mencap, Barnardo's and Guide Dogs.

First published: September 21