KIVELLS’ Holsworthy and Hallworthy cattle handler has completed the difficult Dartmoor Night Ride Challenge.

David has been whip for Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt for about 30 seasons. He and his equally well-known and ever-popular horse ‘Flash The Cash’ set off on their challenge across Dartmoor, finding their way by the light of a full moon, to raise money for the hunt group. Starting at Bellever Woods, Postbridge, and finishing at the Fox and Hounds, Lydford, taking a route via Cut Hill, Fur Tor and Hare Tor, David and Flash covered more than 12 miles as the crow flies.

Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt also ran a guessing game to raise additional funds, and it allowed followers to join in and estimate how long they thought it would take David and Flash to complete the challenge. Each guess cost £10 and the guess closest to David’s final time for the ride received an amazing £500 prize.

A spokesperson for Kivells said: “Huge congratulations to our Holsworthy and Hallworthy cattle handler, David Crocker, for completing his Dartmoor Night Ride Challenge and raising money for the Spooners & West Dartmoor Hunt.

“David and his horse ‘Flash the Cash’ certainly make up a dream team of horse and man completing this extreme challenge in a very impressive 1 hour and 38 minutes! David rode as fast as he could without stopping, covering 12 miles as the crow flies across Dartmoor at night, starting at Bellever Woods, Postbridge, and finishing at the Fox and Hounds, Lydford, via Cut Hill and Fur and Hare Tors.

“Hats off to you David, and of course ‘Flash the Cash’, for your resilient nerve and skill in completing this ambitious journey in such an incredibly quick time!”