CHAMPAGNE erupted after three women completed a gruelling 190-mile trek from coast to coast by combination of foot and hoof.

The self-titled ‘Three Crazy Mares’ – Clare Thompson, Joy Goddard and Vicky Rutherford – were celebrating raising more than £7,000 for charity after arriving at Robin Hood’s Bay in north Yorkshire after a five-day adventure.With Clare running the distance, Vicky on horseback and Joy alternating between the two, the trio set off from St Bees in Cumbria after each picking up a pebble from the beach to throw into the sea on completion of their journey.

There was a yard of beer downed for motivation, role reversal as Clare’s 13-year-old running prodigy Hannah Irwin turned the tables to cheer her coach on, and plenty of emotion along the way.

Reflecting on raising thousands of pounds for both the Saffron Walden & District Riding Club for the Disabled and the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre, Clare said: “I don’t tend to get emotional but when we were running down the hill into Robin Hood’s Bay, I starting welling up, just because of the sheer relief at finishing the challenge.

“I ran down it like it was Saffron Walden High Street and I had my Olympic Torch in hand!”

The 50-year-old added: “Most people we met during the trek and at the end couldn’t believe we had run and rode the distance by horseback because people only usually walk or cycle it.

“Celebrating with the champange spraying all over the beach was when it really hit home what the three of us had achieved and to raise so much money for charity is incredible. I would like to say a huge thank you to the people of Saffron Walden, who have again been so supportive of us.”

During the trek, the trio stopped at the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in Britain, at the halfway stage. It was there Joy, 38, took on a separate challenge – drinking a yard of lager.

She said: “I got egged on by a load of bikers who were saying ‘What are you? Man or mouse! But I finished it, even if I did get a helped out at the end by Vicky.”

Next up, the ‘Crazy Mares’ will be bringing the horse and pony who took part in the trek into Katherine Semar Junior School.

Zeb and Lily will be introduced to the pupils who donated a £350 cheque towards the charity quest.