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18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer versus horse shoreline challenge - Watergate bay.

This year's Polo on the beach event is over a weekend. On the Saturday afternoon an unique challenge was taking place.

A shoreline race between horse and kitsurfer.

18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer v horse challenge - Watergate bay - © Ian Foster / fozimage

Dreya Bennet learnt to kitesurf at Watergate bay and went on to become Veuve Cliquot World Record Breaking Kitesurfer.

18th May 2013 - Dreya Bennett - Watergate bay - © Ian Foster / fozimage

She is the Guinness World Record holder for the longest continious kitesurfing journey by a woman - 132.8 miles.

18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer v horse - © Ian Foster / fozimage

Dreya makes her way to the start of her course.

18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer v horse challenge - Watergate bay - © Ian Foster / fozimage

At the other end of the beach is Andy Burgess of South West Polo and team captain for First Great Western.

18th May 2013 - Andy Burgess - © Ian Foster / fozimage

For this afternoon's challenge Andy is riding his ex race horse Shrivar.
Shrivar is capable of reaching 40mph.

18th May 2013 - Andy Burgess - © Ian Foster / fozimage

The challenge is to speed along a 200m shoreline course, dismount from horse and surfboard, and sprint to a bottle of champagne buried in the sand.

18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer v horse challenge - Watergate bay - © Ian Foster / fozimage

Unfortunatley the wind speed and direction was against Dreya.

18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer v horse challenge - Watergate bay - © Ian Foster / fozimage

They had to start from opposing ends of the beach which meant that I could not get them in the same frame.

18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer v horse challenge - Watergate bay - © Ian Foster / fozimage

Not the ideal conditions for Dreya, with this wind she could not reach her optimum speed of 38 - 40 knots.

18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer v horse - © Ian Foster / fozimage

Dare I say the odds were in Andy's favour, an easy win this time.

18th May 2013 - Kitesurfer v horse challenge - Watergate bay - © Ian Foster / fozimage

All images © Ian Foster / fozimage