A 'FOOLHARDY' race by the High Sheriff of Herefordshire has raised £5,000.

Major Patrick Darling competed in the South Herefordshire Hunt's members' race on March 1 with his 17-year-old daughter Dreda.

The entry was prompted by a bet with his friend, John Chinn, of £100 who said he would not make it to the starting line at the Point to Point.

Mr Darling pulled his horse up with four fences to go as it grew tired and Mr Chinn, aged 62, came in second in the members' race.

Mr Darling, 56, said: "Tony McCoy at 40 is seen as old, which puts things into perspective. Us oldies having a go is perhaps a bit foolhardy."

But he enjoyed it so much he is hoping to compete next year on the same horse, when it is properly fit.

Mr Darling, who lives in Sellack, raised £5,000 for the High Sheriff's Fund.

This fund, managed by Herefordshire Community Foundation, supports community and voluntary groups involved with law and order and community cohesion.

His year as High Sheriff comes to an end on April 9, when Edward Mortimer Harley will be dedicated at the Shirehall.

Mr Darling said he has had a very interesting year as High Sheriff and what an honour it has been to meet so many "special people."

He said: "The lasting memory I would have of a year as High Sheriff is how many people there are in the county that are quietly going about raising money or helping people.

"I am going to visit the street pastors in Hereford. They are quietly out in the streets weekend to weekend all night long from 9pm to 4am helping people who have overdone their partying. They don't seek recognition - it is just knowing they are doing a good thing for people.

"And there are people all over Herefordshire doing good things like that and running small charities."

Mr Darling also spearheaded a campaign against rural crime with superintendent Sue Thomas and chief constable David Shaw.

The campaign which has seen detection rates go up and rural crime figures go down has been copied nationally.