Horse riders on a hunt with a difference won prizes on the Westwood Poker Run last month.

Sandra Atkins, a rider from Osmaston, said that more than 100 riders set out on a 12k ride at Junction Farm on Westwood Road, an agistment centre mainly used by Launceston horse owners.

‘It’s called a Poker Run but it’s nothing to do with betting,’ Sandra said.

‘It's our main fund raiser. We charge an entry fee and we collect a playing card at intervals during the ride. The best ‘hands’ can win some nice prizes.

After the ride, riders with the best hands each won one of the 70 prizes on offer.

‘It was a great day and you could ride at your own speed,’ Sandra said, ‘even though the paddocks were pretty wet after all the rain we’d had.’

The hunt is run by the Northern Hunt Club and was their third annual Poker Run. Prizes were donated by friends and sponsors of the club.