Zara to ride with Olympic torch

Zara Phillips
23 May 2012

The Olympic torch will be in royal hands for the first time on Wednesday.

Zara Phillips will be on horseback to carry the torch on to Cheltenham's famous racecourse.

Miss Phillips, who is married to former England rugby captain Mike Tindall, will be riding Toytown - the horse on which she won world and European titles.

Toytown, who was officially retired from eventing last year but who has not competed since 2009, will parade the length of the Cheltenham finishing straight.

The Queen's granddaughter, whose mother the Princess Royal received the Olympic flame in Greece last week, will then light a cauldron the mark the end of day five of the relay.

Outgoing Chelsea footballer Didier Drogba, 34, will carry the torch in Swindon and midfield team mate Josh McEachran, 19, will run in Calne.

Two Olympic gold winning medallists from the 1968 Mexico City games will be taking part in the relay.

David Hemery, 67, who broke a world record when he won gold in the 400 metre hurdles, will carry the torch through Royal Wootton Bassett. And Jane Holderness Roddam, 64, from Chippenham in Wiltshire, will be join the relay in Shurdington, near Cheltenham.

The 2010 World's Toughest Firefighter, Suzanne Enghed, 33, who serves with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue will carry the torch in Cheltenham. The oldest torchbearer of the day is Mary Wixey, 91, a former games mistress who will run in Cheltenham.

The flame will be carried through 22 communities including Chippenham, Marlborough, Wroughton, Cirencester and Stroud, as well as crossing the landmark Clifton Suspension Bridge.

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