Olympic gold medallist Dr Stephanie Cook MBE provided relief from the autumn storms when she opened West Hill Park School's new all-weather astroturf and riding arena.
A large crowd at the Titchfield school braved the weather conditions to welcome the modern pentathlon winner from the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Once Cook had cut the ribbon at the astroturf, an Old Westhillian hockey team took on a celebrity team captained by the chairman of governors.
The celebrity team included David Faulkner, captain of the 1988 Great Britain team that on Olympic gold, David Whittle, manager of the Great Britain hockey team, Peter Nail, an England indoor hockey player and Sue Merry, a Great Britain hockey player.
Unsurprisingly, the chairman's celebrity team won the game 6-1.
Cook then led eight riders on their West Hill Park ponies into the new floodlit riding arena for a demonstration lesson conducted by Ms Angelaine Knight, the school's riding instructor.
Cook expressed her delight to be opening further sporting facilities as West Hill Park just two years after fellow modern pentathlete, Portsmouth born Jim Fox OBE, Olympic gold medallist from 1976, had opened the West Hill Park riding stables.
The new facilities provide the pupils with a range of sporting opportunities and should be a welcome addition to the school.
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