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Celebrating epic ride for University foundation

The statue of Sir Walter Watson Hughes in front of the Mitchell Building
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Friday, 11 June 2010

Twenty-five horse riders will parade up North Terrace to the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ on Tuesday morning in a symbolic re-enactment of the epic ride from Moonta to ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ which helped establish both Yorke Peninsula's copper industry and the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ.

As part of the , the riders are following in the path of William Horn who rode through the night - covering 264kms in 22 hours - to register a copper claim ahead of rivals on behalf of , the University's founding benefactor.

The riders from Yorke Peninsula's Central Zone Pony Club, will set out from Moonta on Saturday 12 June at 8:30am, and ride in stages over the long weekend, riding past the statue of Sir Walter Watson Hughes in front of the University's Mitchell Building and finishing at at 10:30am Tuesday 15 June.

At Bonython Hall, a formal framed greeting in recognition of the event will be presented by to and , Executive Dean of the .

Presentations to the riders will be followed by a morning tea featuring Cornish pasties from the renowned Prices Bakery and a display in the foyer of Bonython Hall of copper ore specimens from the area, including loans from the .

William Horn went on to become a mining magnate, pastoralist and politician. Sir Walter became the largest shareholder in the Wallaroo and Moonta Mining and Smelting Company. His gift of £20,000 in 1872 led to the foundation of the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ in 1874, giving South Australia the nation's third university.

WHAT: Re-enactment of William Horn's epic ride from Moonta to ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ to secure a copper mining claim
WHERE: Bonython Hall, University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ, North Terrace
WHEN: Riders depart the Torrens Parade Ground at 10am and travel up North Terrace to Bonython Hall, arriving at 10:30am

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