'Cisco to Jerusalem via Astley Moss

9:30am Thursday 15th May 2008

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RODEO rider Cuoy Griffin called in at a farm on Astley Moss midway through his marathon trek on horseback from San Francisco to Jerusalem.

On Easter Sunday, 2006, 34 year-old Cuoy (pronounced Coy) set out from the Golden Gate Bridge and after a 3,700 mile ride across the USA arrived at New York and has just arrived in England after continuing his journey of faith across the breadth of southern Ireland.

He's now over midway to his destination, Jersualem's Eastern Gate, where he hopes to arrive in mid November with a little help from Tom Lancaster and Liz Grundy who specialise in riding and driving horses under the Cobs and Plods banner at Liz's parents' Allwood Farm.

After a strong recommendation where he could find a suitable mount to continue his journey from Liverpool to Dover, Couy, whose home is in Reserve, New Mexico, and his back-up driver Texan Lanny Clopton, called at the Astley stables where he selected Rodney, a nine year-old 15.3 hands Irish sport horse for the next stage of his journey. Rodney will be the fourth horse he has used so far.

"We're happy to be able to assist by providing a mount that will enable him to continue his amazing journey," said Tom, who engaged Hindley farrier Ian Harvey to ensure Rodney was well shod for the three week trek to the south coast.

Cowboy Cuoy explained: "I competed in rodeos until I was 24 then joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Disneyland Paris. Now I'm ready to ride down the Champs-Elysees. We're not here trying to raise money, the aim is to share the most important thing - the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"We have a tent and bedrolls but we won't turn our back on a warm bed and we are grateful to the people who have helped us along the way and looked after the horses with stabling and grazing arrangements.

"I didn't have much but I sold everything I had to do this."

Supported by the Grace Family Church in Liverpool his ministry aims to encourage people to put their faith and trust in Jesus and to show support for the state of Israel and its people both Jew and Arab.