Championship launched

The launch was held by kind permission of endurance enthusiasts John and Chris Yeoman at the headquarters of Foster Yeoman, near Frome.

During the evening, speakers from the organising committee outlined ambitious plans for the event, from August 5 until August 7, including a lavish opening ceremony. The ceremony will include lighting up the historic monument, King Alfred's Tower, a hilltop landmark that can be seen from across three counties.

The championships will be preceded by a 200-mile cross-country charity ride in aid of the British Horse Society and Spinal Research. The European Championship Challenge will be open to all riders and has the support of the BHS, British Driving Society, British Eventing, the British Show Jumping Association, Riding Clubs and the Pony Club. The ride will begin at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, where Britain last hosted the European Championships in 1993.

Already local townspeople and villagers are making plans to line the 100-mile championship route, that sets out from the National Trust's Stourhead House on Saturday, August 6.

Event co-organiser John Hudson said the championship would cost around £300,000 to stage. He said the sport was indebted to the title sponsor Emirates International Endurance Racing as well as other equestrian and local supporters.

Horse welfare will be of paramount importance during the competition. Rod Fisher, an experienced endurance vet who will be president of the veterinary commission at the championships, said there would be stringent checks made throughout to ensure the safety of up to 150 equine athletes who are expected to travel to the UK from up to 30 countries.

"Horses will be well cared for by good riders and their crews and back up teams, but they will also be able to call on the advice of a veterinary panel including the world's leading experts in this area," he said. "We will be vigilant in making sure that any horse that is showing signs that it is not completely fit to continue is withdrawn from the competition."

Andrew Finding, chief executive of the British Equestrian Federation, praised the efforts of the championship organisers to involve the equestrian community nationwide, as well as capturing the imagination of local people.

He said: "The activity that is going on here is immensely exciting. I have been fortunate to go to a lot of championships and seen a lot of people organising championships, but never before have I seen so much commitment or enthusiasm for adding value to an equestrian event. Devising imaginative elements such as the charity ride in support of the BHS and Spinal Research, to mark the championship, are crucial to the long-term success of equestrian sports in general and this sport in particular."

At a time when Britain is about to host the Eventing European Championship and is bidding for the Olympic Games, the success of the event has wider implications. Mr Finding said: "What these championships will be doing is showing the world at large just how good we are at hosting these events. When you look at the contribution this championship will make to the overall exercise it is absolutely right that everyone involved, from the organisers to the sponsors and riders, feels part of a much bigger picture."

Mayor of Wincanton, David Marsh, a guest at the launch, said: "I will be going back to the town council and to the chamber of trade to look at how we can help and what facilities we can make available to the event. This will open up new horizons for us. We are very proud to be hosting the championship and will do all we can to make it a success."

Television deal announced

SKY Sports is to televise the Open European Endurance Championships, organisers have announced.

This is the first time that a UK-based endurance championship has secured TV coverage with a potentially worldwide audience.

Filming for the programme, which will be up to an hour long and set to go out on the channel's rolling coverage in the days following the championship, is being produced by Oxfordshire-based abtv Productions.

A leading news documentary film maker, abtv's Claire Barry will produce the programme. She has filmed at major endurance championships around the world and is an endurance competitor herself.

She said: "TV coverage for any sport is crucial to its growth and development and securing Sky airtime is significant. With its spectacular settings with racing over challenging terrain, reliance on skilled crew back up and tension in the vetgates, endurance lends itself to exciting television. It is very similar to car rallying or the Tour de France which are not easily accessible for spectators but which over several phases you can build into great programming.

Claire has worked for SKY on the televising of golf. She said: "The PGA paid for its first TV coverage because they realised that TV was crucial to the growth of the sport internationally. Now it receives hundreds and hundreds of hours of airtime, which is supported by sponsorship."

The advent of big screen technology at the ride will also ensure that spectators at the venue will also be able to see the latest positions displayed on a massive screen in the spectator arena. The 16ft x 10 ft screen coverage will also feature interviews with riders, sponsors and other key individuals. Pictures from inside the Vet Gate and on course will be beamed to the screen.

Event co-organiser John Hudson was delighted that Sky will be transmitting the event. He said: "Endurance is the world's fastest growing horse sport - it is also the most accessible in terms of horsepower and equipment needed. Coverage of this kind is great news as we believe that what many people currently see as Britain's Cinderella equestrian sport has a fantastic story to tell."

Event's title sponsor named

THE title sponsor of the Open European Endurance Championships is Dubai-based Emirates International Endurance Racing, which is responsible for major endurance events in the UAE, including the recent FEI World Championships.

Co-organiser of the FEI Emirates International Endurance Racing Open European Championships, John Hudson, said that because endurance was not an Olympic sport and received no Government or Sports Lottery funding, the championships have to be entirely self-funding. Speaking after the launch, he said: "Organising an event such as this is a major undertaking.

"We are delighted to welcome our sponsors from Dubai on board. Their significant contribution will ensure the viability of the event. I would also like to thank all of the other sponsors that have agreed to back the championship so far."

Mr Hudson added: "Although organised on behalf of the sport's governing body Endurance GB, it was agreed some time ago that the championships cannot be funded in any way by our relatively small membership organisation. However, we are hoping EGB members will give their personal support to the event by volunteering for one of the many roles at the championship from route marshalling to helping in the vet-gate."

A spokesman for Emirates International Endurance Racing said: "HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his family have been supporting endurance riding world wide for some years now and hope that those contributions and initiatives have assisted in the giant steps that endurance riding has moved forward over the last decade and that it continues to make."

In addition to the title sponsor, the following have agreed to support the championships: Hilton Herbs, Baileys Horse Feeds, Anthony Rowe Publishing, Balanced Horse Feeds, Easibed, England's Equestrian Magazine, Lansdown Rugs , Poly Pads, Precision Paper Products, Pro-Sportive, Woof Wear, Airowear, Xerox, Sheer Versatility.

The championships are set to offer a weekend of great entertainment for all the family with a programme of displays and other events planned to run alongside the endurance competition, Wiltshire. To find out more see www. endurancechampionships2005.co.uk/

Riders motivated and enthusiastic after weekend of training

Two members of the Durham and Teesside group of EGB were among nine endurance riders and their horses, who attended an intermediate team training and assessment weekend in Lancashire last month.

Karen Greenwood and Danielle Coulson, along with riders from as far afield as Scotland and Gloucestershire, were made extremely welcome by hosts Rachel and Andrew Atkinson and availed themselves of the yard and facilities.

After an initial trot-up, the Saturday morning was divided into three sessions. The first saw a detailed examination by the vet, Jo Woodman, and farrier Steve Golding to assess gait, foot balance and state of fitness. Then came a session with physiotherapist Pippa Windle-Baker to demonstrate stretch exercises that can help to improve the horses' suppleness, together with some work on the riders. Finally, all riders took part in a time trial, organised by chef d'equipe Pat Fowler, in which their ability to judge the horses' speed at different paces was tested over a measured track.

In the afternoon the group set off in pairs at five minute intervals to complete two loops of a 17km (10.5m). The riders were asked to do carry out a 'practice vet-gate' procedure at the half-way stage and also on completion of the route, when their crews came under scrutiny.

Sunday morning had the horses trotting up for the management team and then the groups were re-formed for a further three instructional sessions.

After completing all of the three sessions, the groups assembled for a debrief and discussion of future plans prior to their departure. Everyone benefited from the exercise, leaving the venue feeling well motivated and very enthusiastic.

Those attending were: Rachel Atkinson, Sue Buckley, Danielle Coulson, Pat Dorward, Karen Greenwood, Katie Parkin, Sharon Parr, Nick Tweedie-Smith and Libby Whittombe.

Maggie Maguire Vice chairman of EGB

Scenic date starts competition season

THE Cumbria Group of Endurance GB is holding its first competitive ride of the season on Sunday, April 10, at Low Close Farm, Tirril, near Penrith.

This popular, early season event, The Ullswater Ride, must rank as one of the most scenic in the endurance ride calendar. It offers lovely views across the Lake District on a clear day from Loadpot Hill (once you have climbed it first!) and has some wonderful stretches where you can make up time and really let your horse stretch itself.

There are classes to suit all levels of riders, from a 65km graded ride to a 25km pleasure ride. The facilities are excellent and organiser, Ann Aldridge, is expecting the ride to be very well attended. Contact 017683 61387.

Rhonda Edmenson

Keen interest in charity ride

SINCE the launch of the European Championships Challenge Ride, endurance and other riders have shown an interest - many of them keen to ride the entire 200-mile route.

Two charities will benefit, Spinal Research and The British Horse Society, the latter providing help in defining the route and organising daily start venues.

The ride is open to all riders capable of completing 20-25 miles in a day. Riders can join in for just one day or longer, with riding days split into two or three continuous days with rest days between. It starts at Southwell Racecourse on Tuesday, July 19, and ends on arrival at the championships' opening ceremony on Wednesday, August 3.

The Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, Minister for the Horse within Defra, said in a letter to organisers: 'I wholeheartedly offer you and your fellow riders participating in the long distance Challenge Ride my full support in completing this admirable journey. It will serve as a worthy prelude to the European Championships in August."

Defra is working with local councils and the Countryside Agency to improve rights of way, including bridleways, under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Entry forms for the Challenge Ride are in the process of being made available and these, along with information sheets, will be posted on receipt of a sae to: Deborah Smithson, Baytree Cottage, High Hammerigham, nr Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6PE. Both forms will also be available for download from the European Championships website: www.european championships2005.co.uk

Published: 01/04/2005