Talented trio join squad

Michael Evans from Rushyford near Bishop Auckland, Amy Boston from Yarm and Kirsty Wood from Durham travelled to Milton Keynes with their horses in December for squad training and assessment exercises. Ten other young riders from different parts of the country also took part in the weekend, which included veterinary checks of the horses as well as riding lessons and assessments, and talks by British Para-Olympic Equestrian Team vet, Rod Fisher.

The three youngsters belong to the Durham and Teesside Group of Endurance GB and have competed all over the country. Hopefully the opportunity to be a part of the national squad will one day see them competing for their country. Team Chief Sue Broughton and her supporting team assessed the three riders and their "mounts" and advised them that they all have the potential to be considered for international selection in the future.

MICHAEL EVANS

Michael Evans, 15, lives at Rushyford near Bishop Auckland. He started riding horses at the age of seven and got into endurance riding in 2003 when, along with his mum, he did his first competitive graded ride at Lindum near Market Rasen. After finishing a 40km ride as part of the Durham and Teeside novice team Michael was hooked and, although he says he was totally unprepared for the first ride, he really enjoyed himself and wanted more.

Having had a couple of horses since the start of his career, Michael has unfortunately struggled with their consistency in the sport. However, last year he purchased an eight- year-old 16.2h black Trakhener mare, called Woodcroft Anastasia. Having recently achieved a place on the British Young Riders' Squad with Anastasia, Michael is hoping she will take him through his endurance career. Michael exudes maturity and determination and remains focused on his aims, which for the time being is to compete Anastasia at advanced level. He then wants to progress to race rides and ultimately to be selected on the under-21 team to compete abroad.

Michael says the reason why he loves endurance riding so much is because of the sense of freedom it gives you while you ride. He said: "The rides are exciting and the scenery is beautiful, there is nothing better than spending a weekend riding through the British countryside."

The annual awards dinner for the Durham and Teesside Group 2004 saw his successes with Anastasia recognised and, as this year Michael finishes school, he says he will be spending most of his spare time competing at as many endurance rides as possible. As part of the Young Riders Squad, he will also be attending its training events, which include a week at Newmarket in the summer.

AMY BOSTON

Amy, who is also 15 and lives near Yarm, has been riding since she could walk, starting in the show ring then taking to the dressage ring and competing in show jumping, hunter trials and one-day events. She was an active member of the South Durham Pony Club, regularly riding for teams in various disciplines. As her mum was endurance riding, it was not long before Amy got the urge to give it a go. Amy's first endurance competition was the Tebay ride in the Lake District - and she was hooked. The mixture of speed and distance as well as fantastic scenery, the amount of land to ride on and the chance to spend hours in the saddle, gave Amy the type of equestrian sport she was looking for.

In 2003 Amy was National Reserve Champion Junior Rider on her Connemara mare Miss Molly Malone, she also won two other national awards that year as well as sweeping the table at the Durham and Teesside Groups Annual Awards. Last year she added many more trophies and rosettes to her already massive collection. The 2005 season will see Amy with a new partner, a nine-year-old purebred Arab called Minsk. Only time will tell if this partnership is as successful as the previous one, but Minsk's father is presently in Dubai as part of the British squad for the World Championships, so Amy is hoping Minsk will follow in his Dad's footsteps.

Amy says the ultimate aim is to ride for her country with the British Young Riders' Squad. Although she herself rides at advanced level, she intends to use 2005 to upgrade Minsk to advanced and attend the squad training events. She also wants to compete Minsk, increasing his distances gradually and possibly race-riding by the end of the season.

KIRSTY WOOD

Kirsty Wood is 14-years-old and has been participating in endurance riding since she was eight with notable success. She began with her 11.3hh Welsh Mountain pony Brierdene Briton, regularly competing in competitive rides up to 25 miles, and won many trophies.

The Foot and Mouth year in 2001 saw her next novice mount, Lindisfarne Celebration (Welsh Section B) unable to compete as all competitions had been cancelled. The following year she successfully competed with him at novice level qualifying them both to intermediate level. They won many group trophies and were placed at national level. The combination then parted company, which resulted in Kirsty competing on her mother's Welsh Cob, Heugh Penceri Merlyn. During this period the search was on to find a mount with the potential to take her to international level.

In February 2004 Ibn Karima, a 13-year-old pure-bred Arabian arrived. The season was not uneventful for the combination, as Karima was mentally challenged with the move from dressage to endurance. However, despite the problems, the combination had achieved success at the end of year group awards, and are looking forward to the 2005 season during which they hope to pass from intermediate to advanced as quickly as possible with a view to race riding in the near future. Kirsty attended all training events held for the Young Riders' Squad in 2004 and intends for this to continue through this year in order that her partnership with Karima may be considered for international selection in the future.

Bahrain ride for young Zara

by Wendy Peckham EGB

It may be 'off-season' in Great Britain but for some endurance riders it's all go in the lead up to three major championships.

Lancashire-based 16-year-old Endurance GB (EGB) National Champion and leading Young Rider, Zara Moon, flew out to Bahrain recently. She joined fellow Brit Anna Williams, who is currently based in Switzerland, to take part in the 'dry run' for the Endurance Young Riders World Championships, being held in December. Invited by the Ride's organisers, Zara and Anna were treated like VIPs with a press conference, dinner at the Sheraton Hotel and a day at the races, where Zara was introduced to Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of the ruling King Hamad, a keen endurance rider who participates frequently in the UK.

Riding on borrowed horses proved frustrating for Zara as financial incentives were paid to owners on completion, leading to a demand that her horse be ridden at a steady trot only, with no race riding. However, both Anna and Zara have benefited from experiencing the conditions and riding the proposed championship route as a rehearsal for the real thing. With cold nights and hot days in Bahrain at this time of year the girls had to endure drizzle, cloud and a downpour before the sun came through. This helped to reduce dust levels on the sand-based course, which was very flat and, having been steam rollered, provided a pleasant seashore-type compacted surface.

Ironically, Zara's horse failed at the final vet gate while Anna managed to complete in eighth place, with just nine riders from 38 starters finishing the course.

Meanwhile, back in England, the six riders and reserve selected for the Senior Endurance World Championships, being held in Dubai on January 27, were having a final get-together in Bristol. Sarah Kellaway and Beccy Broughton have already spent some time in Dubai w ith their horses and the rest of the team (Rachael Claridge, Katie Smith, Pam James and Sarah Tyson) and the horses due to join them earlier in the month. Reserve Dominique Freeman, based in the USA, attended the gathering and is keeping her horse fully fit should they be called up.

Team hopes are high for a good result in Dubai, which bodes well for the EGB-hosted Open European Championships to be held in August at the National Trust venue of Stourhead Estate in Wiltshire, home of Alfred's Tower.

Golden Horseshoe riders get ready

First held in 1965 over just 50 miles, the Golden Horseshoe was the first long distance ride to take place in the United Kingdom.

This year, as usual, the two top classes will be run over two days on Monday and Tuesday, May 23 and 24 with preliminary vetting on Sunday afternoon May 22. However, the Exmoor Eighty will revert to a one-day format and will be held on Tuesday, May 24.

Class 1 of the Griffin NuuMed Golden Horseshoe is a ride of approximately 160km over two days, divided 80/80, open to all advanced riders and horses having competed at Advanced level in a previous season.

Speeds required for each grade: gold - 12kph or over; silver - from 10.5 to less than 12kph; and bronze - from 9.5 to less than 10.5kph.

At the end of the first day, the average speed achieved sets the standard eg 12.5kph equals gold. If the horse attracts a penalty, such as a heart rate of 58 that gold standard drops to silver. It is not possible to achieve any higher than the standard at the end of the first day. Riding at silver speed on day two with no veterinary penalties will attract a silver award, but a penalty would result in a bronze. Riding at bronze speed with a penalty will result in a completion.

The first heart rate reading (before the trot up) taken at the end of each day will be used as the basis for the awarding of penalty points. Note that penalty points may be incurred for heart rate only. Heart rate of 55 or less attracts no penalty; 56-64, one penalty; 65 and over, elimination, or as deemed appropriate by chief vet on the day. Any alteration to published parameters will be declared before the first rider starts.

Class 2, Exmoor Stag is a ride of approximately 120km over two days, divided 80/40, open to all advanced riders and horses having competed at advanced level in a previous season. Rules as for Class 1.

Stag award - as for gold award class 1; Hind award - as for silver award class 1; Fawn award - as for bronze award class 1; Completion - as for class 1. Heart rate penalties as for class 1.

Class 3 Exmoor Eighty graded ride of approximately 80 km is to be held on Tuesday, May 24, with preliminary vetting on the afternoon of May 23. Open to all advanced horses and riders, normal EGB grading parameters apply for this class, and there is a special award for best condition.

Businesses urged to support event

EQUESTRIAN businesses are being invited to support the largest endurance event to be hosted in Great Britain.

The 2005 Open European Endurance Championships takes place from August 5 until August 7and looks set to attract 25 countries with 180 riders, crew members and 15,000 spectators over a week-long celebration of the sport.

The championships will take place at one of the most prestigious venues in the UK, the National Trust's Stourhead Estate at Mere, Wiltshire.

Companies will have access to an innovative package of sponsorship opportunities from support and branding for the individual phases on the 100-mile route, to crew and water points, to the vet gate arena, international food village, and clothing for volunteer route marshals, timing system and scoreboard. The event is set to receive significant media attention and TV rights are being negotiated.

Sponsorship manager Karen Jones said: "There are good reasons for businesses to become involved in Endurance. Endurance riding is the world's fastest growing equine sport. The fact is that in 1993 there were only 18 FEI endurance competitions worldwide, compared to 251 in 2003. In just ten years, endurance has grown by a staggering 1394pc."

It is hoped to focus attention on the sport's attractions in a way that will foster further growth at the grassroots of its governing body in the UK, Endurance GB.

Co-organizer John Hudson said: "The championships must be self-funding and we have estimated that to stage an event that befits one of the sport's leading nations, we need to raise funding to the tune of £280,000. To do this we would welcome the support of businesses across the spectrum. In return, we will promise the support of a professional marketing team to maximise the impact of their involvement.

"Endurance is the 'youngest child' in the equine world but it is one with a pedigree of success. Becoming involved will not be a leap of faith - just look at the figures and see what joining forces with the 2005 Open European Endurance Riding Championship marketing team can do for your company."

For details about sponsorship opportunities, contact Karen Jones 07952 970748 or 01884 841693 or John Hudson 07779 797170.

Out and about for charity

by Helen Boston

A cold and breezy morning did not deter a small group of riders and their mounts from turning out on the first Sunday in January for the Durham and Teesside Group's annual Christmas Charity ride, in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Appeal.

The group has held this ride at the Broompark Picnic Area near Durham, for the past couple of years, ever since one of the its members, Alison Wanless, had cause to use the service herself following a nasty fall while competing at the Lindum ride in Lincolnshire. Due to the nature of the injuries sustained and the locality of the accident, it was deemed necessary to air lift Alison to hospital, which no doubt contributed to her full recovery.

The ten-mile ride, which took most riders up to two hours to complete, consisted mainly of off-road riding on disused railway lines that gave way for some good if, not soft, going in places. It also provided the opportunity for those taking part to get their mounts out and about during the endurance "closed" season - and begin their preparation for the 2005 season, which commences at the end of February.

The group's first training ride of the year is the Tanfield ride on March 6, and its first competitive ride is back at Broompark for the Durham Valleys ride on March 27.

Feed firm to sponsor challenge

THE Cumbria Group of Endurance GB (EGB), the governing body for competitive long distance riding, has announced a sponsorship agreement with Baileys Horse Feeds for its Northern Championships 120km (75 miles) Ride and its Cumbria Challenge 80km (50 miles) Ride, which takes place on August 28 at Oddendale, near Shap.

To be known as the Baileys Horse Feeds Northern Championships 2005 and the Baileys Horse Feeds Cumbria Challenge 2005, the race rides are the first to be sponsored by the feed company, although it is no stranger to the sport through its long-term support of Jo Trego - and it has just struck a deal with the up-and-coming Catriona Moon. Winners of each ride will receive cash prizes, with additional feed and clothing awarded down to fourth place.

The 120km ride is being held for the first time and will take place on one day, as will the 80km Baileys Horse Feeds Cumbria Challenge which, with its grassy undulating tracks leading to fast times is never an easy one to win. Qualification to take part in the two rides is as per the EGB Members' Handbook.

Rominta Knowles, brand manager for Baileys, said, "We are delighted to be involved with the Northern Championships and the Cumbria Challenge as they represent both a sport and an area of the country in which we are particularly keen to raise ou r profile."

Baileys has recently added Alfalfa Blend chaff to their range whilst Ultimate Finish high oil supplement has been popular with endurance riders for a number of years. This spring will see an overhaul of the packaging and formulations of Baileys' competition range, with developments that should appeal to long distance riders at all levels.

Organisers are expecting good entries for the two Baileys Horse Feeds sponsored rides, which will be supported with a full programme of other rides ranging from 67km (42 miles) to a pleasure ride of 26km (16 miles). Despite storm conditions last year, a record number of Grade 1s were presented in the Graded Rides. The venue will provide marquees, trade stands, stabling and corralling among other facilities.

For further information contact ride organiser Liz Dentice on 01931 714265.

Criteria for squad selection

ENDURANCE GB has released to Northern Horse the criteria that riders need to be aware of for 2005 for senior, intermediate and young riders' squad selection.

Senior Squad

Horse and rider combinations to have completed a 160km ER (preferably FEI) in a single day, within the 24 months previous to November 30, 2004. The senior squad is looking for riders who have a proven record at FEI level and who are ready to face the ultimate challenge of representing their country in major championships such as the European Championships in August 2005 at Alfred's Tower in Somerset and looking further ahead to the World Equestrian Games in AAchen, Germany

Intermediate Squad

Horse and rider combinations to have completed at least 1x100km ER single-day ride within the 24 months previous to November 30, 2004. Horses and rider combinations who have completed 2x80km rides up to November 30, 2004 may also be considered. The intermediate squad is looking for riders who aspire to international level competition, but who need guidance and development before they are ready for the senior squad.

Young Riders' Squad

Horse and rider combinations to have completed at least 120km ER (preferable FEI ) single-day ride within the 24 months previous to November 30, 2004. The young riders' squad is looking for young riders aged 14 to 21 years, who have established endurance careers and aspire to represent their country at major championships such as the World Championships in Bahrain in December.

Young Riders' Development Squad

Horse and rider combinations to have completed at least 1x80km ride in a single day within the 24 months previous to November 30, 2004. The Development Squad is looking for enthusiastic Young Riders who aspire to top level competition.

Published: 28/01/2005