Durham and Teesside Group of Endurance Great Britain, held its AGM and Annual Awards Night at Mount Oswald Manor Golf Club, Durham.

Trevor Clerk, retiring chairman, presided over the business meeting, where he thanked all those who have allowed the group to have yet another very successful season. He gave an account of the activities held during the year. The season began with a training day at Richmond Equestrian Centre and followed this up with a Horse Orienteering event in Hamsterley Forest, as well as group rides at various locations throughout County Durham, from Tanfield in the north to Lartington in the south. Non- members are always welcome to take part and full details are available from the group's web site www.durhamandteessideegb.org.uk

The group also raised money for the Great North Air Ambulance and proceeds from the raffle held on the night are destined for the Animal Health Trust to help with its digital x-ray facilities at Newmarket.

Heather Wedderburn, editor of Northern Horse, endurance rider and trainer, presented the prizes.

POPALOUS PAIRS TROPHY: 1 Sue Frusher with Ben and Sue Spink with Corriander 432 km; 2 Amy Boston with Miss Molly Malone and Helen Boston with Ziggy Stardust 331 km. JASPER TROPHY: 1 Amy Boston and Miss Molly Malone 283 points; 2 Karen Hynes and Bramble 252 points. FRISKY MOORS: 1 Amy Boston and Miss Molly Malone 812 points; 2 Kirsty Wood and Ibn Karima 275 points. WHISPER TROPHY: 1 Emma Nelson and Whisper on the Wind 220.5 km; 2 Emma Nelson and Careless Whisper 151 km. JUNIOR RIDER: 1 Emma Nelson 12 years 348 km; 2 Michael Evans 15 years 113 km. YOUNG RIDER: 1 Amy Boston 396 km; 2 Kirsty Wood 180 km. VETERAN RIDER: 1 Les Spark 583 km; 2 Sue Frusher 548.5 km. CUPID AWARD: 1 Miss Molly Malone and Amy Boston 812 points; 2 Goddington Belmondo with Jane Evans 765 points. PURE BRED NATIVE: 1 Miss Molly Malone (Connemara) Amy Boston, 451 km; 2 Hillhead Minstrel (Fell) Pat Dodds, 160 km. VETERAN HORSE: 1 Ben and Sue Frusher 548.2 km; 2 Ziggy Stardust II and Helen Boston 434 km. ALF SMITH MEMORIAL: 1 Whisper on the Wind and Emma Nelson; 2 Careless Whisper and Emma Nelson. NOVICE GRADED RIDE TROPHY: 1 Al Zahi Khazan and Karen David 403 km; 2 Goddington Belmondo and Jane Evans 348 km. JOHN JAMIESON TROPHY INTERMEDIATE: 1 Ziggy Stardust II and Helen Boston 313 km; 2 Sandfire Prince and Jacquie Brash 217 km. ADVANCED GRADED TROPHY: 1 Warrens Hill Quelanza and Alison Wanless 445 km; 2 Serena Joanne Knight 278 km. ENDURANCE RIDE TROPHY: 1 Euphorias Quest and Danielle Coulson 485 km; 2 Magica's Minstrel and Les Spark 369 km. ACORN TROPHY: 1 Warrens Hill Quelanza and Alison Wanless 445 km; 2 Ziggy Stardust and Helen Boston 313 km. HIGH POINT: 1 Euphorias Quest and Danielle Coulson 1712.5 points; 2 Magica's Minstrel and Les Spark 1682.5 points. HIGHEST NON-COMPETITIVE DISTANCE: 1 Ben and Sue Frusher 548.2; 2 Whitbridge Crystal Callista and Sylvia Briggs 374 km. HIGHEST OVERALL DISTANCE: 1 Magica's Minstrel and Les Spark 583 km; 2 Ben and Sue Frusher 548.2 km.

Report: Andrea Waistell

Cumbria endurance riders win nationally

Report by Rhonda Edmenson

It has been a good year for Cumbria Endurance horses and their riders. Two local riders were placed in the Endurance GB National Awards, at the Warwick Hilton on Saturday, 27 November.

The first was young rider, Louise Clark from Keswick. She had been riding Jean Gilbert's 18 year-old Arabian mare 'Autumn Butterfly' throughout the 2004 season, achieving first place in the Silverling Flint Memorial Trophy for Veteran horse. Louise also achieved sixth in the National Young Rider's Nippa Trophy. Liz Dentice from Newby was awarded a forth placing in the Mira Trophy Novice Championships riding her grey Arabian Mare, Kifinti.

Nearer to home, the Cumbria Group of Endurance GB held its AGM at the Sportsman's Inn, Troutbeck. The awards were presented by Mike and Sally Bell of Border Trails Endurance, Northumberland, as follows:-

Open Points (Rom Biddy Cup) 1 Rilletta (J.Gilbert); 2 Moonlight Fudge (L.Porter); Annual Mileage Trophy (Pleasure Competitive Miles): 1 P.Sunset Surprise (C.Cummings); 2 Rilletta (J.Gilbert); EGB Mileage (Graded Rides) 1 Rilletta (J.Gilbert); 2 P.Sunset Surprise (C.Cummings); Pleasure Rides (Km): 1 Uldale Black Raven (F.Carradus); 2 P.Sunset Surprise (C.Cummings); Endurance Ride Points: 1 Wrightfield Omar (C.Wallace); 2 Nikitta (L.Dentice); Endurance Ride (Km): 1 Wrightfield Omar (C.Wallace); 2 Nikitta (E.Dentice); Novice Points (1st Season Only):1 Kifinti (L.Dentice); 2 Silvergarth Hot Toddy (J.Templeton); First Season Horse Km: 1 Kifinti (E.Dentice); 2 Ter Waele Hasty (R.Edmenson); First Season Rider: (km): 1 Andy Braithwaite; 2 Fiona Southern; Leesview Stud : Cumbria Novice Points 1st Season only: 1 Kifinti (L.Dentice); 2 Silvergarth Hot Toddy (J. Templeton). Solway Cloud Trophy (Cumbria Graded Ride Points): 1 Autumn Butterfly (L.Clark); 2 Henry (H.Park); Junior Rider Pleasure Ride (Km): 1 Autumn Butterfly (L.Clark); 2 Miniature Hero (V.Stabler). Junior Graded Rides (Km): 1 Autumn Butterfly (L.Clark). Woody Trophy (14.2hh EGB Competitive Km): 1 Autumn Butterfly (L.Clark); 2 P.Sunset Surprise (C.Cummings); Little Nikki Trophy Adult (14.2hh Northern 40km): 1 Mycathlly G.Sunshine (A.Aldridge); 2 P.Sunset Surprise (C.Cummings). Elliot Trophy Male Rider: 1 Graeme King, 2 Mark Hughes. Veteran Horse (18+ yrs): 1 Autumn Butterfly; 2 Uldale Black Raven; Veteran Rider (50+ yrs): 1 C. Cummings; 2 E.Dentice; Native Breed (km): 1 Welsh Section D Cob P.Sunset Surprise (C.Cummings); 2 Fell Pony Guard's Joseph (S.Wardle); Arabian (km): 1 Rilletta (J.Gilbert); 2 Autumn Butterfly (L.Clark); Part-Bred Arabian (km): 1 C.Zeus (S.Ollis); 2 Nikitta (L.Dentice); Thoroughbred (km) 1 Sarmatian (N.Pearson); 2 Heavenly Hoofer (H.Scott); Other Breeds Crossbreeds (km) 1 Scotch Hale Bopp; 2 Silvergarth Hot Toddy (J.Templeton).

New saddle launched

Lee Broadway of North of England Saddlery Co, based in Bedale North Yorkshire has had the opportunity to work closely with Endurance trainer/rider and Editor of Northern Horse, Heather Wedderburn, to design a radically different English styled, hand crafted Endurance saddle.

The finished saddle was presented to Heather with thanks for her work with Lee and his business partner Tanya House, before they made their trip to promote it at the Al Fares Equine Trade Show in December 2005 in Dubai.

The weight of the saddle for endurance riders has always been an issue when riding at the mandatory 75kg race weight. The saddle weighs only 4.8kg.

It has a stylish and very comfortable, deep English-styled seat providing the best in comfort and position for the rider. The is made from soft, durable waterproof leather with a choice of two stirrup leather positions to suit the rider's leg position. There are no stirrup buckle lumps on the inner thighs that most saddles have, the buckling system is out of the way of all leg contact with easy access for alteration, being positioned above the stirrup iron.

There are a total of fourteen D-rings to attach the breast-plate, saddle bags, bottle and map holders and sponges and electrolyte bags with extra for the more needy riders!

All this has been built on a traditionally laminated lightweight English tree ensuring that no weight bears down directly on to the horses back bone.

Retailing at only £800+VAT from: North of England Saddlery Co, 27a North End, Bedale, North Yorkshire, DL8 1AF. For further information on this new and exciting saddle contact: Tel 01677 422213 or mobile 07803397227

Another successful year

THE EGB Northumberland and Tyneside Group enjoyed a successful AGM at The Robin Hood Inn, East Wallhouses.

Chairman Janet Lennard reviewed the year starting with the first training ride in March at Harwood Forest; a training day at Titlington in April; competitive and pleasure rides with Kielder in May, Alnwick in June and Hexham in August.

The Simonside pleasure ride in September was rained off and the Kielder Dam pleasure ride cancelled due to lack of entrants.

Vice-chairman Pat Beaumont and treasurer Eileen Charlton stood down but will still help.

Eileen is organising a new pleasure ride next year. Julie Rana-Shell, organiser of the Simonside ride, has now joined the committee.

Veterinarian Colin Mitchell gave an interesting talk on the new vaccine for Strangles, followed by the presentation of awards:

Pleasure distance trophy: 1 Patchwork and Karen Shotton; 2 Bright Destiny and Angela Johnson. Junior highest mileage trophy: 1 Hannah Shotton; 2 Vicky Johnson. Newcomer's trophy: 1 Lewy and Michelle Morgan; joint 2 Patchwork and Karen Shotton and Blazing Boy and Hannah Shotton. Middle distance trophy: 1 Cairo Ibn Mehzika and Eileen Charlton; 2 Kavanagh and Janet Lennard. Graded ride trophy: 1 Ashraaf and Viv and Lee-Anne Knight; 2 Kavanagh and Janet Lennard. High point trophy: 1 Ashraaf and Viv and Lee-Anne Knight; 2 Just Jack and Debbie Wardle. The Saud Memorial Endurance Trophy: 1 Just Jack and Debbie Wardle; 2 Coquet Dahrish and Graham Dixon/Flip Seccombe. Spirit of the North FEI Trophy: 1 Just Jack and Debbie Wardle.

Members of the Great North Air Ambulance will give tips for riders at a talk on January 18, at 7.3,0 at Stannington Village Hall. For further details visit www.egb northumberland.co.uk

Report: Hilary Cloughley

Published: 31/12/2004