Share knowledge and fun in friendly sport

A try-before-you-buy scheme is in operation, which means that you can enter two competitive rides (cost £30 each) without having to join Endurance GB, to give the hands on experience of endurance riding. The aim of the sport is to ride your horse over a planned course, completing with a horse that is deemed to be 'fit to continue' at the end.

The horse has to be vetted throughout the duration of the ride after every 20-25 miles (30-40km) covered, as well as a receiving a pre-ride check and final vetting after the ride finishes. To succeed or 'complete' the horse must be sound and its pulse must recover to within certain parameters after a given period of time, usually 64 heart beats per minute in a time span of approximately 30mins.

Competitive rides start at 32km (20m). Any horse regularly ridden for an hour or so two or three times a week should be able to attempt this after a normal fittening programme. No special tack is necessary initially and you have the delight of riding through beautiful countryside over a marked course chosen for you.

Careful selection of ride venues has resulted in off-road riding as much as possible to add to the enjoyment. Endurance GB runs rides the length and breadth of the country, all of which are accessible if you are a member of EGB. It is a sport where you and your horse form a close bond, as you learn to help each other to cover increasing distances comfortably, and where you will meet many friendly people who are willing to share their knowledge and experience.

If bitten by the competitive bug you can progress through Novice, Intermediate and Advanced to be able to enter rides of 40-plus miles, where you can win or be placed by completing the course in the shortest recorded time.

To reach this level you need to increase your expertise and knowledge of horsemanship, nutrition, personal fitness, training regimes, electrolyte balance and how to assist your horse to recover rapidly. This is where friends and family enter the equation, as to ride the longer distances you need a crew to help to ensure that you and the horse are properly fed and watered throughout.

To compete at the long distances of 80km,120km and the maximum allowed in one day 160km (100 miles), riders often use specialist tack with experienced crew on athletic and supremely fit horses; horses with heavy muscle bulk are found to be less successful at this level.

The ultimate achievement of Endurance Riding is to ride 100miles in one day. To achieve this, the horse, rider and crew all have to be correctly prepared and they must work together as a team to succeed. This takes much preparation and commitment from everyone involved and above all else, takes time. For those who succeed there is the added bonus of joining the elite 100-mile club!

Endurance GB regularly competes abroad at international level sending young riders and senior teams to countries all over the continent.

There are some really fun competitions to attend during the year, ranging from two-day events where you can camp with friends and ride both days to the Lindum Festival, spread out over four days, which starts with a relay and hosts rides covering most distances from 25-100m over three days.

The Inter-regional Championships is where teams of riders from all distance levels from nine regions throughout the country, compete against each other for this prestigious title.

If you want to see how the top riders compete over a long distance, you can have an away-day and watch the European Championships which are being held this year in Somerset on August 6.

It is all there waiting for you - come and join us .Your local group will be delighted to help you get started. For details, go to www.endurancegb.co.uk using the link 'local groups'

Sponsor call for 'flame'

SPONSORS are being sought for 'Olympic flame' lighting to illuminate the 160ft-high Alfred's Tower near Stourhead House at Mere in Wiltshire, the landmark feature of the 2005 FEI Open European Endurance Championships.

The championships, at the National Trust estate from August 3-7, are being held in Great Britain for only the second time. Hosted by Endurance GB, organisers are expecting 180 competitors plus back-up crews and team officials from about 30 countries to take part in the 100-mile race ride on August 6. The championship race, 'One Horse, One Rider, One Hundred Miles,' will follow a route past the tower, which will be lit during the opening ceremony on August 3.

Hopes are high in the British camp for championship success. In 1993, the last time the event was held in this country, GB took Team Gold with Jill Thomas and the mighty Egyptian Khalifa taking Individual Gold medal.

As a prelude, a 200-mile ride is planned from Southwell in Nottinghamshire, the venue of the 1993 championships, to Stourhead. One of the riders will carry a 'baton' that will be used in a symbolic 'lighting' of the torch at Alfred's Tower. Anyone interested in sponsoring the Alfred's Tower 'Olympic flame' should contact championship organiser John Hudson on 07779 797170. Mr Hudson, said: "We very much hope that the idea will catch the imagination of business marketing managers, enabling us to put this wonderful idea into practice."

Dates set for training rides

IT MAY still be wet, windy and cold outside, but the Durham and Teesside Group of Endurance GB is well under way with the organisation of its annual selection of rides.

Kicking off the season on March 7 is the Tanfield training ride, which covers 17kms - easy enough for the start of the season with many endurance horses using this a start to their training programme. The group's only competitive ride this year is the Durham Valleys ride on March 27. The venue is at Broompark Picnic Area near Durham. Classes on offer include a 27km Pleasure Ride, 40km Novice, 40km Open class and 65km ride.

Other training rides: April 24 at Waskerley, Durham, 25kms; May 8 in Hamsterley Forest, 25kms; July 10 at Stanhope, Durham, approx 25kms; August 7 at Raby Castle, 27kms; August 21 in Yarm Valley, 27kms; September 11 at Lartington, near Barnard Castle, 25kms; October 9 at Broompark, Durham, 32kms.

The group is always keen to attract new members who want to progress within the sport but also also to attract riders who do it for fun and would love the opportunity to ride over new territory - while at the same time, see their mileage total add up. Training rides can provide that opportunity to anyone who can cover the distance at a speed of between 8 and 12 kph. They are also an excellent way of trying the sport before joining the national group. For further information, contact membership secretary Norma Kendrick on (01429) 297908.

The group is also looking for anyone who likes to be outdoors and does not mind assisting in stewarding a road crossing or opening gates for riders. You don't have to be "horsey" to do this, just able to give up a day (usually a Sunday) in order to help out. Lunch is provided and there is a chance to win a prize at the end of the season as helpers names are automatically entered into a draw made at the group's AGM in December. So if you want to have a look more closely at the sport, or just simply need an excuse to get out into the countryside, give the committee a ring.

Helen Boston

Sarah sole finisher for championship team

by Wendy Peckham

Sarah Tyson, riding Derek Francis' veteran campaigner Simbar, was the sole British completion from the team of four and two individuals at the FEI World Endurance Champi onships held in Dubai in J anuary.

Just 60 riders finished from 175 starters in one of the toughest competitive tests for horse and rider in the world. Sarah's achievement of 39th place was all the more remarkable as this was 17 year-old Simbar's fourth World Championship competition appearance.

The 160km (100m) race ride across the desert started in darkness at 6am. The route consisted of six loops, varying in distance from 19 to 32 km (12 to 20m), each loop ending in a purpose-built vet-gate where horses were checked, rested and allowed to eat and drink before being re-presented to the vets prior to setting out on the next loop. The first vet-gate saw the shock elimination of Beccy Broughton and Murmansk, who suffered a bruised heel. By the second vet-gate Sarah Kellaway was in 50th place, Katie Smith in 58th, Pam James in 74th and Sarah with Simbar lying 93rd with 122 left in the race. At this stage Britain lost Rachael Claridge and Silver Mistrahl, who had apparently tweaked a muscle and stiffened up prior to being re-presented.

At vet-gate three Sarah Kellaway and Pam James were eliminated, Katie Smith was eliminated at the re-present in vet-gate four while Simbar continued. By vet-gate five Sarah, the only remaining Brit, was lying in 42nd place with an average speed of 16.72kph (10mph) and all hopes were resting on them. At 5pm, 11 hours after starting, Sarah and Simbar passed the final vetting to finish in 39th place.

Individual Gold medal winner was Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan Al Nahyan (United Arab Emirates) on Hachim, a British-bred horse, in a time of 7 hours 3 minutes. Just one minute behind was the French rider, Barbara Lissarague on Georgat with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE) on Nashmi finishing four minutes behind Barbara for Bronze. However, controversy raged at the medal presentation when the organisers claimed Sheikh Hazza's horse had proved positive to a drug test and it was announced that Barbara Lissarague was the World Champion. The FEI has written to the organisers asking for an explanation as it had not been informed of the change and says the result stands until a second drugs test has been performed.

Although naturally disappointed at the results, the riders have brought home a wealth of experience that will be used in the run-up to the European Championships, to be held on home ground in August, and the Young Rider World Championships taking place in Bahrain in December.

The British squad would like to thank the numerous companies and individuals who supplied goods and services for their trip to Dubai.

Prepare for new season

ENDURANCE riders wanting to prepare for the season ahead are invited to apply for a place on a training day to be held at Richmond EC on Saturday, March 12. Spectators and non-endurance riders wanting to learn about the sport are also welcome to the event, organised by the North and East Yorkshire Group of Endurance GB.

The day will consist of a group lesson with Endurance GB National Trainer Jane Edwards, sessions with a vet, Les Sparks from Free'n'Easy saddles, Shiatsu with Sandra Hunt, explaining the Japanese method of touch healing for health and fitness for horse and rider, and heart monitoring with Mike Bell from Border Trails Endurance. Cost £30 per horse and £7.50 for spectators (excluding crews). Non-members of Endurance GB are welcome to attend with their horse, but must provide proof of insurance cover or pay an additional £2.50. The cost of taking a horse or coming along to watch is the same for members and non-members. Further information and application forms can be found on the group's website: www.neyorksegb.co.uk

The full fee is payable on application and should be sent to: Heidi Winter, West End, Main Street, Sandhutton, Thirsk YO7 4RW. Only applications on the proper form can be accepted. Places are limited so early application is advised. The closing date is March 4.

Southwell to Stourhead - ride 200 miles through English countryside

THIS is an exciting year for the sport of endurance in Great Britain. The senior world championships have just taken place in Dubai and although the result was not entirely victorious for the British team, it has whetted the appetite for the Open European championships to be held at Stourhead in Wiltshire in August. And just as we recover from that, the young riders will be aiming for their own world championships in Bahrain in December.

As a prelude to the European Championships, Endurance GB is organising the 2005 European Endurance Championship challenge ride, which is open to all riders. This is taking shape nicely, thanks to a great deal of hard work by Endurance GB groups and BHS Access volunteers. Spinal Research and BHS Access are the nominated charities benefiting from the challenge ride, which will cover more than 200 miles (320km) and includes parts of several long distance bridleways.

Starting at Southwell Racecourse, near Nottingham, the ride will be escorted for a short distance by Nottinghamshire mounted police to see it safely across the River Trent at Gunthorpe Bridge and over the A46 before riders set off on the long trek south westwards, via bridleways, other rights of way and minor roads.

The route will take 12 days plus four rest days, starting on Tuesday, July 19, and running over consecutive days, to finish with a flourish at Stourhead in Wiltshire, arriving in time to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2005 Open European Endurance championships.

Each day's ride will be approximately 27-34kms long (17-21 miles) so well within the capability of endurance and most leisure riders. Rest days split the ride into blocks of two or three days so those wishing to make more of it can do so, and those wishing to take their horse on holiday and cover the whole route can achieve the distance without putting pressure on themselves or their horses.

A flat fee is payable per day, with proceeds to Spinal Research, BHS Access and EGB, and riders will be encouraged to raise additional sponsorship for the two nominated charities). A prize will be awarded to the rider raising the most sponsorship overall with one 'group' prize for Endurance, Riding Club or Pony Club members.

Insurance. - All riders must provide proof of public liability insurance cover.

Accommodation. - A list of accommodation, including camping and corralling, will be available along with the entry forms; arrangements for accommodation must be made by the riders.

Volunteers. - Each day's ride will take the form of a linear pleasure ride, organised by the relevant EGB Group in co-operation with local BHS Access volunteers and local riding clubs. Spinal Research aims to source volunteers to help but it is inevitable that some groups will need more assistance than others so, if you can't ride - then please help.

Contact the relevant group chairman direct (Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Heart of England, Cotswolds and Wessex - see the EGB handbook for contact details or visit the EGB website: www.endurancegb.co.uk).

Be Part of It. - The challenge ride will help to raise awareness of endurance riding, Endurance GB and the European championships. It is also being held to raise funds for Spinal Research, BHS Access and EGB so the more riders take part, the more funds will be raised. The decision has been taken to run the ride over consecutive days rather than only at weekends due to interest shown by EGB members to ride the whole route.

Organisers hope everyone will support that decision by taking up this challenge, either ride the route from start to finish or ride for one, two or more days. For non-endurance riders it will be a taste of the sport for the first time, whetting the appetite for more, for others it will be a special day out with their horse and some friends. Whoever the rider, whatever their personal reasons for taking part - it is your ride and its success ultimately depends on you.

The final route will be made available on the web sites below - watch for details.

The closing date for entries is Monday, May 30. Entry forms and accommodation lists are available by post from (A5 sae):

Deborah Smithson, Baytree Cottage, High Hammeringham, nr Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6PE

Download from:

www.endurancegb.co.uk

www.spinal-research.org

www.endurancechampionships2005.co.uk

There is a flat fee: £20 per single day; £18 per day for two days; £16 per day for three or more days; £180 the whole route

Hilton Herbs joins sponsors

Long-time sponsors of endurance riding, Somerset-based Hilton Herbs, is a sponsor of this summer's FEI Open European Endurance championships to be held at Mere, Wiltshire, August 5-7.

Participants from up to 30 nations are expected to take part in the contest, which covers 100 miles (160km) in one day over a series of loops from the National Trust's Stourhead Estate.

Although it is the worlds fastest-growing equestrian sport, as it is not yet an Olympic discipline. Endurance riding receives no government or Sports Lottery funding, so organisers are seeking sponsor. For the first time, a range of innovative sponsorship opportunities is on offer from sponsorship of phases of the ride, to the vet gate and crewing area.

Hilton Herbs is buying a new start/finish gate, which will be used at future events and rides. Tony and Hilary Self, directors of Hilton Herbs have been involved with endurance for ten years, both as competitors and sponsors.

The company has been principal sponsor of both the famous Golden Horseshoe Ride, and more recently the Hilton Herbs Alfred's Tower Ride.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the event should contact John Hudson (tel 07779 797170) or Karen Jones on 07952 970 748.

Published: 25/02/2005