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BRITISH ENDURANCE RIDING ASSOCIATION NEWS June 2000 Headlines
___________________________________________ PACKED WEEKEND IN STORE FOR The Hilton Herbs/Raddery Equine Festival of British Endurance Riding Budding British team members at all levels will be putting their credentials on the line at The Hilton Herbs & Raddery Equine Festival of British Endurance Riding at Cirencester Park later this month – Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June. This will be the third running of the Festival which fields one of the only UK race rides over the 100 miles maximum distance in what is now the world’s most popular equestrian sport - in terms of the number of nations competing at top level - with moves afoot to make it an Olympic discipline. Even after such long distances, Cirencester has become renowned for providing some of the sport’s most thrilling racing finishes. In all over 300 riders from the UK and overseas are set to descend on the Park - including a record number of 38 entries in the 60 mile Denbigh Slate race ride – making up a packed weekend. Those looking for the ultimate accolade of team selection to represent Great Britain in the World Endurance Riding Championships in Compiegne, France on 26 August include: Gill Campbell and Jo Trego competing in the toughest 100 mile class in a quality international field which includes riders from Italy, Belgium and a squad of up to five from The United Arab Emirates; while last year’s British Champion - Jayme Bone - Delwyn Hall, Sally Hall, Hilton Herbs team member - Jane James -, Pam Jordan, Sarah Kelleway, and Ann Urwin are all set to take on the 60 mile Denbigh Slate class. The record field for the 60 mile event also includes 8 of the 10 longlisted intermediate team riders – including the only man among them, Richard Allen (from London) -; along with some of Britain’s most experienced riders including Sally Hall, Liz Finney, Marcy Pavord and Emma Froehlich. Five of the currently long listed 15 combinations for this year’s British Young Riders team will be out competing at Cirencester in the 50 mile Juniors event on the Sunday: Brianna Egan (17 years), Alison Scott (17), Elizabeth Taylor (16), Vicky Brown (15) and Fiona Hamilton (the youngest, at 13 years of age). They will be bidding to secure a place on the team which will be finally decided following the BERA Alfreds Tower Ride (19/20 August) and is scheduled to compete over 80 miles in Calais, France on 24 September. If all goes to plan 18 year old Sarah Tyson will have ridden the furthest by the end of the weekend, with an entry in both the 60 mile race ride on the Saturday and Junior 50 mile ride on the Sunday. The new Hilton Herbs/Raddery Equine relay event, on the Sunday, marks the growing popularity of team contests in the sport. In this 4x 20 mile relay, riders will be required to ride 20 miles each at a maximum speed of 12mph (minimum 6mph) including presentation time. The winning team will be the one with the shortest riding time for four passes that have all passed their final vetting. Co-sponsors, Hilton Herbs, have supported a team of endurance riders for the past few years as part of their ongoing involvement with the sport, which started with the Hilton Herbs Golden Horseshoe ride in 1995. The Hilton Herbs endurance team is believed to be the only one running in the UK with 5 Gold Series riders – with the recent addition of Cornwall’s Jane James. Comments Hilary and Tony Self of Hilton Herbs : “We have thrown out a challenge to other companies and organisations in the equestrian world – as well as riders themselves - to put together teams and we are hoping that Horse & Hound magazine and Balanced Horse Feeds will be among them. It will be a start to build on for future years and should be great fun.” Outline Timetable, Maps, Full List of Entries & Media Accreditation by request to Foxhill Racing. SEARCH IS ON TO FIND ‘THINKING’ RIDERS The course for the World Endurance Riding Championships at Compiegne, France on 26 August 2000 has been described as ‘deceivingly tough’ by Chairman of the International Committee, John Robertson: “The course includes constant uphill and downhill stretches and the sandy tracks are actually quite stony – it’s a thinking rider’s course.” As the search for the top ‘thinking’ riders in the country continues, off the long list come; Rosemary Attfield, Gleam of the Haar (West Sussex); Cathy Brown and Susan Woodward, Ark Kazana (Rugby); Chris Burden, Sea Fantazy (Monmouthshire); Melanie Fauske, Schenkers Samurai (Stroud, Glos); Derek Francis (Malvern), Graham Hartley, Moon God (Bradwell on Sea, Essex), Sue Hawes (East Sussex); Pam Jordan, Appalousie Firefly (Stafford), Meriel Moon, Gedesnki (Bacup, Lancs); Ann Newton, Dacoit (Somerset); Marcy Pavord (Abergavenny); Paula Postlethwaite (Glos), Gillian Talbot, Piaffe (Chepstow) and Libby Whittome, Najar (Argyll). The resulting list reads as follows:
Back to the Top INTERMEDIATE TEAM SOON TO BE DECIDED BERA announces the following changes to the long list for the 2000 British Intermediate Team which will compete at Landivisiau, North West France on 6 August 2000 over 80 miles: Rachael Daniels with Mandella (from Shrewsbury) and Anna Lek with Jhan (from the Isle of Wight) are now off the list and Felicity Stockwell (from Norfolk) has withdrawn King of Reds. The final intermediate squad will be selected following the Hilton Herbs/Raddery Equine Festival of Endurance Riding (24/25 June 2000). The full list now reads as follows:
Back to the Top YOUNG RIDERS TRAINING HARD The Longlisted British young riders have been undergoing a thorough training regime which has included flatwork, interval training, corrective shoeing, physical training in the Boxing Gym and lectures on elctrolytes and cooling by team vet, Kieran O’Brien. Explained Chef d’Equipe, Sue Broughton: “We have had two weekend sessions at Brackenhurst College and the riders were set targets to achieve after the first. We are delighted to report that they have all shown considerable improvement. We have a lot of raw talent which we are working hard to nurture for the future in a concentrated and strategic way.” The final selection for a squad of six to compete at the international ride at Calais in France on 24 September 2000 over 80 miles, will take place following the BERA Alfreds Tower ride(19/20 August). Changes to the previously published list are as follows: On comes Beccy Broughton and off comes Nicola Pell and Samantha Welch. In addition, 13 year old Laura Davis-Holloway (sister of Victoria) will participate in this year’s training, looking ahead to possible selection in 2001. The resulting list is as follows:
Back to the Top TATTERSALLS RIDE RECEIVES RECORD ENTRIES FROM FIVE CONTINENTS The Tattersalls Newmarket endurance ride, where Britain’s shortlisted Senior team riders will be asked to compete as two squads, has received a record number of entries from as many as five continents with overseas competitors expected from: America, Australia, Malayasia, The Middle East and other European countries including Turkey, Spain and France. Competitors are scheduled to set out across Newmarket Heath on the 140km (approx 90 mile) course at 6am on Sunday 9 July; with the Tattersalls Arab Horse Sale taking place the following day. Last year’s ride was won by Tarek Taher from Saudi Arabia riding Java. The top British placed rider was Jenny Jackson who finished 10th out of last year’s 48 starters. RACING CHANNEL TO COVER ENDURANCE RIDING The Racing Channel, the subscriber satellite television service for the British racing industry and enthusiasts, is to sponsor filming at the BERA Tattersalls Ride on Sunday 9 July in Newmarket and the World Endurance Riding Championships at Compiegne in France on 26 August 2000. Both programmes will be transmitted on The Racing Channel and SKY Sports during the summer. The programmes will be put together by independent producer, Claire Barry who has already been involved in filming at Wicklow Hills for the past two years (and will be again this year) and the World Championships in the UAE in December 1998; as well as the Spirit of Sherwood ride last year. Commented George Irvine of The Racing Channel: “We got a tremendous subscriber response after last year’s Endurance programmes and we feel it is just an extension of our coverage of the horse. We already cover National Hunt and Flat Racing and see Endurance as part of this.” Added Claire Barry: “Although The Racing Channel have committed to these events we are still looking for sponsors for these and future endurance competitions, who would be attracted by this sort of high profile coverage.” Endurance riding is one of the world’s fastest growing equestrian sports with more countries competing in its international championships than any other, and particular interest from the Middle East. Endurance organisations worldwide are currently campaigning to make their sport an Olympic discipline. Any companies interested in finding out more about opportunities for broadcast exposure and association with this growing sport, should contact Claire Barry on 01869-331416 or abtvclaire@hotmail.com or Sandy Thwaites at Foxhill Racing (01793-790950) or foxhill@pollardstown.demon.co.uk. BRITISH RIDERS A CREDIT TO THEIR COUNTRY IN AUSTRALIA Marcy Pavord and Sally Hall – the two sole British representatives (riding loan horses) - both completed the world-famous 100 mile Tom Quilty Ride in Boonah, Australia on 10 June 2000. Setting off at the traditional time of midnight in freezing conditions, they were in the saddle for over 17 hours, riding through heavy rain for the last hour and a half – both finishing in the top 90 of the 250 starters. 173 horses finished. HILTON HERBS GOLDEN HORSESHOE RIDE TO FEATURE IN TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY The Hilton Herbs Golden Horseshoe Ride 2000 will feature as part of a series of programmes entitled On the Hoof scheduled for broadcast on Carlton Television in the West Country on 7 August 2000. The ride proved as tough as ever this year; although the event did see an end to the run of blank sheets of golds since 1996. One of these was as a result of a highly impressive performance from 13 year old, Fiona Hamilton from Horsham, West Sussex - the youngest competitor ever to take part in the 100 mile event. Fiona was riding her Welsh section C 13hh pony, Burfield Queen Bee. The other golds were taken by Candy Cameron (Eleazar de Landas) on an average speed of 7.64mph, Pauline Dickie (Ben) on 7.89mph, Jane Williams (Druimghigha Shiera) and Nikki Jenkins (Three Corners Sasha) both on 7.9. Significantly Candy, Nikki and Jane were the only three riders to take silver last year (the highest awards given, with no golds won) and the latter two are both long listed for the British team to compete in this year’s World Championships.
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