Contact:

Wendy Peckham

Kingswood Associates

Fen Farm Cottage

Fen Lane

New Bolingbroke

Boston

Lincolnshire

PE22 7JQ

Tel: 01205 480190

Email: kingswood.associates@btinternet.com

The National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2RP

Tel: 02476 698863 Fax: 02476 418429 www.endurancegb.com

Endurance GB

Competitive long distance horse riding

Date: 23 December 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Endurance riders strain at the leash

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 in 2005.

Lancashire based 16 year-old Endurance GB (EGB) National Champion and leading Young Rider, Zara Moon, flew out to Bahrain recently to join 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 next year. 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 in twelve months time. With cold nights and hot days in Bahrain at this time of year both girls found they 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 sea-shore type compacted surface.

Ironically, Zara’s horse failed at the final vetgate 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 27 January, were having a final get together in Bristol. Sarah Kellaway and Beccy Broughton have already spent some time in Dubai with their horses and the rest of the team (Rachael Claridge, Katie Smith, Pam James and Sarah Tyson) and the horses will be flying out of Heathrow to join them on 6 January. 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 next August at the stunning National Trust venue of Stourhead Estate in Wiltshire, home of Alfred’s Tower.

ENDS

Images are available:

For Zara Moon riding in Bahrain contact Peter Moon on (Tel: 07958 521295) or email: sharneyford@sharneyford.fsnet.co.uk

For the Senior Team at Bristol contact Rachael Claridge on (Tel: 07789 641014) or email: rjclaridge@yahoo.co.uk

Riders:

Zara Moon Sharneyford, Bacup, Lancashire

Anna Williams Switzerland

Beccy Broughton Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire

Rachael Claridge Bodmin, Cornwall (works in Bristol)

Sarah Kellaway Newmarket, Norfolk

Katie Smith Hambledon, Hants

Pam James Crickhowell, Powys

Sarah Tyson Upper Langford, nr Bristol