Endurance GB welcomes stellar field for Royal Windsor FEI Endurance ahead of Team GB squad selection 

Endurance GB welcomes stellar field for Royal Windsor FEI Endurance ahead of Team GB squad selection 

• Top British combinations set to take centre stage in first Royal Windsor Endurance FEI CEI3* 160km (100 mile) ride  
• Build up comes as Endurance GB announces two further international FEI rides to take place in the UK this season, Keysoe and Well Vale 

A stellar line-up of British endurance riders will contest next week’s Royal Windsor FEI Endurance (Friday 2 July) with an extended track offering home-based riders their first shot at an FEI CEI 3* 160km in the UK this season. 

A total of 35 leading riders, the majority from Great Britain, along with representatives from Australia, The Netherlands and Italy, will take part across four classes, a CEI1* YR 100km, CEI 1* 100km, CEI 2* 120km and CEI 3* 160km. For logistical reasons associated with Covid-19 travel issues, the only international contenders at this year’s event will be British-based riders registered with other national federations.  

In a major boost to the season and with Britain’s leading combinations hungry for top level competition, Endurance GB is also announcing two further FEI competitions will take place in the UK this summer; at Keysoe, Bedfordshire (14-15 August) and at Well Vale (formerly Revesby), Lincs on 29 August. 

Endurance GB Chair Phil Nunnerley said: “A great deal of hard work has gone in behind the scenes to add two further FEI competitions to the 2021 calendar. We are grateful to all those involved who have made this happen and to the organisers of Keysoe, Emma Taylor and Bella Fricker and Thay Stephenson at Well Vale for staging these international classes and wish both rides every success. Meanwhile, Royal Windsor Endurance will offer a spectacular start to the international calendar for our riders and in turn, we are proud that it will showcase the talents of some of the most successful as well as promising combinations that we have in the sport.” 

Royal Windsor Endurance Event Director Nick Brooks-Ward of HPower, said: “We are delighted that Royal Windsor Endurance is going ahead this year and whilst we will have a smaller field because our foreign competitors are unable to attend, I am sure that the competition will be as strong as ever.   The British riders have taken this event to heart, their support is truly appreciated and we are looking forward to welcoming them to Windsor Great Park.” 

The going is forecast to be good with a newly designed route created to accommodate the step up to a 160km class taking in many spectacular and iconic sections of Windsor Great Park. 

Technical Delegate John Robertson who has been working alongside Course Designer Gary Honeywell at Windsor said: “Our course planners have been working tirelessly to find some new routes to incorporate the extra distance needed for the additional CEI3* 160km class. In spite of the recent heavy rainfall, all the tracks are in excellent condition and the going is good which is a bonus in mid-summer when it may well have been hard in places.” 

The feature 160km Royal Windsor event is set to see nine British combinations at the start line, five of whom; James Dickinson (Magdy), Laura Graham (Warrens Hill Farrah), Fiona Griffiths (Balishla), Nikki Malcolm (Oso Spiralling Wind) and Lauren Mills (Hs Jamal) are hoping to earn qualification and the chance of selection for the British senior team at this September’s FEI European Championships in Ermelo. They will line up to tackle the newly designed course at Windsor alongside fellow senior riders Bella Fricker (Spanish Heir), Victoria Ham (Cwyrtai Sharif) and Annie Joppe (HS Chiara). 

Two of the four riders currently qualified for the European Championships who have already expressed an interest in being considered for selection; Annette Masterson (Shoshana) and Nicki Thorne (Kamilcia) will both be contesting the 120km class with their Ermelo hopefuls. 

The remaining two team contenders sitting out Windsor, Sarah Rogerson and Carmine Villani have both enjoyed strong starts to the season elsewhere with Sarah Rogerson’s build up with Warrens Hill Rubyn beginning with a win at Avon Valley in the 80km CER and Carmine Villani’s campaign with Vatou de Gargassan including an 11^th place at in the FEI CEI 3* 160km at Castlesagrat in South West France earlier this month. 

Among entries in the new Young Rider 100km class at Windsor, Keighley Pomroy is aiming to qualify Hathek with a view to selection for the World Championships for Young Riders at Ermelo in September 2021. Also in contention and already qualified for Ermelo, Young Rider Saffron Bishop and Ty Shute Golden Savannah will be stepping up a distance in the 160km class at Windsor. 

Lindsay Wilson, Chair of International said: “We have a talented pool of horses and riders and are looking forward to seeing many of our leading combinations and potential team contenders in action at Windsor. The final selection for the European Championships will take place after the Windsor ride with an announcement being made on or around 7th July. Riders who have already indicated their interest in being considered for selection are continuing with the ride plans they have discussed with their squad Chefs, and the Selectors are keeping a keen eye on their results. 

"The International Committee in conjunction with the Squad Management Teams and the Selection Team are also beginning to plan ahead to 2022 and beyond with the World Championships currently scheduled to take place in Verona next year.   There will be combinations working towards Championship qualification both at Windsor and our other FEI rides this year and the International Committee would like to hear from all riders who are interested in representing Team GB in the future.” 

While travel restrictions have hampered the FEI’s ability to appoint overseas-based officials, Royal Windsor Endurance will be marshalled by an experienced UK-based team with Brian Dunn (IRL) as President of the Ground Jury, Fred Barrelet (SUI) as Foreign Veterinary Delegate, Rod Fisher (GBR) as Veterinary Commission President and Michael Gill as Chief Steward.