England team named for Home Internationals at Cropton Forest, Yorkshire next month.

• Teams from England, Scotland and Wales to contest 2021 Home International Endurance Championship at new venue in Cropton Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire (8-10 October)  
• England 2021 team builds for the future with inclusion of three Young Riders 
• John Black and CA Jalmeer winners at both Well Vale and Keysoe rides this year selected for 80km Competitive Endurance Ride (CER) 
• Fiona Kearton and Valeo who competed in their international FEI ride together at Royal Windsor back in July 2021 make their debut at 160km distance  
• Endurance riding extravaganza across the North Yorkshire Moors and Dales will feature 25 classes with options for everyone from 5km lead-rein classes to 160km two-day rides alongside the spectacle of intense international team competition 

England is set to field a strong team with a great mix of talent and experience across the distances at the forthcoming Home International Endurance Championship taking place at Cropton Forest, Yorkshire, next month. 

The eight strong squad features three young riders as well as four riders making their Home International team debuts. 

County Durham-based Fiona Kearton and Valeo (Val) her nine year old 14.3hh Arab who did his first international FEI ride at Royal Windsor back in July 2021 make their debut at 160km distance with their place in the feature two-day class. 

Cheshire-based Lorna McCarthy, whose eight year old, 15.2hh grey Arab gelding African Moon (Jacob) stepped up to advanced level this year, has earned selection for the two-day 120km class. 

Northumberland rider Rosemary Granger has been selected for the England team for the first time with Adams Glory, her 15-year-old skewbald Irish Sports Horse mare. The pair were second at the Northern Champs in 2019 and will be competing in the two-day 80km class. 

Shropshire-based John Black, another England Home International team debutant earns selection with CA Jalmeer (Jam) his 13 year old, 15hh bay Arab gelding. The pair won the Advanced National Championship at Lavenham back in 2019 and have also notched up wins this season at Keysoe and Well Vale. With their track record, they will set off as strong contenders in the 80km Competitive Endurance Ride (CER). 

Novice endurance rider Sarah Light from Lancashire, in her first season in the sport, has been selected to take part in the 40km novice class with Newberry’s Ditto, Evelyn Helme’s 15.2hh, seven year old chestnut roan Appaloosa /Arab gelding. Sarah, an ACPAT-registered physiotherapist, will also be fulfilling the role of team physio for the squad. 

Suffolk-based Ella Pomroy, Endurance GB Junior Champion three successive seasons 2017-19, leads the charge for the three young riders on the squad taking on the two-day 120km class with Cloverleas Mantillah, her 15-year-old, 14.1hh chestnut Crabbet Arab mare who started endurance in 2019 and became advanced last year. This is Ella’s first taste of Home International competition. 

Fellow Young Rider Ella Weavers from Lincolnshire has had a meteoritic rise through the sport after making her debut in endurance in 2019 and coming third in the Pony Club National Endurance Championships. She is taking on the two-day 80km class with Rachie’s Boy or Tom as he is known at home, her 11-year-old, 14.2hh, bay Connemara gelding. 

Finally North Yorkshire-based Jamie Shores makes a return to Home International competition with Anderwood Rosie, his 13.2hh 18-year-old, New Forest grey mare. The pair will be competing in the 50km Junior class. 

Charlotte Robinson steps into the role of England team Chef d’Equipe for the first time, succeeding previous Chef Maggie Patterson, bringing with her a breadth of experience as a rider and crew having competed on everything from native ponies to Arabs and been on Young Rider, Home International and competed in International FEI competition as well as two-day classes.  

Charlotte said: “This is a really strong team with a great deal of talent and experience and I am so proud of all the riders to have got to this point after two such chaotic seasons during the pandemic. I am really excited to be supporting the team as Chef d’Equipe and looking forward to an excellent weekend of competition against the teams from Wales and Scotland.” 

Along with physiotherapist Sarah Light, the England team will be supported by vet Rob Jackson. 

The Home International is run on an annual basis and is hosted on rotation by each of the four countries. Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC) presented a trophy in 1989 to be awarded annually to the winning country. The aim of the competition is to encourage riders at all levels and develop team spirit by giving an experience of international team competition. Each country will be represented by one team of six riders plus a reserve rider. The team will comprise: 

1 X 160km CER over 2 days (80/80km) 

1 X 120km GER over 2 days (80/40km) 

1 X 80km CER  

1 X 80km GER over 2 days (40/40km) 

1 X 40km GER, First Season Novice Combination 

1 x 50km GER Junior rider 

The Celtic Challenge runs alongside the Home International and the team will comprise of: 

1 X 160km CER over 2 days (80/80km) 

1 X 80km GER 

1 X 80km GER over 2 days (40/40km) 

1 X 80km GER over 2 days (40/40km) Junior Rider 

1 X 40km GER, First Season Novice Horse 

1 x 50km GER 

A parade of international teams will take place on Friday 8^th October and while a team from Ireland is absent this year due to the impact of Covid restrictions on team preparation, both Wales and Scotland will also contest the annual Celtic Challenge. 

Picture: John Black and CA Jalmeer Advanced National Champions at Lavenham in 2019 have been selected for the England Home International squad for the first time. Credit: Kerry Dawson