Four international rides took place including the CEI2* 120km on Saturday 4th August and the CEI1* 80 km, CEIYJ2* 120km and CEI3* 160km on Sunday 5th, attracting riders from across 12 nations. Although the weather was warm across the weekend, the courses rode well.
Euston Park now looks forward to the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival which will take place from the 16th – 19th August.
Event Director, Nick Brooks-Ward – ‘It was a very good weekend of Endurance with over 50 international riders and nearly 50 national riders. In what has now become the hottest summer in living memory, I am delighted to say that all horses and riders came home. All our attention now focuses on the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival which Euston Park will welcome in 10 days’ time. This will be the largest Endurance festival ever staged in Great Britain, culminating in the Nations Cup of Great Britain, the CEI2*, held on Saturday 18th August. Our very grateful thanks to our land owners, officials and course marshals who work tirelessly to make this weekend a success.’
Foreign Veterinary Delegate, Zahid Rafiq –‘The courses rode nicely and everything was in accordance with FEI regulations. The weather was what we were expecting, the horses were fine, there were no serious cases and the passing rate was also ok, so I am happy.’
Samantha Mowatt (GBR), 5th in the CEI1* 80km with Lateral Thinking – ‘The course rode surprisingly well, although hard in places and it was very hot, but you ride to the conditions. I’m really pleased with Lateral Thinking, she went very quickly on the first loop and she is a big horse so takes a lot to cool down, but we pulled up a bit on the second loop and she came home nicely. Lateral Thinking will give you everything she has, so you have to be careful not to push her too much.’
Louise Rich (GBR), 6th in the CEI1* 80km with Oakleazefarm Cziko - ‘The course at Euston now is fantastic, the organisers have put so much effort in to it. I am really pleased with Oakleazefarm Cziko, he flew in the first loop but I just kept him steady for the rest of the ride. I am hoping to bring his brother back for the Festival to compete in the CEI3* 160km ride. I would just like to say a massive thank you to all the organisers, it is such a nice venue that it makes you want to come back every time.’
Sorsha Stuart-Rokvic (AUS), 7th in the CEI1* 80km with Oso Spiralling Wind– ‘It was my first time riding anywhere other than Australia and I loved it. Oso Spiralling Wind is being trained by Nikki Malcomb, and it is great to be training over here as there is nothing like it in Australia - although today the temperatures felt similar! We plan on returning in a couple of weeks to ride at the Festival and then go back to Australia.’
The Winners of the International Rides are:
Saturday 4th August CEI2* 120km - Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi (UAE) riding Ultima Esperanza in a total ride time of 4:49:43 and an average speed of 24.85kmph
Sunday 5th August CEI1* 80km – Mohammad Ahmad Mohammad Sultan Al Ketbi riding Syferpan Aleem (UAE) in a total ride time of 3:02:51 and an average speed of 26.25kmph
Sunday 5th August CEIYJ2* 120km – Pierpaolo Careddu (ITA) riding Eros EA in a total ride time of 5:47:10 and an average speed of 20.74kmph
Sunday 5th August CEI3* 160km - Ghanim Said Salim Al Owaisi (UAE) riding Maison Blanche Vengai in a total ride time of 7:32:31 with an average speed of 21.21kmph
The Winners of the Best Condition are:
The entire prize fund for the rides was awarded based on FEI’s Best Condition Awards [Article 822], as judged by members of the veterinary commission.
Saturday 4th August CEI2* 120km - Alix Du Poncelet ridden by Saeed Hamoud Saeed Al Khayari (UAE)
Sunday 5th August CEI1* 80km – Syferpan Aleem ridden by Mohammad Ahmad Mohammad Sultan Al Ketbi (UAE)
Sunday 5th August CEIYJ2* 120km – Bullio Blue Sue ridden by Saeed Salem Atiq Khamis Almuhairi (UAE)
Sunday 5th August CEI3* 160km - Maison Blanche Vengai ridden by Ghanim Said Salim Al Owaisi (UAE)
National Rides
Saturday 4th August saw the first national rides of the Euston Park season taking place with a total of 42 national competitors riding across three classes: GER 80km, GER 40km and GER 40km Novice. The Saturday rides followed on from a very successful Young Riders Endurance Camp the week before, and participants went on to compete in the National Rides on Saturday.
Elaine Wallbridge, National Rider: ‘The route was lovely, really fab to ride. I rode my retired racehorse ‘Against The Rules’. RORs (Retired Racehorses) are great at Endurance; they can turn their hands to it really quickly and they love the work. I will be back in two weeks to ride the 64km in the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival.’
The next National Rides will take place on the 19th August and form part of the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival. This will include 80km GER, 64km GER, 40km GER, 40km Novice GER, 32km GER, 32km Novice GER, 32km PR and 20km PR. The Pony Club National Championships will also take place on the 19th August.
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For further information visit https://eustonparkendurance.co.uk/ . Ride images are available HERE