Friday, October 28, 2005

Hirst has ticket to ride for the Brits




By KATE HEALEY

Young Mid Wales rider Philip Hirst will be riding for his country this winter following his selection for the World Young Riders Endurance Championships.

The 20-year-old from Meifod has been chosen for the British team due to compete at the Bahrain staged championships this December after a tough selection process that climaxed at the Sherwood Ride this autumn.

?The selection process went very well and this year we had nine strong horses ready to go to Bahrain, compared to only six last year,? said Philip.

?I spent three weeks in Dubai training last winter where the conditions were quite decent and I expect them to be the same out in Bahrain.?

Philip also flew over to Bahrain last year to take part in a ?dry run? for the Championships, so has some idea of what to expect.

Philip will ride the 15.1hh pure bred Arab Vlacq Khamul, who came from the Vlacq Stud in North Wales and has been with the Hirst family for five years.

The pair won The Dukeries 160km Ride at the beginning of the season to bring them to the selector?s attention and also finished fifth at a 120km International ride in France.

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