Young Britons sixth in World Championships

Carol Phillips

21 December, 2005

The Endurance GB young rider team finished sixth out of more than 24 countries at the FEI World Endurance Championships in Bahrain
Endurance GB is celebrating the successful return of its young rider squad from the FEI World Endurance Championships in Bahrain.

Four of the six-strong British squad ? Zara Moon, Abigail Lockett, Alice Beet and Gemma Parkin ? successfully completed the 120km race ride. British individual rider Zara Moon was the highest placed British rider in 26th place.

Fahed Sulaiman riding Lormar Lorrien for Bahrain took the individual gold medal, ahead of Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qasimi and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohd Al Maktoum for the United Arab Emirates.

The team gold medal went to Australia, with France in second and Brazil, third. The British team finished sixth.

FEI Endurance Committee Chairman, Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, said: "Everyone who has been involved with this championships either as rider, crew or organiser, can take home some great memories of top level competition and warm and generous hosts who have made us all feel very welcome here in the Kingdom of Bahrain."

Meanwhile, the FEI's head of endurance has confirmed that the turmoil surrounding the late cancellation of Britain's hosting of the 2005 Open European Endurance Championships has not affected a future bid.

?The FEI will always welcome applications from all nations [including Britain] for future championships,? said Ian Williams. ?What may have gone before will not affect any future bid which may be received.?