British rider to race in President's Cup

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

January 24, 2012

A sole British endurance rider has been invited to start in the FEI three-star 160km President's Cup ride across the Abu Dhabi desert next month.

Dorset veterinarian Catriona Moon, who has twice been part of the senior British Endurance team, will start in the race on February 11 on her 13-year-old mare Leila.

The President's Cup is one of the toughest endurance rides worldwide. The 160km course is across the desert and will include crossing steep sand dunes. The combination, which finished strongly in the 2011 FEI European Endurance Championships in Florac, France, have been training hard for the competition.

"It is likely the temperature in Abu Dhabi will be in the high 20s," Moon said. "Leila has been wearing lots of rugs and is training with two exercise sheets to try and get her used to being warm which isn't easy in the British winter."

The pair will fly out to Abu Dhabi on February 7 with their crew, Catriona's mother, Jackie Moon, and Zofia Lisowski.

Endurance GB's Emma Miller said: "We are delighted Catriona has been invited to take part in the Presidents Cup, she really deserves this chance and we wish her and Leila the best of luck."

Endurance GB will be following Catriona and Leila's progress on its Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/EnduranceGB.