British team celebrates performance at FEI European Endurance Championships

Full article at Everythinghorseuk.co.uk

Great Britain’s Senior Endurance team posted its best result in nearly a decade by registering its first successful team finish since the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010 at this weekend’s FEI European Endurance Championship.

The gritty performance saw four out of the five British riders complete the 160km championship distance, a feat only equalled by Spain, who took team Gold. With the top three riders from each team counting to the final team score, Great Britain took fifth place behind Bulgaria in fourth, a resurgent German team, bronze medallists in third and France taking silver in second place.

The last British team success back in 2010 saw the team of Christine Yeoman, David Yeoman, Beccy Broughton and Sarah Rogerson, finish sixth of 18 nations. Eleven countries lined up in this weekend’s FEI European Endurance Championships team competition.

Rachael Atkinson with Tannasg Psyches Realm and Annette Masterson with Shoshana were the first British riders home in 23rd and 24th place, completing at an average speed of 16.6km/hr. Rachael’s daughter Kate Atkinson followed closely behind completing in 26th place with DNS Ronaldo at an average speed of 16.13km/hr. The final completion went to Sarah Rogerson who crossed the line shortly after 9.15pm with Warrens Hill Rubyn, the pair notching up an average speed of 14.84km/hr. Nicola Thorne whose LM Bolena had been moving forward well, slightly ahead of the other team members, suffered the disappointment of elimination at vet gate three.

Chef d’equipe Liz Finney said:

"This was a fantastic team effort with everyone, riders and crews working so well together to achieve what we set out to do. It was disappointing for Nicki and we all felt for her as all the riders had worked so hard to get here but everyone gave of their best for the team.”

Team Farrier Kelvin Lymer, who first began working with the team back in 1992 said:

This is one of the best team performances I have seen in my years of involvement in terms of pulling together and bringing a positive attitude to the challenges of the ride. Every single person involved without exception got stuck in and helped each other. There was a really good atmosphere.”

Team Vet Georgina Vaughan said:

I feel really proud to be part of this fantastic team effort – the crews were amazing.”

Sunday’s FEI CEI 2* 120km Great Britain Nations Cup team also saw team success completing in seventh place, Carri Ann Dark taking 19th place at an average speed of 18.64km/hr with her mother Ann’s HS Drift, Bella Fricker, standing in 40th place with Spanish Heir and Linda Cowperthwaite taking 47th place with Evelyn Helme’s Krakatau. Fellow team members Fiona Griffiths and Annie Joppe were sadly eliminated.

One of the highlights of the FEI European Endurance Championships weekend was the performance of Ireland’s Tom MacGuinness, 69, who finished in 11th place in the European Championships with Siglavy Bagdaddy but went on to take 21st place in Sunday’s CEI 2* 120km ride with Chamaille Des Aubus, while Ireland took fourth place in the Nations Cup.

For more information visit on the eustonparkendurance.co.uk