FEI Well Vale International Ride attracts over 100 riders

Three-day extravaganza as Endurance GB’s new FEI Well Vale International Ride, sponsored by Emerald Green Feeds and Sheer Endurance kicks off 

• New venue to host three day extravaganza of Endurance (27-29 August) with classes of all distances and for all levels.  
• Nearly 100 riders set to compete over the three days including nine British combinations contesting FEI International classes  
• Popular Team Spirit returns to the schedule after Covid-enforced gap in 2020 

Endurance GB welcomes a new FEI International Ride at Well Vale near Alford in the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds this weekend. Sponsored by Emerald Green Feeds and Sheer Endurance, the event has attracted nearly 100 riders to a range of classes across the distances including three FEI sections, a 3* 160km, 1* 100km and 2* YJ 120km.

With a stunning venue in front of Well Vale Estate Hall, organiser Thay Stephenson and her team are presenting a course running almost exclusively on private tracks, field margins and rights of way which will take riders over the glorious Wolds countryside..

Thay Stephenson said: “As well as sponsorship from Emerald Green Feeds and Sheer Endurance, the ride has been made possible by the hospitality of Willoughby Farms and Well Vale Country Ride and with the support of many generous Endurance GB members. We are very grateful to all those who have made this exciting new fixture a reality.”

The event will be hosting the dynamic Team Spirit relay race on Friday and the ultimate 3* 160km CEI on Saturday, along with a multitude of supporting classes on all three days. Three teams are lining up for the Team Spirit event, from Derbyshire, a composite from Derbyshire and Nottingham and one from the Lindum Group with guest rider Julie Martin from West Riding.

Phil Nunnerley, Chair of Endurance GB said: “It is great to see this fantastic new venue opening up opportunities for our sport and we wish all those involved from the organising team and the volunteers as well as all the riders and their crews every success this weekend.”

Nikki Malcolm, who has entered Osso Arabians’ talented Osso Spiralling Wind in the FEI CEI 3* 160km class said: “The new venue is a very welcome addition to the calendar. Spiral is a proven winning 160km horse over two days and a FEI 3 star winner at 140km but is yet to secure his FEI 160km qualification. He came agonisingly close on his last outing lame at the 140 represent with cramp in a hamstring. I’d be very hopeful that he can get that extra 20km and successful vetting at Well Vale.”

Also lining up alongside Nikki in the FEI CEI 3* 160km are Laura Graham with Warrens Hill Farrah and Samantha Mowatt with Lateral Thinking.

Riders in the FEI CEI 1* 100km are Sue Box (HS Shaman), Nicola Chapell (JVL Sergeant C Marshall), Aime Grainger (Vlacq Hi Jinx), Gemma Parkin (Asia de Bozouls) and Kirsty Wiscombe (Yawl Hill Big Yin). Alicia Reeves and are the sole entries in the CEIYJ2* 120km.

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Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.