Great Britain to Host Four New Endurance Events at Euston Park in 2016
The British Equestrian Federation [BEF] has today announced that Great Britain will host four new endurance events at Euston Park – venue of the 2012 World Endurance Championships – this summer. The events, which will include rides over 80, 120 [junior and senior] and 160 kilometres will take place on 28 May, 19 June, 16 July and 13 August and are set to attract a broad spread of leading international combinations. BEF, on behalf of Endurance GB, submitted the ride dates to the FEI.
One of the world’s most respected equestrian event organisers, The HPower Group, has been appointed to run the events which will feature the highest standards and best practice in horse welfare and utilise the most sophisticated, in depth veterinary knowledge and experience. The four events, which will be run in strict accordance with the FEI’s Best Condition Awards [Article 822], will include up to five Vet Gates to ensure horse welfare is fully protected. In addition the Euston Park courses will be designed to keep horse speeds down to an average of approximately 20kph and all prize money will be allocated for the Best Condition Award. These events offer us here in Great Britain the opportunity to lead by example and showcase endurance riding at its very best.
Keith Taylor, Chairman and President of the British Equestrian Federation said:
“The British Equestrian Federation is delighted to announce four world class endurance rides this summer to be staged at Euston Park – venue of the 2012 World Endurance Championships. Endurance riding is exciting, exhilarating and easy to understand. Accessible at entry-level, it is one of the fastest growing equestrian sports in the world.
“We look forward to welcoming riders and teams to our shores this summer and I am confident that we will grow the profile of the sport here in the UK. I’m pleased that The HPower Group, under the leadership of Simon Brooks-Ward, will run these events to the very highest professional and horse welfare standards. Our overall aim is to contribute positively to the reputation and growth of endurance as an important part of equestrian sport.”
John Hudson, Chairman of Endurance GB said;
“The Board of Endurance GB, working closely with the British Equestrian Federation, is committed to take a proactive role in shaping our global discipline. The Euston Park rides, announced today by the BEF, offer Great Britain an opportunity to restore the reputation of the discipline by enforcing our key values of endurance riding. Under the skilled direction of The HPower Group, working closely with the BEF and the FEI, we look forward to a series of technical rides with a focus on the ability of horses to complete the course in the best condition possible.”
Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD, Chairman and CEO of The HPower Group said:
“We are delighted to be playing our part in organising the rides at Euston Park; we have been staging well received endurance rides at Royal Windsor for the past four years and look forward to working with Endurance GB at Euston Park.”
Further details concerning the Euston Park Endurance course, the horse welfare measures that will be put in place by The HPower Group and event sponsor news will be announced in the coming weeks.
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.