Meet the British endurance squad

Trisha Hirst

Trisha Hirst (pictured right, photo by Eric Jones) has plenty of international experience to draw on: during 10 years of competition riding she has had several major wins and high placings while competing in France, Belgium, Holland and in Dubai. Trisha is a regular British team member and finished second individually when on the intermediate British team in Belgium in 2002. Trisha represented Britain at last year’s European Championships riding her 11-year-old Arab gelding Vlacq Khazad. The partnership were ranked ninth in the world rankings in 2004.

Linda Hams has been competing in endurance for 10 years and has two horses. She has previously represented Britain at intermediate level at Compiegne in 2003. At WEG she will ride Hidden Challenge, a nine-year-old 15.2hh chestnut Arab gelding by Simeon Sadik. The partnership’s best result to date was fourth in the 160km FEI 3* at Euston Park in 2005. Linda will be crewed by Steve Beresford, Georgina and Penny Bull and Peggy Sofley.

Christine Yeoman is another rider with plenty of international experience, having competed in France, Belgium, Ireland, and the UAE. She has been riding in endurance for nine years and won her first ride over 100km at Ludlow in 2000. She was a member of the 2002 intermediate team in Belgium, and was in the British team at Punchestown 2003. Christine is currently is great form having won the 160km FEI 3* ride in Holland with Farouk De Lozelle and the 160km FEI 3* ride at Cirencester with Taquillero.

Regular team member Sally Hall will be adding Aachen to the list of championship events she has attended during her 17 years of endurance riding. She was a team member at Southwell, Morhaix (winning gold), Compiegne (winning silver), Punchestown and was reserve at the Jerez WEG. She was placed in the top 20 in the French Championships at Florac. In 2005 she was placed in the 160km at Le Vigaw. Sally will ride her 13-year-old grey gelding Bobs Your Uncle.

Ann Marie Jobson will be making her British team debut in Aachen with her 13-year-old gelding Samson. Ann and ‘Samson’ have enjoyed considerable success completing every endurance ride they have entered together. In 2004 they earned a second place and a FEI 120km win, while in 2005 they won the FEI 160km class at Euston Park. Samson won the best conditioned award at the 160km ride at Cirencester. Ann’s crew for Aachen are Peter Trenouth, who won the 2005 top crew award, and Ann’s son Danny.