Endurance GB bids for Europeans

Endurance governing body has made a bid to host the 2005 European Championship

In what would be as a major boost for the sport of endurance in Britain, the sport’s new governing body, Endurance GB, has made a bid to host the 2005 European Championship.

This would be the first major senior endurance championship on British soil since the 1993 European event at Southall, where Britain collected both team and individual gold medals.

Two venues are understood to be under consideration as part of the bid – Tattersalls, Newmarket, home to one of the best FEI 80m rides on the calendar, and Goodwood racecourse, which hosts the Stamin-A 60-mile endurance race ride in September.

Tattersalls is not being held this year, but it is understood that changes have been made to the route by the ride organisers, who hope to stage the event in 2003.

Carol Bunting, a member of the FEI’s endurance committee, said: “To my knowledge, no other countries have bid for the 2005 championship so far and although there is still time for bids to come on board, I would think that we have a good chance.”

Wendy Dunham, chairman of Endurance GB’s international committee, is understood to be handling the British bid, which will be on the agenda at the FEI endurance committee’s next meeting in March.

• See this week’s Horse & Hound (24 January) for more competition news, or click here to subscribe.
• Click hereto read more about the endurance rider Jill Thomas.

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