Endurance heads for Middle East

Four British riders are set to take part in next month’s $1m 130km FEI-UAE World Cup Endurance Championship. This year’s contest has included qualifiers in the form of the World Masters series as well as national championships worldwide.

The quartet travelling to the UAE are Katie Smith (pictured right), Britain’s leading world-ranked (35th) and World Masters series rider; Beccy Broughton, who completed last year’s event with Murmansk and will this year partner Rawnq; British national champion Jane James with her 2002 Summer Solstice FEI winner and international veteran Rowangay Garnet, and under-21 British champion Philip Hirst, with Chahalam.

Katie Smith is currently recovering from injury and will ride on a borrowed horse if fit.The three British horses travelling to the event, which takes place on 26 March in Dubai, are set to fly out to the Middle East tomorrow (Friday) to begin acclimatisation.

The UAE has been confirmed as the host for next year’s World Championships.

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