New faces aim for endurance team

Twenty-six riders have put themselves forward for senior team selection this season, with several new names joining established contenders.

Four of last year’s team combinations are in the running, led by Beccy Broughton, who puts forward her international star, Murmansk, as well as Crusader’s Angel, Rawnq and Zapala.

Pam James and Sarah Kelleway, who both completed at WEG 2002, are back with Selim De Ducor and Ibn Aswana, while Katie Smith has both her team horse Shathama and Gazy De Lux.

Jayme Bone, whose Kruga was a lynchpin of the British silver medal-winning team at CompiŠgne in 2000, is on the list with Sarah Kelleway’s former ride, Doaves De Pin. Margaret McKiddie has put Bonnie Anne, also on the 2000 squad, back on after a clutch of trophies in 2002.

Several intermediate team riders are preparing to step up to senior, among them Tricia Hirst with Rohey Evagline and Jo Chisholm, who had such a good 2002 with Grey Medlar. Endurance GB chairman John Hudson, who has enjoyed success with Tigre, is also hoping to make the grade.

Sue Buckley has Drysgoed Daydream on the list, while Chris Yeoman has put forward Candy Cameron’s former ride Eleazar De Landas. Candy has Derik, a new ride from France, on the list.

Several former internationals are hoping to stage a return; Jenny Jackson with Burning Best, Jill Thomas on Tarafiya, Susan Hawes with Ann Newton’s Dahlih and Sally Hall on Bob’s Your Uncle. Liz Platts and Graham Hartley have four horses between them from their Essex base.

Shelagh Bunn is again a contender with Katherine and Mike Drummond’s Phylka, while from the same yard Natalie Noke has Arab marathon winner Tokar Ibn Teelah.

Notable omissions include national champion Jane James, who has not put Rowengay Garnet forward this year,and Sarah Tyson’s 2002 team horse, Diamond Dynasty, has been put in-foal, as has Lisa Franks’s I’m Pollyanna. Catriona Moon has dropped down with Wotan Rose Kali to make the most of her last season as a young rider.

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