Endurance stars set out on Kentucky fund-raising routes

The rides are being organised by Endurance GB to help raise funds to support the British team at this year's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Around 23 Kentucky Rides will be taking place at different venues between now and August. These non-competitive rides will cover a range of distances to suit all levels of experience, from 10 miles to routes of 25 miles.

They are open to non-members and will be an opportunity to ride over some lovely countryside, often over land not normally open to the public. Riders can take part either for pleasure or to prepare for the competition season ahead.

"We have a really talented pool of riders and hope to be sending a strong team to Kentucky," said Jo Claridge, EGB chairman.

British teams have an excellent track record in World and European championships. However, international teams are largely self-funding and rely on extra help such as this in order to be able to compete.

For more details of Kentucky Rides go to www.endurancegb.co.uk or call 02476 697929.

ORGANISERS of Harewood Combined Training Group's one-day event are keeping their fingers crossed that the weather quickly picks up as the event is running early this year, in a couple of weeks' time.

The event runs across picturesque farmland above Thirsk belonging to Mary Holliday and usually happens in April.

"We are running on Saturday, March 20 to fit in with other events and it gives competitiors a chance to have a great pre-season run," said Helen Scott, one of the organisers.

For more information and schedules go towww.hctg.org.uk or call Sue Emsley on 01423 869414.

New qualifying classes at Skipton

SKIPTON Horse Trials will run two events again this year after being given an additional date by British Eventing.

The trials will take place on June 26 and 27 and on August 7 and 8.

Two new qualifying classes have been added to the events. The June horse trials will include the Lycett's Young Horse four and five-year-old qualifiers and in August there will be the Mitsubishi Motors BE90 Grassroots regional qualifier.

Askam Bryan College will be sponsoring this year's horse trials.

The college will be holding its own inaugural horse trials in October.

International course builder Gary Podmore will be returning to work on the cross-country course.

"The addition of the qualifiers to our normal classes will really strengthen the event," said organiser Paul White. "We are pleased, too, that Gary Podmore will be back and we'll be making large investments in the cross-country course once again."

THE Badsworth and Bramham Moor hunt is holding a cross-country fun day tomorrow.

The cross-country course at Frickley, voted by UK Chasers' competitors as the best team chase course in the United Kingdom, will be open for the day to riders who want to have some fun and school their horses across country.

The charge is 15 per horse and riders must have the necessary insurance.

For more details call 01977 642716 or 07932 749214.