Royal Windsor Endurance: A Weekend of Top-Class Racing
- Bella Fricker
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
This Friday, the Royal Windsor Endurance Ride returns to the scenic Windsor Great Park, offering riders a chance to compete in one of the UK's most prestigious endurance events. Set against the iconic backdrop of Windsor Great Park and Ascot Racecourse, this event continues to be a standout on the endurance calendar.
A Brief History of the Event
First held in May 2013, the Royal Windsor Endurance Ride has quickly become a key fixture in the endurance riding world. Over the years, it has drawn top competitors from around the globe, with the 2018 event featuring 125 horses from 18 nations. The event is supported by The Kingdom of Bahrain and held in association with the Royal Windsor Horse Show, giving it an international appeal.
What to Expect This Year
With the weather forecast predicting sunny skies and a comfortable 22°C for Friday’s ride, the conditions should be ideal for both riders and horses. However, the lack of recent rain means the ground may be harder in places, so riders will need to adjust their race strategies accordingly.
This year’s ride features a mix of competition levels, with:
15 entries in the 80km GER
19 entries in the CEI1* 100km
52 entries in the CEI2* 120km
24 entries in the CEI3* 160km
The CEI1* 100km
The CEI1* 100km class sees some exciting new combinations making their debut on the FEI circuit, alongside seasoned competitors looking to make their mark. Let's meet the Endurance GB members:
Kate Atkinson will be riding SJ WADEEDA, a mare making her FEI debut. Kate is a familiar name in endurance circles, having competed for GB at both Young Rider and Senior levels. She's currently the squad vet for the Young Riders team and brings a wealth of experience to the event.
Stephanie Cole returns to FEI endurance after a break, competing with SPLASH OF MAGIC, her Arab x Welsh mare. This will be their first FEI event together, and it’s the mare’s first time racing over 80km, making it an exciting challenge.
Nikki Malcolm-Sweeney is no stranger to Windsor, having raced here five times before. She returns this year with OSO SPIRALLING WIND, an Australian-bred gelding who has already had much success.
Antonia Milner will ride SAMEERA in her second CEI1* 100km event. After a solid fifth-place finish at Kings Forest, Antonia will be hoping for another strong performance at Windsor.
Nicola Thorne, a Team GBR member and confirmed European team member for 2025, will be riding L.I. WALLONIA. Known for her speed, we can expected them to be one of the fastest British combinations in the race.
Cecilia Lindberg who rides for Sweden will make her FEI debut with HS JACINTO, after taking fourth place in the 80km CER at Kings Forest earlier this year.
The CEI2* 120km
The CEI2* 120km class is where the real endurance action heats up, with 52 entries vying for a top spot. Several familiar faces will be competing, alongside a few exciting combinations aiming to make their mark. Sh. Mohamed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa will be riding BOLT DE VENELLES. This horse finished 14th at the World Championships last year and is one of the strong contenders in this field. Let's meet the Endurance GB members competing in this class:
Victoria Davies and CUMBRIA SHOWTYME are no strangers to Windsor, having had success at the venue before. The pair finished the 120km race here in 2023 and also placed well in the 100km event in 2021. Their consistency at Windsor makes them strong contenders once again in the 120km class.
Sally McIlwaine will be riding YAWL HILL POLLYANNA, owned and trained by Kirsty Wiscombe, who will also be competing with YAWL HILL FREYA. POLLYANNA was successful at Windsor in 2019 but hasn’t completed an FEI ride since 2022. However, the mare’s previous success at the venue and Sally’s experience could make for an exciting return.
Kirsty Wiscombe, who runs the Yawl Hill stud, will also ride her homebred YAWL HILL FREYA. Known for her quirky behaviour, FREYAÂ has shown great promise, particularly after a strong third-place finish at the CEI2* at Kings Forest earlier this year.
Sophie Moorhouse, based abroad, will be riding HENHAM SILVER DIXIE, a South African-bred mare owned by the Royal Endurance Team of Bahrain. This will be the mares first time competing in the UK so there will be a lot of interest in how the pair fares on unfamiliar ground.
Georgina Vaughan, the Senior Team GBR vet, is returning to Windsor for her eighth appearance at the venue, this time riding VLACQ ELLADORA. Georgina and ELLADORAÂ took second place at the CEI2* at Kings Forest earlier this year and will be looking to continue their strong form at Windsor. Although this will be ELLADORA's first appearance at the venue, Georgina has finished the 120km here in 2024 and 2023 with two other horses, making her one of the more experienced British riders in the field.
The CEI3* 160km
Harry Ingram will be the sole British rider in the CEI3* 160km, representing GB with GLOBE GIRL ART, a French-bred mare who has a proven track record at Windsor. After finishing in second place in the CEI1* in 2023 and 10th in the CEI2* in 2024, the pair is sure for a good finish in their second attempt at 160km after a challenging experience in Fontainebleu last year. Harry, with his vast experience at Windsor, knows the course well and will be hoping to build on his previous successes.
Conclusion
The combination of experienced competitors and newcomers to the course promises an exciting event, and I can’t wait to see how the action unfolds.
To all the riders and teams competing – I wish you the very best of luck. May you have a great ride, and enjoy every moment of the experience.
For those following along at home, make sure to keep up with the action by downloading the Yamamah app for live updates and results. Here's to a successful and memorable weekend at Windsor!
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