The Endurance GB International Committee has announced that Amanda Hamley from Wheddon Cross in West Somerset has been selected to represent England at the Home International Endurance Championships. The event will take place on the 10th and 11th of August in Kilkenny, Ireland.
The Home International Endurance Championship is a highly anticipated annual competition that brings together teams from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland to showcase their equestrian prowess.
Amanda started endurance riding in 2018 and enjoys the sport with her two horses, Lady and More Salutes, who she will be partnering in Ireland. More Salutes, affectionately known as Morse, is an ex-racehorse who has had an impressive endurance career. In 2024 alone, he has completed several successful 80km rides and has accumulated nearly 700km of competition experience in his career.
Morse, a 9-year-old gelding (Sire: Acclamation / Dam: Champion Place / Dam’s Sire: Compton Place), was bred an hour away from the venue of the Championships at Kildaragh Stud. Despite his unremarkable racing career, with 12 races and no placements, Morse has found a new lease of life in endurance riding – competing in his former racing colours. His achievements include being the National Novice Champion in his first season and the current RoR Elite Endurance Champion.
Amanda has shared her excitement about the selection and said: “I am absolutely delighted that Morse and I have been selected to represent England.
What a dream come true! Never would I have imagined that when I picked Morse up as a recently off-the-track 4-year-old, that 5 years later we’d be representing England.
It’s been a long and not always easy journey, but I’m so proud of how far we’ve come together and thrilled that we have the opportunity to show how amazing former racehorses can be when retrained for endurance.”
Morse had successful kissing spine surgery in 2020 and has since gone from strength to strength. “It’s was quite challenging at times, but thankfully we haven’t looked back since” Amanda said. “He lives at home with me and my other horses, one of which is my other endurance horse, Lady, who he adores.”
Bella Fricker, the Chef d’Equipe of the England squad, expressed her confidence in the selected team, praising their exceptional talent. She said: “We are delighted with the team we have selected. With such a huge pool of talent to choose from, the selection wasn’t easy. We have every confidence in the squad’s ability to tackle the Irish terrain, particularly with such established combinations to represent us.”
The Endurance GB International Committee extends its best wishes to the entire England suad as they embark on this thrilling journey to the Home International Championships.