The teams rose early to spend time grooming their mounts in preparation for the Best Turnout Award, which was judged for each team at the starting line. The Solihull Superstars just pipped team Vectis from the Isle of Wight to the Best Turnout Award by only half a point with the South Brent team close behind in third place.

Each team presented to the veterinary panel for their pre-ride inspection at five minute intervals from 10.00am onwards. Without exception all the teams were turned out immaculately and presented to the veterinary panel for their pre-ride inspection.

The teams then came forward to the start from 10.30am onwards, again at five minute intervals. All the teams elected to start as a group and set off on the 31km course, with their crews leaving the venue shortly afterwards to meet them at two or three specific points on course.
 
The majority of the teams elected to ride at speeds in excess of 12kph, completing the course in two and a half hours, finishing in a flourish by riding several furlongs down the all-weather course at Southwell.  Most could not resist a canter before the finish line.

Each horse was then required to present to the veterinary panel for their all-important post-ride inspection within thirty minutes of completing the course, where it was crucial that the final pulse was as low as possible in order to maximise their team score. 

Once again the performance of all the teams was exemplary, with seventeen Grade 1s and eight Grade 2s from a total of 38 riders. All combinations finished fit and well, but the rider’s aches and pains were inevitable!

The team results were decided on the basis of a "performance" calculation, which awards a score to each combination based on speed and pulse. The performance score increases as speed over the course increases, but decreases if the horse's pulse is raised at the final inspection, which is always a risk if the course is ridden too fast. The best three "performance" scores from each team were counted and totaled to determine the winners.

The winners of the Team Endurance Final were the Delamere Forest Elms, from Cheshire, with a performance score of just over 150. The team elected to compete at a speed very close to that of 15kph, the maximum allowed, risking high pulses at the final inspection. However, the tactic paid off with some good pulses at the end.

The Lammermuir Raiders, from the Scottish Borders, also achieved a speed of over 14kph but with slightly higher final pulses to take second place with a score of 138.

Vectis, who probably entered the final as favourites after their excellent performance in the qualifier earlier in the year, achieved low pulses and therefore received three Grade 1s, so were not very far behind the Raiders with a score of 134.

The full ratified results for the Final can be found on the Team Endurance website, www.rcteamevent.endurancegb.co.uk, where there is also a gallery of photographs taken during the course of the weekend.

For more information about the 2011 event please email John or Jane Hudson at johnhudson@endurancegb.co.uk or phone 01398 332089. Or, to find out more about endurance and other local rides, visit www.endurancegb.co.uk.