12 Oct 2026
Seventeen-year-old equestrian Leola Hammond from St Albans has clinched national glory after winning the prestigious Pony Club Elite Championship (80 km) at the iconic Red Dragon Festival of Endurance in mid-Wales.
Partnered with 17-year-old purebred Arabian mare HB Pandora (affectionately known at home as ‘Dory’), the dedicated young rider conquered challenging mountainous terrain to take the coveted championship title.
Competing over a demanding 80-kilometre (50-mile) route across the Welsh hills, Leola and Dory delivered an exceptional performance. They topped their class with consistent pacing, rapid heart-rate recoveries, and exemplary veterinary check passes, securing the 2026 Pony Club Elite Championship title.
Endurance riding is the ultimate test of horsemanship, equine stamina, and trust. Unlike traditional disciplines, horse and rider combinations navigate marked courses across varied, open country.
Strict veterinary checkpoints are built into every stage of the competition: horses must pass rigorous veterinary inspections before, during, and after the ride, with heart rate limits and soundness checks ensuring that animal welfare always takes precedence over speed. To succeed, horse and rider must work as a truly united team, balancing pace and terrain management with meticulous care.
Leola, who has competed in endurance for four years, has formed an extraordinary bond with Dory over the past two years.
“The route at Red Dragon was simply breathtaking. It was our first time riding here, and taking on those massive Welsh hills was unlike anything we can train for at home in Hertfordshire,” said Leola.
“Dory is 17 – the exact same age as me – and she is an absolute powerhouse at 14.2 hands high. She is so bold and loves her job, but on the steep downhills I got off to walk her in hand to look after her legs, and she just flew up the climbs.
“Endurance is a sport where horse welfare comes first, and it’s not until you’re alone together out on those hills that you really understand each other. Coming down the final hill, my mum called to let me know we were close to our minimum time window, so we picked up the pace, trotted through the village, and cantered across the showground to the finish line. It felt incredible.”
This victory marks a standout milestone for the teenage combination, highlighting the power of dedicated youth training, empathetic riding, and grassroots community support.
Leola’s journey to the championship was a true family and team effort; her mother, Emily Hammond, served as the sole crew member throughout the demanding day, navigating crew points across the Welsh countryside to keep horse and rider hydrated and supported.
The achievement was also made possible through the generosity of Dory’s owners, Ann and Richard Hancock, who have loaned the talented mare to Leola for the past two seasons and offered real-time tactical guidance over the phone throughout race day. Family and friends also rallied behind the campaign to help cover entry fees and travel expenses.
Leola praised the event’s organisers and volunteers: “I feel so lucky to have taken part. The event organisation was fantastic – the volunteers made sure the route was marked brilliantly and guided the crew teams every step of the way. We couldn’t have done it without everyone back home, Dory’s owners, and my mum crewing all day.”
Endurance GB, the national governing body for endurance riding in the UK, promotes high-welfare equestrian sport for riders of all ages and ambitions – ranging from social grassroots pleasure rides to elite 160 km national championships.
