Pic: Nicola and her horse, Sharloam Tsarina
A Cardiff endurance rider Nicola Smith and her powerhouse 17-year-old Anglo-Arab mare, Sharloam Tsarina, have delivered a standout performance for the Welsh Endurance Team at the prestigious Home International Championships in Scotland, overcoming a 15-minute deficit to storm past the competition across 122km of demanding terrain.
Nicola, a property manager from Pentyrch, Cardiff, took up riding in her forties and has since become one of Wales’s leading endurance competitors. Her remarkable journey in the sport gained momentum after overcoming breast cancer in 2015, when completing an 80km ride served as a major recovery milestone. Today, she regularly trains Tsarina across local landmarks including the Garth Mountain, Castell Coch, and Rudry Common.
The Home International Competition brings together elite teams from Wales, Scotland, and England in a test of equine stamina, pacing, and strict veterinary standards.
- Day One (61km): Nicola navigated technical loops of 33km and 28km alongside Welsh teammate Sue Box, ensuring Tsarina passed all mid-way and final veterinary inspections while trailing the Scottish team by 15 minutes.
- Day Two (61km): Heading out on the final day, Tsarina showcased her mettle. At the midway vet check, the mare recorded an astonishing two-minute recovery time to gain immediate veterinary clearance further closing the gap behind the Scottish team.
- The Decisive Loop: On the final 28km leg, Nicola and Tsarina caught and overtook the leading Scottish riders, leaving the home crowd stunned as the Welsh pair galloped into the distance to finish clear.
“To represent Wales is always a huge honour, but doing it with Tsarina makes it truly special,” said Nicola Smith. “She was strong, fast, and forward. When we caught and passed the Scottish leaders on the final loop, their crew couldn’t believe their eyes! It was an incredible moment for our whole team.”
Nicola’s campaign was supported by her husband Steve Smith, who served as Chef d’Équipe for the Welsh squad, team masseuse Pip, and an active home support network based in Cardiff.
Endurance GB (EGB) is the National Governing Body for the sport of endurance riding in Great Britain, affiliated with the British Equestrian Federation (BEF). The discipline tests a horse and rider combination’s stamina, fitness, and tactical pacing across distances ranging from introductory 16km pleasure rides to elite international multi-day tests of up to 160km.
Central to all Endurance GB competitions is equine welfare: every horse must undergo rigorous veterinary inspections before, during, and after rides, where heart rate parameters, gait soundness, and metabolic recovery are strictly assessed before a combination is permitted to continue or complete.
