ENDURANCE GB has appointed former Horse & Hound journalist Elizabeth Peplow as its press officer to cover the sport in England and Wales. She succeeds PR agency Gung Ho.

A newspaper journalist, Elizabeth Peplow started as Endurance Editor for Horse & Hound in 1993 before succeeding the magazine’s endurance correspondent Marcy Pavord in reporting on the sport nationally and internationally over two decades as a staff and then freelance reporter.

Outside journalism, Elizabeth worked in PR at senior level for the Liberal Democrats and was appointed Director of Press and Broadcasting for the party in 2000.

She was press officer and speech writer to the late Paddy Ashdown during the 2010 General Election campaign and has since then worked as a PR consultant while maintaining her contact with horse sports.

Elizabeth Peplow said: “Having covered endurance in Britain since the early 1990s and been privileged to witness some great moments in the sport and to see some of the best British horse and rider partnerships in action, I feel honoured to be able to take on this role. Endurance in this country has always epitomised what is special about the bond between horse and rider and its accessibility, enabling competitors to access the sport and achieve personal goals and high standards of horsemanship at every level, is key to its appeal.

“We are keen to raise awareness of the sport regionally and also to highlight Endurance GB’s work in bringing the sport to new riders through its work with organisations such as the RDA, The Pony Club and others, and I look forward to helping share some fantastic stories about a sport and community cherished by so many brilliant and dedicated riders, crews, supporters and volunteers.”

Kerry Dawson, Communications Director of Endurance GB said: “We welcome Elizabeth Peplow to the Endurance GB team. She has been a friend to the sport in this country since her early coverage of endurance for Horse & Hound and is well known to many of our riders. Elizabeth will be part of a wider communications team and joins us as we are stepping up our work in this area supported by a skilled and enthusiastic communications committee, who are actively helping develop aspects such as social media and engagement with the wider horse world.”