Tuesday, October 29, 2019

South Africa: Australian winner of world's wildest horse race on Wild Coast

Sport24.oo.za - Full Article

25-10-2019

Cape Town - The world’s grittiest horse race, Race the Wild Coast (RTWC), was won on Friday, October 25, 2019 when Australian rider Emma Manthorpe crossed the finish line at Kei Mouth, ahead of 13 other international competitors.

The dramatic multi-stage 350km race, sponsored by KTC and supported by Jack Black Beer, was the third iteration of the race, held on the Eastern Cape’s iconic, unspoilt Wild Coast.

It took place with entrants from as far afield as the USA, Hungary, Australia, Switzerland, UAE, France, Ireland, South Africa and the UK.

There were two riders from South Africa. Seven male and seven female riders competed against one another.

According to race organiser and co-founder Barry Armitage of Rockethorse Racing: “We congratulate Emma - as well as all the participants - and recognise their grit, tenacity, and exceptional horsemanship. The race is always gruelling, despite the fact that the Wild Coast is a paradise of a location...”

Read more here:
https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/South-Africa/australian-winner-of-worlds-wildest-horse-race-on-wild-coast-20191025

Friday, October 25, 2019

Final version of Endurance rules set to go to FEI General Assembly

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

October 25, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

The Endurance Temporary Committee, tasked with finding a sustainable way ahead for the discipline, has published its final modified version of proposed rules for next year.

The FEI General Assembly will vote on the new rules in Moscow in mid-November.

The Endurance Temporary Committee was appointed by the FEI in October last year in a bid to find solutions to ongoing welfare issues and reputational damage to the discipline, much of it arising from the fast-style desert racing centred on the Gulf region.

The committee says it has considered all feedback in shaping the final rules, which will come into effect as soon as reasonably possible in 2020 if passed by national federations at the General Assembly...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/10/25/endurance-rules-fei-general-assembly/

Cambodia: Third endurance riding held as CEF looks to greater heights

KhmerTimesKH.com - Full Article

October 25 2019
Jose Rodriguez T. Senase / Khmer Times

A bigger turnout marked the third edition of the endurance riding event organized by the Cambodia Equestrian Federation (CEF).

Kao Vannarin and Sou Thai won in their respective categories in the competition held over the week in Kampong Chhnang province.

With Pick as his mount, Mr Vannarin, a well-known and experienced rider, won in the 40kms category over nine other competitors.

The second place went to Cheam Kean riding on Rocky and third spot was won by Dun Sokhorn on Chamreon.

In the 20kms category, it was the turn of Mr Thai riding on Liza to shine. Second spot went to Rinda Menlong on Kropum, while So Ram riding on Sros bagged the third place.

There were 14 riders that joined the endurance riding event this time. Of the number, 14 competed in the 40kms category, while four joined in the 20kms division...

Read more here:
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50654125/third-endurance-riding-held-as-cef-looks-to-greater-heights/

South Africa: Lormar endurance ride

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

25 October 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Carmen du Preez

Fairview Farm, Middelburg, Eastern-Cape South Africa. Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October 2019. Karoo club hosted the legendary Lormar Eudurance Ride and 95 participants were challenged by abnormally hot weather and drought conditions making the road surfaces particularly hard and stoney.

Riders were forced to be more vigilant and careful as the course was flat but had many surface changes and turns.
Samson Mjika on Perdeberg Blue Domino owned by Danie Louw skilfully grabbed the win on the FEI 160 Standard weight category. Grabbing best conditioned and Best of the Best award. Sunette Burnette on Celine close on his heals at the end recovered smoothly after a close call with a fall near the finish. Only 6 of the 13 160 km starters finished the race...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/lormar-endurance-ride/

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Mongolian Derby winner's book makes shortlist for William Hill sports prize

RacingPost.com - Full Article

By Bruce Jackson
4:52PM, OCT 22 2019

The shortlist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year was revealed on Tuesday and Mongolian Derby legend Lara Prior Palmer features in the final six chasing the prestigious prize.

Rough Magic: Riding the World’s Wildest Horse Race (Penguin Random House) charts her unexpected win in the 1,000km race when she became the youngest winner of the race at the age of 19.

Endurance has clearly caught the imagination of the judges as another finalist is Rise of the Ultra Runners: A Journey to the Edge of Human Endurance by Adharanand Finn (Faber & Faber).

The winner, who will collect £30,000, will be announced at a reception at the Royal Horseguards Hotel on December 5. The shortlisted authors will receive a leather bound copy of their book and a £3,000 cash prize...

Read more here:
https://www.racingpost.com/news/mongolian-derby-winners-book-makes-shortlist-for-william-hill-sports-prize/405416

The Sports Book Of The Year is an official page dedicated to the Sports Book of the Year, that is updated daily. The page is: https://news.williamhill.com/sport/sports-book-of-the-year/

Monday, October 14, 2019

Photographer Ian Haggerty home from Mongolia

Ridgetimes.co.za - Full Article

Mr Haggerty took part in an endurance race, the Wild Coast, and met people there that helped him to apply to become a photographer at the Mongol Derby.

October 12, 2019

KINROSS – It is not everyone who gets selected to be an official photographer at the Mongol Derby in Mongolia in Far East Asia.

Mr Ian Haggerty was chosen as a photographer and recently returned from his trip to Mongolia.

The Mongol Derby is an equestrian endurance race that extends over 1 000km through the Mongolian Steppe (grassland eco region) and is known as the world’s longest horse race.

He described the derby as an incredible adventure for both the crew and the horse riders.

“I do not think anyone, especially the riders, can explain to people what they have to go through and have people actually understand,” said Mr Haggerty.

“You have to experience it for yourself to truly grasp it...”

Read more here:
https://ridgetimes.co.za/146781/photographer-ian-haggerty-home-mongolia/

South Africa: Contaminated hay behind drugs breach in Endurance horse, tribunal finds

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

October 12, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

Contamination of teff hay with an invasive weed was behind a failed drug test in an Endurance horse in South Africa, the FEI Tribunal was told.

The contamination gave rise to a positive drug test for atropine and scopolamine in the horse Eks Aman, who competed in a CEI1* 80km event at Bredasdorp on September 29 last year.

The rider, Nico-Meyer Le Roux, acknowledged the positive drugs test, but received no fine or disqualification after the tribunal and FEI agreed that he bore no fault or negligence over the breach.

The source of the two related substances was found to have arisen from contamination of the hay with Datura stramonium, also known in South Africa as oileboom of stinkblaar.

The weed, which goes by the English names jimsonweed or devil’s snare, is a plant in the nightshade family which is now found in many parts of the world...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/10/12/contaminated-hay-drugs-breach-endurance-horse/

Thursday, October 10, 2019

A vintage season finale at the British Horse Feeds' Red Dragon Festival of Endurance

Endurancegb.co.uk

(Published:09 October 2019)

Endurance GB’s British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival of Endurance serves up vintage season finale

Victories for England in Home International, Scotland in Celtic Challenge and Yorkshire in British Horse Feeds’ Riding Clubs Endurance Team Final while Nikki Malcolm is popular winner of Red Dragon title event

Nikki Malcolm (pictured above by Kerry Dawson) and Oso Spiralling Wind capped a superb season with an outstanding win in the feature event, the two-day 160km Speedi-Beet Red Dragon Ride at the British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival of Endurance at Builth Wells. The pair conquered one of the toughest tracks in the Endurance GB calendar at an average speed of 12.7km/hr ahead of Chris Rendle with Druimghigha Shatish who completed in second place at 12km/hr. Ella Bunting with Aly’s Estrella De Rock (Rocky) took third spot at an average of 11.7km/hr. Remarkably, this was Nikki Malcolm’s fourth 160km win at Red Dragon.

Owned by Linda Mars and being trained and ridden in the UK at Nikki and her partner Nathan Sweeney’s Stride Ahead yard in Dorset, Oso Spiralling Wind (Spiral) was bred at Oso Arabians Stud which is managed by Amanda Kettlewell in New South Wales, Australia. The eight year old demonstrated his consistency and versatility by winning the RiderCise Southern Championships as well as romping around Royal Windsor and Euston Park with strong completions.


Nikki and Spiral coming up the hill - Photo courtesy of David Saunders Photography

Primed to perfection for his end of season foray over the spectacular Welsh mountains, at one point the talented grey was a full hour ahead of the field.

Nikki said: “The forecast had been for heavy rain on Saturday night so we thought we would kick on during the first day – we did the second day bar 5km all on our own. He just feeds off his rider – you have got to keep him interested and let him know that the race is still on. He definitely knew he was coming in for a win at the end when he galloped over the line.

“He has really proved himself as an 80km horse with 100% success rate this season and the logical progression for him next season will be a one-day 160km but we will regroup with Linda his owner and Amanda at Oso Arabians at the end of the season. For now we have a field at home which we rest for the winter and it is shoes off time and a chance for them all to graze as a herd for three months which they love.

“I didn’t think this was a particularly hard Red Dragon. John and Jane (Hudson) have done a lot of work to improve the route over the years and it rode really well. I just love this event, the whole organisation is brilliant and with the showground at Builth Wells as an amazing venue you certainly don’t feel like the sport is a poor relation in any way. On top of it the Home International there this year gave it a great atmosphere.”

Spiral took Best Condition in the Red Dragon and as a further dollop of icing on the cake for Team Stride Ahead, Nikki’s partner Nathan Sweeney earned a completion in the 80km Saddle Exchange Dragon’s Egg, riding for Ireland in the Home International with Jenny Lees’ Pearl Island Arabians’ six year old Hamdanieh Farhah, the only pure-bred Bahrain Arab mare competing in the UK.

In the other big class of the Festival, the British Horse Feeds’ Little Dragon 80km CER, another Dorset-based rider, Ylva Samantha Mowatt emerged the winner with Terminators Dream at 13.4km/hr from Kathy Carr with Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle in second place at 13.4km/hr. Abigail Chisholm took third place with Mellway Royalblue Diamond at 12.8km/hr. Kathy Carr’s Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle took the Best Condition Award.

With the added bonus of the Home International which is hosted annually by either England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland, as well as the Celtic Challenge, contested by teams from Ireland, Wales and Scotland plus, for the first time in many years, a squad from Cornwall entries to the Festival were high.

Achieving the fantastic feat of getting six riders home, England won the Home International ahead of Scotland with Ireland in third and Wales fourth. The Celtic Challenge went to Scotland.

England’s Chef d’Equipe Maggie Pattinson said: “I am proud of my stewardship as Chef for the England Home International team but in particular this year bringing the cup home makes the glow of pride even brighter!

“Following a couple weeks of wet weather I think we all knew we were in for a tough Dragon although we did largely get away with mostly dry weather in riding hours.

“John and Jane Hudson once again pulled together an amazing team of stewards, vets and helpers of all sorts to once again put on a fantastic event for which I speak from every national Chef to say a huge thank you – they are all amazing!”

Among highlights for the winning England squad were three notable ‘firsts’, a third place in their first 160km for Ella Bunting and ‘Rocky’, a completion at their first CER for Rebecca Parsler and Shade while in the 48km Home International Junior Class, Beth Stanley-Whiteley with Tiny was the youngest ever junior at eight years old achieving a remarkable second place.

ILDRA’s Helen McFarland announced that Ireland would be hosting the 2020 Home International at the St Patrick’s Coastal Ride over the first weekend in September. Like the British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival, this is another tough ride but with the promise of seal watching whilst cantering along miles of beach in the shadow of the mountains of Mourne.

A total of 265 horse and rider combinations took part in more than 30 classes at the British Horse Feeds' Red Dragon Festival of Endurance taking in the iconic mountain grassland and heather track from the venue at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells.

Sunday’s action featured The British Horse Feeds’ British Riding Clubs Endurance Team Final with nine Riding Clubs vying for the top prize in the 36km Novice Graded Endurance Ride. The hotly contested competition was won by Yorkshire RC, which numbers riders from across area 4 (Yorkshire). Ellen Valley followed in second place with the Wessex Wanderers in third.

Linda Birkitt who competed for Yorkshire RC in the 36km GER with Mistletoe said: “Our team was formed after a chance conversation and has grown over the last three years. We started the season this year at Wootton in Lincolnshire and have had team entries in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire rides which were all qualifiers for the championships.

“Our team members have a mixed experience of endurance with a couple of advanced riders and a pony club champion who provide us with invaluable advice but most team members are novice endurance riders, some of whom have had their first competitive season this year.”

The Yorkshire RC team’s horses are of varying breeds including Welsh cobs, part-bred Irish Draught, ISH, Arab, PBA and TB. Some of the team compete at dressage and show jumping and there are former event horses on the squad.

Linda explained: “We train individually most of the time but some riders do manage to meet up in between rides and train on the North Yorkshire Moors, Pennines or Yorkshire Wolds for hill work with some beach rides if possible. On ride days, our crews are an important part of our team with some riders crewing if they are not able to ride.

Linda added: “We had a fantastic time at Red Dragon with our win topping the weekend. John and Jane are brilliant supporters to all the riding club teams throughout the year and our thanks go to them.”

The other Riding Clubs who reached the final were; East Mendip, Hampshire Combined, New Forest Hunts, National Forest, Angels of the North and Red Kite.

Acting Chair of Endurance GB, Sue Box, who competed successfully for Wales in the Speedi-Beet Red Dragon 160km class said: “As ever it was a great privilege to ride over this amazing course and we are very grateful to all our sponsors especially headline sponsor, British Horse Feeds and the organising team led by John and Jane Hudson with their wonderful team of volunteers as well as all the landowners without whose support access to the spectacular terrain would not be possible. In the build up to the ride the organisers had to contend with really wet conditions and it was a feat to ensure that so many horse and rider combinations would be able to get round safely. However, the skies cleared for the ride itself, hosting the Home International and Celtic Challenge this year was a bonus and with record entries plus some memorable performances over the weekend, this was a vintage Red Dragon.”

John Hudson said: “We are delighted with the level of entries and would like to thank both our fantastic headline sponsor British Horse Feeds who have been hugely supportive as ever and we simply could not do all this without them, as well as all the other companies who get behind the ride. We also work with more than 30 landowners and large sections of the route are across private land. We cannot praise them enough for their friendly welcome and level of cooperation. We are very grateful to the three external teams who help to run the event: The Gloucestershire TRF led by Jacky German who mark the route so brilliantly, the medics from SARA led by Merv Fleming and RAYNET led by Evan Jones.

“A great team of hard-working volunteers worked together to steward the event brilliantly and our thanks also go to the Showground staff at Builth Wells for whom nothing was too much trouble. All in all, it added up to the best Red Dragon yet in our view.”

Will I'Anson, Sales Director for British Horse Feeds said: “We are delighted with our long and successful association with this prestigious ride and team behind it and so pleased that the weekend went so smoothly and produced some excellent competition. The British Horse Feeds’ Riding Club Endurance Championships is also going from strength to strength and this bodes well for the future.”

Monday, October 07, 2019

South Australian takes out Australian Championships in Queensland


Denise Keelan photography

October 6 2019

Young South Australian rider Stella Harbison took out the FEI 160km endurance ride at Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Complex in Imbil, Queensland in the Equestrian Australia Championships this weekend.

The 30-year-old from the Adelaide Hills crossed the line riding Minton East Chaucer 11 hours and 17 minutes after setting out into the Imbil State Forest tracks at 2am that the morning to tackle the course.

Ride organiser and President of the Stirling’s Crossing Endurance Club Kim Moir said she was delighted with the Equestrian Australia Championships and complimented Ms Harbison on an exceptional ride.

“Stella finished 25th in her division in the 2019 Tom Quilty Gold Cup in July which was also hosted at Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Complex,” said Ms Moir.

“To see her return from South Australia just two-and-a-half months later to take out the Equestrian Australia Championship title for the three-star Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) accredited ride is impressive and we congratulate her on the outstanding result.

“Second place went to the owner of the Stirling’s complex, Matthew Sample riding Cedar Ridge Lyric while third place in the tough 160km ride went to Samantha Yates from the United Kingdom riding Ausden Prince Mahal.”

The junior title went to Tahlia Franke from Table Top, NSW riding Oso Florin who completed the ride in 13 hours and 45 minutes.

The event also included a hotly contested 80km FEI accredited ride (1 star), with the winner Imbil local Akhmed Pshunov crossing the line just six seconds ahead of runner-up Christopher Bailey from Orange, NSW who was only two and a half minutes ahead of Imbil local Nikki Scott who took out third.

“When you have riders out on the track for over five hours and they come across the line a few seconds apart it makes for great competition throughout the ride,” said Ms Moir.

“The junior title in this ride was also very close with Toowoomba riders taking home both first and second place when they came over the line only seven seconds apart having been out on the tracks for close to seven hours. 17-year-old Molly Choyce took out first and 15-year-old Mognild Eerkens came in second, with third place going to New Zealander Ana Whitehead (17).”

The two star 120km FEI ride saw only one completion with the junior title going to Elexis Webb from Boorabee Park, NSW.

In addition to the three Equestrian Australia Championship FEI rides, there were seven other rides at the event including two introductory rides to give new endurance riders the opportunity to try the sport.

Matthew Sample said he was very keen to grow the sport of endurance by offering a range of rides starting at 20km introductory rides and including 40km, 60km, 80km, 120km and 160km rides to cater for all skill levels.

“We love the sport and understand the need to offer entry level rides to attract new competitors,” said Mr Sample, who owns Australia’s only purpose-built endurance facility.

Over 182 riders participated across the thirteen rides bringing 400-500 support crew and family members to the Mary Valley region over the three-day event.

To find out more please visit www.stirlingscrossingendurance.asn.au.

Australia: One step closer to Tom Quilty event

CollieMail.com.au - Full Article

Amanda Rayner
October 7 2019

Ravensthorpe endurance rider Jeanette Denham was the first to cross the line in the Western Australian Endurance Riders Association 160-kilometre event held from the Collie racecourse last weekend.

Jeanette defended her title as champion state rider, also taking out the much coveted award in 2016. She completed the course in a cracking time of 12 hours, 30 minutes - two minutes ahead of Paul Dyson on a competitive stallion who two months earlier had travelled to Queensland to compete in this year's Tom Quilty.

The ride run from the Collie racetrack was a prelude of the venue and course for the Tom Quilty Gold Cup ride, which is the Australian National championship of endurance riding, to be held in September next year. At midnight on Friday night, 24 riders left the Collie racetrack in still, dewy conditions with no moon in sight...

Read more here:
https://www.colliemail.com.au/story/6416276/one-step-closer-to-tom-quilty-event/?cs=1569

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

Qatar: Al Shaqab rider claims top 10 spot at World Endurance Championship - Young Horses

ThePeninsulaQatar.com - Full Article

1 October 2019
The Peninsula

Doha: Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, was in the spotlight once again when a member of the Al Shaqab Endurance team claimed a top-10 place at the FEI Meydan World Endurance Championship - Young Horses 2019 that recently concluded in Italy.

Al Shaqab rider Mohammed Khalifa Al Sowaidi and his horse, Sa’ada Al Shaqab, earned 7th place in the event, which was aimed at 7-year-old horses.

Taking on competitors from several countries, Al Sowaidi and Sa’ada Al Shaqab covered a distance of 120km...

Read more here:
https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/01/10/2019/Al-Shaqab-rider-claims-top-10-spot-at-World-Endurance-Championship---Young-Horses

Endurance GB attracts record entry at final season classic - British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon

Endurancegb.co.uk

(Published:01 October 2019)

The Home International, Celtic Challenge and British Horse Feeds’ Riding Clubs Endurance Team Final all being staged next weekend (4-6 Oct)

With just three more rides left to take place in Endurance GB’s 2019 calendar, organisers have announced record entries for the sport’s traditional end of season classic, The British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival of Endurance.

This year’s Festival has the added bonus of the Home International which is hosted annually by either England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland, as well as the Celtic Challenge, contested each year by teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Cornwall.

A total of 265 horse and rider combinations are set to take part in more than 30 classes over 365 ‘ride days’ taking in the iconic mountain grassland and heather track from the venue at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. A total of 13 of the country’s leading riders will line up for the top Advanced challenge, the showpiece two-day 160km Speedi-Beet Red Dragon. Among those taking part in the top class are Nikki Malcolm with Oso Spiralling Wind, winners of the RiderCise Southern Championship and Alex Tennant winner of both the RiderCise Northern and Welsh Championships. Alex will partner Watibou Coutillas with whom she won the Welsh stage of the Championships at Pen Ddol Y Gader back in August.

A total of 23 riders will contest the other Advanced Class, The British Horse Feeds’ Little Dragon, while the largest entry of the weekend is for the Saddle Exchange Dragon’s Egg – a two day 78km (42km/36km) graded endurance ride which is open to Advanced, Open or Novice endurance riders and is set to have 37 starters. Sunday’s action features The British Horse Feeds’ British Riding Clubs Endurance Team Final with nine Riding Clubs vying for the top prize in the 36km Novice Graded Endurance Ride. The Riding Clubs to have reached the final are; East Mendip, Ellen Valley, Hampshire Combined, New Forest Hunts, Yorkshire, Wessex Wanderers, National Forest, Angels of the North and Red Kite.

Acting Chair of Endurance GB, Sue Box, who is competing for Wales in the Speedi-Beet Red Dragon 160km class said: “The strong entries for the British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival of Endurance reflect both increased membership and ride entries for Endurance GB across the board this season. It is a great privilege to be able to ride over this amazing course and we are very grateful to our sponsors, the organising team led by John and Jane Hudson, their wonderful team of volunteers as well as all the landowners without whose support access to the spectacular terrain would not be possible.”

John Hudson said: “We are delighted with the level of entries and would like to thank both our fantastic headline sponsor British Horse Feeds as well as all the other companies who are supporting the ride. We have built a great partnership with the team at BHF and it is rewarding to see the ride going from strength to strength. Hosting the Home International and Celtic Challenge is a bonus and this should be an exciting and close fought competition with established senior riders as well as potential stars of the future taking part. Given the weather forecast for the weekend, our challenge now is to deliver a safe and enjoyable event for all those taking part.”

Will I'Anson, Sales Director for British Horse Feeds said: “I am so pleased that we are continuing our long association with this prestigious ride. We look forward to the event continuing to grow and become even more popular as a celebration of endurance riding at all levels.”

Australia: Queensland endurance riding season off to a ’stirling’ start

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article 16/03/2024 Erle Levey It was like the first day back at school as Queensland endurance horse riders st...