Australia: Brook Sample wins 2013 Tom Quilty

ABC.net.au

June 9 2013

Radio report of the Tom Quilty here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-09/tom-quilty-gold-cup/4742898

Australia: Battle-hardened Excalibur wins Tom Quilty

ABC.net.au - Full Article

June 9 2013
Cassie Hough

A fight to the finish on the weekend made for one of the most exciting conclusions in the history of the Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

Defending champion Brook Sample had six Tom Quilty Gold Cup wins to his name going in to this year's event, but he had never won in his home state of Queensland.

Mr Sample led in the final leg of the race but he and his horse Brookleigh Excalibur were challenged by Akhmed Pshunov on Tarrangower Crecendo on the home straight.

Mr Sample says he has never been pushed so hard at the end of a Tom Quilty endurance ride before.

"It was full on, we were flying at a full gallop and after doing 160 kilometres, having a full gallop down the grass verge was very exciting."

"He is such a courageous horse, I actually slowed him up in that last loop and the other guy caught me and I just wanted to slow my horse up, I didn't want to hurt him."

"But as soon as the other guy caught me my horse just lifted up a gear and he just said to me 'No way, I've not been doing this for 160kms to be beaten by this other horse' and he just took off, I couldn't hold him."

"When they finish like that and they really want to go, they're a 95 per cent chance of their heart rate coming down and vetting back through and being a happy wonderful horse."

Mr Sample and Excalibur crossed the finish line in a time of nine hours and 14 minutes, just one-and-a-half lengths ahead of Akhmed Pshunov on Tarrangower Crecendo...

Read more here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-09/tom-quilty/4742896

Great Britain: Top two separated by a head after 80km ride

Thisiscornwell.co.uk - Full Article

June 7 2013
By Jane Holden

For the first time in five years, the weather gods smiled upon the Minions Moorland Endurance Ride and it took place in glorious sunshine, with just a light breeze on top of the moor to keep the horses cool.

There were a record number of entries this year, many of them local riders who came out to enjoy a route that is not usually available. Thanks to the generosity of local landowners and the St Cleer and East Moor Commoners, Sue Speed and I, as ride organisers, were able to link Minions Moor with East Moor by taking the riders through Smallacombe Plantation.

Thanks to the sunshine and the drying wind, the going was pronounced "superb" with only a few wet patches and the occasional stony track to take care on. No crewing can take place on the moor so all checkpoints were provided with water for the horses (riders are expected to carry their own). Those riders doing the longer distances were also crewed at East Moor Gate, which is the halfway point of the 32km (20 miles)...

Read more here:
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/separated-head-80km-ride/story-19214904-detail/story.html#axzz2VfS7IBka

Great Britain: 2,500-mile charity horse rider to arrive in Burnley

Burnleyexpress.net - Full Article

07/06/2013 14:37

Veteran long-distance rider William Reddaway (65) will pass through the Burnley countryside tomorrow (Saturday) during a 2,500 mile six-month charity ride.

He and his four-legged companion, Strider, are raising funds for Wormwood Scrubs Riding for the Disabled Association and The Family Holiday Association. They will ride along the Mary Towneley Loop, which passes through Cliviger, to complete the first eight stages and 500 miles of the route which began in Gloucestershire...

Read more here:
http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/local-news/2-500-mile-charity-horse-rider-to-arrive-in-burnley-1-5747221

Australia: Crowd gathers for national horse ride

ABC.net.au - Full Article

By Eliza Rogers

Posted Fri Jun 7, 2013

Tom Quilty rider Paul Sidio
Photo: Missouri rider Paul Sidio is competing in the Tom Quilty Cup for the first time with horse Sid, who has completed the event twice. (Eliza Rogers)

More than 250 riders have nominated for this year's Tom Quilty Gold Cup endurance horse ride at Kilkivan, near Gympie in southern Queensland.

The ride, known as the largest horse endurance ride in the Southern Hemisphere, kicks off at midnight tonight and riders have 24 hours to complete a 160-kilometre course.

Kilkivan hasn't hosted the event since 2008, and organisers worked hard this year to bring flood-damaged grounds up to standard.

The small town's population is expected to swell by five times to 2,000 as support teams and spectators flock in.

Riders have come from New Zealand, America, Japan, France and England to compete...

Read more here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-07/tom-quilty-horse-ride/4740588

Australia: Riders prepare for tough going in Tom Quilty Gold Cup

Gympietimes.com.au - Full Article

7th Jun 2013 6:37 AM

Craig Warhurst

TODAY sees the Tom Quilty Gold Cup come to Kilkivan.

The endurance ride is arguably the toughest in Australia and was founded by the legendary RM Williams.

Since 1966, long distance competitive horse riding has been an organised sport in Australia.

The Tevis Cup endurance ride, held in the US since 1955, inspired RM Williams to start an Australian long distance race.

At the time he was editor of Hoofs and Horns, Australia's pioneer horse magazine.

Through his magazine, RM Williams extended an invitation to all those interested in conducting Australia's own 100 miles-in-one-day ride...

Read more here:
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/riders-prepare-for-tough-ride/1898348/

Australia: Top riders saddle up for Tom Quilty Gold Cup

Gympietimes.com.au - Full Article

Craig Warhurst 6th Jun 2013 5:00 AM

THE Melbourne Cup of Australian endurance racing, The Tom Quilty Gold Cup, is rearing to go in Kilkivan tomorrow.

More than 250 of Australia's top riders will be saddled up to head out on the first leg of the annual Australian Endurance Riding Championships.

The Tom Quilty Gold Cup starts midnight tomorrow with Kenilworth's Brook Sample the favourite to take out the event.

Mr Sample will compete against the nation's best and a host of international riders from the United States, New Zealand, Japan and Europe.

The current Australian champion has won a record six Quiltys.

He arrived at the Kilkivan showground yesterday with his riding team and was quietly confident of a good showing...

Read more here:
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/saddle-up-for-quilty-top-riders-ready-for-cup/1896597/

Guatemala: "Little Tevis - Guatevis"

6/3/2013

The 3rd annual Guatamalan National Endurance Championship, affectionately known as "the Little Tevis - Guatevis", will be held on June 8, 2013 at San Jose Pinula, Guatemala.

Events include a CEN 1/2*, CEN 1*, and CEN 2*.

Australia: 252 Starters for the 48th Tom Quilty Gold Cup at Kilkivian!

Horsedeals.com.au - Full Article

Australia's national endurance horse riding championship, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, will have 252 starters at midnight on Friday June 7 at Kilkivan in south-east Queensland.

While organisers had hoped 300 riders and their horses would nominate for the 48th Quilty - the nation's best test of true horsemanship - flooding earlier this year resulted in several key qualifying rides being cancelled or postponed.

This meant many prospective first-time Quilty riders hadn't successfully completed a prior 160km ride in time to qualify for this year's ride.

However, the event host, the Kilkivan Endurance Riders Club (KERC), is chuffed with the 250+ nominations from across Australia and overseas for the punishing 160km-long endurance pursuit.

"We reckon this is pretty darn good," said KERC president, Vern Berry, who saw the ride base at Kilkivan showground devastated by floodwaters in January.

Vern said the five legs of the rigorous Kilkivan track were in good condition, and lots of hard work by many volunteers had resurrected the showground's facilities, which are now ready to accommodate next week's influx of around 2000 people for the Quilty.

This means a five-fold increase to Kilkivan's population as riders, their strapping teams, support crews, family and friends, organisers and volunteers set up camp at the showground. Spectators at the event will further swell the township's numbers over the weekend of June 8-9.

Nine international competitors are flying in from the US, the UK, Japan and New Zealand, and an 18-strong contingent is crossing Bass Strait from Tasmania before heading north to Kilkivan. Two riders and their entourages are driving across from Western Australia, with another two coming up from South Australia, and many more are converging on Kilkivan from Victoria, New South Wales, and as far north as Herberton in far north Queensland.

This year 18 juniors (aged 12 to 17) and 234 seniors will enjoy the riding conditions of Queensland's mild winter and the historic aspect of the course's third leg, which covers part of the Cobb & Co Heritage Trail...

Read more here:
http://www.horsedeals.com.au/index.php?p=event&e=20519-252-Starters-for-the-48th-Tom-Quilty-Gold-Cup-at-Kilkivian

Australia: 76-year-old will compete in a 160km endurance horse ride

Themorningbulletin.com.au

Lisa Benoit 3rd Jun 2013

ALWYN Torenbeek has been riding horses since he can remember.

And at the age of 76, he still gets on his horse everyday.

Alwyn is off to the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, at Kilkivan in south-east Queensland this week to compete in a 160km endurance ride.

He started riding in the event's second year in 1967.

For more on Alwyn, check out this week's Morning Bulletin.

European Equestrian Federation Press Release on Endurance Discipline

Euroequestrian.eu

Warendorf, 29 May 2013

The Board of European Equestrian Federation (EEF) discussed the challenges in Endurance discipline identified by the Swiss NF at its meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday 27 May 2013 and reviewed the the discussions that had taken place between other NFs and the FEI. The Board determined to ask the FEI:

- to make public the actions it has already taken to protect our sport through their "Clean Sport" and other initiatives;

- to appoint an "independent commission" led by a highly respected chairman to review the challenges and future for Endurance and make appropriate recommendations for action.

The President of the EEF, Dr. Hanfried Haring, said:

"We back fully the work of the FEI, it's "Clean Sport" policy and it's determination to maintain high levels of welfare amongst the horses competing internationally. We are fully confident that the FEI will provide the leadership to ensure a prosperous long term future for the Endurance discipline of our sport."

The EEF currently embraces 43 member national federations as well as 6 associate members in its organisation.

Pamela Young: Controversy in Endurance

Chrisstafford.podbean.com - Radio podcast

The editor of Horse Sport International, Pamela Young, joins me to discuss the international controversy surrounding the welfare of horses in the sport of endurance and letters from National Federations to the FEI calling for specific action. These topics are being covered in the current issue of Horse Sport International - http://www.horsesportinternational.com. Follow us on Twitter @horsesportintl and @chrisestafford.

Hear the radio podcast here:
http://chrisstafford.podbean.com/2013/05/30/pamela-young-controversy-in-endurance/

Australia: Endurance rider passes 10,000km mark

Mudgeeguardian.com.au - Full Article

By Ben Harris May 31, 2013

Horseman John Howe joined an exclusive club on the weekend when he notched up 10,000 kilometres of endurance riding.

The milestone was achieved during the Mudgee Endurance Ride on Sunday.

Howe and his trusty horse Ashbend Perazzi, or Ears as the 12-year-old is known, were given an enthusiastic applause when the pair crossed the finish line.

Howe was only able to celebrate the milestone once the vet gave Ears the all clear after the 83km event.

“I got the thumbs up from the vets and it was absolutely fantastic,” Howe said.

It has been a journey 26 years in the making and one that would not have begun if it weren’t for cricket.

“I was watching the cricket one night and seeing the likes of Allan Border scoring a truckload of runs, and I knew I was never going to be carrying the drinks for Australia so I thought I could be successful at endurance riding,” he said...

Read more here:
http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/1540680/endurance-rider-passes-10000km-mark/?cs=12

France: Julien Goachet on Quran El Ulm wins at Compiegne

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

May 26, 2013
By Pamela@horsereporter

May 24, 2013, Compiegne, France ~ The UAE’s Saeed Ahmed Jaber Al Harbi prevented a clean sweep by the French riders in the FEI 3 *160 Nations Cup Endurance in Compiegne, France, which was supported by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

French rider Julien Goachet on Quran El Ulm finished first in this important 160-km ride with the Emirati rider Al Harbi on Reef Beethoven in second place and another French rider Laurent Mosti on Reve De Sauveterre in third in this highly testing event.

Goachet on Quran El Ulm completed the 160-km event in 7 hours 42 minutes and 36 seconds at an average speed of 20.57 kmph...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/?p=6952

Al Harbi prevents French sweep in Compiegne Endurance

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Emirati rider finishes second in 160km event

Staff Report
Published: 19:39 May 26, 2013

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi prevented a clean sweep by home riders in the 160-kilometre endurance in Compiegne, France, which was supported by the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.
French rider Julien Goachet on Quran El Ulm finished first, with Al Harbi on Reef Beethoven in second place and another French rider Laurent Mosti on Reve De Sauveterre in third.

Goachet finished in 7 hours 42 minutes and 36 seconds at an average speed of 20.57 kmph.

“My horse looked in great shape as the trainer had done a good job and I was confident right from the start,” said the winner...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/al-harbi-prevents-french-sweep-in-compiegne-endurance-1.1188853

Doping Scandal Rocks Middle East Endurance

Chronofhorse.com - Full Article

May 21, 2013
By: Staff

Prominent European federations are pressuring the Fédération Equestre Internationale to “clean up” endurance riding in the Middle East, citing the high incidence of doping and equine fractures in the area.

The Swiss Equestrian Federation is currently in strong correspondence with the FEI—some of which has leaked onto the web—saying the “negative evolution” of endurance is so unacceptable a breakaway sport should be considered. Belgian officials have complained about “unimaginable proportions” of leg injuries, and the French are asking for a clean-up before the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in their country to avoid “a welfare scandal at a major event.”

And while the FEI is understood to have already taken stronger action, including directly appointing some of the officials at rides in the United Arab Emirates from the start of their next winter season, the Swiss remain dissatisfied with the FEI response and last week made further written demands...

Read more here:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/doping-scandal-rocks-middle-east-endurance