Australia: Endurance test for Fleming

The Invernell Times
18/07/2008 10:06:00 AM
HARDWORK: Clare Fleming and Arab gelding Mangueira Moksha at the Queensland State Championships. Photo: Mick Goater

INVERELL endurance rider Clare Fleming has returned successful from the NSW and Queensland state championships.

The events were only one week apart this year and Fleming said her motto was “to complete is to win”.

The endurance championships involve a 100 mile (160km) ride in one day, which is divided up into a minimum of five tracks.

Horses are presented to the vetting team before the ride begins and then at the end of each track.

Only if the horse is deemed fit to continue, the rider is able to set off onto the next part of the ride.

“After vetting through successfully at the end, riding 100 miles (160km) in one day, I definitely feel like a winner,” Fleming said.

It was a long week for Fleming, it started with a 2am start on Sunday when she saddled up her bay Anglo mare Birramalee Queen of Hearts and set off to ride 100 miles in the countryside surrounding Manilla.

There where five legs - 43km, 43km, 30km, 30km and 14km.

After riding for fourteen hours and one minute, Fleming’s mare was judged by the vetting panel to be sound and healthy.

Together, they placed eighth Lightweight, and were among the 53.49 per cent of the initial 86 riders that completed the ride successfully.

Fleming was very pleased with this result because last year, at the QLD State Championships her mare was vetted out after riding the 100 miles.

Then less than one week later at 1am on Saturday, Fleming again saddled up.

This time, she rode her grey Arab gelding Mangueira Moksha.

This ride was based at Imbil in QLD, and consisted of six legs: 37km, 32km, 30km, 35km, 21km, and 15km.

At the fourth leg of the ride, the vets were very concerned about the tenderness displayed by Moksha at the touch of their hand in the saddle area. It looked like he was going to be vetted out.

Fleming then applied ice to his back, changed saddles and rode a lot slower in the last two legs of the ride.

This strategy worked with Fleming and Moksha successfully completing the ride with a time of 13 hours and 56 minutes.

Together, they placed second Lightweight and were amongst the 52 per cent of the 55 riders that completed.

Fleming said it was a very challenging ride in the mountains.

The Red Truck Raggers, made up of Fleming, Leila Calander and Ian Davidson, won the team event with the fastest combined riding time for the 100 miles.

They were presented with the Timms Trophy.

This year the Tom Quilty Gold Cup Ride is at Nanango in QLD.

Fleming is hoping to compete in this international event and in just 10 weeks time she will again saddle up one of her endurance horses to ride 100 miles in one day.
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Tasmania: Sassafras today, tomorrow the worlds

The Advocated - advocate.com.au
BY MARTIN AGATYN
18/07/2008 12:00:00 AM
A WORLD CUP qualifying event at Sassafras tomorrow has attracted international endurance riders to one of the biggest equestrian events in Tasmania in years.

The 160km ride is a Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) three-star event and has attracted entries from Malaysia, New South Wales and Queensland.

The ride is being conducted by the Burnie Equine Endurance Riders club (BEER) and will be the first time a world cup qualifying event has been held in Tasmania and the first FEI-rated event to be held in Tasmania for more than three years.

The ride will be based at Smith and Others Rd at Sassafras and will use tracks on nearby pine and eucalypt plantations.

The gruelling ride will be one where physical stamina and the mental fitness of both horses and riders will be pushed to their limits.

The endurance event will start at 2am tomorrow and riders will need to complete the six legs in under 12 hours and 20 minutes, finishing by 5.20pm (including compulsory hold and vetting periods), to qualify for the world cup, which will be staged in Malaysia in September.

The six legs will vary from 20km to 30km in length and riders will be given a maximum of 15 hours to complete all six legs.

Queensland's Peter Toft is expected to be a strong contender and will be looking for more success in Tasmania.

Toft won the sport's most prestigious national event, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, when it was held in Tasmania in 2001.

A strong Tasmanian contingent of riders is also expected to compete, including Lilydale trio Noel Lockhart, Alison Dent, and Bradley Hill.

A youth section will be incorporated for riders between 14 and 21 years old.

As leader of the Tasmanian junior points series, Bradley Hill is keen to ride his horse Lockleigh Park Star against national competitors.

Alison Dent and Noel Lockhart will also be hoping for a good result.

About 30 Tasmanian riders are expected to contest the shorter 80km, 40km and 20km non-qualifier events, in addition to the entry list of 20 riders for the 160km endurance ride.
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NZL: Horses for Sheik

Herbert-based endurance horse
trainer Kevin James, with
daughters Jorja and Bridgett.

Kevin James and Sarah Hamer train endurance horses for Sheik Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Endurance riding horses involves riding long distances (50-150km) over several days with vets constantly checking the animals.

Kevin and Sarah used to have 20ha at Mayfield on which they trained the horses but were able to sell their farmlet at a high price and buy a 40ha block at Herbert nearly four years ago. Not only is the land cheaper in Herbert but there is no crime, facilities are good including the school. The couple have four children under the age of eight, the youngest about six months old.

Kevin who is in his early 50s has been doing speed endurance riding for 30 years. He was part of the New Zealand team which won the world championship in 1998 in Dubai. It gave him great exposure and people from around the world wanted him to train horses including the Sheik. In 1999 a Sheik's representative asked him to buy and train horses for the UAE's vice-President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai.

Kevin says the Sheik has thousands of horses based around the world and until the equine flu horses were sent from Australia to Herbert. A batch came in just before the restrictions came on.

They are training about 16 horses which they prepare to a certain stage. Only six are from the Australian programme the rest are New Zealand sourced.

While people living in or outside cities spend 30-40 minutes or even longer travelling to work each day, he walks out the door.

[Original Article]

Dubai's Al Maktoum family attends European Open

Gulf News
Staff Report
Published: July 14, 2008, 00:08

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday attended the European Open Endurance Women's Championship.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Events Management Corporation, and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, also attended the race.

Shaikha Latifa Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum won the individual title.

Shaikha Latifa, Shaikha Mariam, Shaikha Futaim and Shaikha Shaikha, the daughters of Shaikh Mohammad, won the team title.

Twenty-six riders, representing many European countries, took part in the race.

This victory comes as a new addition to the previous accomplishments achieved by UAE.

[Original Article]

Colombia: Mutis and Ga0na set sights on 2008 WEC

FEI Press: Italy - Forty-Six Riders Compete over the 160 km Track at CEI 3* Assisi

photo: Simona Garratti for Italy with the French bred Z’Tadore Al Maury in a ride time
of 10hr 30min 18 sec
(c) Gilly Wheeler

The weather forecast was unfortunately one hundred percent correct as thunder lightening and heavy rain engulfed the riders at Assisi, almost as spectacular as the fireworks at the welcome party.

At 5am on a very cold morning 46 riders from nine nations set out on the 160km course that had already been battered by the heavy rain of the preceding days. The course had been considerably altered from that used for the 120km ride last year, no longer containing the section along the cobbled streets in the centre of the most beautiful and historical town of Assisi.

The general opinion was that is was a good, technical but difficult course and a vast improvement compared to last year.

Technical delegate John Robertson (GBR) commented, “It was an excellent ride at which the inclement weather conditions showed up the shortcomings , which is the idea of a trial ride and will be corrected for the FEI Open European Championship next year.”

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Australia: Riders from all over head here

GYMPIE region endurance riders can look forward to a big season with State Championships at Imbil this weekend and the prestigious Tom Quilty Gold Cup in Nanango in two months time.

And this weekend's riders can expect a more interesting event, with recent rain creating many more flowing creek crossings than is usually the case.

After overcoming the effects of last year's equine influenza outbreak, more than 100 of Australia's best riders will assemble at Imbil Showgrounds on Saturday to compete in the 2008 State Endurance Riding Championships.

Event publicist, Peter Hennessy said the event would be held over "a spectacular 160km course through the Imbil and Kenilworth State Forests."

"It is a test for both horses and riders to achieve this feat in less than 24 hours," he said.

"Horses are subject to rigorous veterinary checks every 20km approximately and any sign of lameness or metabolic disorder will immediately disqualify the competitor."

Promising many excellent photographic vantage points for spectators, he said the course would be "even more interesting this year, as there will be many flowing creek crossings."

Mr Hennessy said organisers were anticipating the winner would cross the line about 4pm Saturday, after a midnight start on Friday.

And, in September, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup is expected to draw competitors internationally, as well as from all over Australia.

The major endurance ride will be held in Nanango on September 19 to 21.

"Considered one of the most challenging and competitive horse events in the world, the 'Quilty' attracts champion riders from all over," publicist Pauline Clayton said yesterday.

"Last year, the King of Malaysia was one of the competitors at the Nanango International Endurance event," she said. The ride is a brainchild of outback legend RM Williams and now attracts up to 250 of the world's finest riders.

Ms Clayton said that with friends, buyers, vet teams and officials, a crowd of more than 1000 is expected, with many camping out at the showgrounds.

"Despite metrics, the original idea of riding a horse 100 miles in a day has held true and the course is now 160km through the hilly terrain of the East Nanango State Forest in the South Burnett region," she said.

Origianl Article

Smoke questions cloud July 19 Tevis Cup ride’s future

Roseville Press-Tribune online
Organizers of 100-mile horse race say they'll make decision by July 16
By Gus Thomson, Journal Staff Writer

photo: view up the American River's middle fork canyon on Monday shows how smoky the Western States Trail route has been in recent days. The Quarry Trail, part of the Tevis Cup route riders will ride on July 19 and 20, can be seen on the bottom right.

Now it’s the turn of Tevis Cup organizers to think the unthinkable.

This year’s 100-mile ride from Squaw Valley to Auburn is still scheduled to start July 19.

But as the days count down and thick smoke from Placer County fires continues to lower air quality and raise health concerns, the Western States Trail Foundation has established a timeline to provide answers to the 150 riders and 800 volunteers.

Under that timeline, a final decision could come July 16.

Tom Christofk, trail foundation president, said Monday that ride organizers were moving ahead “full throttle” with plans to stage the ride along the Sierra Nevada’s Western States Trail July 19 and 20.

“The buckles are made, vendors are locked in and the contracts signed,” Christofk said.

Cancellation of the 54th running of the prestigious horse ride would be unprecedented. But so would have been cancellation of the Western States Endurance Run. Organizers decided June 25 – three days before the June 28 ultra marathon – to cancel the event because of smoke and safety concerns.

Christofk said that fire patterns indicate no immediate threats to the Western States Trail or difficulties that would hinder firefighting operations on the Forest Hill Divide.

That leaves smoke – or lack thereof – as the key to keeping the Tevis Cup running.

As Tevis Cup planning moves forward, committee members will meet Wednesday with U.S. Forest Service officials in the high country of Robinson Flat along the trail. A day later, Christofk said that if the chances are 50-50 that the ride could be cancelled, riders coming from 1,000 or more miles away from the event would be notified of conditions.

Riders from the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Canada and Europe are due to take part in this year’s Tevis Cup – one of the world’s most prestigious endurance rides.

On July 14, a Monday, committee members would re-assess the smoke situation to again consider notifying participants of smoke levels.

Then on July 16 – a Wednesday – committee members would have a clearer indication of whether unhealthy levels of smoke would continue to lurk in the air on the Tevis Cup weekend.

“That’s our ‘go-no go’ day for a final decision,” Christofk said. "It would be premature at this point make that decision because it’s tough to forecast out more than 48 hours.”

The ride has come close to cancellation just twice before. In both those instances, Christofk said he’s been told that ride founder Wendell Robie made the decision the night before to keep it going.

Potato Richardson, a two-time Tevis Cup winner, said that he has never seen anything like the smoky conditions now blanketing the area in the 36 years he’s been riding in the event. One year, the ride was re-routed because of snow levels but never because of smoke, he said.

Richardson was in the same position last week as the Tevis Cup leadership. On Wednesday, as president of the Gold Country Endurance Ride in the Georgetown area, he was forced to announce that smoke would cancel this past weekend’s 30- and 50-mile rides.

At least 100 riders had to make other plans. Richardson said he was playing host at his Cool-area home to three riders from London, England, who were out for the event. The weekend’s smoke was thick enough to keep him and his guests from doing any serious riding but they did get out for a slow walk Sunday.

Monday was even worse, however.

“The situation’s so bad that I woke up today and smelled the air and said to myself that I didn’t even want to be outside,” Richardson said.

The Journal’s Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com.

Full article - Roseville Press-Tribune

Queensland to host historic Quilty endurance ride

Horsetalk.co.nz
July 7, 2008

Australia's prestigious Tom Quilty Gold Cup endurance ride will take place in Nanango, Queensland, in September this year.

Considered one of the most challenging and competitive horse events in the world, the "Quilty" attracts champion riders from Australia and overseas. Last year one of the competitors at the Nanango International Endurance event was the King of Malaysia.

In 1966, 26 riders began the first Tom Quilty, a 100-mile endurance ride on a course west of Sydney.

Last year the Tom Quilty Gold Cup was held in Western Australia.

The ride, the brainchild of RM Williams, now attracts up to 250 of the finest riders in the world.

(Quilty Week runs from 15 to 21 September 2008)

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Belgium, France, Argentia - 1,2,3 in Gubbio

The CEIO Teams 1st Belgium 2nd France 3rd Argentina Official Team Results (PDF) The 120km Finish 1st Vito Grippo Nadi 2nd Erica Vagnetti Ghimly 3rd Matteo Pettinari Erkolino Official Results (PDF)

2008 Gubbio CEIO 160km Karin Boulanger and Poespass win Guy Dumas and Idryss du Melay 2nd Rachel Jaumotte and Rukban Dikruhu MMN 3rd Complete Coverage of the Event

Karin Boulanger and Poespass Winners of 2008 Gubbio CEIO

Karin Boulanger and Poespass Winners of CEIO 160km in Gubbio

Belgium leads France in the team competition at gate 4

The 120km Finish 1st Vito Grippo Nadi 2nd Erica Vagnetti Ghimly 3rd Matteo Pettinari Erkolino

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RTES at Edaran Endurance Classic 2008

RTES (Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable)performs well at Edaran Endurance Classic

His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong'S Horse Bags 'Best Condition Horse' Trophy in CEI 3* 160KM Ride

The Edaran Endurance Classic 2008 held at the Terengganu International Endurance Park, the venue of the forthcoming World Endurance Championship 2008 in Terengganu, ended 29 June 2008 with 8 successful completions out of 18 starters in the CEI 3* 160KM ride category. Of the 8 completions, 6 obtained their Certificate of Competency (COC).

King's Horse Declared Best Condition Horse In CEI 3*160KM Category
His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong's horse Cristal De Sulaiman bagged the Best Condition Horse Prize for the CEI 3* 160KM category. His Majesty successfully completed the 160KM ride and finished in fifth place.

Team Event 160KM
The top prize for the team for the 160KM went to the riders from Darul Iman Equestrian Terengganu. In second placing was the team from the Tengku Mahkota Kelantan Equestrian and third placing was won by Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable.
Posted by Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable

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2008 World Endurace Championship Official Launch

Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable participates in 2008 WEC Launch

The 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship was officially launched on Saturday 21 June in grand style with a 48 horse parade through the centre of Kuala Lumpur. The marching contingent of 48 horses was made up of Polis di-Raja Malaysia and DBKL's Mounted Units, and some of Malaysia's Endurance Team. They were accompanied by police outriders and two marching bands. Malaysia's Yang DiPertuan Agong and his consort the Permaisuri Agong were there to take their salute on their arrival at historic Dataran Merdeka.

Posted by Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable

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Malaysia: Edaran Endurance Classic 2008

Endurance.Net
June 29, 2008

The Edaran Classic 2008 held at the Terengganu International Endurance Park, the venue of the forthcoming World Endurance Championship 2008 in Terengganu, ended today with 8 successful completions out of 18 starters in the CEI 3* 160km ride category and 6 horse and rider teams earning their Certificate of Capability (COC).

Results and Summary

Equine Experts At Edaran Endurance Seminar 2008

On June 27, participants attended an information and knowlege-packed seminar on endurance riding organized in conjunction with the Classic. Speakers at the half-day seminar which was also held at the Terenggau International Endurance Park, included reputed equine exercise physiologist, Dr. Kerry Ridgeway from the USA, equine nutritionist and veterinarian Dr. Peter Huntington from Australia and master farrier Mr. Kevin Crafar from New Zealand.



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Argentina: Malaysian riders finish well at Cazon

Endurance.Net
June 29, 2008

Five riders from Malaysia were among the top 160km finishers this weekend at the Cazon Endurance Village in Argentina.

First place finisher was Argentina's Mercedes Tapia riding Caiparinha, a bay Polo horse that began her second career as an Endurance horse at Tapia's El Reparo Endurance training center 3 years ago. Tapia is one of Argentina's top riders, and this was Caiparinha's first win over a 160km course. Caiparinha also received the Best Condition award.

More on Argentine polo horses in Endurance

Malaysian riders also fared well finishing in 2nd through 6th positions:

1. Mercedes Tapia (ARG) - Z Caipirinha - 17.11 km/hr
2. Md Rino Abd Rani (MAL) - Bilad El Arab - 14.48 km/hr
3. Ahmad Azura Abd Ghani (MAL) - Box Bragada - 14.48 km/hr
4. Bakar Aman (MAL) - Amira - 14.48 km/hr
5. Ab Hamid Hussein Muhamad (MAL) - Baraka Daka - 14.46 km/hr
6. Mohd Ramly Abde Wahamb (MAL) - ZT Thay Lover - 14.10 km/hr
7. Pio Juan Miguel Olascoago (URU) - Ar Vale - 14.10 km/hr

More on Cazon Endurance Village

Mohammed spurs UAE

Khaleej Times
By Hisham Al Gizouli
30 June 2008


DUBAI - His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, led the UAE riders to their first seasonal European endurance title in Britain.

The race comes as part of the preparations of the national team for the World Championship scheduled to be held in Malaysia during the month of November.



Riders from France, Britain, Australia and the UAE took part in the competition which extended over 120 kilometres in relatively favourable weather conditions.

The three-member squad joined hands before they crossed the finish line ahead of the others.

Shaikh Rashid Dalmook bin Jumaa Al Maktoum and Abdullah Saeed were the other two members of the winning team.

According to the race reports, Shaikh Mohammed showed the way right from the start, followed by Shaikh Rashid Dalmook in the first 36km loop which they covered in 1:55:11 seconds at an average speed of 19,07/hr.

Shaikh Mohammed continued to set the pace in the second and third stages before the UAE riders dominated the field and went clear to cross the finish line in 3:31:28 seconds.

Sultan bin Sulayem was crowned champion of the 160km endurance ride which was held in the same venue.

Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed who started as hot favourite to win the ride, pulled out after the third loop to protect his horse.

The UAE rider and trainer Mubarak bin Shafiya said they were quite satisfied with the strong performance of the UAE riders.

Saeed Al Tayer, vice-chairman of the Dubai Equestrian Club said it was great to see the UAE riders winning two races at the same time in one day.

"UAE riders are the true champions of the world," he said.

Full Article

Bad Blumau Austria CEI*** 160km

Gulf Daily News
BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Ahmed Abdulsamad clinched victories in the Austrian International Endurance Horseride held yesterday in Bad Blumau, Austria. Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president (Breef), took the 160km race by clocking the best time of nine hours, 59 minutes and 22 seconds with a record speed average of 19.91 kms per hour. The Bahraini riders dominated this race, winning the next two positions through Ahmed Abdulla (9:59:25) who came second, followed by Ghazi Al Dossary (9:59:26) in third place.

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Arab sheikh backs wild horses for endurance

photo: horsetalk.co.nz

Could Australia's wild horses be about to take the endurance world by storm?

Thirteen wild horses from Western Australia have been plucked from the wilderness, and, in a tale reminiscent of "My Fair Lady", now find themselves living in air-conditioned comfort in Dubai with personal grooms.

Their mission is to make their mark in the sport of endurance in what will be an interesting tussle between the survival-of-the-fittest law of natural selection and the selective breeding of horse owners.

The whole exercise had its roots in a website built by Broome woman Libby Lovegrove to alert the world to the plight of horses in the broad expanses of the Kimberley.

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THE FEI WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 LAUNCHED WITH A BANG!

June 21, Kuala Lumpur: The FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 (FEI WEC 2008) was officially launched at Dataran Merdeka.

The launch started off with a parade of 48 horses and riders from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Royal Malaysian Police mounted units accompanied by police outriders, 2 marching bands, from the Malaysian Prison Department and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall along with a convoy of 10 cars and 15 motorbikes from Sime Darby Motor; the official vehicle partner for the FEI WEC 2008. The parade began from Lake Titiwangsa to Dataran Merdeka, along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

The Official Launch in Dataran Merdeka began upon the arrival of Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong (The King and Queen of Malaysia) and it started off with a colourful performance from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Cultural Group.

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Endurance Discipline Manager Selected for WEG 2010

TheHorse.com
June 26, 2008

Emmett B. Ross has been selected as the Endurance Discipline Manager for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Ross brings more than 20 years of international endurance riding experience, acting as trainer, Chef d'Equipe, manager, participant, organizer, and consultant in more than 100 FEI 2 to 4* endurance events in more than 14 countries.

"I am honored and delighted to take on the role of endurance discipline manager, and look forward to working with the team of disciplines managers to help create a world-class competition environment and endurance course for the upcoming 2010 Games," Ross said.

Ross is one of eight discipline managers responsible for planning, managing and directing the world championship competitions in eight equestrian sports.

As an athlete, Ross was a Gold medal team member in the first North American Championships, and a three-time, top-10 finisher in the Tevis Cup in Auburn, California. Ross is the only trainer and coach in the world with FEI endurance wins in nine different countries.

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