Thisiscornwall.co.uk - Full Article
September 14 2012
It wasn't exactly sunshine and blue skies for the Brentor Competitive Endurance ride but at least the rain held off. The mist, which can cause major difficulties for riders on Dartmoor, came and went all day but was never low enough to be a real problem for the 80 riders who had entered.
Some of the Endurance South West rides are organised by a single ride organiser but most are a joint effort. For Brentor, the entries were done by Erica Young, Janet Lander did the paperwork and Jo Chisholm looked after the route.
This gave some major problems, not least because of the dreadful summer, which had left parts of Dartmoor too wet to ride across but also because the route (all 20 miles of it) had to be marked on foot. The land around Gibbet Hill always drains well so that part of the route was unchanged but it was decided that the land across Doetor and Willsworthy would not be used. Competitors would stay mainly on the Lydford side of the River Lyd on the drier ground, so as not to damage the Moor.
Thanks to the generosity of local farmers allowing riders to cross their fields it was possible to reach Nodden Gate from High Down and return the same way.
Volunteers walked out across the moor to mark the route, with the usual orange flags and tape, on the Saturday and the ride went ahead and was thoroughly enjoyed by all competitors on Sunday...
Read more here:
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Dreadful-summer-hits-Brentor-route-organisers/story-16903674-detail/story.html
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Great Britain: Lyme's Big Yin is now in line for a big win
Bridportnews.co.uk - Full ArticleBy Rene Gerryts
14th September 2012 in News
LYME Regis horse breeder Kirsty Wis combe has earned a top accolade for her colt foal, Yawl Hill Big Yin.
The youngster took top honours at the Baileys Horse Feeds/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity evaluations held in Cornwall.
The evaluation aims to identify British bred young potential sport horses and ponies destined for careers in dressage, eventing, show-jumping or endurance, and may even find the Olympic champions of the future.
Yawl Hill Big Yin took the highest mark of the day for a potential endurance horse with a score of 8.39 and a first premium which indicates that he has the potential and outlook to perform at national level.
The part-bred Anglo-Arab Yawl Hill Big Yin was bred by 42-year-old Kirsty and he is the third generation of horse she has bred herself...
Read more here:
http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/9924823.Lyme_s_Big_Yin_is_now_in_line_for_a_big_win/
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
British Endurance Young Riders Take Bronze
Equestrianteamgbr.co.uk
11/09/2012
The British team had a successful trip to the FEI European Young Rider Endurance Championships 2012, which took place at Mont le Soie in Belgium on the 8th September. The team, consisting of Kate Atkinson, Carri-Ann Dark, Beth Langley and Louise Rich won team bronze around the ultra-competitive and demanding 120km course.
The French team took the team Gold and Italy came home with Silver. Two individual riders made up the six strong British squad, Dace Sainsbury and Andrew Theodorou. Dace was the highest British rider in 12th position with her horse Ballota.
Three of the four British team riders completed the hilly course on the edge of the Ardennes forest. Carri-Ann Dark from Wiltshire finished in 14th place with her own Vavavoom, Beth Langley from Wales and HS Ametista came in in 18th and Kate Atkinson from Lancashire riding Vanash finished in 23rd place. Sadly Louise Rich’s horse Oakleaze Farm Cziko vetted out on metabolics at vet gate 3.
Chef d’equipe Helen Boston said “the riders went really well from start to finish. This year we have really planned ahead for the championships. We brought three of the riders, Carri-Ann, Louise and Kate out to Mont le Soie in April for a trial run. What they learned from April and passed on to the other team members has really ensured the whole squad was fully prepared, which shows in their results”.
Team member Carri-Ann Dark said “the course was challenging and technical, but great fun. It went according to plan and we had a very exciting finish with a race to the line”.
The course at Mont le Soie is hilly and stony and presents a real challenge to the riders. Only three teams completed with three riders owing to these tough conditions.
Helen went on to say “Carri-Ann, Beth and Louise are in their last year of young riders, but we have some brilliant riders moving up the ranks for next year”. In 2013 the Young Rider World Championships will be held in Tardes, in the South of France in July.
For more information on the sport of endurance in Britain, visit www.endurancegb.co.uk.
11/09/2012
The British team had a successful trip to the FEI European Young Rider Endurance Championships 2012, which took place at Mont le Soie in Belgium on the 8th September. The team, consisting of Kate Atkinson, Carri-Ann Dark, Beth Langley and Louise Rich won team bronze around the ultra-competitive and demanding 120km course.
The French team took the team Gold and Italy came home with Silver. Two individual riders made up the six strong British squad, Dace Sainsbury and Andrew Theodorou. Dace was the highest British rider in 12th position with her horse Ballota.
Three of the four British team riders completed the hilly course on the edge of the Ardennes forest. Carri-Ann Dark from Wiltshire finished in 14th place with her own Vavavoom, Beth Langley from Wales and HS Ametista came in in 18th and Kate Atkinson from Lancashire riding Vanash finished in 23rd place. Sadly Louise Rich’s horse Oakleaze Farm Cziko vetted out on metabolics at vet gate 3.
Chef d’equipe Helen Boston said “the riders went really well from start to finish. This year we have really planned ahead for the championships. We brought three of the riders, Carri-Ann, Louise and Kate out to Mont le Soie in April for a trial run. What they learned from April and passed on to the other team members has really ensured the whole squad was fully prepared, which shows in their results”.
Team member Carri-Ann Dark said “the course was challenging and technical, but great fun. It went according to plan and we had a very exciting finish with a race to the line”.
The course at Mont le Soie is hilly and stony and presents a real challenge to the riders. Only three teams completed with three riders owing to these tough conditions.
Helen went on to say “Carri-Ann, Beth and Louise are in their last year of young riders, but we have some brilliant riders moving up the ranks for next year”. In 2013 the Young Rider World Championships will be held in Tardes, in the South of France in July.
For more information on the sport of endurance in Britain, visit www.endurancegb.co.uk.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
FEI Junior and Young Rider Endurance Championship 2012
Italy’s Mara Feola and Grigali put in a storming finish on the last loop to take individual gold at the FEI European Junior and Young Rider Endurance Championships 2012 at Mont le Soie, Belgium on Saturday. © FEI/Leonard Liesens FEI.org10 Sep 2012
Team Gold for France in Tight Battle with Italians who claim Individual Glory, by Anna Williams
France claimed team gold and Italy’s Mara Feola took the Individual title at the FEI European Junior and Young Rider Endurance Championships 2012 at Mont-le-Soie in Belgium at the weekend. This stunning venue is nestled in the region of the High Ardennes with its dramatic landscape of dense forests, rivers and valleys. Mont-le-Soie is a well known venue on the Endurance circuit, regularly hosting CEI events up to 160km, but this was its first-ever FEI Championship fixture.
A total of 61 horses and athletes were entered for the event, but following the pre-ride inspection three horses were judged not fit to start – Norway’s Shere Khan (Kine Eissland Holen), Finland’s only entrant Solomonas (Joona Mickelsson) and Belgium’s Cairo to be ridden by home rider Raphael Van Cauter who had just returned from the World Endurance Championships in Euston Park (GBR) where he partnered Taborah de Sier to a successful 22nd place.
Nine Teams
Saturday morning saw a total 58 combinations start, including nine teams ready to battle it out over the tough, hilly course for European glory. Whilst the terrain was extremely challenging the weather was kind to the competitors, dry but not too hot, which enabled the horses to give some great performances and many producing “personal bests” over this distance.
It was competitors from Eastern Europe who were dominant in the early stages, with Hungary and the Czech Republic taking the top positions at the first Vet Gate. This, however, was not to last, and by the conclusion of the event only two riders from each of these countries would complete.
As the day progressed team France showed, once again, their prowess in this tough sport. With their Senior compatriots having taken team Silver at the World Championships some two weeks previously, the French Junior/Young Rider squad looked set to sweep both Individual and Team gold this time out when all four team members remained consistently at the top of the field throughout the day.
Slow and Steady Progress
However, no one counted on the slow and steady progress of the young Italian side who, on paper, rode the perfect race. Despite coming in to Vet Gate 1 towards the back of the field, their consistency and tactical riding meant that by Vet Gate 3 they were just 4 minutes 21 seconds behind the leaders from France. With just 20 kilometres to go, the race was most certainly on for the 2012 team title.
As expected, the last loop of 20 kilometres was to prove very influential. It was demanding, with a final 7-kilometre climb to the finish, and only the very best were able to put in a competitive fight over the closing stages. With the top six all covering the 20 kilometres at over 24 kilometres per hour, the wait on the finish line was a tense one, and these young athletes certainly didn’t disappoint. An exhilarating race to the line saw the top-eight complete the course within 12 seconds of each other.
Mara Feola (ITA) and her talented 10 year old chestnut gelding were through the finish first, and it seemed her mount was just as pleased as she was with their victory. They put in a storming performance on the last loop, climbing up some six places to snatch the lead from French athlete Cesar Donnais and the 10 year old Arab mare Srour.
Fast Calculations
Some fast calculations were made as the competition concluded with both Italy and France finishing with three team members in the top ten. With the tension buzzing across the venue it was confirmed that France had managed to hold on to the lead by a mere 74 seconds ahead of Italy who had to settle for silver medal spot.
Spain looked good for team bronze, but it was wrenched from their grasp when Nuria Serrabassa Fabre’s ride Casba, their final team horse, was deemed lame despite crossing the finish line in eighth position. With only two team members having completed, Spain therefore dropped out of contention allowing the British to step up for bronze - their first team medal since 1997.
Hard-Fought Competition
Director of Non-Olympic Sports, Ian Williams, expressed his delight at the successful Championship, “This was a hard fought competition” he explained, “but these athletes can be very proud of their performances. They rode with maturity beyond their years, and all of the horses looked very good coming across the line”.
Special remarks were also made about the turn-out of these young teams. It was clear that a great effort had been made and both horses and riders looked immaculate, a real credit to the ever-growing sport of Endurance.
Results:
FEI European Junior and Young Rider Endurance Championships 2012 - Teams: GOLD - France 19:06:39 - Srour (Cesar Donnais), Preume de Paute (Nina Lissarrague), Kassit (Marion Brignoli), Karamel Mouthes (Clemence Le Bihan); SILVER - Italy 19:07:53 - Grigali (Mara Feola), Sassifraga della bosana (Luca Zappettini), Isteddada Saura (Matteo Bravi), Pika de Cardonne (Daniele Serioli); BRONZE - Great Britain 20:53:43 - Vavavoom (Carri-Ann Dark), HS Ametista (Beth Langley), Vanash (Kate Atkinson), Oakleazefarm Cziko (Louise Rich).
FEI European Junior and Young Rider Endurance Championships 2012 - Individuals: GOLD - Grigali (Mara Feola) ITA 18.907 kph; SILVER - Srour (Cesar Donnais) FRA 18.906 kph; BRONZE - Preume de Paute (Nina Lissarrague) FRA 18.904 kph.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Great Britain: Carri-Ann's Euro aim
Thisiswiltshire.co.uk - Full Article12:30pm Friday 7th September 2012 in Sport
Carri-Ann Dark is hoping to bow out in style as she competes for Endurance GB at the European Young Riders Championships in Belgium this weekend.
The 21-year-old, who is in her last year as a Young Rider (16-21 age group), is part of the six-strong Endurance GB squad that will compete in Mont le Soie on Saturday, in an 120km event that Dark describes as ‘like a Formula One race’.
Dark, of Little Cheverell, who competed in the 2008 championships in Spain and the 2009 World Young Riders Championships in Hungary, will ride Vavavoom (also known as Prince). The horse is owned by her mother, Ann, and Dark is confident of putting in a good performance...
Read more here:
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/sport/9914200.EQUESTRIAN__Carri_Ann_s_Euro_aim/
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
USA Chef d'Equipe Praises U.S. WEC Effort
September 4 2012
by Emmett Ross, USA Chef d'Equipe
As Chef I sincerely and humbly thank the Magnificent Seven for buying into the new approach of riding with a plan and using the assets we have in a rational and professional way. We were not poaching for a medal but went after it with what we had, and we had enough. Their effort was similar to a lower weight fighter going into the ring with some heavy weights. Make no mistake about it, the three in front of us and those others we took down, are the heavy weights in our sport. Since from the beginning of international racing in the mid 80's until 1998 when we virtually dominated the sport, our sport, things have changed dramatically. A new team and selection process produced this incredible effort and result. Our new MOTTO is " we have returned"---if we want it. Maybe not all have embrassed or are willing to accept the changes necessary to be relevant again in the international endurance world- but we are on the way, so lets encourage everyone to join in.
Here are just some of the many take aways:
A. We produced four of the five fastest times of any US rider in any World Championship. Deborah Reich's time of 18.57 km/hr at the 2010 WEG was the fourth fastest time. I am fully aware that courses and times do vary but isn't it interesting what the 2012 group did.
B. 19.68 avg speed for all four finishers.
C. 19.42km for the 3 remaining team horses--- this combined team time would have virtually made team USA team gold medal winners in all the new era( 2000-2010) WEC's and WEG's but WEG 2010---would have been the team silver medal.
D. Reference to heavy weights in the opening paragraphs means just that---UAE virtually several thousand endurance horses to choose from and from all corners of the planet. France who are my most respected endurance country and who I am committed to best have over a 500,000 annual euro budget for their team effort. Their entire endurance effort is to produce top riders and horses for the WEC/WEG's. Their entire national system's only task is to produce horses for the 40+ FEI rides they have a year alone in France compared to our now dwindling 6-7 rides. Oman are virtual newcomers on the scene with over 6 years of trying and finally being supported by their Royal Cavalry and highly compensated French trainers. We knocked off Qatar, Bahrain, Belgium, Saudi, Swiss, Uruguay, Argentina and many others. There were 29 teams and 38 countries with 147 starters---all champions in their own realms.
E. We started 5 riders and finished 4--80 %, all going to their limits---there was a 35% overall completion rate for those finishing the entire 160 km race and a 49 % completion for those just finishing 5 of the 6 loops. Our incredible results came from the riders buying into riding to their horse's limits and an incredible vet team headed by Dr Dwight Hooton , Scoot Hei, and Jim Masterson.
The spirit and cooperative feeling is the take away all will remember once numbers and places fade into our life's experiences. What a fantastic support group led by so many. Thank you so very much--I will always cherish those 2 weeks no matter what happens to any of us the in the future.
Your grateful Cook
Emmett
by Emmett Ross, USA Chef d'Equipe
As Chef I sincerely and humbly thank the Magnificent Seven for buying into the new approach of riding with a plan and using the assets we have in a rational and professional way. We were not poaching for a medal but went after it with what we had, and we had enough. Their effort was similar to a lower weight fighter going into the ring with some heavy weights. Make no mistake about it, the three in front of us and those others we took down, are the heavy weights in our sport. Since from the beginning of international racing in the mid 80's until 1998 when we virtually dominated the sport, our sport, things have changed dramatically. A new team and selection process produced this incredible effort and result. Our new MOTTO is " we have returned"---if we want it. Maybe not all have embrassed or are willing to accept the changes necessary to be relevant again in the international endurance world- but we are on the way, so lets encourage everyone to join in.
Here are just some of the many take aways:
A. We produced four of the five fastest times of any US rider in any World Championship. Deborah Reich's time of 18.57 km/hr at the 2010 WEG was the fourth fastest time. I am fully aware that courses and times do vary but isn't it interesting what the 2012 group did.
B. 19.68 avg speed for all four finishers.
C. 19.42km for the 3 remaining team horses--- this combined team time would have virtually made team USA team gold medal winners in all the new era( 2000-2010) WEC's and WEG's but WEG 2010---would have been the team silver medal.
D. Reference to heavy weights in the opening paragraphs means just that---UAE virtually several thousand endurance horses to choose from and from all corners of the planet. France who are my most respected endurance country and who I am committed to best have over a 500,000 annual euro budget for their team effort. Their entire endurance effort is to produce top riders and horses for the WEC/WEG's. Their entire national system's only task is to produce horses for the 40+ FEI rides they have a year alone in France compared to our now dwindling 6-7 rides. Oman are virtual newcomers on the scene with over 6 years of trying and finally being supported by their Royal Cavalry and highly compensated French trainers. We knocked off Qatar, Bahrain, Belgium, Saudi, Swiss, Uruguay, Argentina and many others. There were 29 teams and 38 countries with 147 starters---all champions in their own realms.
E. We started 5 riders and finished 4--80 %, all going to their limits---there was a 35% overall completion rate for those finishing the entire 160 km race and a 49 % completion for those just finishing 5 of the 6 loops. Our incredible results came from the riders buying into riding to their horse's limits and an incredible vet team headed by Dr Dwight Hooton , Scoot Hei, and Jim Masterson.
The spirit and cooperative feeling is the take away all will remember once numbers and places fade into our life's experiences. What a fantastic support group led by so many. Thank you so very much--I will always cherish those 2 weeks no matter what happens to any of us the in the future.
Your grateful Cook
Emmett
Great Britain: Team Announced for YR European Championships
Endurancegb.co.uk
30 August 2012
After the excitement of the WEC at the weekend, it is now the turn of the Young Rider's who are travelling to Belgium next week for the YR European Championships.
The team will be made up of:
Kate Atkinson - Vanash
Carri Ann Dark - Vavavoom
Beth Langley - HS Ametista
Louise Rich - Oakleaze Farm Cziko
Dace Sainsbury - Ballotta
Andrew Theodorou - Jamal
We sail from Dover on Wednesday morning and travel to Mont le Soie for the competition which takes place on Saturday 8th September.
The Management Team and riders would like to say a huge thank you to the following organisations for their support of the team:
Equissage
Just Chaps
Simple Systems
Performance Equestrian
Gatehouse riding hats
Naf products
Ingateston Saddlery, Essex
Toggi
As usual the team can be followed on Twitter and I'm sure you will join in wishing them all the very best of luck!
Helen Boston
30 August 2012
After the excitement of the WEC at the weekend, it is now the turn of the Young Rider's who are travelling to Belgium next week for the YR European Championships.
The team will be made up of:
Kate Atkinson - Vanash
Carri Ann Dark - Vavavoom
Beth Langley - HS Ametista
Louise Rich - Oakleaze Farm Cziko
Dace Sainsbury - Ballotta
Andrew Theodorou - Jamal
We sail from Dover on Wednesday morning and travel to Mont le Soie for the competition which takes place on Saturday 8th September.
The Management Team and riders would like to say a huge thank you to the following organisations for their support of the team:
Equissage
Just Chaps
Simple Systems
Performance Equestrian
Gatehouse riding hats
Naf products
Ingateston Saddlery, Essex
Toggi
As usual the team can be followed on Twitter and I'm sure you will join in wishing them all the very best of luck!
Helen Boston
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Renegade® Boots Win 50-mile Endurance Ride and Best Condition in Denmark
Renegadehorseboot.com - Full ArticleAUGUST 31, 2012 BY NEWS EDITOR
Thank you Anna for submitting your story. Congratulations to you and your boy on your success using Renegades! Anna is a Renegade® Hoof Boot dealer in Denmark.
Saturday 7th July 2012 was the day for one of the biggest Danish endurance rides in 2012. On this day, there were both international FEI classes and the Danish championship (75 miles). There were national classes too. Me and my 8 years old paint horse gelding – Flashy Chex Junior – rode the longest national class – 50 miles. It´s our 4th endurance season and it was second time for us competing on 50 miles distance. My goal was to ride in our own pace and finish the ride with a healthy and happy horseand qualify for the international classes . It´s a challenge to compete with my 14,1 hands tall cowhorse-bred paint horse against all the endurance bred Arabian horses…My horse is not so fast and doesn´t like if it´s too hot. But he is a great trail horse, sure footed, willing and he really loves to use his energy during the endurance rides. I decided to boot my horse with Renegade® boots both on the front and hind hooves. We used boots for shorter endurance rides before. Now, I wanted to really test Renegade® boots on him. My gelding uses size 2 both on front and hind hooves. I love the color sport orange for his front hooves, because they just “shine” and everybody notices them. On the hind hooves he had a pair of yellow boots.
During the ride everything went smoothly. We rode at our own pace, I tried to take care of my gelding’s legs to the extent possible when there were muddy holes (and there were plenty of them). After the second vet inspection my horse was still in good shape, lying as number 5 in the race, with all 4 boots on, while many of the horses had lost shoes. On the last 10 miles, my gelding was just happy and still had a lot of energy...
Read more here:
http://www.renegadehorseboot.com/renegade-boots-win-50-mile-endurance-ride-and-best-condition-in-denmark/
Australia: The little horse that could
Manly-daily.com.au - Full Story4 SEP 12 @ 05:00PM BY ANDREW PRIESTLEY
IT'S official. An Oxford Falls horse is now the smallest equine to complete in one of the world's toughest endurance rides.
Winter Hill Alice, at 13 1/2 hands, and rider Cherry Cummins, who is 1.62m tall, were among a select few to finish the 400km Shahzada in Yengo National Park on the Central Coast last week.
About 60 riders took part from across the country. Fewer than 30 finished.
There were doubters, Cummins said, but Alice literally silenced her critics.
"There were a few laughs at the start of the race. They were definitely not laughing by the end," she said...
read more here:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/the-little-horse-that-could/
Monday, September 03, 2012
Pakistan represented at the endurance horse race
Thenews.com.pk
Murtaza Ali Shah
Monday, September 03, 2012
From Print Edition
LONDON: For the first time in the history of the World Endurance Championship, a Pakistani endurance rider impressed the sports enthusiasts with his command over horses at the Euston Park of the Duke of Grafton.
Anzac Mehmood, 33, originally from Jhelum, represented Pakistan on his own at a match which was attended by 38 countries with 147 horse and rider combinations that took part in 160km race.
The horses are checked by qualified veterinarians and judges before, during and after the ride.
Riders normally have to maintain an average speed of 22 kph and it can take up to 12 hours or more to complete a race.
The race started at 7am and continued for 12 hours. Aznac rode Castlebar Lighting for Pakistan.
The horse for Pakistan was riding well, averaging 20.6kph.
Competing for 160km, it had completed five out of the six loops when at the vet check an issue with the heart rhythm of the horse was found. Consequently it failed to qualify for the final loop.
Anzac told ‘The News’ he was heartbroken that the horse failed to complete the race after initially showing so much promise. But he said his other horse Adara won the race for TeamGB at an average speed of 19.34kph.
“This is first ever in the history of world championship that Pakistan has been represented and I am honoured that I raised Pakistan’s flag. I have won three championships and my horses have finished with either silver or bronze medals.”
He complained that he had no support from Pakistan Equestrian Federation. “I just need their recommendation, I have my own horses but they don’t care. It doesn’t matter where horses come from. What’s important is that Pakistan should be represented but the military officials running the organisation are living in a bubble.”
He said Pakistan can do well in this sport as it has the grounds where horses can be trained. “I am planning to buy a farm in the UK where I will have my own horses for competition for World Championship and European Championships and I am happy to offer any help to raise Pakistan’s profile in this game.”
Murtaza Ali Shah
Monday, September 03, 2012
From Print Edition
LONDON: For the first time in the history of the World Endurance Championship, a Pakistani endurance rider impressed the sports enthusiasts with his command over horses at the Euston Park of the Duke of Grafton.
Anzac Mehmood, 33, originally from Jhelum, represented Pakistan on his own at a match which was attended by 38 countries with 147 horse and rider combinations that took part in 160km race.
The horses are checked by qualified veterinarians and judges before, during and after the ride.
Riders normally have to maintain an average speed of 22 kph and it can take up to 12 hours or more to complete a race.
The race started at 7am and continued for 12 hours. Aznac rode Castlebar Lighting for Pakistan.
The horse for Pakistan was riding well, averaging 20.6kph.
Competing for 160km, it had completed five out of the six loops when at the vet check an issue with the heart rhythm of the horse was found. Consequently it failed to qualify for the final loop.
Anzac told ‘The News’ he was heartbroken that the horse failed to complete the race after initially showing so much promise. But he said his other horse Adara won the race for TeamGB at an average speed of 19.34kph.
“This is first ever in the history of world championship that Pakistan has been represented and I am honoured that I raised Pakistan’s flag. I have won three championships and my horses have finished with either silver or bronze medals.”
He complained that he had no support from Pakistan Equestrian Federation. “I just need their recommendation, I have my own horses but they don’t care. It doesn’t matter where horses come from. What’s important is that Pakistan should be represented but the military officials running the organisation are living in a bubble.”
He said Pakistan can do well in this sport as it has the grounds where horses can be trained. “I am planning to buy a farm in the UK where I will have my own horses for competition for World Championship and European Championships and I am happy to offer any help to raise Pakistan’s profile in this game.”
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Oman: Royal Cavalry team get hero’s welcome
Omanobserver.om - Full ArticleSun, 02 September 2012
MUSCAT — Royal Cavalry of the Royal Court Affairs yesterday organised an official reception for their equestrian (endurance) team who achieved third place to bag the bronze medal at the World Endurance Championship held in Britain with the participation of 154 horse riders from 40 countries from around the world.
The victorious team returned home from London yesterday when they were received at Muscat International Airport by Nasr bin Hamoud al Kindi, Secretary General of the Royal Court Affairs, Shaikh Saad bin Mohammed al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs, Khalfan bin Saleh al Naabi, Adviser at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, Head of Committee in charge of managing Oman Equestrian Federation and a number of officials of the Royal Court Affairs.
Nasr bin Hamoud al Kindi said in a press statement that this achievement is the result of the generous support of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said to equestrian, as Omani Royal Cavalry has accomplished great successes and achievements during the season crowned with the bronze medal in London, adding that the horse riders, over the past periods when they were competing for the finals, showed great insistence in the 160km distance and they also showed determination and will in accomplishing a great achievement for the Sultanate as there was a competition with a number of countries with wide experience in the field of equestrian, especially in endurance.
The team then left to Al A'diyat town in the Wilayat of Seeb, where a reception was prepared for the team to celebrate the historical achievement of the Royal Cavalry horse riders in the World Endurance Championship.
The team comprised Mahmoud bin Marhoon al Fori riding Red Line, Hisham bin Saleh al Farsi, riding Falco, Abdullah bin Said al Siyabi, riding Punjab and Ahmed bin Salim al Hamdani, riding Ur. Sami bin Said al Balushi, riding Maj and Adel bin Said al Balushi, riding Mondalier participated on the individual competitions. The team were trained by Sinan bin Sulaiman al Abri. — ONA
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Donal Fahy - Mongol Derby 2012 Winner
Theadventurists.comby Mr Tom on: 18 Aug 2012
After seven days and the closest run battle for first place in the history of the Derby we have a winner. Donal Fahy of Ireland takes first place in the World's longest and toughest horse race.
It was a nail biting finish as the lead changed hands many times over the final 2 legs. After a rough night in a shed, Donal and his riding partner for the whole race Richie Killoran (also of Ireland) came into horse station 23 early morning mistakenly thinking they were in the lead only to discover they were in 4th and 5th place. The following two legs saw them both put in an impecable performance and made up 30 minutes to join the race leader Barry Armitage. Barry had been riding with Joe Dawson both from South Africa and had held a comanding lead for the majority of the race; Joe was at this point riding a couple of hours behind Barry for a vet penalty.
Michaela Gradinger (Austria) and Christoffer Adriansson (Sweden) fell behind as Barry, Richie and Donal fought for first place.
As they thundered across the line, Barry and Donal were litterally neck a neck with Richie just 44 seconds behind. As the dust settled on their 1000km ride the horses went straight into the vet check and unfortunately Barry picked up a 2 hour vet penalty. Loosing him the joint first position and shifting Richie into second. Third place was taken just under an hour later by Michaela Gradinger who was followed just a few seconds later by Christoffer Adriansson.
On winning Donal said "I'm feeling great that it's over. It's been a hell of a 7 days. Long days and really tough days, but on the whole it has been incredible. Not only is this the toughest horse race in the world. it's the toughest thing I've ever done. The whole mental side, to keep pushing on and pushing on, but in the same breath it got to be one of the better things I've ever done. Now I can't wait to have a shower and a few beers."
Full placing are being posted below as the riders continue to cross the line...
Read more here:
http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/donal-fahy-mongol-derby-2012-winner
Oman: Royal Cavalry to Organize Reception for Endurance Team
Omannews.gov.om
Muscat, Aug 29 (ONA)--- The Royal Cavalry at the Royal Court Affairs (RCA) will organize next Saturday an official reception for the Endurance Team, who achieved the third place and obtained the Bronze medal at the World Endurance Championship (WEC) held in Britain with participation of (154) horse riders representing (40) countries across the world.
The team will come from the British capital, London after a trip to the French capital, Paris. The team will be received at Muscat International Airport by Nasr bin Hamoud al-Kindi, RCA Secretary General, Sheikh Sa'ad bin Mohammed al-Mardhouf al-Sa'adi, Sport Affairs Minister, Eng. Khalfan bin Saleh al-Na'ebi, Adviser at the Sport Affairs Ministry and Head of the Committee tasked with management of Oman Equestrian Federation and a number of RCA officials.
Then, the team will head to Madinat Al Adiyat in the Wilayat of A'Seeb where a reception to be organized due to the historic achievement made by horse riders of the Royal Cavalry at the World Endurance Championship.
The team was represented by Mahmoud bin Marhoon al-Fouri, Hisham bin Saleh al-Farsi, Abdullah bin Said al-Seyabi and Ahmed bin Salim al-Hamadani.
At the individual level, participants at the championship were Sami bin Said al-Balushi and Adel bin Said al-Balushi. Sinan bin Sulaiman al-Abri supervised the team's training.
Muscat, Aug 29 (ONA)--- The Royal Cavalry at the Royal Court Affairs (RCA) will organize next Saturday an official reception for the Endurance Team, who achieved the third place and obtained the Bronze medal at the World Endurance Championship (WEC) held in Britain with participation of (154) horse riders representing (40) countries across the world.
The team will come from the British capital, London after a trip to the French capital, Paris. The team will be received at Muscat International Airport by Nasr bin Hamoud al-Kindi, RCA Secretary General, Sheikh Sa'ad bin Mohammed al-Mardhouf al-Sa'adi, Sport Affairs Minister, Eng. Khalfan bin Saleh al-Na'ebi, Adviser at the Sport Affairs Ministry and Head of the Committee tasked with management of Oman Equestrian Federation and a number of RCA officials.
Then, the team will head to Madinat Al Adiyat in the Wilayat of A'Seeb where a reception to be organized due to the historic achievement made by horse riders of the Royal Cavalry at the World Endurance Championship.
The team was represented by Mahmoud bin Marhoon al-Fouri, Hisham bin Saleh al-Farsi, Abdullah bin Said al-Seyabi and Ahmed bin Salim al-Hamadani.
At the individual level, participants at the championship were Sami bin Said al-Balushi and Adel bin Said al-Balushi. Sinan bin Sulaiman al-Abri supervised the team's training.
Namibia: 2012 Endurance Races in full swing
Informante.we.na
WRITTEN BY FLORIS STEENKAMP
WEDNESDAY, 29 AUGUST 2012 20:06
The 2012 Walvis Bay Endurance Race, among the elite events on Namibia’s annual equestrian sport calendar, saw a record 191 Namibian and South African riders and endurance horses in action.
The event that started yesterday ends later today (Thursday). Its international status is reflected in the fact that as many as 60% of the participants are South African. Had it not been for a major horse event in the UK in recent days, the event would also have been supported by riders and horse breeders from overseas.
Although the endurance races are only taking place over two days, the preparations of the venue already started more than a month ago, explained organiser Zelda von Schauroth on Tuesday. After securing a piece of land adjacent to the Namib Riding Stables from the Municipality of Walvis Bay in June this year, significant earthmoving works and the establishment of pens and proper parking areas had to be built from scratch. “It was just a raw desert”, explained von Schauroth. “For the organising committee and small army of volunteers it was a month of sacrifice as many still had to meet work obligations and frequent shuttling between Windhoek and the coast to fit in work schedules.” An empty, sandy plot of land was transformed into the Endurance Village and boasts 180 pens for the horses and a tented complex from where the event is managed, where riders and the somewhat 1000 assistants and their families can rest and enjoy food and drinks. Three stalls selling equestrian sports equipment and accessories were also brought into being as well as some vendor stalls...
Read more here:
http://www.informante.web.na/
WRITTEN BY FLORIS STEENKAMP
WEDNESDAY, 29 AUGUST 2012 20:06
The 2012 Walvis Bay Endurance Race, among the elite events on Namibia’s annual equestrian sport calendar, saw a record 191 Namibian and South African riders and endurance horses in action.
The event that started yesterday ends later today (Thursday). Its international status is reflected in the fact that as many as 60% of the participants are South African. Had it not been for a major horse event in the UK in recent days, the event would also have been supported by riders and horse breeders from overseas.
Although the endurance races are only taking place over two days, the preparations of the venue already started more than a month ago, explained organiser Zelda von Schauroth on Tuesday. After securing a piece of land adjacent to the Namib Riding Stables from the Municipality of Walvis Bay in June this year, significant earthmoving works and the establishment of pens and proper parking areas had to be built from scratch. “It was just a raw desert”, explained von Schauroth. “For the organising committee and small army of volunteers it was a month of sacrifice as many still had to meet work obligations and frequent shuttling between Windhoek and the coast to fit in work schedules.” An empty, sandy plot of land was transformed into the Endurance Village and boasts 180 pens for the horses and a tented complex from where the event is managed, where riders and the somewhat 1000 assistants and their families can rest and enjoy food and drinks. Three stalls selling equestrian sports equipment and accessories were also brought into being as well as some vendor stalls...
Read more here:
http://www.informante.web.na/
Friday, August 31, 2012
Australia's Shahzada: Alice makes giant strides for little ponies
Cherry Cummins will compete in a 400km ride through Yengo National Park on her horse Alice. MARTIN LANGE Manly-daily.whereilive.com.au - Full Article24 AUG 12 @ 04:06PM BY ANDREW PRIESTLEY
CHERRY Cummins will set off for a 400km horse ride on Monday, potentially clinching a record for the smallest-ever steed to finish.
The 21-year-old Clontarf resident will compete over five days in the Shahzada, a marathon endurance riding event held in Yengo National Park, west of Wyong.
She will be riding Winter Hill Alice, a 12-year-old arabian pony measuring 13.2 hands, or 138cm tall.
Alice will be the smallest ever horse to complete the Shazada in the event's 32-year history if she finishes the ride...
Read more here:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/alice-makes-giant-strides-for-little-ponies/
Great Britain: South West inter regional team win again at Barbury
August 24 2012
The South West Endurance team triumphed again – for the second year running – at the Inter Regional competition held at the Ridgeway Barbury Castle Challenge two-day endurance meeting last weekend.
There were six teams competing and the South West won with 46 points, the Eastern Region team were second with 61 and the team from the Heart of England were third with 71.
Most of the 14 strong team of horses and riders travelled up to Wiltshire on Friday loaded down with full wet weather gear, rugs and tents only to find that Wiltshire was having a heat wave. So bad was the congestion on the A30 and the M5 that a journey that usually takes around four hours took up to eight. Fortunately all the horses stood the journey well, including several who had never been away from home overnight or been corralled on a hillside with dozens of other horses before.
Barbury Castle is one of the largest endurance rides on the Endurance GB calendar and there were a total of 28 classes, including a 126km 2* FEI ER and two FEI 1* 80km ERs. The Inter Regional competition, with six teams competing, took place over the two days, with competitors entered in a mix of classes ranging from a 100km ER to a 32km novice.
The ride mainly follows bridleways over chalky downland and across fields belonging to the estate. It includes the hillfort of Barbury Castle itself and goes around the point-to-point course. It's a ride that is made for cantering and competitors usually take full advantage. There are seven different loops that are combined to make up the different distances and this year there were around 200 competitors either staying at the venue or coming each day to compete. The weather was so hot on the Saturday that the veterinary team decided to lower the maximum heart rate at which horses were allowed to continue from 64 bpm to 60 bpm in the FEI 126km 2* ER, in the interest of horse welfare. The humidity was also extremely high at almost 90% which took its toll on those horses which had been ridden fast...
Read more here:
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/South-West-inter-regional-team-win-Barbury/story-16761208-detail/story.html
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Longines WEC Report from Holdsworth PR
Endurancegb.co.uk
29th August 2012
UAE SWEEPS THE BOARD BUT BRITISH RIDERS SHOW TRUE GRIT - The sun rose on a clear morning at Euston Park, near Thetford, on Saturday 25th August, as horses were led from their stables, tacked up and prepared for the gruelling 160km Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships 2012
As the start time approached, 153 eager horses and riders representing 40 countries lined up, and as the clock reached 7am there was a cavalry charge as those at the front set off at a gallop.
FEI CEI 4* LONGINES WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS - REPORT FROM HOLDSWORTH PR
UAE SWEEPS THE BOARD BUT BRITISH RIDERS SHOW TRUE GRIT
The sun rose on a clear morning at Euston Park, near Thetford, on Saturday 25th August, as horses were led from their stables, tacked up and prepared for the gruelling 160km Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships 2012. As the start time approached, 153 eager horses and riders representing 40 countries lined up, and as the clock reached 7am there was a cavalry charge as those at the front set off at a gallop.
Endurance is a competition to test the competitor’s ability to safely manage the stamina and fitness of the horse over an endurance course in a competition against the track, the distance, the climate, the terrain and the clock. Diligent application of skill together with a caring, knowledgeable attitude by the rider is vital to be successful, and those setting out today would need every ounce of experience as well as a portion of luck to get to the end. The average speed at World Championship level is expected to be 20kph to be in medal contention, which means keeping up a good canter for most of the 160km or 100 miles.
A good pace was set from the outset, with riders from the Arab nations setting the pace. The reigning World Champion, Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain, riding her popular 17 year old horse, Nobby, was in the leading group along with riders from the UAE including HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Of the British contingent, Annette Masterson riding El Sabio, and Alice Beet riding Adara Sauveterre both got off to a good start. Lesley-Ann Parker riding Velvet Echo, Catriona Moon and Leila, Tricia Hirst and Majin des Pins and Chris Yeoman with LM Crazy Girl preferred to stay out of the mêlée and with 160km to go, a steadier start would prove a wise move.
The layout at Euston Park enables the course to be set out as a series of loops, with a central vet gate located at the main venue, close to the start/finish line, providing excellent viewing for spectators. The leaders came back into view at 8.30am, and to everyone’s delight, the first into vet gate 1 was Maria Alvarez Ponton with Nobby, having completed the first loop of 38km at an average of 24.39km per hour.
On arrival at the vet gate, the support crew get to work to cool the horse and bring the heart rate down to 64 bpm or below as quickly as possible. The horse must be presented for veterinary inspection to check pulse, soundness and metabolics. There is then a compulsory stop of 30 minutes for rest and refreshment before they can depart on the next loop. The top horses have a remarkable recovery rate and at vet gate 1 they were presenting to the vet in less than 2 minutes.
News soon filtered back of the retirement of British individual rider, Catriona Moon riding Leila, out on the first loop due to lameness. This was devastating for Catriona but was a stark reminder that this flat course was extremely technical with sharp turns and variable going that could be sandy then stony then soft. The first British rider into vet gate 1 was Annette Masterson with El Sabio, coming in 12th making an average speed of 23.38km per hour. Alice Beet and Adara Sauveterre came in 46th, making a speed of 20.36km per hour. Chris Yeoman and Tricia Hirst both made a speed of over 18kph and Lesley-Ann Parker was just behind.
Vet gate 1 is hectic as not too much time separates the competitors. After their compulsory 30 minutes, riders queued to get out on the second loop of 29km. There was disappointment for Lesley-Ann as she realised that her mare, Velvet Echo, has stiffened up during the stop and the decision was taken not to continue.
After the sunshine of the early morning, a heavy downpour had spectators rushing for cover while competitors battled the elements on course. The rain soon passed and the first riders started to arrive at vet gate 2 at around 10.30am. First back was HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, followed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Maria and Nobby had slipped back to 4th but were still averaging 23.21kph. Annette Masterson and El Sabio were going strong in 13th, and Alice Beet and Adara were holding a good position in 57th.
Tricia Hirst and Madjin des Pins, and Chris Yeoman and LM Crazy Girl, had picked up the pace on the second loop and came into vet gate 2 looking good, but there was disappointment for Chris when LM Crazy Girl failed to pass the veterinary inspection on lameness. “There were some very stony bits on that loop and she must have just trodden on something or knocked herself. There was nothing to see. We were going so well. I am gutted”, said Chris later.
Loop 3 was 30km and saw competitors cross the picturesque water crossing twice; a magnet for photographers, as well as being a useful spot to allow horses to take an extra drink. On each loop there are several designated crewing points where horses are “sloshed” with water to cool them and offered a drink and riders can also pick up refreshment - the crew often run alongside the horses throwing water onto them to minimise the time that they are delayed.
The leaders were back at vet gate 3 by 12.35, and HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum was still leading for the UAE, followed by two Spanish riders, including Maria and Nobby in 3rd. Annette and El Sabio had been going well but sadly they vetted out at gate 3 on metabolics. The organisers expected a high attrition rate this is renowned as a tough course and the veterinary inspections are stringent. “This is the World Championships and to be competitive we need to be making these speeds. It is what we have trained for, so it is very disappointing for Annette and sadly also the end of our team chances”, said team chef d’equipe, Annabelle Schofield. Alice and Adara were maintaining a good, consistent pace, completing loop 3 at 20.38kph and climbing to 42nd place. Tricia was also keeping up a strong pace at 20.89kph and now in 55th postion.
The 4th and 5th loop of 20km and 23km saw Alice and Tricia claiming yet more places and vetting through well, despite more torrential rain. They set out from vet gate 5 on the 6th and final loop of 20km at around 5.30pm.
The crowds gathered to give HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum a rapturous welcome as he rode a strong finish to cross the line first riding the 12 year old chestnut gelding Madji du Pont, with the top 3 places all going to riders from the UAE. The final vet inspection confirmed his victory and he became the World Endurance Champion. He completed the 160km at an average speed of 22.82kph, riding the final loop at 27.6kph to complete the course in 7 hours and 45 seconds.
A violent storm struck and torrential rain fell as many riders were still on course, but hardy spectators remained to cheer home the British riders in an emotional finish; Tricia Hirst and her 12 year old grey gelding, Madjins des Pins, in 15th place, completing the final loop at 22.63kph, and Alice Beet, with the 16 year old grey mare, Adara Sauveterre, in 25th place, completing on an average of 19.34kph. “The hail on the last loop was unbelievable and the going had become really slippery. Adara slipped and nearly came down once, and it did slow us down a bit, but we came home safe and it was not worth the risk to go any faster. Adara was very consistent throughout the race, maintaining consistent loop times and she presented [at the vet gates] very fast as her heart rate was excellent. The next morning she was absolutely fine and she had lost no condition. Our average speed was our best time ever”, explained Alice.
The powerful thunderstorm caused a dramatic conclusion to the event in the early evening. The top 52 individuals and top four teams had already finished and the medals had been decided, but some of the slower competitors had still not started out on the sixth and final loop. The inclement weather meant that there were concerns for the health and safety of horses, riders and everyone else involved due to the thunder, fork-lightning and torrential rain that suddenly descended. As a result, the distance was reduced to allow those combinations still on the latter stages of the course to finish at vet gate five and to be classified according to timings on the shortened distance.
29th August 2012
UAE SWEEPS THE BOARD BUT BRITISH RIDERS SHOW TRUE GRIT - The sun rose on a clear morning at Euston Park, near Thetford, on Saturday 25th August, as horses were led from their stables, tacked up and prepared for the gruelling 160km Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships 2012
As the start time approached, 153 eager horses and riders representing 40 countries lined up, and as the clock reached 7am there was a cavalry charge as those at the front set off at a gallop.
FEI CEI 4* LONGINES WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS - REPORT FROM HOLDSWORTH PR
UAE SWEEPS THE BOARD BUT BRITISH RIDERS SHOW TRUE GRIT
The sun rose on a clear morning at Euston Park, near Thetford, on Saturday 25th August, as horses were led from their stables, tacked up and prepared for the gruelling 160km Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships 2012. As the start time approached, 153 eager horses and riders representing 40 countries lined up, and as the clock reached 7am there was a cavalry charge as those at the front set off at a gallop.
Endurance is a competition to test the competitor’s ability to safely manage the stamina and fitness of the horse over an endurance course in a competition against the track, the distance, the climate, the terrain and the clock. Diligent application of skill together with a caring, knowledgeable attitude by the rider is vital to be successful, and those setting out today would need every ounce of experience as well as a portion of luck to get to the end. The average speed at World Championship level is expected to be 20kph to be in medal contention, which means keeping up a good canter for most of the 160km or 100 miles.
A good pace was set from the outset, with riders from the Arab nations setting the pace. The reigning World Champion, Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain, riding her popular 17 year old horse, Nobby, was in the leading group along with riders from the UAE including HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Of the British contingent, Annette Masterson riding El Sabio, and Alice Beet riding Adara Sauveterre both got off to a good start. Lesley-Ann Parker riding Velvet Echo, Catriona Moon and Leila, Tricia Hirst and Majin des Pins and Chris Yeoman with LM Crazy Girl preferred to stay out of the mêlée and with 160km to go, a steadier start would prove a wise move.
The layout at Euston Park enables the course to be set out as a series of loops, with a central vet gate located at the main venue, close to the start/finish line, providing excellent viewing for spectators. The leaders came back into view at 8.30am, and to everyone’s delight, the first into vet gate 1 was Maria Alvarez Ponton with Nobby, having completed the first loop of 38km at an average of 24.39km per hour.
On arrival at the vet gate, the support crew get to work to cool the horse and bring the heart rate down to 64 bpm or below as quickly as possible. The horse must be presented for veterinary inspection to check pulse, soundness and metabolics. There is then a compulsory stop of 30 minutes for rest and refreshment before they can depart on the next loop. The top horses have a remarkable recovery rate and at vet gate 1 they were presenting to the vet in less than 2 minutes.
News soon filtered back of the retirement of British individual rider, Catriona Moon riding Leila, out on the first loop due to lameness. This was devastating for Catriona but was a stark reminder that this flat course was extremely technical with sharp turns and variable going that could be sandy then stony then soft. The first British rider into vet gate 1 was Annette Masterson with El Sabio, coming in 12th making an average speed of 23.38km per hour. Alice Beet and Adara Sauveterre came in 46th, making a speed of 20.36km per hour. Chris Yeoman and Tricia Hirst both made a speed of over 18kph and Lesley-Ann Parker was just behind.
Vet gate 1 is hectic as not too much time separates the competitors. After their compulsory 30 minutes, riders queued to get out on the second loop of 29km. There was disappointment for Lesley-Ann as she realised that her mare, Velvet Echo, has stiffened up during the stop and the decision was taken not to continue.
After the sunshine of the early morning, a heavy downpour had spectators rushing for cover while competitors battled the elements on course. The rain soon passed and the first riders started to arrive at vet gate 2 at around 10.30am. First back was HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, followed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Maria and Nobby had slipped back to 4th but were still averaging 23.21kph. Annette Masterson and El Sabio were going strong in 13th, and Alice Beet and Adara were holding a good position in 57th.
Tricia Hirst and Madjin des Pins, and Chris Yeoman and LM Crazy Girl, had picked up the pace on the second loop and came into vet gate 2 looking good, but there was disappointment for Chris when LM Crazy Girl failed to pass the veterinary inspection on lameness. “There were some very stony bits on that loop and she must have just trodden on something or knocked herself. There was nothing to see. We were going so well. I am gutted”, said Chris later.
Loop 3 was 30km and saw competitors cross the picturesque water crossing twice; a magnet for photographers, as well as being a useful spot to allow horses to take an extra drink. On each loop there are several designated crewing points where horses are “sloshed” with water to cool them and offered a drink and riders can also pick up refreshment - the crew often run alongside the horses throwing water onto them to minimise the time that they are delayed.
The leaders were back at vet gate 3 by 12.35, and HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum was still leading for the UAE, followed by two Spanish riders, including Maria and Nobby in 3rd. Annette and El Sabio had been going well but sadly they vetted out at gate 3 on metabolics. The organisers expected a high attrition rate this is renowned as a tough course and the veterinary inspections are stringent. “This is the World Championships and to be competitive we need to be making these speeds. It is what we have trained for, so it is very disappointing for Annette and sadly also the end of our team chances”, said team chef d’equipe, Annabelle Schofield. Alice and Adara were maintaining a good, consistent pace, completing loop 3 at 20.38kph and climbing to 42nd place. Tricia was also keeping up a strong pace at 20.89kph and now in 55th postion.
The 4th and 5th loop of 20km and 23km saw Alice and Tricia claiming yet more places and vetting through well, despite more torrential rain. They set out from vet gate 5 on the 6th and final loop of 20km at around 5.30pm.
The crowds gathered to give HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum a rapturous welcome as he rode a strong finish to cross the line first riding the 12 year old chestnut gelding Madji du Pont, with the top 3 places all going to riders from the UAE. The final vet inspection confirmed his victory and he became the World Endurance Champion. He completed the 160km at an average speed of 22.82kph, riding the final loop at 27.6kph to complete the course in 7 hours and 45 seconds.
A violent storm struck and torrential rain fell as many riders were still on course, but hardy spectators remained to cheer home the British riders in an emotional finish; Tricia Hirst and her 12 year old grey gelding, Madjins des Pins, in 15th place, completing the final loop at 22.63kph, and Alice Beet, with the 16 year old grey mare, Adara Sauveterre, in 25th place, completing on an average of 19.34kph. “The hail on the last loop was unbelievable and the going had become really slippery. Adara slipped and nearly came down once, and it did slow us down a bit, but we came home safe and it was not worth the risk to go any faster. Adara was very consistent throughout the race, maintaining consistent loop times and she presented [at the vet gates] very fast as her heart rate was excellent. The next morning she was absolutely fine and she had lost no condition. Our average speed was our best time ever”, explained Alice.
The powerful thunderstorm caused a dramatic conclusion to the event in the early evening. The top 52 individuals and top four teams had already finished and the medals had been decided, but some of the slower competitors had still not started out on the sixth and final loop. The inclement weather meant that there were concerns for the health and safety of horses, riders and everyone else involved due to the thunder, fork-lightning and torrential rain that suddenly descended. As a result, the distance was reduced to allow those combinations still on the latter stages of the course to finish at vet gate five and to be classified according to timings on the shortened distance.
Mixed results for Australia at the World Endurance Championships
Equestrian.org.au
Friday, 24 August 2012
There were mixed results for the four member Australian team at the 2012 World Endurance Championships which were held at Euston Park (GBR) on Saturday.
In the Australian camp the day belonged to 17 year old Alexandra Toft and her nine year old mare Emily Jones te, which were the sole Australian combination to complete the gruelling 160 kilometre, six phase event in 52nd position. The combination got caught in a fierce thunderstorm towards the end of the race which later caused the event to be abandoned.
Alexandra’s mother, Penny Toft (Travina), a three time representative at this level, made the decision to retire from the race at the end of the third phase, citing tiredness as the reason.
Australia’s two remaining combinations Norbert Radny (West Coast Acharon) and Talea Hasko-Stewart (Blake’s Heaven Bombora) were also unfortunate not to make it to the finish line. Norbert fell from his horse mid-way through the event while Talea’s horse was ruled to be lame at the end of the first phase.
Just 73 of the 147 horse and rider combinations which started the event went on to finish.
“This just proves flat ain’t always easy,” Talea said on her Facebook page the day following the event.
“There was a mixture of disappointment, relief and ignited dreams in our camp today. Bombora seems to be fully recovered from his mild tie up, for which we're very grateful,” she added.
Competitors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claimed team gold and all three individual medals.
Friday, 24 August 2012
There were mixed results for the four member Australian team at the 2012 World Endurance Championships which were held at Euston Park (GBR) on Saturday.
In the Australian camp the day belonged to 17 year old Alexandra Toft and her nine year old mare Emily Jones te, which were the sole Australian combination to complete the gruelling 160 kilometre, six phase event in 52nd position. The combination got caught in a fierce thunderstorm towards the end of the race which later caused the event to be abandoned.
Alexandra’s mother, Penny Toft (Travina), a three time representative at this level, made the decision to retire from the race at the end of the third phase, citing tiredness as the reason.
Australia’s two remaining combinations Norbert Radny (West Coast Acharon) and Talea Hasko-Stewart (Blake’s Heaven Bombora) were also unfortunate not to make it to the finish line. Norbert fell from his horse mid-way through the event while Talea’s horse was ruled to be lame at the end of the first phase.
Just 73 of the 147 horse and rider combinations which started the event went on to finish.
“This just proves flat ain’t always easy,” Talea said on her Facebook page the day following the event.
“There was a mixture of disappointment, relief and ignited dreams in our camp today. Bombora seems to be fully recovered from his mild tie up, for which we're very grateful,” she added.
Competitors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claimed team gold and all three individual medals.
Spain: Junior Team for the 2012 European Raid
El Raid Blog - Gabriel Gamiz
August 29 2012
We have the selection Binomials who will attend the next round of the European Championship Junior Raid 2012.
From the Technical Committee of the FEI, I refer these Selected:
Young Rider Team:
Muixi Crusellas, Agda - OURASI DE CASSA
Capdevila de Chopitea, MarÃa - TRA CLICA
Serrabasa Fabré, Nuria - CASBA
Pujadas Casellas, Berta - LIEBLING DONAUESCHINGEN BIN TROIKA
Berenguer Carrera, Gil - LUCERO MIKI
Oliva Gorria, Marc - ESSO KAISER
Reservations:
Garcia Guerra, Julia - Elnath
Albarran Almudena Madrigal - CHILLIQUI
Good luck to our riders selected for the European Championships Raid 2012, to achieve great successes for the glory of our Endurance Equestrian.
August 29 2012
We have the selection Binomials who will attend the next round of the European Championship Junior Raid 2012.
From the Technical Committee of the FEI, I refer these Selected:
Young Rider Team:
Muixi Crusellas, Agda - OURASI DE CASSA
Capdevila de Chopitea, MarÃa - TRA CLICA
Serrabasa Fabré, Nuria - CASBA
Pujadas Casellas, Berta - LIEBLING DONAUESCHINGEN BIN TROIKA
Berenguer Carrera, Gil - LUCERO MIKI
Oliva Gorria, Marc - ESSO KAISER
Reservations:
Garcia Guerra, Julia - Elnath
Albarran Almudena Madrigal - CHILLIQUI
Good luck to our riders selected for the European Championships Raid 2012, to achieve great successes for the glory of our Endurance Equestrian.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Bahrain: Royal riders fail due to injuries
Gulf-daily-news.com
Posted on » Sunday, August 26, 2012
BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team yesterday endured a heart-breaking experience at the FEI World Endurance Horse Ride Championships 2012 at Euston Park near Thetford in the UK.
The Bahraini team made a disheartening start as team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and team member Ahmed Abdulla were out by the first stage.
Shaikh Nasser, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and president of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, had to withdraw from the race after his horse Picaflor was injured and failed to pass the veterinary examination at check point.
On the other hand, Abdulla, another prominent Bahraini rider, was injured during the first stage of the championship while Yaqoub Al Hammadi and Abdulrahman Al Saad were also out after the third and fourth stages, respectively.
This left the squad with only three members - Al Khalidiya Stable skipper Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Jaffer Mirza and Abdulrahman Al Zayed - which ended their chances of a podium finish in the team category.
Best
The race started with the six-member Bahraini team lined up with some of the world's best endurance riders competing over six stages.
There were 153 men and women riders from 44 countries competing in the championship.
Participants came from Finland, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Australia, Austria, Belgium,Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Algeria, Argentina, the US, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden Switzerland, Holland, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway and Uruguay.
The ride, which was over 160 kms, featured 38 kms for the first stage, followed by 29 kms for the second. The third stage was over 30 kms, the fourth covered 20 kms, 23 kms for the fifth while the sixth and concluding stage was over 20 kms.
Shaikh Nasser's squad came to the UK hoping to win a podium finish after a two-month training camp in Europe, where they had participated in several endurance rides.
Meanwhile, UAE's Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum picked up what seemed to be a well-deserved victory in the singles event on Madji Du Pont.
Shaikh Mohammed completed the sixth and final stage on top in 43 minutes and 29 seconds, with a 22-km per hour average speed.
The UAE riders stamped authority as Shaikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and Ali Al Jahouri were second and third, respectively.
Shaikh Mohammed, the Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, also led his squad to retain the world team title for the third time in succession.
The remaining members of the UAE team were Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, sons of Shaikh Mohammed, and Ahmad Belqaizi.
Shaikh Nasser, along with Shaikh Khalid and other Bahrain riders, congratulated Shaikh Mohammed as well as other members of the UAE team on their double victory following the awarding ceremony.
His Majesty King Hamad late last night send a cable congratulating Shaikh Mohammed on winning the FIA World Endurance Horse Ride Championship.
His Majesty also congratulated the UAE team for retaining the team title for the third time in succession.
Posted on » Sunday, August 26, 2012
BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team yesterday endured a heart-breaking experience at the FEI World Endurance Horse Ride Championships 2012 at Euston Park near Thetford in the UK.
The Bahraini team made a disheartening start as team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and team member Ahmed Abdulla were out by the first stage.
Shaikh Nasser, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and president of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, had to withdraw from the race after his horse Picaflor was injured and failed to pass the veterinary examination at check point.
On the other hand, Abdulla, another prominent Bahraini rider, was injured during the first stage of the championship while Yaqoub Al Hammadi and Abdulrahman Al Saad were also out after the third and fourth stages, respectively.
This left the squad with only three members - Al Khalidiya Stable skipper Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Jaffer Mirza and Abdulrahman Al Zayed - which ended their chances of a podium finish in the team category.
Best
The race started with the six-member Bahraini team lined up with some of the world's best endurance riders competing over six stages.
There were 153 men and women riders from 44 countries competing in the championship.
Participants came from Finland, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Australia, Austria, Belgium,Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Algeria, Argentina, the US, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden Switzerland, Holland, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway and Uruguay.
The ride, which was over 160 kms, featured 38 kms for the first stage, followed by 29 kms for the second. The third stage was over 30 kms, the fourth covered 20 kms, 23 kms for the fifth while the sixth and concluding stage was over 20 kms.
Shaikh Nasser's squad came to the UK hoping to win a podium finish after a two-month training camp in Europe, where they had participated in several endurance rides.
Meanwhile, UAE's Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum picked up what seemed to be a well-deserved victory in the singles event on Madji Du Pont.
Shaikh Mohammed completed the sixth and final stage on top in 43 minutes and 29 seconds, with a 22-km per hour average speed.
The UAE riders stamped authority as Shaikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and Ali Al Jahouri were second and third, respectively.
Shaikh Mohammed, the Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, also led his squad to retain the world team title for the third time in succession.
The remaining members of the UAE team were Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, sons of Shaikh Mohammed, and Ahmad Belqaizi.
Shaikh Nasser, along with Shaikh Khalid and other Bahrain riders, congratulated Shaikh Mohammed as well as other members of the UAE team on their double victory following the awarding ceremony.
His Majesty King Hamad late last night send a cable congratulating Shaikh Mohammed on winning the FIA World Endurance Horse Ride Championship.
His Majesty also congratulated the UAE team for retaining the team title for the third time in succession.
Mohammad is new world endurance champion
Gulf-daily-news.com - Full ArticleDelivers a tactical ride to secure gold and lead the UAE to victory in the team championship
By M Satya Narayan, Abu Dhabi Deputy EditorPublished: 20:57 August 25, 2012
Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, secured a historic double in the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships in the UK Saturday.
He won the individual gold medal and also led the UAE squad to the team gold at the event, which was held at Euston Hall near Thetford, Suffolk.
Riding 12-year-old Madji Du Pont, Shaikh Mohammad galloped to the finish to lead home a 1-2-3 finish of the individual medals, with Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum winning the silver and Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri the bronze.
Shaikh Mohammad covered the 160km distance in a time of 7 hours 00:45 minutes with an average speed of 22.8km, while Shaikh Rashid was clocked at 7:01.04 and Ali Khalfan at 7:01.04...
read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/mohammad-is-new-world-endurance-champion-1.1065965
Thumbs up for endurance champs venue, organisers
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum rodeMadji du Pont to take individual gold at the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012. © FEI/Gilly Wheeler. Horsetalk.co.nz - Full ArticleBy Horsetalk.co.nz on Aug 27, 2012 in Focus
The weekend’s World Endurance Championships at Euston Park have been described as a showcase for the sport, with FEI first vice-president John McEwen declaring it a “wonderful sporting occasion”.
The race was won by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum riding Madji Du Pont, in a ride time of 7hr and 45sec at an average speed of 22.82km/hr. The first three riders home were all from the United Arab Emirates which also won the team competition taking gold ahead of France with Oman emerging as a new force in the sport to take bronze.
Speaking after the closing ceremony held at Euston Hall on August 26, John McEwen said: “I have been involved with endurance riding for nearly 30 years and have watched it grow almost from its infancy – yesterday was a showcase for the discipline and a wonderful sporting occasion. I had the privilege of being out on course for two of the loops and seeing the riders and crews at work and the atmosphere was incredible.
“I also watched the finish and I thought that the horses came in after 160km in superb condition. The level of this sport particularly the standard in managing the horses is extremely high...
read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2012/08/27/thumbs-up-endurance-champs-venue-organisers/#.UDz6PWie7tE
Oman: Royal Cavalry third at World Endurance meet
MENAFN.com
MENAFN - Muscat Daily - 27/08/2012
(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) The Royal Cavalry won the third place at the World Endurance Championships 2012, which was held in UK at Euston Estate. UAE and France won the first and second place respectively in the event which saw 154 riders from 40 countries participating.
Twenty-nine teams represented by 116 riders, and 38 riders on an individual level, participated in the race. Riders Mahmood bin Marhoon al Fawri, Hisham bin Saleh al Farsi, Abdullah bin Said al Syabi, Ahmed bin Salem al Hamadani, Sami bin Said al Belushi and Adel bin Said al Belushi competed in the championship along with their horses, Rudlan, Pulco, Penchab Sully, Ourour, Maj and Mondalaih, respectively.
Brigadier General Abdul Razak bin Abdul Qadir al Shahwarzi, commander of The Royal Cavalry said that he was happy with the achievement and that it was a result of planning and preparation by the team. Elite horses tackled a 160km long course, which consisted of six stages of 38km, 29km, 30km, 20km, 23km and 20km.
The Royal Cavalry came 12th in Round One. Fawri completed the round in 1h52min21s, while Hamadani on Ourour finished in 1h52min42s and Farsi took 1h53min27s.
In the 29km Round Two, the team came in eighth where Fawri finished in 1h21min12s and Farsi took 45 seconds more to complete the round. Hamdani took 1h22min29s.
The Royal Cavalry was fifth in Round Three with Fawri on Rudlan taking 1h22min46s. Farsi on Pulco took 1h25min38s, while Syabi took a minute and nine seconds more.
In Round Four too, the team was fifth and Fawri finished first and took 57h32min. Syabi on Penchab Sully took nine seconds more, while Farsi took 59h28min.
However, by the end of the fourth round, the horse Ourour was disqualified by the veterinary committee because of a leg injury.
Thus, The Royal Cavalry was forced to enter Round five with three horses. It won the third place with Syabi taking 1h12min25s. Farsi took 1h12min42s and Fawri on Rudlan took 1h16min4s.
The course for Round Six was characterised by slopes and waterways and The Royal Cavalry maintained its position in this round.
Faisal bin Mahboob bin Hassan, director of The Royal Cavalry said the result could not have been achieved without the support the cavalry got from the Royal Court Affairs.
Deputy director general of technical affairs at The Royal Cavalry added that the intensive preparation for the championship was a major factor that helped in this achievement.
MENAFN - Muscat Daily - 27/08/2012
(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) The Royal Cavalry won the third place at the World Endurance Championships 2012, which was held in UK at Euston Estate. UAE and France won the first and second place respectively in the event which saw 154 riders from 40 countries participating.
Twenty-nine teams represented by 116 riders, and 38 riders on an individual level, participated in the race. Riders Mahmood bin Marhoon al Fawri, Hisham bin Saleh al Farsi, Abdullah bin Said al Syabi, Ahmed bin Salem al Hamadani, Sami bin Said al Belushi and Adel bin Said al Belushi competed in the championship along with their horses, Rudlan, Pulco, Penchab Sully, Ourour, Maj and Mondalaih, respectively.
Brigadier General Abdul Razak bin Abdul Qadir al Shahwarzi, commander of The Royal Cavalry said that he was happy with the achievement and that it was a result of planning and preparation by the team. Elite horses tackled a 160km long course, which consisted of six stages of 38km, 29km, 30km, 20km, 23km and 20km.
The Royal Cavalry came 12th in Round One. Fawri completed the round in 1h52min21s, while Hamadani on Ourour finished in 1h52min42s and Farsi took 1h53min27s.
In the 29km Round Two, the team came in eighth where Fawri finished in 1h21min12s and Farsi took 45 seconds more to complete the round. Hamdani took 1h22min29s.
The Royal Cavalry was fifth in Round Three with Fawri on Rudlan taking 1h22min46s. Farsi on Pulco took 1h25min38s, while Syabi took a minute and nine seconds more.
In Round Four too, the team was fifth and Fawri finished first and took 57h32min. Syabi on Penchab Sully took nine seconds more, while Farsi took 59h28min.
However, by the end of the fourth round, the horse Ourour was disqualified by the veterinary committee because of a leg injury.
Thus, The Royal Cavalry was forced to enter Round five with three horses. It won the third place with Syabi taking 1h12min25s. Farsi took 1h12min42s and Fawri on Rudlan took 1h16min4s.
The course for Round Six was characterised by slopes and waterways and The Royal Cavalry maintained its position in this round.
Faisal bin Mahboob bin Hassan, director of The Royal Cavalry said the result could not have been achieved without the support the cavalry got from the Royal Court Affairs.
Deputy director general of technical affairs at The Royal Cavalry added that the intensive preparation for the championship was a major factor that helped in this achievement.
Spirit of Endurance
Gulftoday.aeAugust 28 2012
Endurance rides in the United Arab Emirates, a sport loving country, was started under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The sport has come a long way since the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation was established in 1992. The first modern desert ride took place on January 7, 1993.
Camels competed against horses in this 40-km pioneering event in the dunes of Dubai and the first 15 places were taken by horses.
The UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation has built up a very strong infrastructure to support equestrian sport in general and Endurance in particular.
There are three self-sufficient modern Endurance centres or villages in the country and 22 riding clubs and equestrian establishments.
Endurance riding has captured the top position in the equestrian sports held in the UAE. Among its strongest supporters are many members from the Royal families of the country and Their Highnesses and Rulers of different Emirates regularly take part in Endurance competitions alongside large numbers of UAE nationals and resident foreign riders and visiting riders from abroad.
All Endurance rides are electronically monitored and controlled and receive comprehensive media coverage. The UAE is working closely with several other countries in globally developing Endurance.
Highlights
Over the last decade several remarkable achievements have been made by the Endurance sport and the UAE riders. A brief description is given below.
The first National Endurance Riding Rules were established in 1995. The period 1995-1998 saw long-distance point-to-point Endurance rides in the UAE.
For the first time the UAE riders participated in the 1996 World Endurance Championship in Kansas, USA.
In 1998, for the first time the UAE hosted the World Endurance Championship which attracted a record 162 competitors out of which 78 completed the 160-km ride. This record number of participants gained an entry into the Guinness World Records as “the First Equestrian Federation to enter Guinness World Records as the organiser of the Biggest Equestrian World Endurance Championship 1998.” For the first time, time control was fully computerised and the riders carried plastic swipe cards to register their arrival after each phase of the ride.
The world’s First Preferred Endurance Ride was held in 1999 in the UAE which is an annual feature and has been renamed FEI/UAE World Cup Endurance.
In late 2002, The Al Wathba Endurance Village in Abu Dhabi built in 2000 was refurbished and The President’s Cup (160km) and the National Day Cup (120km) rides are annual important events here.
Young UAE rider Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum became the youngest rider in history and also the first man to win the coveted FEI World Cup Endurance Championship at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain. The UAE has been elected Chairman of the Endurance Committee of Asian Equestrian Federations.
Activities
. Formulating the National Rules and regular updates.
. Maintaining an Endurance Registry, mainly a record of riders and horses right from the advent of sport in the United Arab Emirates.
. UAE Endurance licensing of riders and trainers and registration of horses.
. Interaction with FEI, AEF and national federations and foreign Endurance organisers and well-known Endurance persons in Endurance related matters.
. Interaction with UAE Endurance organisers for planning rides, developing the Endurance calendar, Endurance village infrastructure and preparation of Endurance trail, selection of officials and overall technical management of most competitions and qualifications rides in the UAE.
. Complete liaison with FEI in preparing the Endurance calendar, the draft schedules for the FEI rides and sending the results. Total detailed online registration of riders and horses with FEI.
. Technical control and advisory role in rides in the UAE.
. Maintaining a proper protocol and observance of all international norms and regulations and ensuring that the competitions are held according to the rules.
. Maintaining a National Register and conducting Endurance rides exclusively for private national owners.
. Coordinating the functions of all officials working at the ride.
. Interaction with clubs, licensed persons in the running of day-to-day Endurance in the UAE.
. Handling and scrutiny of all entries for the rides and ensuring that the rules and conditions are abided by.
. Checking out Endurance routes, checking the facilities and amenities of the four Endurance villages. Inspection of Endurance trials and handling of all complaints and reports. Arbitration and settlement of disputes on the ride day itself.
. Issuing Endurance information regularly to all stables and riders concerning national and international rides and other Endurance matters.
. Complete Endurance invoicing of all FEI registrations, Federation licenses and individual entry fees of rides organised in Abu Dhabi.
. Active participation both as FEI officials and at the national level to ensure that all regulations and protocols are observed.
. Inspection of prospective riding clubs in the UAE and assessment of their capabilities.
. It is also one of the duties of the National Federation to send eligible national riders to participate in international rides all over the world. The NF scrutinises and ensures that all necessary rules have been observed and that our riders and horses are accepted, ensuring their smooth participation in the event.
Mohammed - Titan of Endurance
Gulftoday.aeSarah Taryam
August 28 2012
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, raised the UAE flag at Euston Hall in Suffolk, England, on Saturday after winning the FEI World Endurance Championships 2012. The UAE also took 2nd and 3rd place along with team gold.
One hundred and fifty-two riders from 38 countries rode through the beautiful English countryside to cover 160km in just over seven hours. On his 12-year-old French-bred chestnut horse, Madji du Pont, Sheikh Mohammed raced through what he described as “good conditions.”
Sheikh Mohammed and his family’s passion for horses is well known. His father, the late Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, taught him and his brothers how to ride at a young age and in doing so planted a deep love and respect for this magnificent animal.
The efforts and hard work of Sheikh Mohammed for equestrian sports began many years ago and have cemented the UAE’s profile in the equestrian field and established a strong foundation for the sports which has been thriving in recent years.
In 1992 he established the racing stable Godolphin which has grown into one of the biggest, most successful breeding and racing stables in the world. Their results span all over the globe with wins from Australia to America.
The Dubai World Cup was created by Sheikh Mohammed in 1996. In 2010 it became the world’s richest horse race with a prize fund of $10 million. The event draws in equestrian enthusiasts from all over the globe who come to watch the elite of thoroughbreds compete.
Sheikh Mohammed has shown himself to be a true athlete. With many Endurance wins, Sheikh Mohammed has led the UAE Endurance team to high success and they continue to dominate at major championships around the world.
To be able to obtain such results requires both horse and rider to possess great fitness, stamina and be in peak condition. For a man with Sheikh Mohammed’s responsibilities to come out and win such a tough race is admirable to say the least.
He continues to inspire people with his dedication to equestrian sports and knowledge about the animal he holds so dear. His accomplishments are a fine example to the people of the UAE that through sheer hard work, pure ambition and a clear vision one is capable of accomplishing greatness. His horse sense is like a lion’s roar.
United Arab Emirates riders sweep the gold medals at the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships
USEF.orgRELEASE: August 26, 2012
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Kathleen Landwehr
Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille on race day (Merri Melde-Endurance.net)
Newmarket, UK – Saturday, August 25 started out pleasant at Euston Park, but throughout the day the weather deteriorated into heavy downpours and severe thunderstorms. Due to the extreme weather, officials had to call the race off for the safety of the horses and riders. In an unusual finish to an endurance race, several riders were placed based on the position they were in at the time that the race was called, but the majority of the riders finished the sixth and final loop.
The U.S. Team made quite a showing against stiff competition finishing in fourth place with a combined time of 24:45:00. Valerie Kanavy (Fort Valley, VA) was the first member of the team to finish with Reach For The Gold in 20th place with a time of 08:00:06. Jeremy Reynolds (Dunnellon, FL) and A Kutt Above were right behind her, finishing in 21st place with a time of 08:00:09. Heather Reynolds (Dunnellon, FL) and Riverwatch finished in 36th place with a time of 08:44:45. John Crandell III (West River, MD) was unable to finish the race when Heraldic did not pass the mandatory re-check at Vet Check 5.
Margaret “Meg” Sleeper (Frenchtown, NJ) and Syrocco Reveille had an amazing day at Euston Park. Sleeper was the first U.S. rider to cross the finish line, finishing in 11th place with a time of 07:49:11. The pair had an average speed of 20.46 kph.
With a time of 21:22:37, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claimed Team Gold as well as sweeping all of the Individual medals. France won Team Silver with a time of 23:24:47 and Oman won Team Bronze with a time of 23:55:46. HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE) rode Madji du Pont to Individual Gold with a time of 7:00:45 and an average speed of 22.82 kph, followed closely behind by UAE teammates HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum on Yamamah (07:01:04) and Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri on Vendaval (07:01:04). The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Gold medalist Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain finished fourth with her WEG partner Nobby. The Best Conditioned Horse was Ikland ridden by Alex Luque Moral of Spain. The pair finished fifth individually.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Tragedy at World Endurance Championship
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 25th August 2012
Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2012 statement:
It is with great sadness that we announce that Karrimh, owned and ridden by Donna Oudshoorn of The Netherlands, was put down as a result of an accident while competing at the FEI World Endurance Championships at Euston Park, Suffolk, UK on Saturday 25th August 2012.
Karrimh, an 18-year-old gelding, stumbled and fell while on loop one of the 160km championship course.
DATE: 25th August 2012
Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2012 statement:
It is with great sadness that we announce that Karrimh, owned and ridden by Donna Oudshoorn of The Netherlands, was put down as a result of an accident while competing at the FEI World Endurance Championships at Euston Park, Suffolk, UK on Saturday 25th August 2012.
Karrimh, an 18-year-old gelding, stumbled and fell while on loop one of the 160km championship course.
UAE sweeps the board at Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012
DATE: 25th August 2012
UAE sweeps the board at Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012
HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum became the World Endurance Champion after victory in the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2012 held at Euston Park near Thetford, Suffolk, UK (25th August 2012).
Riding Madji Du Pont, Sheikh Mohammed completed the 160km Championship with a strong finish at an average speed of 22.82km/hr. He rode the final 20km loop at 27.6km/hr to finish ahead of his countrymen HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum (Yamamah) and Ali Ahalfan Al Jahouri (Vendaval). Former World Champion, Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton came fourth with Nobby after a fine performance from the evergreen 17-year-old victor in Kentucky in 2010 and Malaysia in 2012.
It was a convincing win by the UAE riders viewed as the strongest in the sport. The team of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum and HE Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum also won the World Championship team competition in style completing a full two hours ahead of France with Oman in third, the USA in fourth and Belgium in fifth.
A world class field of 147 riders lined up for the championships over what was widely viewed as a deceptively tough course which took in a variety of terrain from forest tracks to grassland and sand. Weather conditions which had been forecast as potentially disruptive, held off for the majority of the ride with warm sunshine sending riders off on the trail at the 7am mass start. However, thunderstorms and torrential rain in the later stages of the event forced organisers to take the unprecedented step of halting the event on safety grounds with officials bringing a “formula one motor racing” end to the ride enabling riders to ride into the vetgate ahead of them and enter their horse for a final inspection without completing the full 160km.
Speaking after the ride, Sheikh Mohammed told reporters: “I only ever compete because I enjoy taking part in endurance. I do not go out to get a result, I go out to have fun. I do not try to change position but ride my own ride.
“My horse gave me a wonderful ride – all the way through he felt incredible. I am very pleased with the result.”
Asked about the rain, Sheikh Mohammed said: “I thought that the rain could make the course slippery which was another reason to take it steadily.”
Commenting on the strong performance of the gold medal winning UAE team, Saeed H Al Tayer, Chef d' Equipe of the UAE, said: "We are proud to be a part of this elite World Championships.
“A great deal of training and preparation has guided the team through this technically challenging course and today's weather conditions. The calibre of riders is high and competition fierce but the team has stayed focused throughout the loops and ensured the safety and welfare of the horses at all times.
“Euston Park is a beautiful venue and the UAE riders have enjoyed navigating the terrain: forests, rivers and farmland. To have achieved Individual first, second and third is an incredible result for the UAE and we are extremely proud of the riders and crew involved."
UAE sweeps the board at Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012
HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum became the World Endurance Champion after victory in the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2012 held at Euston Park near Thetford, Suffolk, UK (25th August 2012).
Riding Madji Du Pont, Sheikh Mohammed completed the 160km Championship with a strong finish at an average speed of 22.82km/hr. He rode the final 20km loop at 27.6km/hr to finish ahead of his countrymen HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum (Yamamah) and Ali Ahalfan Al Jahouri (Vendaval). Former World Champion, Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton came fourth with Nobby after a fine performance from the evergreen 17-year-old victor in Kentucky in 2010 and Malaysia in 2012.
It was a convincing win by the UAE riders viewed as the strongest in the sport. The team of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum and HE Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum also won the World Championship team competition in style completing a full two hours ahead of France with Oman in third, the USA in fourth and Belgium in fifth.
A world class field of 147 riders lined up for the championships over what was widely viewed as a deceptively tough course which took in a variety of terrain from forest tracks to grassland and sand. Weather conditions which had been forecast as potentially disruptive, held off for the majority of the ride with warm sunshine sending riders off on the trail at the 7am mass start. However, thunderstorms and torrential rain in the later stages of the event forced organisers to take the unprecedented step of halting the event on safety grounds with officials bringing a “formula one motor racing” end to the ride enabling riders to ride into the vetgate ahead of them and enter their horse for a final inspection without completing the full 160km.
Speaking after the ride, Sheikh Mohammed told reporters: “I only ever compete because I enjoy taking part in endurance. I do not go out to get a result, I go out to have fun. I do not try to change position but ride my own ride.
“My horse gave me a wonderful ride – all the way through he felt incredible. I am very pleased with the result.”
Asked about the rain, Sheikh Mohammed said: “I thought that the rain could make the course slippery which was another reason to take it steadily.”
Commenting on the strong performance of the gold medal winning UAE team, Saeed H Al Tayer, Chef d' Equipe of the UAE, said: "We are proud to be a part of this elite World Championships.
“A great deal of training and preparation has guided the team through this technically challenging course and today's weather conditions. The calibre of riders is high and competition fierce but the team has stayed focused throughout the loops and ensured the safety and welfare of the horses at all times.
“Euston Park is a beautiful venue and the UAE riders have enjoyed navigating the terrain: forests, rivers and farmland. To have achieved Individual first, second and third is an incredible result for the UAE and we are extremely proud of the riders and crew involved."
Friday, August 24, 2012
WEC PRE-RIDE SOUNDBITES: 24 August 2012
LONGINES WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012
Emmett Ross – Chef D’Equipe USA
“I think we have some good horses but the competition is going to be very tough, to earn an individual medal it will be very hard, we hope to be in apposition to get a team medal.
“We have the right people and the right team and it requires a lot of strategy but we’re confident.
“We have many experience horses and many have done 100 milers, some have won the Tevis Cup.
“We’re anxious about the vetting as our horses haven’t come yet! But they have all been checked by our team vet so we are confident we should be fine to pass this section of the race.
“There is usually a 40% completion rate across the board and it is generally spread across all of the teams but we are hoping for better than that.”
UAE - Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Deputy General Manager, Dubai Equestrian Club
“The UAE is very happy to be involved in this championship on a number of levels and organisation and we wish all the athletes and teams a good result. The UAE team is one of the strongest at this event and we hope that we can achieve our target.”
USA - Carol Giles, US team selector
“We’re really excited about the race tomorrow. I think we have an outstanding team and we’ve set ourselves up to do really well.
“I have seen some of the course and I think it is of course a little more challenging than prior world championships, definitely more technical. It is going to require more turns and gate changes. Riders with good balance with their horse will have an advantage.
“We do have some concerns about the weather and keeping the horses warm if it does get wet and cold. Since the riders have been here they’ve not managed to see any muddy conditions, so we’ll have to see how we cope if it does get wet. It is a really great venue and we are really honoured to be here. Everyone has been very helpful and welcoming and we had a great view of the fireworks last night at the opening ceremony.”
South Africa - Eoné Willemse, 24, rider with My Wild Irish Gold
“I’m very excited about tomorrow. It’s a nice venue and the trail is well marked, it has some interesting turns to it too.
“From what I have seen of the course it seems soft and nicely footed, although tricky in some parts. The wildlife, venue and scenery are lovely. I am really aiming for a good finish, so we’ll see how the day shakes out.
“If it does rain tomorrow, we’ll have to just pay attention to the horse and make sure he is well balanced and doesn’t slip and slide.
“The opening ceremony was wonderful. The fireworks and the horse show were really something to watch. The entertainment was really well done.”
Great Britain – Tora Thomas, support team member
“The opening ceremony was amazing, probably the best I’ve been to. It was lovely how everyone mingled, it didn’t matter if you were a rider, manager or organiser, it was really inclusive.
“The nerves are beginning to build about the vetting this afternoon. Even if you are totally happy with the horse, all it takes is the horse to step one a stone and that ride is over before you’ve even started.
“It’s a deceptive course, your first impression is that it is quite easy. But there are a lot of different terrains and different going. So although it’s flat everywhere apart from the Red route, what’s under foot is very deceptive. You can be going over hard stoney stuff one minute but deep sand the next. The river crossings are going to be slippery. There are a lot of tree routes, twists, turns and banks. There are things to be aware of every metre of the 160km. It is going to be a really true test of horsemanship.
“Every championship throws up something different. Last year at the Europeans it was probably one of the most strenuous due to the elevation changes, but the going under foot there was much m ore consistent, so you weren’t having to look underfoot all the time. So I think we have been lucky recently in that all of the championships have been true tests but in different ways.”
Lithuania - Vidmastas Staskevicius, team vet
“For us it is very important to finish - to pass the first inspection and to enjoy taking part in the sport.
“We have a very good farrier and special shoes, so we aren’t worried about the rain that is forecast for tomorrow. We have been doing this sport a lot of years so we are pretty confident.”
Australia – Peter Toft, chef d’equipe
“At the start of the championships, the pre-ride vetting is going smoothly. We’re amazed at the facility, it is all horse friendly. It is a world championship and there is a lot of activity so the horses seem a little apprehensive about that but it is a very exciting race coming up tomorrow.
“The parts of the course we’ve seen so far are really impressive. It’s a true international course - it may be relatively flat but it is pretty technical, so I expect it will produce a true champion.
“Australia’s endurance at the moment is in a re-build phase, so we don’t have great aspirations for the
“Our training has been quite different this year as we’ve been training for this particular event. We’ve got a lot of mountainous had courses, so we’ve been trying to train on softer ground, to practice going faster for longer.”
Italy - Simona Garrati [Badr Dell’Orsetta] – former Italian National Champion competing at her second world championship
“The course and track look very good, it is the weather that could cause difficulties for us. We are not predicting individual medals but are aiming to have all four team horses home around the top 10.”
Japan – Kiyotaka Yaguchi, assistant chef d’equipe
“Japan is not an advanced country in terms of the sport of endurance so our goal tomorrow will be for all three of our team members to finish so that we can complete the team event. Euston Park is a fast course and lameness can be a factor but we want our horses to continue to the finish so we have no intention of going too fast.”
Equador - Rafaella d’Arquea, 19, rider [Jqishma Beauty] competing at her first senior World Championship
“My horse is from Uruguay and I have only been riding him for two months. He is quite soft and sensible most of the time but doesn’t like to be behind other horses – that’s when he goes crazy. At the start I will be aiming to be in the middle of the field and then see how he goes. I have not seen much of the track but from what I have seen, you have to use your head.”
Brazil – Mauricio Bittar, team vet
“Our team of horses and riders is very good. I am very proud of them they have prepared well and I think there is every chance that we could have our best world championship yet. This climate is ideal for us – a British summer is the same as the Brazillian winter back home so we are not worried about the weather – we are totally prepared.”
France - Phillippe Benoit, rider, previous gold medallist with the team in Portugal and Aachen (Akim de Boulve)
“This is my fifth time as a member of the French squad and I came 10th here at the trial event last year so I am very determined. My horse is 14 and so it might be his last world championship so I would like to do it for him. He has been very special, the horse of a lifetime. It will be very difficult for us though because this is a very big championship with some strong teams – the UAE, Qatar. I am pleased to be here – I am now the only member of the French team not working full time as a rider – in my other life I am a farmer.”
Denmark – Tanja Van Willigen, rider (Shajan)
“My hope is to complete in the best possible time for my horse. This is a very technical course with a high level of eliminations through lameness in the past so you have to go carefully. For the last year I have been doing aqua training with my horse – it has made him stronger and more muscular. I have seen that when we are cantering over short distances we are up to 1km faster than before. I am very excited about the start – he is a strong horse who likes to run.”
Norway – Ellen Suhr, rider (Shah Nahim)
“I was very pleased to pass my vetting this afternoon. I am nervous about tomorrow as I think it will be difficult with so many people starting all at once. I plan to chase the lead but go steady, just behind.
“I have only seen the training course, I don’t think the ground is the best so I have to be careful tomorrow.
“I haven’t had much time to train as I have two small children, a one and a half and three year old and work full time. So I try to train every second day and the rest he goes in the horse walker.
“I qualified in the Swedish championship I came second and got best conditioned. Getting that result does make me confident for tomorrow but I am very nervous of the start.
“My horse is quite excited at the moment so I am sending my husband out riding on him this evening.”
Spain – Ignasi Casas, Chef D’Equipe
“We are quite confident as we have a lot of horses who have been doing very well recently at big races, including the Europeans and here at Euston Park last year.
“Three of our riders are at a world championship for the first time, for two of them it is their first international competition, but everyone is excited and feeling confident.
“The course is fast and tricky. Lots of turning and changes from grass to track, it makes it difficult for the horse. You think you can go fast but all the time you have to start and stop.
“We’ve been practicing using tracks and making the horses change transitions. Making them learn how to balance on tracks by cantering from grass over tracks and back again.
“We plan to push tomorrow and go for a good result - we would like to be first! We’ve been first four times and the conditions are good so we would like a win.”
Emmett Ross – Chef D’Equipe USA
“I think we have some good horses but the competition is going to be very tough, to earn an individual medal it will be very hard, we hope to be in apposition to get a team medal.
“We have the right people and the right team and it requires a lot of strategy but we’re confident.
“We have many experience horses and many have done 100 milers, some have won the Tevis Cup.
“We’re anxious about the vetting as our horses haven’t come yet! But they have all been checked by our team vet so we are confident we should be fine to pass this section of the race.
“There is usually a 40% completion rate across the board and it is generally spread across all of the teams but we are hoping for better than that.”
UAE - Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Deputy General Manager, Dubai Equestrian Club
“The UAE is very happy to be involved in this championship on a number of levels and organisation and we wish all the athletes and teams a good result. The UAE team is one of the strongest at this event and we hope that we can achieve our target.”
USA - Carol Giles, US team selector
“We’re really excited about the race tomorrow. I think we have an outstanding team and we’ve set ourselves up to do really well.
“I have seen some of the course and I think it is of course a little more challenging than prior world championships, definitely more technical. It is going to require more turns and gate changes. Riders with good balance with their horse will have an advantage.
“We do have some concerns about the weather and keeping the horses warm if it does get wet and cold. Since the riders have been here they’ve not managed to see any muddy conditions, so we’ll have to see how we cope if it does get wet. It is a really great venue and we are really honoured to be here. Everyone has been very helpful and welcoming and we had a great view of the fireworks last night at the opening ceremony.”
South Africa - Eoné Willemse, 24, rider with My Wild Irish Gold
“I’m very excited about tomorrow. It’s a nice venue and the trail is well marked, it has some interesting turns to it too.
“From what I have seen of the course it seems soft and nicely footed, although tricky in some parts. The wildlife, venue and scenery are lovely. I am really aiming for a good finish, so we’ll see how the day shakes out.
“If it does rain tomorrow, we’ll have to just pay attention to the horse and make sure he is well balanced and doesn’t slip and slide.
“The opening ceremony was wonderful. The fireworks and the horse show were really something to watch. The entertainment was really well done.”
Great Britain – Tora Thomas, support team member
“The opening ceremony was amazing, probably the best I’ve been to. It was lovely how everyone mingled, it didn’t matter if you were a rider, manager or organiser, it was really inclusive.
“The nerves are beginning to build about the vetting this afternoon. Even if you are totally happy with the horse, all it takes is the horse to step one a stone and that ride is over before you’ve even started.
“It’s a deceptive course, your first impression is that it is quite easy. But there are a lot of different terrains and different going. So although it’s flat everywhere apart from the Red route, what’s under foot is very deceptive. You can be going over hard stoney stuff one minute but deep sand the next. The river crossings are going to be slippery. There are a lot of tree routes, twists, turns and banks. There are things to be aware of every metre of the 160km. It is going to be a really true test of horsemanship.
“Every championship throws up something different. Last year at the Europeans it was probably one of the most strenuous due to the elevation changes, but the going under foot there was much m ore consistent, so you weren’t having to look underfoot all the time. So I think we have been lucky recently in that all of the championships have been true tests but in different ways.”
Lithuania - Vidmastas Staskevicius, team vet
“For us it is very important to finish - to pass the first inspection and to enjoy taking part in the sport.
“We have a very good farrier and special shoes, so we aren’t worried about the rain that is forecast for tomorrow. We have been doing this sport a lot of years so we are pretty confident.”
Australia – Peter Toft, chef d’equipe
“At the start of the championships, the pre-ride vetting is going smoothly. We’re amazed at the facility, it is all horse friendly. It is a world championship and there is a lot of activity so the horses seem a little apprehensive about that but it is a very exciting race coming up tomorrow.
“The parts of the course we’ve seen so far are really impressive. It’s a true international course - it may be relatively flat but it is pretty technical, so I expect it will produce a true champion.
“Australia’s endurance at the moment is in a re-build phase, so we don’t have great aspirations for the
“Our training has been quite different this year as we’ve been training for this particular event. We’ve got a lot of mountainous had courses, so we’ve been trying to train on softer ground, to practice going faster for longer.”
Italy - Simona Garrati [Badr Dell’Orsetta] – former Italian National Champion competing at her second world championship
“The course and track look very good, it is the weather that could cause difficulties for us. We are not predicting individual medals but are aiming to have all four team horses home around the top 10.”
Japan – Kiyotaka Yaguchi, assistant chef d’equipe
“Japan is not an advanced country in terms of the sport of endurance so our goal tomorrow will be for all three of our team members to finish so that we can complete the team event. Euston Park is a fast course and lameness can be a factor but we want our horses to continue to the finish so we have no intention of going too fast.”
Equador - Rafaella d’Arquea, 19, rider [Jqishma Beauty] competing at her first senior World Championship
“My horse is from Uruguay and I have only been riding him for two months. He is quite soft and sensible most of the time but doesn’t like to be behind other horses – that’s when he goes crazy. At the start I will be aiming to be in the middle of the field and then see how he goes. I have not seen much of the track but from what I have seen, you have to use your head.”
Brazil – Mauricio Bittar, team vet
“Our team of horses and riders is very good. I am very proud of them they have prepared well and I think there is every chance that we could have our best world championship yet. This climate is ideal for us – a British summer is the same as the Brazillian winter back home so we are not worried about the weather – we are totally prepared.”
France - Phillippe Benoit, rider, previous gold medallist with the team in Portugal and Aachen (Akim de Boulve)
“This is my fifth time as a member of the French squad and I came 10th here at the trial event last year so I am very determined. My horse is 14 and so it might be his last world championship so I would like to do it for him. He has been very special, the horse of a lifetime. It will be very difficult for us though because this is a very big championship with some strong teams – the UAE, Qatar. I am pleased to be here – I am now the only member of the French team not working full time as a rider – in my other life I am a farmer.”
Denmark – Tanja Van Willigen, rider (Shajan)
“My hope is to complete in the best possible time for my horse. This is a very technical course with a high level of eliminations through lameness in the past so you have to go carefully. For the last year I have been doing aqua training with my horse – it has made him stronger and more muscular. I have seen that when we are cantering over short distances we are up to 1km faster than before. I am very excited about the start – he is a strong horse who likes to run.”
Norway – Ellen Suhr, rider (Shah Nahim)
“I was very pleased to pass my vetting this afternoon. I am nervous about tomorrow as I think it will be difficult with so many people starting all at once. I plan to chase the lead but go steady, just behind.
“I have only seen the training course, I don’t think the ground is the best so I have to be careful tomorrow.
“I haven’t had much time to train as I have two small children, a one and a half and three year old and work full time. So I try to train every second day and the rest he goes in the horse walker.
“I qualified in the Swedish championship I came second and got best conditioned. Getting that result does make me confident for tomorrow but I am very nervous of the start.
“My horse is quite excited at the moment so I am sending my husband out riding on him this evening.”
Spain – Ignasi Casas, Chef D’Equipe
“We are quite confident as we have a lot of horses who have been doing very well recently at big races, including the Europeans and here at Euston Park last year.
“Three of our riders are at a world championship for the first time, for two of them it is their first international competition, but everyone is excited and feeling confident.
“The course is fast and tricky. Lots of turning and changes from grass to track, it makes it difficult for the horse. You think you can go fast but all the time you have to start and stop.
“We’ve been practicing using tracks and making the horses change transitions. Making them learn how to balance on tracks by cantering from grass over tracks and back again.
“We plan to push tomorrow and go for a good result - we would like to be first! We’ve been first four times and the conditions are good so we would like a win.”
Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012 set to open with a strong field and a flourish
August 24 2012
The Longines FEI World Endurance Championships (25th August 2012) will open this evening (Thusday 23rd August 2012) with a lavish opening ceremony in the grounds of Euston Hall near Thetford, Suffolk.
A press conference today (23rd August) heard that the event to declare the competition officially open would celebrate the horse with a sensational display.
Created by Prisme International, the spectacle will include 3D mapping onto the side of Euston Hall following by a breath taking live show including fifty dancers together with performers and opera singers.
Organisers said creator Pierre Markout’s ceremony would also reflect the equestrian spirit of the Championships including a display by Mario Lurashi, one of the world’s leading stunt riders.
The multi-layered ceremony will also be lighting up the skies using a choreographed firework display, laser lighting and a hot-air balloon.
Speaking at the opening press conference, Ian Williams, FEI Director Non-Olympic Sports said: “These Championships will be a benchmark for others to follow in the future. It is a significant step up that reflects the worldwide growth and strength of endurance, which is now the second largest of the FEI disciplines.”
Ian Williams confirmed that there had been definite entries from 153 horse and rider combinations from 38 nations with 29 teams entered.
Mohammed Esse Al Adhab, President of the Organising Committee said: “Our focus at all times in creating this competition has been the welfare of the horse and rider as the number one priority. The Championships and opening ceremony will be a celebration of the athleticism of the endurance horse.”
Technical advisor John Robertson told the conference that the course would be “highly technical”.
He said: “This is a true riders’ course with lots of twists and tight turns. In some parts the track has been worn away leaving exposed flint stones – this going will need skill to negotiate and will benefit the most balanced horse and rider combinations.”
James MacEwan, Managing Director of Janah Management, organisers of the Championships, paid tribute to the hosting landowners and sponsors. “Without the support of the Duke of Grafton and the Euston Estate together with all the neighbouring landowners this event would simply not be possible and we are grateful to both them and our sponsors for their great generosity in enabling us to produce a competition of this quality and stature.”
Mohammed Al Khayat, Commercial Director of Meydan Group LLC said that Meydan together with title sponsor Longines and fellow supporting sponsor Emaar, was delighted to be involved in the Championships.
He said: “On behalf of Meydan, Longines and Emaar, we send all the horses and riders and their crews all good wishes for a wonderful Championships.”
The Longines FEI World Endurance Championships (25th August 2012) will open this evening (Thusday 23rd August 2012) with a lavish opening ceremony in the grounds of Euston Hall near Thetford, Suffolk.
A press conference today (23rd August) heard that the event to declare the competition officially open would celebrate the horse with a sensational display.
Created by Prisme International, the spectacle will include 3D mapping onto the side of Euston Hall following by a breath taking live show including fifty dancers together with performers and opera singers.
Organisers said creator Pierre Markout’s ceremony would also reflect the equestrian spirit of the Championships including a display by Mario Lurashi, one of the world’s leading stunt riders.
The multi-layered ceremony will also be lighting up the skies using a choreographed firework display, laser lighting and a hot-air balloon.
Speaking at the opening press conference, Ian Williams, FEI Director Non-Olympic Sports said: “These Championships will be a benchmark for others to follow in the future. It is a significant step up that reflects the worldwide growth and strength of endurance, which is now the second largest of the FEI disciplines.”
Ian Williams confirmed that there had been definite entries from 153 horse and rider combinations from 38 nations with 29 teams entered.
Mohammed Esse Al Adhab, President of the Organising Committee said: “Our focus at all times in creating this competition has been the welfare of the horse and rider as the number one priority. The Championships and opening ceremony will be a celebration of the athleticism of the endurance horse.”
Technical advisor John Robertson told the conference that the course would be “highly technical”.
He said: “This is a true riders’ course with lots of twists and tight turns. In some parts the track has been worn away leaving exposed flint stones – this going will need skill to negotiate and will benefit the most balanced horse and rider combinations.”
James MacEwan, Managing Director of Janah Management, organisers of the Championships, paid tribute to the hosting landowners and sponsors. “Without the support of the Duke of Grafton and the Euston Estate together with all the neighbouring landowners this event would simply not be possible and we are grateful to both them and our sponsors for their great generosity in enabling us to produce a competition of this quality and stature.”
Mohammed Al Khayat, Commercial Director of Meydan Group LLC said that Meydan together with title sponsor Longines and fellow supporting sponsor Emaar, was delighted to be involved in the Championships.
He said: “On behalf of Meydan, Longines and Emaar, we send all the horses and riders and their crews all good wishes for a wonderful Championships.”
Duke of Grafton opens Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 24th August 2012
EMBARGO:
Immediate release
The Duke of Grafton has officially opened the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2012 set to be held tomorrow (25th August 2012) at Euston Park near Thetford, Suffolk.
Speaking at a lavish opening ceremony held last night at Euston Hall, the Duke welcomed 153 athletes and crews from 38 nations.
Around 2000 guests included team members, crews and supporters who were also joined by UK Minister of Sport Hugh Robertson MP.
The Duke of Grafton said: “This gathering of 153 of the world’s leading endurance riders from all corners of the globe is the culmination of nearly a decade of development of Euston as a venue for the world’s fastest growing equestrian sport. It has been a hugely enjoyable process and it is a great honour to see you all here.
“At that first endurance ride held here in 2005 – there was a considerably smaller field, but nonetheless, it was my late father’s vision that one day, we would host a World Championship. It is sad for myself and family, that he is not here to see that dream realised, but I know that he would have been proud, to welcome you here today.
“Euston Hall has been the home of the Dukes of Grafton for more than 300 years. Traditionally renowned for their love of horse racing, the third and fourth Dukes could often be seen in this very parkland admiring the many successful horses they bred and trained. The Euston Estate comprises a rich mixture of woods and arable land and this, together with the generous support of neighbouring landowners, we hope will provide a stunning setting for a memorable sporting occasion.
“This wonderful course and spectacular venue would not however be possible without the support of our sponsors and I would like to add my thanks and those of the organizing committee to Longines, Meydan and to Emaar.
“I also want to pay tribute to all those who have worked tirelessly since we were awarded the honour of hosting the championships 15 months ago.
“It has been a fantastic summer of competitive sport with the European Football Cup and we have just enjoyed 16 days of glorious sporting action at the London 2012 Olympics, thanks in no small part to a huge army of volunteers – the Games Makers. Well we have our own team of Games Makers here in Suffolk, as there will be around 100 volunteers involved over the next few days, and I would like to thank them for their efforts.
“Finally to the riders, crews and supporters. To compete for your country at this level takes years of dedication and hard work to develop the special partnership between horse and rider and supreme athleticism to complete that grueling 100 miles in one day.
“I along with all the supporters here wish the very best of luck and great success for this exceptional competition that lies ahead.”
Ian Williams, Director of Non-Olympic Sports for the FEI said: “After so many months of planning, and dedicated hard work, we are now all here at the start of this World Championship.
“On behalf of the FEI President, her Royal Highness Princess Haya, we wish everyone an exciting, competitive and above all safe championship.
“On Sunday we will gather here again to present the FEI medals to those teams and individuals who have excelled at the very highest level of their sport.”
The event will see a star-studded field of riders and horses including three former world champions tackle the 160km (100-mile) championship course in a single day.
The 14th running of the championships will see the current holder, Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton, attempt to match the USA’s Becky Hart in winning three World titles in succession – a feat first achieved by Hart in 1988, 1990 and 1992 with the great RO Grand Sultan.
Alvarez will partner her 17-year-old superstar Nobby as the pair attempt to make
history.
Meanwhile HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose son Sheikh Ahmed won the world individual title in 2002 at the age of just 16 and one of the world’s leading racehorse owners, is also taking part leading a strong UAE defence of its world team title for the third time in succession.
A total of 29 teams have entered the championship including the host nation Great Britain who were last on the medal table at the 2000 World Championships in Compiegne, France.
Several landowners and farmers have given access to their land to enable the organisers to create a 100-mile route over the Breckland course covering heathland, forest tracks and open farmland. Hundreds of local volunteers will be involved in the event which is expected to draw around 2000 people including participants, crew, officials and spectactors.
The opening event was devised by show director Pierre Marcout together with Gilles Ledos and Jean Marc Chandoo of Prisme International.
Alongside title sponsor Longines, two Dubai industry giants, Meydan and Emaar Properties are additional supporters of the championships.
DATE: 24th August 2012
EMBARGO:
Immediate release
The Duke of Grafton has officially opened the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2012 set to be held tomorrow (25th August 2012) at Euston Park near Thetford, Suffolk.
Speaking at a lavish opening ceremony held last night at Euston Hall, the Duke welcomed 153 athletes and crews from 38 nations.
Around 2000 guests included team members, crews and supporters who were also joined by UK Minister of Sport Hugh Robertson MP.
The Duke of Grafton said: “This gathering of 153 of the world’s leading endurance riders from all corners of the globe is the culmination of nearly a decade of development of Euston as a venue for the world’s fastest growing equestrian sport. It has been a hugely enjoyable process and it is a great honour to see you all here.
“At that first endurance ride held here in 2005 – there was a considerably smaller field, but nonetheless, it was my late father’s vision that one day, we would host a World Championship. It is sad for myself and family, that he is not here to see that dream realised, but I know that he would have been proud, to welcome you here today.
“Euston Hall has been the home of the Dukes of Grafton for more than 300 years. Traditionally renowned for their love of horse racing, the third and fourth Dukes could often be seen in this very parkland admiring the many successful horses they bred and trained. The Euston Estate comprises a rich mixture of woods and arable land and this, together with the generous support of neighbouring landowners, we hope will provide a stunning setting for a memorable sporting occasion.
“This wonderful course and spectacular venue would not however be possible without the support of our sponsors and I would like to add my thanks and those of the organizing committee to Longines, Meydan and to Emaar.
“I also want to pay tribute to all those who have worked tirelessly since we were awarded the honour of hosting the championships 15 months ago.
“It has been a fantastic summer of competitive sport with the European Football Cup and we have just enjoyed 16 days of glorious sporting action at the London 2012 Olympics, thanks in no small part to a huge army of volunteers – the Games Makers. Well we have our own team of Games Makers here in Suffolk, as there will be around 100 volunteers involved over the next few days, and I would like to thank them for their efforts.
“Finally to the riders, crews and supporters. To compete for your country at this level takes years of dedication and hard work to develop the special partnership between horse and rider and supreme athleticism to complete that grueling 100 miles in one day.
“I along with all the supporters here wish the very best of luck and great success for this exceptional competition that lies ahead.”
Ian Williams, Director of Non-Olympic Sports for the FEI said: “After so many months of planning, and dedicated hard work, we are now all here at the start of this World Championship.
“On behalf of the FEI President, her Royal Highness Princess Haya, we wish everyone an exciting, competitive and above all safe championship.
“On Sunday we will gather here again to present the FEI medals to those teams and individuals who have excelled at the very highest level of their sport.”
The event will see a star-studded field of riders and horses including three former world champions tackle the 160km (100-mile) championship course in a single day.
The 14th running of the championships will see the current holder, Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton, attempt to match the USA’s Becky Hart in winning three World titles in succession – a feat first achieved by Hart in 1988, 1990 and 1992 with the great RO Grand Sultan.
Alvarez will partner her 17-year-old superstar Nobby as the pair attempt to make
history.
Meanwhile HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose son Sheikh Ahmed won the world individual title in 2002 at the age of just 16 and one of the world’s leading racehorse owners, is also taking part leading a strong UAE defence of its world team title for the third time in succession.
A total of 29 teams have entered the championship including the host nation Great Britain who were last on the medal table at the 2000 World Championships in Compiegne, France.
Several landowners and farmers have given access to their land to enable the organisers to create a 100-mile route over the Breckland course covering heathland, forest tracks and open farmland. Hundreds of local volunteers will be involved in the event which is expected to draw around 2000 people including participants, crew, officials and spectactors.
The opening event was devised by show director Pierre Marcout together with Gilles Ledos and Jean Marc Chandoo of Prisme International.
Alongside title sponsor Longines, two Dubai industry giants, Meydan and Emaar Properties are additional supporters of the championships.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
2012 World Endurance Championship: Definite Entries Announced
August 19 2012
Definite entries have been announced for the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships.
154 riders from 38 countries are scheduled to cross the starting line on August 25 at Euston Park, Great Britain.
Entries, and more information here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/GreatBritain/2012WEC/
Definite entries have been announced for the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships.
154 riders from 38 countries are scheduled to cross the starting line on August 25 at Euston Park, Great Britain.
Entries, and more information here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/GreatBritain/2012WEC/
Three world champions line up at Euston
Gilly Wheeler photo
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 19th August 2012
Star-studded line-up for Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012
A huge international field of 153 riders from 38 countries is set to line up for next week’s Longines FEI World Endurance Championships next week (25th August 2012) at Euston Park near Newmarket, Suffolk.
A star-studded field including three former world champions is set to tackle the FEI CEI 4* 160km competition whose title sponsor is Swiss watchmaker Longines.
The 14th running of the championships will see Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton attempt to match the USA’s Becky Hart in winning three World titles in succession – a feat first achieved by Hart in 1988, 1990 and 1992 with the great RO Grand Sultan.
Alvarez will partner her 17-year-old superstar Nobby as the pair attempt to make history. Already unbeaten in four successive championships, with two World and two European titles to their name since 2008, unlike Hart and RO Grand Sultan whose victories came on home ground in the USA and in Europe, Alvarez and Nobby have won over widely differing terrain. Their first victory in 2008 came at the inaugural world championship run in a tropical country which was held after the hours of darkness in Terengganu, Malaysia. They went on to romp home at the Europeans at Assisi in Italy in 2009 and then again over the relatively flat track at the Alltech Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010 following this up with an invincible performance over the steep climbs at Florac at the 2011 European Championships. A win at Euston Park would cement the diminutive 148cm-high Nobby’s place as the greatest endurance horse of all time.
Fittingly, Becky Hart stages a return to the USA team for the first time for several years as does her compatriot Valerie Kanavy, a double world champion.
Meanwhile HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose son Sheikh Ahmed won the world individual title in 2002 at the age of just 16, will lead a strong UAE defence of its world team title for the third time in succession having won convincingly in both Kentucky and Terengganu.
Alvarez’s winning time of 7hr: 35min.44sec at the Alltech Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010 will be a target for the winning rider, while teams will be looking to emulate the UAE’s 2010 winning total ride time of 23hr53min36sec – the fastest yet scored a championship.
A total of 29 teams have entered the championship including the host nation Great Britain who were last on the medal table at the 2000 World Championships in Compiegne, France.
Championship organiser James MacEwan said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the world’s leading endurance riders and horses to Euston Park and to what should be a memorable championship in a great year for sport in Britain.”
Alongside title sponsor Longines, two Dubai industry giants, Meydan and Emaar Properties are additional supporters of the championships.
With around 1000 participants, riders, crew and officials, the championship will have a significant economic impact on the area around Euston Park and the Newmarket area during the build-up and immediately post competition.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
2012 WEC: Meet Netherlands rider Carmen Romer-Theunissen
Ponypraat.nl[google translation]
I'm Carmen Romer-Theunissen, 27 years old and married to Kay Theunissen.
I am active since 1995 in the endurance sport, a branch of equestrian sport in which 160 km in one day is made. Since 2003 I make part of the Dutch team.
game 19 times from 160 km of spreading, 5 times Dutch champion, european champion 2006 peak.
I travel for the sport around the world, am now in 23 countries and have started a total of 134 completed matches well with a total of over 12,000 well driven race kilometers. Of these 28 victories, second place 22 times and 10 times third.
My race reports are always available on www.Carmenromer.web-log.nl
Friday, August 17, 2012
Australian Endurance horses settle into their Suffolk training base ahead of World Championships
the horses are hand walked on the grounds of the Riddlesworth Equestrian Centre
WA.Equestrian.org.au
Thursday, 16 August 2012
The team of horses which have travelled to the UK for the World Endurance Championships are settling into their temporary accommodation at the Riddlesworth Equestrian Centre in Suffolk.
The four horses arrived in the UK last Thursday ahead of the World Endurance Championships which take place on 25 August.
“All four horses have recovered from the long trip and have been exercised with light rides and hand walks. They are doing good work and in the next few days they will do longer and faster sessions,” said Chef d’Equipe Peter Toft.
“The horses have great stables and paddocks and the training trails are excellent – we have a nice marked 20 kilometre loop,” he added.
“The grass here is lush and green so although the horses have enjoyed it, we are limiting the grazing,” Toft said.
Riders Penny Toft, Talea Haskow-Stewart and Norbert Radney have arrived at camp with Alexandra Toft due to arrive later this week.
Great Britain: An update from Endurance rider Chris Yeoman
NSBits.com
15 Aug 2012 05:41:02
Chris Yeoman has a very busy few weeks ahead of her. Not only has she been picked to represent GB in the World Endurance Championships at Euston Park, Thetford, with her horse LM Crazy Girl; her other horse LM Greyson has been picked as the fourth reserve horse.
This is a fantastic achievement and we are looking forward to seeing how she does! The Neue Schule advice team is travelling down to the Endurance Championships on the 25th August to support Neue Schule stockist Saddle Exchange. If you are going to the Endurance Championships and would like advice on any aspect of bitting please don’t hesitate to come and visit the stand.
We asked Chris which Neue Schule bits she finds best for her horses:
“My endurance horses have to be light and manoeuvrable at speed and controllable on a start line of anything up to 100 horses so the bit I use is a very important tool that I have and Neue Schule are excellent for a variety of horses with individual issues.
Greyson was always strong in the hand and would lean heavily on me on the first loop. I now have him in a Neue Schule Swales bit which has taken the pressure off the poll leaving him lighter in the hand and more responsive to my aids.
Crazy Girl my championship horse is from Argentina and very sensitive to her bit so she is in the Universal which gives me stopping power without a fight and she mouths the bit well giving a softer feel to my hands.”
Posted in News Sponsored Riders By Rhiannon Lister
15 Aug 2012 05:41:02
Chris Yeoman has a very busy few weeks ahead of her. Not only has she been picked to represent GB in the World Endurance Championships at Euston Park, Thetford, with her horse LM Crazy Girl; her other horse LM Greyson has been picked as the fourth reserve horse.
This is a fantastic achievement and we are looking forward to seeing how she does! The Neue Schule advice team is travelling down to the Endurance Championships on the 25th August to support Neue Schule stockist Saddle Exchange. If you are going to the Endurance Championships and would like advice on any aspect of bitting please don’t hesitate to come and visit the stand.
We asked Chris which Neue Schule bits she finds best for her horses:
“My endurance horses have to be light and manoeuvrable at speed and controllable on a start line of anything up to 100 horses so the bit I use is a very important tool that I have and Neue Schule are excellent for a variety of horses with individual issues.
Greyson was always strong in the hand and would lean heavily on me on the first loop. I now have him in a Neue Schule Swales bit which has taken the pressure off the poll leaving him lighter in the hand and more responsive to my aids.
Crazy Girl my championship horse is from Argentina and very sensitive to her bit so she is in the Universal which gives me stopping power without a fight and she mouths the bit well giving a softer feel to my hands.”
Posted in News Sponsored Riders By Rhiannon Lister
Impressive U.S World Endurance Squad
Arabianhorseworld.com - Full Article
August 8 2012
by Genie Stewart-Spears
Six horse and rider combinations will represent the U.S. in the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship on August 25 at Euston Park, in Great Britain. The selection process has been tedious and difficult, but the final choice by Chef d’Equipe Emmett Ross is impressive:
John Crandell III - Virginia - Heraldic (*Statistic x Mi Hearts Desire) - 14 - John Jr. and Linda Crandell
Becky Hart - California - No Repeat (*Wiking x Justonetime) - 10 - Becky Hart
Valerie Kanavy - Virginia - Reach For The Gold (Tashkent x CJ Halynova) - 9 - Larry and Valerie Kanavy
Nicki Meuten, DVM - North Carolina - Not Tonight (MC Zoulou x FF Carrera) - 10 - Don and Nicki Meuten
Heather Reynolds - California - Riverwatch (Baywatch V x Dana Cheyenne) - 8 - Reynolds and Skip Lightfoot
Jeremy Reynolds - California - A Kutt Above (Patriot Missle x Sahibrs Diamond) - 11 - Reynolds and Skip Lightfoot
The six riders have a combined mileage of 81,470 miles or 131,113 kilometers in competition (this does not include international competitions). Between five of the six riders, they have five World championship and five National championship titles, eight Western States Tevis Cup wins, along with several Old Dominion wins...
Read more here:
http://www.arabianhorseworld.com/live/breaking_news/2012/08/us-endurance-squad/
August 8 2012
by Genie Stewart-Spears
Six horse and rider combinations will represent the U.S. in the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship on August 25 at Euston Park, in Great Britain. The selection process has been tedious and difficult, but the final choice by Chef d’Equipe Emmett Ross is impressive:
John Crandell III - Virginia - Heraldic (*Statistic x Mi Hearts Desire) - 14 - John Jr. and Linda Crandell
Becky Hart - California - No Repeat (*Wiking x Justonetime) - 10 - Becky Hart
Valerie Kanavy - Virginia - Reach For The Gold (Tashkent x CJ Halynova) - 9 - Larry and Valerie Kanavy
Nicki Meuten, DVM - North Carolina - Not Tonight (MC Zoulou x FF Carrera) - 10 - Don and Nicki Meuten
Heather Reynolds - California - Riverwatch (Baywatch V x Dana Cheyenne) - 8 - Reynolds and Skip Lightfoot
Jeremy Reynolds - California - A Kutt Above (Patriot Missle x Sahibrs Diamond) - 11 - Reynolds and Skip Lightfoot
The six riders have a combined mileage of 81,470 miles or 131,113 kilometers in competition (this does not include international competitions). Between five of the six riders, they have five World championship and five National championship titles, eight Western States Tevis Cup wins, along with several Old Dominion wins...
Read more here:
http://www.arabianhorseworld.com/live/breaking_news/2012/08/us-endurance-squad/
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