France: Belgium Wins Team Title

Pamela Burton
EnduranceWorld.net

Belgium captured the Team Gold at the 2004 La Baule CEIO*** Endurance Race today. The Belgium team finished three riders/horses in the competition to achieve and overall combined time of 31:28:57. Portugal achieved the Silver position and host France, finishing 2 riders/horses, received Bronze.

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Biltmore: Stagg Newman and Jayel Super Win Biltmore 100

Angie McGhee
EnduranceWorld.net

Stagg Newman riding Jayel Super finished first in the 2004 Biltmore Estate Challenge 100 Mile Endurance Race. Newman bested a field of 78 competitors to finish the course in the dark at 21:53 with a ride time of 12 hours and 3 minutes.


Earlier in the day, Karen Freer riding HMS Short Stack completed first in the 50 mile event.

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La Baule: Early Results

Pamela Burton
EnduranceWorld.net


Hi!..I am just back into the Press room....they will close this in about 1/2 hours...so I will send you the first 6 in...the rest are still arriving...whatever else I can get out...and more tomorrow.

Final

1. IT Diana Origgi, Jasmineh
2. FR Sophie Arnaud, Dalton Du Capimont
3. IT Angela Origgi, Jadana...(sister of #1)
4. FR Sabrina Hili, Eulalie D'out Law
5. FR Barbara Lissarrague, Persiah (a Persik horse)
6. FR Emilie Lambert, Fidji

Pamela


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Biltmore: Vet In

Angie McGhee
EnduranceWorld.net

Here I am at Biltmore...actually been there all day, now it’s 11PM and I’m at a Kinkos trying to transfer photos. First off I have some retractions to make. That’s what I get for starting my coverage from home. >g< First, the FEI people no longer get the good parking places near the vet check. They've been exiled to Siberia...the very far end of camp. Fortunately they took their scales with them so they didn't all have to drag their tack down to weigh. It'll be near impossible to stop at the trailer to get anything they don't have at the check though since it's about ½ mile to the trailer.

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Ride Coverage Site

Biltmore: The Course

EnduranceWorld.net
Angie McGhee


Let's talk about the trail at Biltmore. First thing in the morning you head out in the direction of the "Big House". The trails are often carriage trails so they're wide enough for a jeep. They are not particularly steep though they do have climbs. As starts go this will be one of the less hair raising ones. It's nice because the road has plenty of dips and turns that keep all of the horses except the ones just in front of yours out of sight avoiding that "radar lock" on the horse 1/2 mile ahead runaway situation. These roads were built for the sake of having roads, not to get somewhere, so there are many turns and they take the gradual course of ascent and descent. These roads are also used by jumpers and you'll often look up ahead only to see a large timber jump appearing to block your path but when you get there there is always a "go around". >whew<

There is one sizable climb on this loop but for the most part the altitude changes at Biltmore are more like running up and down two or three flights of stairs all day than climbing up the Empire State Building and back down. After going through the woods you emerge near one of the, honest to goodness "charming" estate caretakers cottages. If you're lucky they may even have a water trough out at the road for you. One of the water troughs comes complete with a pen full of cows right beside it and they find endurance horses fascinating. They especially love to stare until a horse finally risks dropping his nose for a drink, then they explode in every direction...every year it's the same. They love that trick. You have one of your first asphalt crossings and may ride the verge of the road at times on this loop. I cringe every time our 200 horses hit these groomed shoulders but I guess they know what they're in for when they let us on the place.

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Coverage Site

The trip to La Baule

Pamela Burton
May 7


Though sunny today, it is still cool here on the Atlantic Coast of
France, with a stiff breeze. If the weather is like this tomorrow,
the day of the ride, it should make for excellent riding conditions.

Friday afternoon - on to the Vet-In...I had to to pass on the
fresh oysters they were serving in the press room (lack of time) and
head to the trot -out paddock, which happens to be a nearrby lovely
park among the surrounding houses, I immediately run into Dr. Dane
Frazier from the US. He was extremely genial as is his habit, and
very complimentary of his treatment by the highly organized,
Organizing Committee. Dr. Frazier is here as one of the 9
veterinarians from as many countries, as a line vet...he said,
"his favorite job".

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Coverage Site

[RC] Time to start talkin' bout Biltmore

Ridecame: 06May04
Angie McGhee


WOW! 81 starters in the 100. That's HUGE!!! I'll be heading up to Biltmore EARLY Friday morning and will be posting back to you guys any way we find to get it here. I've got my whole family lined up to work Friday and between Bill photographing, me with the tape recorder, laptop, pen and pencil and cell phone and Bonnie & Josie acting as runners (drivers) to hopefully take my disk to the nearest internet access. The mountains are steep and close in at Biltmore so John may be hearing a whole lot of "Can you hear me NOW?"

I've entered 11 rides on the Biltmore course and have 9 completions. Kaboot got thumps back in 97 after I tried some old non-endurance electrolytes (was running 4th at the 40 mile mark), then pulled "rider option" in 02 the year that it rained so hard the night before that they dropped the 100 down to 80 and it rained buckets all day. My horse was good at 40 miles but the trail and conditions weren't so I decided to option out when the nominated horses did. I've top tenned twice in the 50, and completed 3 100's...the fastest in 13:27. So, there's my resume' for commentary. I may not be the person to ask how to win the ride, but I've got a pretty good idea how to get through it and what the challenges are. Since I'm having to be an "at home" armchair commentator right now, I just thought I'd describe what it's like if you're a first timer. If you're looking for commentary on this year's entries that'll be coming later.

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Coverage Site