Royal Team set for Catus clash

SHAIKH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa leads the Royal Team at the Catus International Endurance Horseride Championship which will be flagged off in France today.

The 120-km race is being held under the supervision of the International Endurance Federation.

Spain will be lining up 15 riders in this six-stage race which starts at 8.00 am (Bahrain time).

Brazil have three riders in the fray while Qatar two. Britain and Luxembourg will be each represented by one rider while UAE and the US are yet to confirm their participation.

Shaikh Nasser will be riding Australian-based Bawara Shabbi which will be making its European endurance debut. Shaikh Khalid will be astride Sunway River.

Royal Team members Yusif Tahar and Hamad Al Marissi will ride Australian-based Aloha Gooda and Sundry respectively while Fouad Jawhar will take part in the event on Sebastian.

Khalid Al Ruwae will not be taking part in the race as his horse Jallad is injured.

Helenans set to run and ride in Libby

By JENNIFER PENTON - IR Sports Writer - 07/09/05

Two runners, a horse and a 35 mile championship trail race through the Kootenai National Forest is just a few of the challenges to capturing the 25th Ride and Tie World Championship.

After only training with partners for two days, Becky Convery will attempt her first Ride and Tie.

"It is a great challenge," Convery said. "I will try it out and I hope to have fun."

The eventnn which is comprised of trail running, endurance ridding and strategynn will be held today, beginning at 9 a.m. near Libby.

Convery, from Helena, is a novice horse rider, but excels in running half-marathons and trail races.


Michelle Richardson, from Helena, will also be competing in the championship for her first time. Richards' partner, Pat Browning, is an experienced Ride and Tie rider from California.

Convery said she found out about the Ride and Tie through a Montana road race calendar and researched the event from there.

"When I went to the web site to see what it was all about I was immediately hooked," Convery said.

Convery said she was introduced to her partner, Janet Dodd from Spokane, Wash., through the Ride and Tie Association. Convery and Dodd met and trained last weekend for two days. The training was the only time the two would be able to strategize and prepare for the championships.

Convery then traveled to Libby on Thursday to attend pre-race events and make final preparations with Dodd.

"We have similar running abilities and will try to split the running throughout the race," Convery said. "We are not sure of a strategy other than to do the 35 mile race."

The Ride and Tie is not a new sport though it is not widely known. The organization has been in existence since 1971 to promote combined running and equine endurance. The goal of the Ride and Tie is to get all three team membersnn two humans and a horsenn across a cross-country course by alternating riding and running. The partners switch ridding the horse throughout the race while the other runner runs beside on the trail.

Teams will be traveling from Virginia, North Carolina and Californiann where the sport began. Several teams have also entered from Canada to compete for the championships.

Though it would seem as though there would be pre-qualifying for the world championships, Convery said there is no experience necessary to compete in the event.

According to a press release from Carol Ruprecht with the Ride and Tie Association, anyone is welcome to compete in the championship and the event is open to novice competitors.

"There is quite a mix of competitors," Convery said. "Some have been competing for 30 years and some are new."

Convery said she ran in the Helena Governor's Cup in May and since then has been running about three miles a few times each week to prepare for the Ride and Tie.

"Training is sporadic and short," Convery said. "I run a couple a days a week and my biggest distance training has been competing in half-marathons.

"If it was not for the training in the Governor's Cup I would not be able to compete (in the Ride and Tie."

The biggest challenge for Convery will be riding Rio, Dodd's horse.

"I am an intermediate runner, but I have not ridden in 20 years," Convery said. "I have basic ridding skills."

Rio will also be competing is his first Ride and Tie. Dodd has spent the past few weeks training Rio to follow instructions and riding long distances.

Dodd has also been working with Rio to prevent being spooked.

"The most difficult thing is to have the horse tired and spooked," Convery said. "Janet has been working on having someone follow behind Rio to prevent spooking."

Convery said she has always been interested in horses, but has not much of an opportunity to ride.

"I would like to have horses eventually and the Ride and Tie sounds like a great sport to incorporate some ridding."

There will be prize money awarded to the top team in each category as well as an overall first place win by a pro-am team.

A custom made eight pound horse saddle will also be awarded by a special drawing.

The event will be videotaped for Horse-TV to be aired on a special broadcast at a later date.

Scales Mound woman wins national endurance title

By Jane Lethlean

(photo:
Michelle Mattingley of Scales Mound poses with her Arabian horse DSAristoi at her home. Mattingley recently won the national title for endurance horse racing in Ashland, Mont. )

The Journal-Standard

Michelle Mattingley of Scales Mound loves horses. She always has. And that love has led her towards another love, endurance racing.

After 12 years of competing, she recently won the national championship at the American Endurance Ride Conference held in Ashland, Mont.

This event was at the Circle Bar Ranch, a working cattle ranch that dates back to 1883.

Mattingley's event followed a course through the ranch and into the Custer National Forest. Much of the course passed through various rock formations and followed Native American Trails.

Having conquered the American race, she hopes to be invited to the world games in Aiken, Germany in 2006.

Winning the race was a big accomplishment for Mattingley, but she has already earned other titles with the horses that she owns. For example, in 2001, she took a championship with a horse that she sold, which now lives in the United Arab Emirates.

"Endurance racing is a family sport," Mattingley said. "Both my husband Joe and I compete in events, mostly in the Midwest, but winning the recent national award was pretty exciting."


While she was happy to have the title from her most recent ride, she said one of the most coveted prizes to also receive is the Best Conditioned Award, given to the fittest hose in the competition. Her Arabian gelding, DSAristoi, earned that award.

Endurance racing is a test of horse's condition and stamina and the rider's intelligence. The grueling test takes horse and rider long distances - 50 to 100 miles - over varied terrain.

Because of the rigor of the race, it is done under veterinary supervision.

It also takes a "pit crew" to compete in endurance racing. Sometimes crew members accompany Mattingley to the race and other times she is able to assemble a team at the race site. Endurance horse racing, like car racing, has pit stops to water and cool the horse before getting back on the track.

A veterinarian examines each horse for any soreness or change in attitude, pulse, respiration and other physical factors. Failure to meet any of these criteria for racing can stop a horse from completing the course.

The American Endurance Ride is a 100-mile course, Mattingley said, that must be completed within 24 hours. A 50 mile course must be completed in half that time. The first racer to complete the course with the best time wins.

"As a horse lover, endurance racing allows me to not only ride one of my horses, but it also allows me to do this in some beautiful areas of the country," Mattingley said. "This type of racing is a team effort. You really have to know your horse. It is about trust.

"My husband and I have competed in the deep sand dunes of Manitoba, Canada and hard-packed the mountains of Vermont," Mattingley said. "We have also ridden the terrain of the Smokey Mountains and the flat sandy trails in Florida."

Long training needed

Mattingley said that it takes years of training to build up the trust that is needed to take a horse to an endurance competition.

"Endurance racing is an extremely challenging sport," Mattingley said. "I spend many hours working with my Arabians, making them an athlete. The training is rigorous."

Tucked away in the hills of Jo Daviess County, Mattingley trains her horses. She and Joe live in a picturesque part of the county that offers up just the right training ground. Horses graze along the hillsides visible from their long, twice-gated lane.

"Our property offers up just the right hills ... for training," Mattingley explains. "We have over five miles of trails that we use for training."

Mattingley grew up in a city and once she fell in love with horses, she says she couldn't wait to move to the country.

After she graduated from college, her first big purchase was a horse. She bought a thoroughbred from the Arlington track.

At her first competition in 1993, her horse did well during the 25-mile test, but she learned a thoroughbred is not the type of horse she needed to go further. She bought herself an Arabian and has been "hooked ever since."

Both Mattingley and her husband hold down full-time jobs, but it is at the end of the day that they start the work they really love: their "full-time passion" for raising and training the 30 Arabian horses they own.

Sporthorse Concepts is what they call their business, which includes brood mares and a stallion.

With each competition that Mattingley enters, she keeps a different goal in mind.

"All courses are different and we have had our share of bad luck, too, " she says, adding, "DSAristoi, the horse I won the championship with is undefeated. I have a good feeling about being able to compete at the world level with him. That is my goal, to win the world games. That would be the ultimate challenge."

Mattingley says raising, training and racing horses is a big job for her and her husband.

"The horses are our life, it is our focus," Mattingley said.

Shaikh Khalid is 'youngest Arab rider'

AL Khaldiya Stables captain Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa yesterday won the 'Youngest Arab Rider' title after taking part in the Florac International Endurance Horseride Championship in France. Riding Asterida Izba, Shaikh Khalid finished 20th in the six-stage race held over a distance of 160 kms.

The race, which started at 4am yesterday, witnessed a strong European participation who competed against the Roay Team riders and UAE's contender Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi.

Royal Team rider Yusif Tahar also managed to finish the race despite experiencing difficulties, particularly in the second stage.

Meanwhile, Hamad Al Marissi, who was riding Sunway River, quit in the second stage.

The Royal Team left for the Catous region to train for the next race to be held on Saturday.

His Majesty King Hamad congratulated Shaikh Khalid on his achievement.

Mohammed?s Orkara wins Florac

By A Correspondent

4 July 2005

DUBAI ? Orkara, bred and owned by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, with Katie Smith aboard won the Florac endurance ride in France.


Florac, one of the oldest rides in France dating back to 1976, is considered by many as the most difficult one in Europe.

Orkara, sired by Bakara, a full brother to Cheri Bibi the sire of Bengali D?Albert, a brilliant Arabian racehorse owned by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry.

Orkara, a nine-year-old pure Arabian bay gelding, started his life as a racehorse trained by Bill Smith in the UK. He achieved moderate success on the racetrack which included a win at Stratford (UK) in 2001. Smith describes him as a very good looking horse beautifully proportioned but a ruffian and arrogant and aggressive horse not an easy ride.

When his racing days ended Smith sent him to Pierre Morvan in France for endurance training. In 2004 he completed a 120km ride at a very slow pace then in April this year Orkara finished sixth with Morvan over 160km at Le Vigan in France.

Smith said this win was much unexpected as the horse had been entered just to see if he could cope with the extremely tough conditions.

It was Smith?s daughter Katie that triumphed on Orkara, entering the record books as the first British rider to win Florac in its 30 year history. Smith is a talented rider having won major events in three equestrian spheres Arabian Flat racing, Hunter showing and endurance on a global scale. This world famous French ride that was motivated by the Tevis, the Mother of Endurance, in 1984 Florac was the venue of the first European Championship. It is currently organised by a newly-formed organisation, Association Equestrian Lozere Endurance (LEE) and W?rsan Stables Abu Dhabi were one of the major sponsors.

Orkara true to form was aggressive from the start where he tried his best to dislodge Katie. They were in the leading trio from 77 entries over the first stage of 33.5km ridden by the light of the moon. Katie and Orkara moved into pole position over the second stage of 43.3km the longest which included the climb to the summit of Mount Aiguoal.

They set out with a four minute advantage on third stage of 22.5 km which they maintain as they set out on the fourth stage of just 15.5km, the shortest but the hottest part of the day. Katie led a group of four riders who finished this leg at the same time.

Three of the group Smith, Pascale Dietsch (second place finish) Denis Pesce (third place finish) rode together over the penultimate stage of 18.9km and left together on the final loop of 20.4km which started with the long climb to the Collar of Montmirat christened ?The Justice of The Peace?.

The fourth rider Catherine Roland was eliminated after the fifth stage. UAE rider Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi, director general of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club finished 25th out of the 30 riders who completed the ride which also included Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain in the 20th position.

Just prior to receiving the trophy, a jubilant Katie overwhelmed by her success, commented: ?I can?t believe it. It?s unreal.

?He just charged off at the start.

?I had to let him choose his own speed as he would waste too much energy if I fought him.

He was just fantastic as he powered up the mountains. ?The last loop was the hardest a 10km climb then a very step descent. Three of us were riding together. We planned to take the descent slowly but suddenly four riders galloped up behind us so it turned into flat race over the last two kilometre.?

No doubt Orkara?s aggressive nature was an asset as he fought any horse that challenged his supremacy and Katie?s skill as a flat race jockey were a great attribute at this time.

Only fractions of a second separated the winning trio who had averaged 14.60kph.

Surprisingly Katie, a member of the British team for the last European and two World Championships, has not been selected by Endurance Great Britain for the Endurance Championship at Compiegne during the month of August this year.

Bahrain gear up for juniors horseride

PREPARATIONS are in full swing to host the World Juniors Endurance Horseride Championship on December 8 at the Endurance Village premises in Sakhir.

The event will be organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef).

Breef member Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Mubarak Al Khalifa said maintenance and upgradation work got underway immediately after the end of last season.

Shaikh Daij said there will be additional stables included at the village to house over 120 horses in addition to a veterinary clinic, a registration office and towers especially designed to hold the television cameras.

Other facilities include a modern cafeteria and seats for spectators and a media centre.

Shaikh Daij thanked Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his support and encouragement.

Shaikh Nasser paid a visit to the village and inspected the facilities available.

Meanwhile, the championship's organising committee chairman and the General Organisation for Youth and Sports president Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa yesterday chaired a committee meeting and reviewed latest preparations being made to organise this event.

The committee includes Breef second vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and members Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Ghalib Al Alawi, Arif Al Mansoori, Dr Khalid Hassan, Shaikh Mohammed bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Mahmood Budrees, Haider Al Zo'bi and Abdulsahib Hassan

Sisters galloping into arms of Great Britain

By Ruth Loney
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

25 June 2005
Two of Northern Ireland's leading young international endurance riders, Helen (15) and Suzanne (19) Perry, from Dromore, have defected from the Irish team to ride for Great Britain.

The sisters, the daughters of Ken and Sharon Perry have been successful members of the Irish endurance squad but have now received their licences and in future will be competing for Great Britain.

Suzanne said that although it would be more difficult to qualify for events because of the higher class of rider, she hoped the change would mean they had more support and better competition opportunities.

The girls are aiming to represent Britain at the International Championships later this year at Bahrain. Both are consistent on the world circuit with Suzanne competing regularly in the Middle East and having sold two of her Arab horses to the defence minister Sheik Mohammed Al Maktoum of Dubai.

The Perry family run an extensive Arab breeding programme at Dromore where their international endurance horses are kept fit in a daily routine by Suzanne and her mother Sharon who are full-time in the sport.

Helen has had particular success in the last few weeks having had two major wins in England.

Last weekend Helen, in 28 degrees heat won the three-star 122km endurance race in Cirencester with her stallion Metallica. This was a hectic finish where Helen galloped to the last.

Recently Helen also won the international young riders 120km at Dukeries, Sherwood Forest in Nottingham with Wesam. Suzanne was also successful and won the 160km race with her Arab Irish draught cross pony Merry Dancer. The sisters also won the award for best condition of their animals.

Mrs Perry, said: "The girls are delighted to have both received their licences and are now aiming towards European and world championship selection. Their successes in England have been well noted by selectors and they are looking forward to serious competition."

Suzanne said: "We have been thinking about changing to Great Britain for some time and are both delighted to have received our FEI licences to compete."