Australia: Top Riders Return

By DON MAHONEY
Friday, 29 September 2006

Two of Australia's best endurance riders will be in action when the NSW State Championships return to the popular Windeyer course this weekend.

This year's event is being hosted by the Windeyer Progress Association Endurance Ride Committee.

Committee Secretary/Treasurer Mick O'Hare said yesterday that two riders who have just returned from representating Australia at the World Titles at Arken in Germany were among the 70 nominations for the ride.

"They are Brad Semple, who is one of 10 riders who are coming from Queensland and Jennifer Gilbertson from Wiseman's Ferry who is no stranger to the Windeyer course," O'Hare said.

"Another interesting rider is a former winner of the State title when the ride was held at Windeyer Stuart Hitchcock from East Kurrajong.

"Three local riders have also nominated for this 160 kilometre event.

"Gloria Mills, who warmed up for this event with a win at the inaugural Quirindi ride, along with Kate Pilley and Bernice King will carry local hopes in this major event.

"We are delighted to have such a strong entry for the ride as we were only expecting 50 when we first took on this year's event."

New rules to meet OH & S requirements mean there has to be some changes to the course but O'Hare said these changes will make the event a little easier to organise and should be easier on competitors.

The Windeyer recreation ground will, as usual with Windeyer rides, once again be the base for the ride with riders returning to base after each leg of the cloverleaf course.

"The Windeyer recreation ground is a great spot for spectators to come and keep an eye on preceedings," O'Hare said.

"There are also good vantage points on the public roads along the course but spectators who want to watch from these places are asked not to hamper riders or traffic in these areas.

"Catering for competitors and their support crew and spectators will be available at the base.'

O'Hare said that while the creeks and water holes may have dried up, organisers have arranged for plenty of water for competitors and their steeds to be available throughout the course.

Head vet this year is Kyn Hagan from Kempsey, who will be assisted by Ray Gooley of Mudgee, who has become a legend in this role among the endurance community.

The ride commences at 2am on Sunday morning and riders have 24 hours to complete the course.

The fittest horse test will take place at 8am on Monday morning and presentations to the winners and buckles to those who complete the course will be presented at 10am on Monday.

Sponsors of this year's event are RD Hooper Engineering, Landmark Mudgee, Kelletts Stockfeeds, Price Farm Machinery, Woolprep, Windeyer Hotel, Pat Pilley Earthmoving, McCarroll Motors, Greg's Tyres & Mechanical, Mudgee Rural Supplies and Ian Colley Earthmoving.
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Les Deux Jours de Montcuq

AROUND THE WORLD IN 30 YEARS

The internationally known, prestigious endurance race, "Les Deux Jours de Montcuq" is embarking on its 30th year of existence. During those 30 years the founder, Pierre Passemard traveled around the world observing and participating in other endurance races, gaining a lot of experience and contacts (including in Australia in the 80 th). This enabled him to be able to bring together, here in the South West of France, international riders of the highest caliber, forging it into one of the preeminent races of its kind.

While many races have come and gone over the years, historically "Les Deux Jours de Montcuq is one of the oldest sustaining endurance races in the world. With few alterations, the course has remained the same, mapped over some of the most outstanding, unspoiled, rugged countryside of France relentlessly challenging some of the finest riders from all over the globe.

With this in mind, the officials of the "Deux Jours de Montcuq" wish to invite you to enter the premier classic endurance race of France, to compete with some of the world's best riders and horses in the beautifully unique venue of the "Quercy Blanc" on the 30th anniversary of its running.

Website

Auborn CA to Host Endurance Street Party

The City of Auburn and the Endurance Capital Committee is planning another gala Street Party in Old Town Auburn on Saturday evening, October 7th, 2006.
Mark you calendars now and get ready for a fun filled evening featuring -

* Grand recap of the season with a Multi-Media Show
* Row of Champions with Poster Signing - includes at least 25 local endurance athletes
* Salute to a local hero's 25th finish of the WS100 - Tim Tweitmeyer!
and to Hal Hall's 25 Tevis Cup Ride finishes - maybe 26 by then.
* Salute to the WS Trail Force Crew who keep the trails in great shape for all to enjoy
* Raffle with great prizes
* Endurance Supply Vendors
* Endurance Sports Bar
* Endurance Games for the kids
* Food booths

Bring the family and enjoy another evening reflecting on the awesome feats performed in our own fabulous "backyard".
See you there,
Shannon Weil and the Endurance Capital Committee
(530) 885-5599 sweil@foothill.net

Canada: Local equestrians take gold in Quebec

Horse that was expected to die defies odds to come back as champion
Tim Murphy, New Hamburg
New Hamburg Photo
TIM MURPHY, INDEPENDENT STAFF

Tom Paleczny and Steve Bond recently rode Raemes Magiciann to gold medal wins a few weeks ago. Magiciann is considered to be a bit of a miracle horse.



(Sep 20, 2006)

Rather than ride his horse, Steve Bond sometimes chooses to chase after it.

Bond was recently in Quebec with his parents Lesley and Tom Paleczny, competing in the Northwind Challenge Canadian Championships.

The team brought home gold in both the 20-mile ride and tie, and the 50-mile endurance race.

"We have to be fit too," said Bond, sitting down in his family's equestrian centre on Puddicombe Road.

A ride and tie isn't a new event, but is a relatively unknown event outside of equestrian circles.

Two humans and one horse make up a team -- in this case, Bond and friend Eric Schmidt, along with 13-year-old Anglo-Arab breed Raemes Magiciann.

In this case, the course was 20 miles along. In a mass start, horses line up with one rider, and one person on foot. The first rider takes off ahead on the trail and ties the horse to a tree. That rider then takes off on foot, while the other teammate catches up, hops on the horse and continues to ride.

This leap frog practice continues until the end of the course, and the fastest team wins.

"Endurance racing is quite a popular sport right now," said Tom Paleczny.

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Australia: Big Woodstock weekend for the endurance riders

Wednesday, 20 September 2006

The course is set, the firewood cut and the arrows are being dusted off as the Lachlan Endurance Rider Club prepares to host its annual programme of endurance riding at the Woodstock Showground on the weekend of 23rd and 24th September.

Riders are expected from all around the State, with many horses coming to do a final hit out before the State Championships the following weekend at Wyndyer, near Mudgee. Many of the local identities will also be taking part with Alan & Erika Lindsay, Annette Bailey, Nikki Tucker, Robin Gossip, Di Cameron, Erica Allan, Louise Baker, just to name a few who will be enjoying their home turf.

Scheduled is an 80km ride which will cover two legs, the first being 50km and the 2nd 30kms. The 40km training ride will travel over the majority of the 1st Leg of the 80km ride with a very enjoyable 20km social ride planned for those wanting to have a taste of the sport.

Horses for the 80km and 40km rides will be vetted on Saturday commencing at 1pm with the actual rides commencing on Sunday morning at 5.30am and 6.00am consecutively.

Entries for the social ride are being taken either on Saturday or, to make things a little easier for those wanting to participate in this ride, also on Sunday morning commencing at 8am to 9am with the ride starting at 9.30am.

Once again, the Cowra Cadet Corp will be catering a two course dinner for $10 on Saturday night and will also be manning some of the many gates around the course, which will take in local farming and grazing properties, as well as historic stock routes in the Woodstock district.

Due to the difficulties the town is experiencing at the moment, the Club is subsidising all prizes for the winners, with the exception of Cowra & Holmwood Wreckers who continue to be great supporters of the Club. If business houses in Cowra are interested in supporting this wonderful institution that continues in the District, don't hesitate to contact the Ride Secretary, Helen Brown on 63450107.

Helen is also the contact to nominate for any of the above rides or for any information regarding the weekend.

Cowra Guardian

Adequan® to Go the Distance with AERC

Equestrian News Release
AUBURN, Ca.?The American Endurance Conference (AERC) is proud to announce Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as its new Platinum Sponsor and AERC National Mileage Sponsor.

?Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the makers of Adequan® (POLYSULFATED GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN), is honored to be the ?Official Joint Therapy? of AERC,? said Allyn Mann, Senior Manager of the Animal Health Division of Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ?We are excited to support a group of riders and owners who understand the importance of maintaining healthy, functioning joints. Any time you plan to ride a horse 50 or 100 miles, their legs take a beating. Adequan® helps to keep their joints healthy so they can participate in these rides.?

AERC President and veteran endurance rider Stagg Newmann, who uses Adequan® on his own competition horses as part of their routine joint therapy, is delighted with the partnership. ?Given what we ask of our horses over years and miles of competition, they deserve the best care we can provide, including the best joint therapy.?

Adequan® restores synovial lubrication to facilitate joint movement by inducing a rapid, significant increase of synovial hyaluronic acid within 24 hours of intramuscular injection. Adequan® decreases inflammation of the synovial membrane, relieves pain caused by the swelling and inflammation associated with joint disease, inhibits harmful enzymes that attack the synovial fluid and cartilage and helps restore the natural balanced ?wear and repair? cycle within the joint.

?Endurance riding is an extreme test for our equines, and therefore they require the utmost care and conditioning to be successful,? said AERC spokesperson Randy Eiland. ?AERC is proud that we put our horse?s welfare above all else, making Adequan® the perfect sponsor for AERC. The proper use of Adequan® not only protects our horses? joints from naturally occurring wear and repair, it also allows these great animals to compete, be active and lead productive lives well into what we used to consider old age. I can?t think of a more appropriate fit than Adequan® and AERC.?

Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has developed an animated CD that takes the viewer on a journey through the joint of a horse. It helps the viewer understand how a healthy joint functions, what happens when damage occurs, and the various FDA-approved treatment options and how well they work to improve the health of the joint. To obtain a copy of the CD, call (800) 972-9247, or view it at http://www.adequan.com.

2006 Virginia City 100 Results

joint winners:
Tom Johnson - AM Sands of Time (BC)
Kassandra DiMaggio - Bucks Mt Wind Prince (Geronimo)

Leslie Spitzer - JAC Eagle Cap (half arab pinto - yay!)
Gloria Vanderford - not sure - a Rushcreek horse?
Jr Hailey Daemler (sp?) - chestnut horse
Sandy Holder - Star
Tony Benendetti - Fargo
Gordon Westergard - Gulastras Knight (stallion!)
Kristan Flynn - OT Altatu RSI


tied 10th:
Catfish Daniels - Romey (sp?)
Melody Wong - KC

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