New Zealand to South Africa: Ride of her life

Timaru woman Linda Pullar is set to sightsee around South Africa on horseback.


The endurance horse rider has been selected in the New Zealand team to compete there in June.

The four riders were named at the recent Horse of the Year competition in Hastings.

As this year was the first time endurance riding had been included in the event it was also a first-time competition for Mrs Pullar.

"It was a childhood dream to go up and look at it let alone ride in it."

But the biggest thrill will be the upcoming trip when she wears the silver fern for the first time.

"I didn't get any foreword warning, it was all just a big surprise."

Mrs Pullar travelled to Hastings to compete as an individual in the 120km endurance event.

Upon arrival, however, she found herself named as reserve for the New Zealand team.

Mrs Pullar said as a team of riders from South Africa and an international team made up of riders from various countries including Spain and Belgium, had come to compete, officials decided New Zealand should also field a team.

Nearly 50 people were entered into the 120km endurance event but Mrs Pullar said only 33 started. Of those only 16 horse and rider combinations completed the tough course.

Mrs Pullar said many of the horses were "vetted-out" as their heart rates were too high.

"I think it was the extremes of very flat then very steep."

Mrs Pullar and her horse Kishon Fashamatazz passed each of their vet checks and were the third kiwi combination home, finishing in seventh place in just under seven hours.

As one of the New Zealand team riders failed their checks Mrs Pullar, as reserve, was slotted into the team.

And next weekend she will be back in the saddle, competing in the 100km event at the national endurance riding champs in Feilding on her second horse Kishon Abigail.

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FEI press; World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders Update

FEI Press

photo: Manuela Antonaccio (URU) with Metiche

And the winner is... Manuela Antonaccio from Uruguay riding Metiche

57 Riders, from 11 Nations competed for the FEI Individual and Team Junior/Young Rider World Championship Medals at Camp de Mayo last week.

Teams from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Southern Africa attended as did teams the Middle East and from across South America.

After an opening ceremony which concentrated on the link between the Horse and Argentine culture the competition began with the first inspection of the horses on the Thursday afternoon.

Friday morning, 6.30 am. Ride day. The weather was perfect – cool and with a slight breeze. The pace of the horses was steady throughout the day with the competitors showing horsemanship skills beyond their years.

A close result followed with Uruguay taking the Gold Medal in both the individual and team placings.

Uruguay also took the Individual Silver closely followed by the UAE taking Individual Bronze.

Team Silver medal went to the UAE, finishing with a combined time just 48 seconds less than Brazil who were awarded Team Bronze.

The Best Condition Award went to KALKADOON KAMPALA (UAE – 3rd Place, Individual)

INDIVIDUAL GOLD

Manuela Antonaccio URU riding METICHE at 22.50kph in 5h20


INDIVIDUAL SILVER

Ignacio Ospitaleche URU riding EO DUBUT at 21.50kph in 5h35


INDIVIDUAL BRONZE

Sh Abdullah bin Faisal al Qasimi UAE riding KALKADOON KAMPALA at 21.20kph in 5h40

Of the 11 teams that began the event, 8 teams finished the complete course.

Australia: Lindsay rides to SOTY win for January

Cowra Guardian - Australia

Photo: Erika Lindsay receives her Sportsperson of the Month Award for January from Leanne Mikoda of the Central West Credit Union.

Hours of riding in the saddle has finally paid off for endurance rider Erika Lindsay after being named Sportsperson of the Month for January.

Lindsay received the accolade on the back of being named both New South Wales and National Junior Rider of the Year for the Australian Endurance Riders Association.

The 15-year-old took out the award with a total of 123.5 points from the 2006 season - only 3.5 points ahead of her nearest rival and friend Allix Jones.

Jones did manage to pip Lindsay in the National Junior Distance Rider covering 2000 kilometres during the season compared to Lindsay's 1835 kilometres.

Lindsay and her horse, Kintimani Silver Motif, took out the One Horse One Rider combination covering 1270 kilometres together and collecting 86 points on the way.

She has finally reaped the rewards from the sport for all her effort being the sole trainer and rider of the horse.

While performing fantastically in the overall 2006 season, Lindsay's goal was to compete in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup National Championships in Queensland. It is considered the ultimate ride on the Australian calendar involving 100 miles in one day.

The ride was conducted in very wet and slippery conditions meaning it was a long slow haul for Erika and Kintimani Silver Motif but they eventually completed the gruelling race in seventh place in the junior section.

Lindsay also completed the ride with Cowra's Mary Symons.

Lindsay continued her string of gruelling rides in 2006 when she competed in the 400 kilometres Shahzda Memorial Marathon Ride where 80 kilometres is completed every day for five days.

She rode with father Alan and Kintimani Charisma to place as the second junior overall.

Lindsay's excellent results over the past year have been the culmination of five years of hard work as she started riding as a 10-year-old.

She completed training rides on homebred Kintimani Fosta (now retired) before joining the Cowra Pony Club and learning all the disciplines associated with various horse sports.

She only came back to endurance riding when another homebred horse Kintimani Silver Motif came of age to compete.

Turning 16 in November, Lindsay has been forced to leave the junior ranks and compete in the lightweight section amongst adults in 2007.

She has already gained a 4th and a 3rd place at Oberon and Bungendore respectively handling the step up in class admirably.

Lindsay would like to thank both her reliable farrier Gary Bryant and Rob Watt who has been so helpful with blood results and management to keep her on the road.

UAE: Al Shamsi rides Chetato to glory

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter
Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Saif Hamoud Saif Al Shamsi riding Chetato came up with a fine display in the final 12 kms to overtake Oman's Ahmad Salim Al Beloushi on Bahia and win the 100km Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge ride yesterday.

Saif started three minutes behind Ahmad but the two riders, both riding horses owned by Mattar Al Yabhouni, finished almost together with just a second separating the two.

Mattar became the proud owner of a Nissan Patrol. It is the second time he has won this award as his horses had also finished 1-2 in the earlier ride which was also earmarked for riders from small stables and those horses belonging to small owners.

The ride, organised by the Dubai Equestrian Club under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance and Industry, was held at the Dubai International Endurance City

Fifty riders started in this second round of the Challenge in which total prize money of Dh515,000 was on offer.

The UAE rider completed the CEN 100km ride - which gave the private-owned stables and individuals the chance to compete for Dh515,000 in prize-money - in 4hr.37m.27s.

Average speed

"I have finished second twice and this is my first win.

"It was a tough ride but during the breaks, Mattar Al Yabhouni kept advising on the tactics and I just followed it," said the winner.

Saif completed the 100-km distance in a timing of 4 hrs 37 mins and 27 seconds at an average speed of 21.63 kmph. Ahmad in second place won Dh50,000 while Saif Sultan Abdullah Dahi Al Buamim on Faras Ayhla finished third and carried home Dh35,000.

"Under the directives of Shaikh Hamdan, today's ride was exclusively for UAE and GCC riders. This initiative has been well received by riders from small stables and gives them a chance to compete against themselves and win attractive prizes," said Ali Moosa Al Khamiri, Head of Endurance at DEC.

Shaikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum and Ali Moosa distributed the trophies and the keys to the Nissan Patrol to Mattar Al Yabhouni.

Results

100-km Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge ride:

1. Saif Hamoud Saif Al Shamsi (Chetato) 4hrs 37 mins 27 secs.;

2. Ahmad Salim Al Beloushi-Oman-(Bahia) 4:37.28;

3. Saif Sultan Abdullah Dahi Al Buamim (Faras Ayhla) 5:09.06;

4. Saeed Al Mur Saeed Bin Helweh (Vonk) 5:14.18;

5. Mohammad Darwish Al Bashri (Karabil Wyoonah) 5:27.03.

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Scotland: Horse riders get in the saddle for Buchan trek

HORSE riders will be taking part in an organised trek around parts of Buchan this weekend.
The Forest of Deer Endurance Ride is being organised by the Grampian branch of the Scottish Endurance Riding Club and will take place on Sunday.
Ride organiser Jane Hollstein explained: "The rides have been split into five distances.
"The pleasure ride is about 12 miles long starting from Aden Country Park travelling north to the Forest of Deer, along the railway line and back through Old Deer to Aden Park.
"The 20k, 30k, 50k and 60k rides are a bit more competitive. Each rider sets a time in which they think they can complete the ride in. They aren't competing against fellow participants just themselves and putting their horses fitness levels to the test. The horses are vetted after they have completed the circuit and their heartbeat monitored. It is all down to the horse's fitness."
The longer rides will also start at Aden heading to areas south of Maud during the morning between 9am and 12noon.
Ms Hollstein added: "Preparations for the Forest of Deer Ride are looking good. I rode the 30km route recently with the ride organiser and had a lovely time.
"It is a very mixed, mostly flat ride, incorporating country park, woodland, forestry, old railway line, farm tracks, grass tracks, small villages and road.
"There are a few road sections but these lead to very nice riding and join tracks up. The route offers ample canter opportunities and some fantastic views.
"We have tried to stay off the roads as much as possible. Horses will normally pass individually or in groups of two or three."
There are currently 12 riders signed up for the event however organisers hope more will come forward before the closing date for entries.
Ms Hollstein told the Buchanie: "We did do a similar event in the area two years ago but it just involved the shorter distance.
"This is the first time we have been able to offer a long distance ride. We have contacted land owners and anyone who might be affected by the ride and had a fantastic response from everyone."
For more information about the endurance ride contact Jane Hollstein on 0777334576.

Kiwis sixth at World Junior Endurance Champs

March 21, 2007
Kiwis sixth at World Junior Endurance Champs


Five young New Zealand endurance riders headed for Argentina earlier this month for the World Junior Endurance Championships, with the team finishing sixth overall.

The team was accompanied by their strappers and the support team from Endurance New Zealand (Kevin James High Performance Manager, Tony Parsons, Vet, John Stevenson and Dell Bissell Chef d'Equipe).

Dressed in their familiar black uniform with the embossed silver ferm horse the team made a splendid appeal at the Opening Ceremony and this was commented on by many spectators.

The New Zealand team was awarded the Vet Commission award for the best presented team and horses, and Ian Williams (head of the Endurance department at the FEI) congratulated the team on their presentation and professional conduct.

The Kiwis were among 57 starters and the five rode leased horses from Chile and Argentina.

Tessa Deuss was the first of the New Zealanders home, but at 18km/hour was not fast enough to be in the medals. The pace was fast - even a rater of 20km/hour didn't cut it in the flat terrain.

Uruguay won individual and team gold, with the UAE taking team silver and Brazil winning bronze. South Africa were 4th, Guatemala 5th, New Zealand 6th, Namibia 7th, and Australia 8th. There were 11 teams.

Riders reported that while the ride was flat, the footing was variable, with lots of metal and boggy parts. Flat rides favour tall, fast horses with the most familiar examples being in the Middle East where horses do phenomenal speeds compared to New Zealand. This kind of terrain is unfamiliar to New Zealand riders who are used to riding strategically in hill country, relying on their horses to be strong, sure footed and clever.

Team members had lots of invitations to ride in the Americas after the competition, and enjoyed the camaraderie that arises between competitors throughout and after the event.

For Kiwi riders the chance to get experience in world-class competition was invaluable, and should benefit the sport of endurance in New Zealand in the future.

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New Zealand: Avery wins national endurance title

By DAVID DAWKINS - The Marlborough Express | Monday, 19 March 2007

Marlborough endurance rider Kylie Avery added another national title to her already impressive resume, winning the 100km CEI two star ride at the Horse of the Year in Hastings on Friday.

Avery and Silands Jasark were second across the Havelock North finish line, just seconds behind race leader Jenny Shander. However, Avery took the title after Shander's horse was unable to pass the final vet check. After the half hour rest period Shander's horse still registered a heart rate of 78 beats per minute, well above the required 64. Silands Jasark easily passed the check, registering 54bpm after 11 minutes of rest.

Avery completed the 100km in six hours 37.46 minutes to head off Waikato's Lois Hosking and Highlander who finished in 6.38.37 hours. Denis Hill and Sheree placed third in 6.56.34 hours.

Riders started at the Hastings show grounds at 7am on Friday and were escorted by police through Hastings for 5km. The riders then completed four laps of a farmland circuit out at Cape Kidnappers before heading to the finish in Havelock North township where they were greeted by a crowd of over 300.

The race was held on a cool, clear day with dry, hard conditions underfoot. Despite the ideal conditions only 17 of 39 horses qualified with a number vetted out with high heart rates.

Avery's performance helped the New Zealand team to vict-ory in the team's race. They headed off a world team made up of two Spanish, a Belgian and a Kiwi. South Africa finished third.

The win earned Avery a trip to compete in South Africa in June. Details of the South African race are yet to be confirmed.

Nicola French was also in winning form at the Horse of the Year. Riding Buckton Tumbledown in the dressage she took out the open elementary pony musical freestyle title yesterday. The win wrapped up a consistent show that saw French place third in the open elementary pony on Friday and fourth in the elementary pony on Thursday.

Also competing in the showing, French and Buckton Tumbledown were reserve champion for New Zealand bred ponies, third equal in the child rider 13 and 14 years, fourth in the paced and mannered pony 128cm-138cm and sixth in the intermediate rider of the year 13-16 years.

Fellow dressage rider Angela Fergusson and Monique III recorded two fourths, in the FEI Prix St George on Wednesday and the advanced musical freestyle on Friday. Monique III was ridden by international rider Calet De Vos to fifth in the international class on Saturday.

In the showing, Sandra Pilcher and Southwind Just Cruising placed third in the in-hand pony three year old. Emma Pilcher and Rosewood Little Maestro were fourth in the paced and mannered pony of the year while Lucy Allen and Nala Emblems Nichole were fifth. Emma Pilcher also placed fifth in the paced and mannered pony 128cm-138cm and Emily Wallace and Kessley Kiss n Tell were fourth in the child rider 11-12 years.

Emma Pilcher also recorded a number of top placings in the side saddle with fifth in the concors d'elegance and side saddle rider.

Sally Adams and Wynard Freedom were runner-up in the side saddle rider and side saddle mount, fourth in the concors d'elegance and fifth in the Sue Moss Memorial Side Saddle Horse of the Year.