Japan: National Joba Club and NTT DoCoMo at Endurance Ride

Japan's Perfect Ride

It really was a perfect ride. After a few days of rain and unsettled weather, ride day dawned with bright blue sky and comfortable riding temperatures. It couldn't have been much better weather! And all of the work- the plans - paid off for a smooth and exciting event. The meals, the meetings, the awards, the trail, the pre-ride symposium, the transport of vets and officials from Narita airport to the small country town of Kita-Karuisawa - everything was 'right'. The completion rate was pretty good - 10 out of 18 finishers - in spite of (or maybe because of) a tough course. The race felt much like those we have in the USA. I think the fact that Hasumi san has 4 Tevis buckles and knows what 'real endurance' is about had something to do with this. Riders did their own thing, the pressure to win was not strong, to finish was a big deal.

And relative to events I've seen around the world, I would call this one a 'world class' event, as good as it gets. An incredible effort was made by so many people, from organizers to volunteers, from local people to Tokyo transplants (Hasumi san recruited employees from his publishing company to come out and help!) to foreign officials and vets - a sincere effort and willingness to give 100% was the mode.

The ride's main sponsor was Joba Ride - the horse 'robot' training machine made by National. There was a booth set up near the vetting area with several units for people to try - it was almost like a carnival ride atmosphere - the little horse robots were working all day long. This machine has become very popular in Japan, and honestly I want one! It's a great workout for abdomen and glut's and legs. I think I can even type at the computer while I'm riding....

The rider tracking provided by NTT DoCoMo - a cellcom company - was incredible, and to my knowlege the first of it's kind. Every rider carried a cellphone with GMS coverage, and a GPS tracking system. Several guys were set up in the office/community room with wires and computers and software to project the tracking onto a large screen, syncronized with a map of the course. We knew at every moment exactly where every rider was. Officials, crews, OC, we all knew how the race was going, when riders would be in, when the passed the check points, etc. Fantastic!

I haven't been to any other rides in Japan, but I heard from many that they were all well run. There's a very active group in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, that ran Japan's first endurance ride, and many since then including the National Championship rides. They were all here - with or without horses (which have to be ferried from island to island) - to ride or crew or help.

...and I heard talk about 'next year' - I think this ride is a keeper!

Steph
Endurance.Net

Australia: Riders saddle up at Moyston

The Ararat Advertiser
June 22

MOYSTON - Riders from across the State will be saddling up this weekend for an endurance event in Moyston.

Around 150 people have signed up for the big weekend of riding which will encompass four events.

There will be a 87 kilometre, 45km, 25km training ride and 25km harness ride.

The course will take in undulating bush tracks, sandy and gravel roads in and around Moyston.

It is being run by the Moyston community in conjunction with the Victorian Endurance Riders' Association.

Rides begin at the Moyston Recreation Reserve on Sunday, the start time for the 87km ride is 5am, the 45km at daylight, the 25km at 9.30am and the harness at 10.30am.

The track takes in the Moyston West, Stears, Redmond and Moyston to Pomonal and Halls Gap Roads, it also encompasses the Mount William Picnic Ground.

Motorists are being urged to take care in these areas on Sunday and avoid them where possible.

Police will be escorting horses and riders across the highway, motorists are reminded that horses have the right-of-way.

Not just a one day event endurance rides are generally a weekend affair and the Moyston community is capitalising on this by creating a social community event.

Tomorrow night entertainment and a spit roast will be provided at the recreation reserve in the lead up to the event.

The entire community is invited along to enjoy a roast and listen to some music.

Funds raised from the evening's events will go towards the Moyston Country Fire Authority.

The Moyston community organised the weekend as an opportunity for the district to gather as well as raise funds for the CFA.

Action will begin at the recreation reserve tomorrow morning.

Nominations open for the event 10am, from then on it will be all go.

All horses are required to be assessed and passed by a vet before taking part in the endurance event and this process will begin at 12noon.

Later in the day competitors will have a chance to practise on the track, at 5.30pm there will be a race briefing.

Following this entertainment will begin.

ITA: 94 at the Starting line for Endurance Cup

PERUGIA- Saturday 23rd June at 6.30 in the impressive arena of the Misura Village, 94 horses and riders will be present behind the starting line of the Bab Al Shams Endurance Cup FEI-CEI 3* 120 Km in what promises to be a spectacular start.
In all its magnificence, St. Francis’ Basilica will watch over a scene which is destined to remain in the mind and the heart of both participants and spectators.
94 riders, from 15 countries throughout the world will take part in this highly technical race.

21 foreigners and 73 Italians will take part in the race.

[More ...]

Gulfnews: Malaysia set to host World Endurance Championship

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter, Gulfnews.com
Published: June 19, 2007, 23:36

Abu Dhabi: The 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship will be held in November at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Setiu Terengganu, Malaysia.

The event, which is held once every fours years, was last held in Dubai in 2005 (2004 event). This is the first time that a tropical country will host the event.

The Yayasan Diraja Sultan Mizan (YDSM) and the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) will jointly stage the event which is being held for the third time in Asia. The UAE had hosted it in 1998 and 2005.

The UAE, gold medallists at the Doha Asian Games last year, will be starting as one of the favourites.

According to the organisers, the Terengganu International Endurance Park, situated a few kilometres from the South China Sea, will offer the best of Malaysia's natural beauty. and hospitality, as well as:

"The course is designed to provide a safe yet challenging competition, taking riders along the stunning coastline, through palm plantations, along canal banks and through natural vegetation forests," according to the championship's website.

"A long and wide grassy stretch of track provides ample space for the start of the competition and egress from the venue, and for a safe finish line and entry back into the Endurance Park," the organisers said.

Meanwhile, a pre-ride will be held in November to give veterinarians and officials a chance to experience the venue and the course, with the goal of experiencing and understanding the unique challenges of Endurance competition in tropical climate.

Apart from the UAE and Bahrain, Malaysia have made a mark in the sport ever since the UAE invited them to take part in the 1998 World Championship.

New Zealand: Endurance duo riding high

By DAVID DAWKINS - The Marlborough Express | Thursday, 21 June 2007

Marlborough's young endurance riders have continued to excel on the international endurance riding scene with Kimberley Ryan and Kylie Avery both recently returned from major overseas rides.

Ryan was part of the New Zealand junior team that competed in the Trans-Tasman Challenge in Nanango, Australia, last weekend while Avery was chosen to compete at a privately-funded ride in South Africa at the start of June.

Avery was selected for the team to travel to South Africa after winning the 100km CEI two star at the Horse of the Year in May.

She continued her good form in South Africa, placing fifth in the 122km CEI two star ride and helping the Horse of the Year endurance team to gold in the eight nation tournament.

While Avery is becoming an old hand on the international riding scene Ryan's trip across the ditch was her first opportunity to ride internationally.

While the New Zealand team failed to come away with the Trans-Tasman Trophy honours for the first time in the competition's four-year history Ryan had an excellent day on a personal level.

She was the only New Zealand rider to complete the FEI three star 160km ride and placed sixth in the youth division, missing fifth by a single minute.

Making the feat all the more impressive was the fact it was the first-ever 160km completion for the 17 year old student at Telford Rural Polytechnic, on just her second attempt at the distance.

"It was awesome. We rode as a team the whole way with all the horses pulling each other and helping each other along," Ryan said.

However, as the ride wore on the three New Zealand open riders faltered and as each lap passed another was vetted out until Ryan was left alone to ride the sixth and final loop in the dark, not finishing until 9.30pm, another new experience.

"I'd rode in the dark before, but it has always been starting not finishing," Ryan said.

The ride was made all the more challenging by stormy local weather conditions that forced a remarking of the first three loops of the track and meant for a bitterly cold race day.

Ironically the wet weather made the course a lot more like home for Ryan as it took away a lot of the hardness the Australian tracks are renowned for.

While Ryan praised the efforts of the open riders who helped her through the first five laps she was also thrilled about the performance of her leased mount Splendercrest Dryad. The duo only met two days prior to race day but hit it off immediately.

"She was very tough, very goey. She was still pulling after the 160km. It was the second 160km complete for her and she just kept going and going and going."

Ryan made such an impact on the Australian stables that she has been invited back to ride in Australia later in the year by Jay Randell, the owner of Splendercrest Endurance Stud.

However, Ryan is going to have to put the offer on hold. The end of year date's are likely to clash with exams for her Certificate in Agriculture and even for international endurance riders school has to come first - at least for now.

USA: Wabash man enters race along Santa Fe Trail

Wabash Plain Dealer


By SHEILA RHOADES
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 10:44 AM EDT

It extends nearly 1,200 miles, crosses five states, and was the nation's first international commercial highway. But in September, tens of thousands will converge on the Santa Fe Trail to witness an 515-mile, 13-day adventure known as the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race.

Among the nearly 100 participants will be rural Wabash resident Mike Urschel. He and his 11-year-old purebred Arabian, Josh, will make their ninth endurance ride when the race begins in Sante Fe, N.M., on Sept. 3. Their journey will end in Missouri on Sept. 15.

Urschel is no stranger to horses or riding. At 55, he currently holds four spots in the World Championship Barrel Racing competition set for Oct. 29, in Augusta, Ga.

He owns four other purebred Arabians and also boards an American Paint. The home he shares with his "companion, partner and best friend," Bev Staats, is nestled back a mile lane amid hay fields and forest.

Urschel considers himself a simple man. He's been employed by 1st Ayd Corporation for the past 20 years, selling industrial maintenance supplies. He has a grown son and twin daughters and leads a relatively quiet life.

For the last five or six years Urschel has had some physical problems to deal with. He had several serious shoulder injuries from a fall he took and shattered his heel from a 15-foot fall. Just when it looked like he was on the road to recovery, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Urschel's reaction to the news, however, was not what one might expect.

"I was diagnosed last March," he told the Plain Dealer. "But it's a relief finally knowing. I'm just thankful to be alive. Parkinson's doesn't really bother me because I like to stay active and that seems to be helping it."

He then added, "I get a little shaky at times, but the horses don't mind."

Kokomo neurologist Dr. Nancy Frappier has been caring for Urschel and encourages him to ride, he said, noting, "She told me it would be beneficial."

But optimistic or not, some things have gotten more difficult for Urschel. He's noticed he is not as steady as he used to be. There is some muscle stiffness at times, the memory tends to fade, and there are also those occasions when he is unable to speak.

"Sometimes it's a hard road to travel," he said.

"I guess that probably bothers me the most," he explained. "With my work I have to be able to talk to the customer."

But Urschel's optimism seems to never wane. Even at 55, he constantly looks ahead. He has ridden competitively in 43 rides, logging close to 2,000 miles. In 2001, he received recognition for having the best conditioned horse in 13 states. In the upcoming Santa Fe Trail race, he is the only Hoosier of the 78 that have qualified thus far.

"To finish is to win," he advocates.

He hopes to promote the sport of endurance riding and doesn't focus on his Parkinson's. "I'd rather be on the trail every day than sitting around doing nothing," he said.

Staats, who will travel with him to Santa Fe, will do his vet checks, when Urschel and Josh arrive at designated checkpoints.

"She's my pit crew," Urschel said.

Staats also remains encouraged by Urschel's attitude and likes the fact that Josh, who has suffered injuries in the past, will be on the long trail with him.

"His horse takes care of him," she said. "They take care of each other."

Urschel is seeking help to offset the cost of his $3,500 entry fee or other road expenses. Anyone interested in helping may send checks made out to "The Great Race" in care of First Farmers Bank & Trust, 1004 N. Cass St., Wabash, IN 46992.

Australia: Floods provide test of endurance