Top endurance horse Vlacq Khamul put down

From

horseandhound.co.uk
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor

11 July, 2007
Top international endurance horse Vlacq Khamul has been put down after a "catastrophic" pastern injury.

The 12-year-old pure-bred Arab, known at home as "Kham", was owned and ridden Tricia Hirst from Meifod, Powys. The pair had competed around the world — most recently as part of Team GB at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen (August 2006).

"I am absolutely devastated," international endurance rider Tricia told H&H. "He was a horse of a lifetime — he took me around the world to places I never thought I would go to."

Kham was destroyed on Saturday at Rossdale & Partners in Newmarket where Tricia had taken him for a second opinion for a niggling lameness in his left fore.

"We'd had X-rays, nerve blocks, everything — but our vet found nothing, only a small hole at the back of his pastern," said Tricia. "So, because I was competing at Euston Park over the weekend, which was fairly near to Rossdales, I took him there for an MRI scan. They did more X-rays and an MRI but found nothing.

"So Marcus Head said he wanted to do another lameness work-up from scratch, starting with nerve blocks."

Tricia set out on the Euston Park ride with her daughter, but received a call on Saturday to say that the Arab's pastern had catastrophically broken down in front of staff during the trot-up. There was no choice but to destroy the much-loved family horse.

"He was part of the family. In 2004 he was ranked 9th in the world and was the 6th best pure Arab. In 2005 he partnered me at the European Championships in Compiegne and then my son Philip rode him in Bahrain at the Young Riders World Championships," said Tricia. "But I just had to carry on at Euston, it was awful."

Tricia said she had a number of other young horses at home, and a two-year-old by the same sire as Vlacq Khamul that she has bred herself.

"But none are quite like him," she added.

Horse and Houng article

All African Games: Endurance as Equestrian sport

(source: China, Peoples Daily Online)


The ninth All-Africa Games is to be unveiled on Wednesday in Algiers, capital of the North African country Algeria. The following is a brief introduction of this year''s edition of the Games.

The Algerian authorities have chosen Algiers, Tipaza town, Boumerdes and Blida town to host the games. The four venues are scattered over a radius of about 60 km, Kenyan media reported

According to material on the official web site of the Games, over 20 events will be held in this year''s games. The events for the disabled such as athletics, wheelchair basketball are also included in the timetable.

Equestrian sport will make its debut at the ninth Games and will involve endurance riding and show jumping. The sport was first included in the Olympic Games in 1900.

High-profile events will be athletics, swimming and weightlifting in which Africans conquer the world in past major international sports events. For athletics, three-time world cross country championship Edith Masai has predicted that the heated contest between Kenyans and Ethiopians will extend to Algiers.

Kenya has sent its ever largest team to the pan-African event since the country hosted the 1987 Games in its capital of Nairobi.What brings more limelight to the games is that it is part of the qualifiers for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in some events, while in other events like table tennis, it is the sole chance for African sports people to fight for slots of the Olympic Games. Many countries have attached importance to the process of choosing team members.

In addition, several athletes have said that their aim is not just to end up in the medal bracket but using the continental games to prepare for the World Championships in Osaka this August.

AUS: Moyston - Hundreds endure endurance ride

Hundreds endure endurance ride

One of the 100 horses and riders to compete in the endurance ride held at Moyston.
One of the 100 horses and riders to compete in the endurance ride held at Moyston.
MOYSTON - Moyston'S Endurance Ride has been hailed a success, with the event attracting more than 100 riders and their horses from across the state.

The 5am start, on an icy Sunday morning, for the 80kilometre endurance ride did not deter riders from getting involved in the event.

Event organiser Sioux Reid said the weekend was enjoyed by many people of all ages.

"We even had one lady in her 70s participate in the 80kilometre ride," Reid said.

More than 200 people attended a spit roast dinner and band performance on Saturday night, which had `lots of people up dancing'.

Riders were very positive about the weekend, with many commenting on the great facilities at the Moyston recreation reserve and the beautiful scenery.

"We had riders telling us that when the sun broke out of the clouds the view across the Grampians' plains was just fantastic," Reid said.

The Sunday ride went smoothly thanks to the assistance of the police, CFA and many volunteers from around the region.

"As long as we have that kind of support, we'll hold it again," Reid said.

Results

Heavyweight: 1st Dianne Tobin riding Commanche Man, 2nd Carl Adamson riding Bowzatus, 3rd Luke Steele riding Shadrach. Fittest horse Bowzatus.

Middleweight: Equal 1st Fay Bushby riding Pyrenees Phenomenon, Fiona McAuley riding Corandirk Edison, 2nd Janine Stembridge riding Storm, 3rd Jan Scholes riding Gayland Mariah. Fittest horse Gayland Mariah.

Lightweight: 1st Brittnee D'Hondt riding Breema Currowen Winston, 2nd Kelly Armistead riding Khamsin, 3rd Shannon Decker riding Kanafor Kassan. Fittest horse Breema Crrowan Winston.

Junior: 1st Samantha Noble riding Springbridge Bungerdore, 2nd Jessie McKinnon riding Sandine Belcoo, 3rd Caitlyn Sidlouskis riding Kanafor Kassan. Fittest horse Springridge Bungerdore.



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Shaikh Nasser wins race in UK

Shaikh Nasser wins race in UK

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa led the Bahrain Royal team to victory in the Thetford International British Endurance Race for 160km, defeating a number of European champions.

Shaikh Nasser finished the race in a total time of eight hours and 16.2 seconds (8.16.21) with an average speed of 19km per hour. World champion Jack Pego came second with a total time of 8.34.11, while third place went to Sofia Arinda with a total time of 8.34.12.

The first stage of the 160km race, which was for 39kms, saw Shaikh Nasser place third riding his horse Basic. Shaikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of UAE came first followed by his brother, Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Bahrain's Ghazi Al Dossary finished the stage in 13th place while his teammate, Raed Mahmood, finished in 14th place.

In the second stage, which was for 27kms, Shaikh Nasser came second behind Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who came first. Ghazi Al Dossary and Raed Mahmood finished 12th and 13th, respectively.

In the third stage, which was for 34kms, Shaikh Nasser led the race and succeeded to remain on top until the end of the race.

In the 120km race, Shaikh Daej bin Salman Al Khalifa finished in the 12th place with a total time of 6.47.58 hours, while UAE's riders Mubarak bin Shifya and Mohammed Ali came first and second, respectively.

Meanwhile, the endurance royal team will be leaving today to participate in the St Gelmir endurance race which will start next Thursday for 120kms. Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead the team.

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GBR: A successful Ride day at Euston!

Near Thetford, in the SouthEast of Great Britain, on the morning of 8 July and Endurance Race began at 6am. 18 Riders from 9 countries starting the three CEI classes. The race was used as a proving point for the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar endurance squads as they prepare for the upcoming European Endurance Championship in September. 2 riders from Britain, 2 from India, and 3 from France competed the starting field of the 160km race.

The day also saw CEI*** 120km CEIYR*** 120km events, as well as 6 CEN classes, ranging from 100km Endurance level to 41km CR rides. In all, @100 riders particiapted in a full day of endurance.

HH Sh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa riding Basic Instinct won the day at the 160km distance, followed by the 3 French riders. At the 120km, Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya riding Omani Iman was first to finish while in the 120km Young Rider class, Sarah Rogerson and Chantalle prevailed.

Complete Results

Bahrain Royal Endurance team set for England race

Bahrain - Gulf Daily News
BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance team is set to participate this morning in the Thetford Endurance Race in England.

This will be the second participation for the Royal team in the Thetford race with both senior and junior teams, and will serve as a preparation for the next Endurance Europe Championship.

The race will consist of two different categories, including the 160-kilometre distance and the 120km event.

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead the Bahraini team in the 160km event along with Ghazi Al Dossary and Raed Mahmood; while Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead the Al Khalidiya Stables team in the 120km event along with Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Shaikh Talal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and Jaffar Merza, who will be a substitute rider.

Participate

Meanwhile, the UAE's riders are also set to participate in the 120km race, led by sons of Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, prime minister and vice-president of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The pre-race medical check-up was held yesterday with the attendance of all the participants.

Several members of the Royal Endurance squad are also set to participate in the St Gilmer Endurance race in France.

The delegation is led by team manager Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan, and includes riders Yousif Taher, Khalid Al Ruwaie, Ghazi Al Dossary, Ahmed Abdulla, Mohammed Abdulaziz, Raed Mahmood, Ahmed Abdulsamad and Jaffar Merza.

PanAm - Definite List of Entries: 8 countries 3 continents

Paticipants from 8 countries on 3 continents are listed by Cidinha Franzão on EnduranceBrasil. A full 12 member Adult squad from home country Brazil is joined by 12 Young riders to complete the Brazilian entries. Argentina and Uruguy each field both Adult and Young Rider teams while Chile, COLÔMBIA, and GUATEMALA each field partial teams. Open competitors from ÁFRICA DO SUL and GRÃ BRETANHA complete the field of 48 on the definite entries for the CEI**** event to be held July 19-20 near SÃO PAULO - BRASIL! Follow the lead up to the event at:

EnduranceBrasil


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