Johnson looks to top Tevis' travails

Tom Johnson rode Al-Marah Sands of Time to a first place finish and the Best Condition award at the Washoe 50-mile Endurance Ride in Nevada. The Loomis resident ran to three Western States Endurance Run victories in the 1990's and is shooting for his first Tevis Cup win in his seventh attempt on Saturday. Courtesy photo

After dominating the trail on foot, Johnson hopes for a Tevis breakthrough

By: Todd Mordhorst, Journal Sports Editor
Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Tom Johnson is one of the more accomplished athletes in history when it comes to negotiating the Western States Trail on two feet. Atop a horse, it's Johnson's wife Marcia Smith that owns the bragging rights in their Loomis home.

Johnson will make his latest attempt at becoming the first person to win both the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run and the Tevis Cup on Saturday.

"When you're running, it's really pure," said Johnson, who won the Western States 100 in 1990, '91 and '93. "If you didn't do the training, there's no one you can blame but yourself. In Tevis, you're responsible for your partner out there for 20 hours or more."

Smith hasn't had many bad days during the 100-mile ride from Robie Park in Truckee to Auburn's Gold Country Fairgrounds. She's finished fifth or better in five of her seven starts, winning the Tevis Cup three times and the Haggin Cup - which goes to the best-conditioned horse in the top 10 - once.

Smith will be heading up her husband's crew this year as the two agreed long ago to alternate the years in which they compete in the ride.

"Marcia's my crew chief, my strategist and moral counsel," said Johnson, who has two Tevis Cup finishes in six tries.

Johnson believes he's got a good shot at competing for the elusive title on Saturday. He'll be riding Al-Marah Sands of Time, an 11-year-old Arabian mare on loan from Al-Marah stables in Tucson, Ariz. Smith rode "Sandy" to a fifth place finish last year and the horse is the offspring of Shellie Hatfield's Tevis-winning mare, AM Xanthium. Hatfield and Smith tied for the Tevis Cup in 1992.

Johnson described Sands of Time's personality as, "A valley girl that's ready to rock and roll."

"She's got a teenager's demeanor," he said. "But she's really tough too."

Auburn Journal

Endurance events test new ideas

Horse and Hound
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor

The International Equestrian Federation's (FEI) overhaul of endurance is in full swing, with six working groups now assessing the rules and a successful trial of a "Formula One" finish.

The vast growth in the sport, at all levels, and a number of equine deaths in recent years led to the World Endurance Forum in Paris this spring, at which an overhaul of the sport was agreed.

Current endurance rules date back to 1980, since which time the sport has grown massively.

"All aspects are open for discussion, but the welfare of the horse is to be increased wherever possible, as is professionalism in the sport," said Ian Williams, FEI head of endurance.

Three trial events have taken place so far: a scientific study of endurance horses in Dubai; a trial in Portugal using four vetgates instead of five; and the latest, a test of the Formula One finish at a recent three-star 120km ride in Italy. The trial entailed gradual closing of vetgates 1hr after the first horse crosses the finish line. Vet gates presently remain open until the last horse has finished.

"If adopted, it will have another name, but the trial had very positive feedback," said Mr Williams. "We will need to trial this style of finish over 160km to get a full picture."

The last trial, of 120km for a championship (normally 160km), will take place at the Pan American Games in Brazil next week.

In June, 18 experts were appointed to review six different areas of the sport: qualification, organisation, equine protection, education, legal controls and competition structure.

Britain's John Robertson, a top-level FEI endurance judge and technical delegate, is chairing the competition structure group, aided by German-based Juliette Mallison and Brazilian Antonio Llompart.

"The FEI purposely chose people worldwide, so most discussion will be done by e-mail and phone," said Mr Robertson. "We're looking at the responsibilities of technical delegates, which have never been defined; at the Formula One finish and the best condition award, which is more highly thought of in some countries than actually winning the race."

Each task force must provide the FEI with monthly updates, a progress report in October and, by early 2008, full recommendations. Mr Williams and his team will then compile a new rulebook, to be circulated to national federations next summer. It will be amended and then approved by the FEI general assembly in late 2008.

"These things are often allowed to slip, but the FEI is anxious this does not happen," said Mr Robertson.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (12 July, '07)

FRA: A French Flurry of Medals on Home Turf

FEI Press Release
The beautiful town of St Galmier played host to the FEI CEI 3* 164km and French National Championships last Saturday. The weather forecast had promised a hot weekend, and they were absolutely correct. The international field of fifty four riders from ten nations had to endure temperatures of up to 40 degrees combined with a tough track resulting in a true test of endurance. The competition truly highlighted the highs and lows that endurance has to offer.

The route was over 6 loops, the longest of which was 35km and was tackled first. The start and finish of each loop was along the race course at the central vet gate within the hippodrome of St Galmier.

[More ...]

New Zealand: Temuka horse rider wins trio of trophies

photo: TOP RIDER: Temuka man Bryan Priddle took out three trophies at the recent national endurance horse riding awards dinner in Christchurch.

Timaru Herald

By BETHANY MARETT - The Timaru Herald | Tuesday, 24 July 2007

A Temuka horse rider reined in a swag of trophies at the Endurance New Zealand awards dinner in Christchurch recently.

Bryan Priddle scooped the senior section of awards, winning three trophies – distance rider of the year, distance horse of the year and best horse and rider combination.

"Everyone else said it wasn't fair I got the lot," he laughed.

While the trophies may reflect a strong season for the Temuka man, he has also been a consistent performer at national level for a number of years.

Mr Priddle began endurance riding about 14 years ago. With his children already involved with the sport, he became sick of standing on the sideline and decided to give it a go for himself.

While living in Temuka, he rides horses for Glendaar endurance racing, which is based in Herbert.

On his way to winning the distance rider of the year Mr Priddle clocked up 1460 competition kilometres.

However, riding six nights a week the number accumulated is in fact far more.

"You probably do a couple thousand (kilometres) over a year with training," he said.

The highs in the sport also come with lows and Mr Priddle has certainly had his share of both.

In the recent Trans-Tasman Challenge in Nanango, Queensland, Mr Priddle was selected as a member of the four-strong Kiwi team.

However at the 125km mark of the 160km event Mr Priddle was unfortunately eliminated following a veterinary inspection.

"I was brassed off. He was going like a dream too."

The disappointment has again been overridden with the success of scooping the overall season's awards however and Mr Priddle is already back in the saddle training for the upcoming season due to start next month.

This year he is aiming for good results in the national event, which will be hosted by his Mt Nimrod club and held on home ground near Kurow at Easter.

2007 PanAm a Race to Remember!

Cidinha Franzão
EnduranceBrasil
Alexandre Leco Razuck of Brasil riding HDL Pantheon finished first in the 2007 PAN AMERICAN & OPEN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP that was held today, 20 of July, in Campinas - State of São Paulo. forwards us Images and the Results of a Beautiful Brasilian Ride! Brasil Captures Team Gold in the Senior & Young Rider Competitions as well.

Gold in the Young Riders race went to Laura Piaz of Guatemala riding Nico in a close run-off with Silver medal winner Mariano Pita of Argentina riding Chaval PP.


[More Details and Images by Cidinha!]

Scotland: Distance no object in quest for victory

Perthsire article
Jul 20 2007

PERTH Racecourse was the venue for a different kind of equine event when it recently hosted a Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC) event with classes distances ranging from a 22km pleasure ride to an 80km endurance ride.

The Tayside branch of SERC was holding its major event of the season and ride organisers Alison Seggie and Kevin Bazley had pulled out all the stops to lay on a fantastic route.

Unfortunately, this summer’s monsoon meant that many of the hill tracks were unusable and at one stage the ride itself looked in jeopardy. With some last minute route changes, the competition went ahead, and four horse and rider combinations set out at 8.30am on the first of three loops.

The sun shone on a route that took riders out and back through the Mansfield Estates. Road crossings were manned by Blairgowrie Riding for Disabled Association.

Lothians rider Pamela Scougall on Vivaldi secured a convincing victory in the 80km class at an average speed 14.55 kph and gain her Gold Thistle Final and Best

Gold in sport of sheiks

Muswellbrook Chronicle
July 20
photo: MEDAL WINNER: Renee Saxby blitzed the Trans-Tasman Federation Equestrian Internationals as a member of the Australian team.

IF HORSE racing is the sport of kings, then endurance riding is the sport of Sheiks and local Sandy Hollow resident, Renee Saxby, has brought home another gold medal for Australia after blitzing the Trans-Tasman Federation Equestrian Internationals (FEI), as a member of the Australian team.

Renee's latest success gives her the chance to qualify for the World Championships to be held in Malaysia next year.

The host of next year's event, the King of Malaysia, joined the Trans-Tasman ride to help sure up his own qualification to ride in his home country for the Championships.

Renee said the support that the Malaysians gave the Australian team was fantastic.

"The king had a lot of supporters with him and every time we stopped at a check point the Malaysians would yell "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi"," laughed Renee.

"I rode with the King for about 100ks and he was very nice," she said.

"He is actually going to pay for six Australians and their horses to go to the championships next year, which is incredible," said Renee.

Australia holds the most team medals in international endurance events.

Internationally the sport has the largest membership of any horse sport and in Australia it is now the fastest growing equine discipline.

Renee only began endurance riding in 2001 and is as passionate as she is successful in her new sport.

"You need to be mentally a bit tough to be out at night alone for six or seven hours without anyone else in sight, you certainly get a good bond with your horse," said Renee.

"Not a lot of people get up at night put a light on their heads and ride for 100ks," she laughs.

"At the last event my team member and I rode for three quarters of a leg in the middle of the night without seeing anyone and we started to get a bit worried; we wondered if we had missed an arrow and were actually lost, but thankfully we were on the right track," she said.

Renee said that competing in Australia prepares them well for competing in the Middle East, where the sport is extremely popular.

"Racing in the Middle East is incredible," said Renee.

"You actually have four wheel drive support for each rider that drives with you on the course and is ready to give you whatever you need," she smiled.

"They will hand you food and water out of the car, you can find out how fast you are actually riding by looking at the speedo, you can even ask them to drive to the nearest riders to calculate how far ahead or behind you are.

"The prize money overseas is huge and various royal families over there all enter the events to race each other," she said.

There is no prize money for endurance events in Australia, so many competitors need to go oversees to compete well in their sport and the Australian bred horses are well sort after by many Arab buyers, so many Australian competitors end up selling their horses.

Some Arab buyers are interested in Cherox Assassin, affectionately known as Killer, so Renee will need to decide if Cherox would prefer to ride with her in Malaysia or relocate to the lap of air conditioned luxury in the Middle East.

Many international riders arrange to ride horses in the event country, rather than the often prohibitive costs of taking their own horses with them.