Pan American Championships: 20 - 22 July, Campinas (BRA)

Photo: A racing finish for Young Rider Gold and Silver, on the left and in 1st place, Laura Paiz aboard Nico and only very so slightly behind, Mariano Pita2 with Chaval PP in second place


Photo: And for the seniors, the winners are Alexandre Leco Razuck and HDL Pantheon from Brazil

This year’s Pan American Championships were hosted by Brazil. The majority of the events were held in Rio De Janeiro but the Endurance section took place in the town of Campinas, found approximately 80km North West of Sao Paulo.

The competition had a smaller number of entries than previous years with no representation from any of the Northern American Nations. Just under 50 combinations started the race, shared between the Senior and Young Rider/Junior classes. The region had experienced abnormal weather conditions for the time of year with torrential down pours, and high humidity. Concerns for the condition of the track and vet gate were raised, but the course held out well and no problems occurred.

The event had been mainly organised by Elizabeth van Schelle, Deputy Chair of the FEI Endurance Technical Committee. Horses were stabled on one of Elizabeth’s farms, and the track stayed within her estate at all times. Whilst in previous years the Senior Competition had been over 160km this year the decision was taken to hold both the Senior and Young Rider/Junior categories of the FEI CEI 4* Regional Championships over a distance of 120km.

The course was made up of 4 loops with a final loop of 27km. The trail was over a fairly flat landscape with light undulations in some places. The track itself consisted of mainly dirt roads which was lucky due to the adverse weather conditions!

The competition started at 6.30am on Friday 20 July. The fastest completion of the day was by a Young Rider. Laura Paiz from Guatemala, 20 years of age and in her last year as a Young Rider competitor, stormed to victory with the 9 year old bay gelding Nico in a time of 05h48. Whilst the horse is based in Uruguay the pair had previously competed together in the Young Rider World Championships in Argentina earlier this year. The pair had finished in 20th place in a time of 06h06.

Paiz had a flat out racing finish clinching the title by one second over her rival Mariano Pita from Argentina with Chaval PP. This combination are currently having a wonderfully successful season, this will be the 4th win of the year for the talented pair. The chestnut gelding has won every one of his FEI rides he has entered, winning over distances of 80km, 100km and 120km. Mariano and Chaval PP are currently in 2nd position in the FEI Young Rider Combination Rankings.

Bronze Medal went to Uruguayan competitor Marcela Ott and Baraka Sharjah who completed the distance at 19.09kph, 31 minutes behind gold and silver. This was the third completion of 120km for this pair, having previously taken 2nd place in Durazno in October last year, and winning the YR 120km class at Costa Azul two months ago.

The Senior Gold Medal went to the Home Nation, rider Alexandre Leco Razuck with his mount HDL Pantheon took victory at a speed of just over 20.7kph in a time of 05h49. This is by far the most successful completion for the pair, although clinching 1st place in Bragança Paulista in April the overall speed was considerably slower. The pair had also been selected to represent Brazil in the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen last year but were unfortunately vetted out on lameness. An ecstatic Razuck, holding his National Flag aloft, crossed the finish line with his grey gelding looking fresh and well.

Twelve minutes after the arrival of the first place combination another Brazilian Rider came home to take Silver. Maria Vitória Lins Liberal and Filoteu Rach completed the course at 20kph, another personal best. This was only the second outing at an FEI event for this 8 year old gelding. They had finished in 3rd place in Paraopeba in May finishing the 120km in 07h05.

Federico Garcia Pineyrua with EO Dubut, from Uruguay, prevented the Home Nation from taking a clean sweep and finished 5 minutes ahead of the next Brazilian rider. This was the fourth completion over this distance for this combination, adding a third place to their already impressive list of two first positions and a seventh position. Although it was the first FEI competition for the combination this year they finished with a final riding time of just 06h04.

The Senior event fielded a line up of 27 combinations from seven nations, ARG, BRA, CHI, COL, GBR, RSA and URU. 56% of the combinations finished the race with the final horse finishing 3h43 minutes behind the first horse. An impressive finishing rate despite some surprising eliminations. Mercedes Tapia, currently in 7th position in the FEI World Rankings and who had finished 2nd in the Pan American Championships in Argentina in 2005, unfortunately didn’t complete the course with her mount Ras Fugada. Mario Schioppa who had won Bronze in 2005 in the YR category of the Pan American Championships also failed to complete.

Both foreign entrants finished well. Carmen du Preez (RSA) with Nag Sharon Bez finished in 11th position with a speed of 16.56kph. Dominique Freeman (GBR) had made the long journey to Brazil for the second time this year completing in 14th place with Roger HCF whom she previously partnered to 7th position in Bragança Paulista in April this year.

The Young Rider/Junior Event had a great finishing rate of 67%. Four Nations were represented, each one having a finisher in the top 4! Gold to GUA, Silver to ARG, Bronze to URU and 4th place to BRA. 14.62kph was the slowest speed of the day for the Young Riders. Rider Karina Camargo Arroyo (BRA) who had finished in 1st place in the Young Rider World Rankings last year finished in 8th position whilst Maximillian Montes de Oca, who had finished 2nd in last year’s Young Rider World Rankings had finished in 12th position with El Sheik, his talented 9 year old gelding. This pair have shown a consistent completion rate with no fails since the horse completed his 1st FEI Ride in 2005, 1st position in the YR 120km in April.

The team competition was dominated by the Host Nation. Gold in both the Senior and Young Rider Category. The Young Rider team won their Gold by over 2 hours. Bronze went to Uruguay who had two of their young riders finish the course. In the Senior Race, Brazil was the only nation to get a full team of 3 riders round. This time Silver went to Uruguay with two finishers. No Bronze was awarded as Argentina only had one finisher. Young Leslie Hagen with horse Cashmere, their first taste of the International Scene, kept a cool head and brought her grey mare home, the only completion for her country.

Senior Individual

1st - Alexandre Leco Razuck with HDL Pantheon (BRA)
2nd – Maria Vitória Lins Liberal with Filoteu Rach (BRA)
3rd – Federico Garcia Pineyrua with EO Debut (URU)

Senior Team

1st – Brazil (Alexandre Leco Razuck with HDL Pantheon / André Vidiz with Pyvha Ata / Lilian Bueno Garrubbo with Judah Hem / Newton Lins Filho with NNL Sam Ray)
2nd - Uruguay (Federico Garcia Pineyrua with EO Debut / Pio Olascoaga Amaya with Merlin / Diego Carrasco with Tabu / Julio Machado with Viraz)


Young Rider / Junior Individual

1st – Laura Paiz with Nico (GUA)
2nd – Mariano Pita with Chaval PP (ARG)
3rd – Marcela Ott with Baraka Sharjah (URU)

Young Rider / Junior Team

1st – Brazil (Patrícia Taliberti with Jam Bob Fire / Ana Carla Maciel with Pimpinella JSM / Ana Luiza Lahud with Luthor Rach / Priscila dos Santos with WN Kamalek)
2nd – Argentina (Mariano Pita with Chaval PP / Franco Cuzzani with Gran Indu / Maximilliano Montes de Oca with El Sheik / Isidoro Ibarra with Carlin)
3rd – Uruguay (Marcela Ott with Baraka Sharjah / Esteban Fort with Filou / Ignacio Ospitaleche with EO Jaras / Manuela Antonaccio with Metiche)

Full results of the competition will be posted as soon as possible.

FEI Website - article

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