USA: European Championship Evalutions

The Unites States Equestrian Federation has announced the selection of 8 horse/rider combinations that will be examined by a Panel of three Veterinarians prior to identificaiton of the 6 member squad which will represent the United States at the upcoming FEI European Endurance Championship "Open Portugal" 2007 Qatar Challenge. The 8 horse/rider combinations will be examined by a Panel of three Veterinarians with these exams taking place at three locations across the country over the weekend of August 10-12. The 8 horse rider combinations (pending final approval) in alphabetical order Are:

Darolyn Butler/ DJB DC Macproof
Darolyn Butler/ DJB Mercy Merci
Suzanne Hedgecock/ AA Montego
Heather Reynolds/ Cal Flaming Emit
Jeremy Reynolds/ Sir Smith
Steve Rojek/ Finch
Cheryl Van Deusen/ DA Al Capone
Janice Worthington/ Molly’s Valiant Heart

The evaluations provided by the Veterinarians, along with other pertinent information will be used by the Selectors to determine the final squad of 6.

The announcement of the squad is expected on Wednesday, August 15th.

KFH and Mena Telecom back Bahrain Royal Endurance Team

Barharin Gulf Daily News article
KUWAIT Finance House - Bahrain (KFH) and Mena Telecom announced yesterday their sponsorship for Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team, captained by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for the European Endurance Championship in Portugal next month. The announcement was made at separate functions, attended by KFH executive manager and Mena Telecom vice-chairman and managing director Abdul Razak Jawahery and director of the media office and information centre of Shaikh Nasser Tawfiq Salehi.

Shaikh Nasser, who is the president of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation, expressed his thanks and appreciation for the support.

"KFH - Bahrain and Mena Telecom have always been able to lead the way in displaying support towards landmark sports events while contributing to the society," Shaikh Nasser said. "This strategy is completely in line with our goals and endeavours towards sports organisations and community development.

"It is our pleasure to once again join hands with KFH - Bahrain and Mena Telecom, and we look forward to further opportunities in the near future."

KFH-Bahrain general manager of Abdulhakeem Alkhayyat commented: "We have always taken the lead in identifying and promoting sports as a strategic focus of its corporate social responsibility programme.

"The championship is a significant event to promote the Kingdom of Bahrain, and acts as a key initiative in elevating such equestrian events to international standards.

"We are delighted to be associated with a ride of such calibre, and will continue to support activities that help raise the sporting profile of Bahrain, nationally and internationally."

The European championship is an event under the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the sport's governing body. It is scheduled to take place on September 8.

Malaysia: Grand Closing for Edaran Endurance Classic 2007 In Terengganu

Faisal Ismail of ar-Raudha Equine Center beat 10 other riders to finish first in the CEI 3 Star 160km Ride of the Edaran Endurance Classic 2007 at Terengganu International Endurance Park in Setie, Terengganu, the venue of the forthcoming World Endurance Championship 2008.

Full Story

Reynolds races to thrilling victory

Auborn Journal

Los Gatos rider overtakes defending champ in the final mile to win second Tevis Cup

By: Todd Mordhorst, Journal Sports Editor
Saturday, July 28, 2007

Jeremy Reynolds knows every little bit of local knowledge helps when it comes to competing for endurance riding's most prestigious title. So he set out on a short jog Friday morning along the final few miles of the Western States Trail near the Auburn staging area.

The extra homework paid big dividends Saturday night as the 2004 Tevis Cup champion chased down 2006 Tevis winner John Crandell.

With only the moonlight illuminating the trail, Reynolds jockeyed past Crandell over the final half-mile of the 100-mile race from Robie Park in Truckee to Auburn, claiming his second Tevis title atop CV Eli.

"I'm glad I couldn't see the ground," said Reynolds, who was three minutes behind Crandell at No Hands Bridge. "I think I just chose the correct line, that's what it came down to. We were flying through crazy stuff and pretty much just letting the horses go at that point. I know there's ruts and rocks, but my horse was game."

Crandell made a valiant run at becoming the first rider since endurance riding pioneer Wendell Robie to win the race in back-to-back years on different horses. He won on Heraldic last year and rode HH Saba Shams on Saturday.

Robie, the Auburn businessman who left his mark on the Auburn Ski Club, the Tevis Cup and the Western States Endurance run, won the first four Western States Endurance Rides. Robie rode Bandos in 1955 and '56 and Molla in '57 and '58. The Lloyd Tevis Cup was not awarded to the winner of the ride until '59.

It took a remarkable effort from Reynolds and Eli, a 12-year-old Arab gelding, to overtake the defending champion.

"John Crandell is probably one of the top two riders in the U.S.," said Reynolds, who lives in Los Gatos. "I just kept saying to myself, 'I can win, I can win.' I was watching John's horse all day and that horse was amazing. I think I just made a couple better choices, it was probably luck more than anything." There were three talented riders dueling for the Tevis Cup down the stretch. Reynolds tied for the Tevis Cup in 2004 with Becky Spencer, a year after his wife Heather won the ride's top prize.

Suzanne Huff, from Carson Valley, Nev. was alongside Reynolds, just behind Crandell up until the Poverty Bar Crossing checkpoint with just 12 miles to go. Huff was the American Endurance Ride Conference series champion last year in the 100-mile category and a former Auburn resident.

Greenwood riders Ken Keele and Kassandra DiMaggio were the first two riders into Robinson Flat, where all participants were required to rest for one hour before departing.

Stagg Newman rode his horse Jayel Super into Deadwood - 55 miles into the ride - nearly 30 minutes ahead of Keele. But Newman's day ended there when he was pulled.

Crandell was the first rider to arrive at the new Chicken Hawk/Volcano checkpoint, where the Western States Trail Foundation is working on a new trailhead that will provide unprecedented access to the area.

Crandell departed the Chicken Hawk/Volcano checkpoint with an 8-minute advantage on both Heather and Jeremy Reynolds. Heather was pulled at Foresthill after her horse ran into trouble with one of its hooves.

Crandell led the race out of Foresthill after another one-hour layover; departing at 5:30 p.m. Huff was right on Crandell's heels heading out of Foresthill just four minutes behind. Jeremy Reynolds left four minutes later and Loomis' Tom Johnson left the last major aid station at 6:02. As of press time, Huff was the only other rider across the finish line. The riders have until 5 a.m. today to finish the ride. An awards barbecue will be held at the Gold Country Fairgrounds at 1 p.m. today.




[More ...]

Tevis: Jeremy Reynolds and CV Eli First to Finish

In an exciting race to Auburn, Jeremy Reynolds riding CV Eli edged out John Crandel III and 'Sunny' by 2 minutes:

Across the finish line at:
9:43:00 PM Jeremy Reynolds and CV Eli
9:45:00 PM John Crandel III and HH Saba Shams (Sunny)

Tevis Website

Tevis Webcast Page with vetcheck results

Endurance.Net coverage with links to photos and videos

Teen relishing challenge of her first Tevis Cup ride

Colfax Record
By: Susie Iventosch, Colfax Record Correspondent
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Endurance.Net 2007 Coverage

2007 Tevis Webcast

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Elizabeth Weston, known as Liz, is ready to ride - 100 miles on horseback during Saturday's 52nd annual Tevis Cup ride.

For her Colfax High School senior project this year, Weston, 18, learned endurance horseback riding under the tutelage of Terryl Reed, an experienced endurance rider. To qualify for entry into the Tevis Cup, a rider must complete at least 300 miles of long distance rides, each 50 miles or longer.

"This has been a life-changing experience," Weston said. "What started as a 15-hour senior project has consumed my entire summer with training. Now I'm riding in the biggest endurance event in the country. I'm nervous and sometimes can't sleep."

The first time Weston completed a 50-mile ride, "she could barely finish it," Reed reminisced. "At the 45-mile mark, she could hardly move - we had to encourage her to get back on the horse. Now, she finishes 50s with a smile on her face."

But, according to Reed, the 100-mile Tevis Cup will test Weston's desire to finish because it takes determination, fortitude and strength to complete a ride of this nature.

"I know she'll do it," Reed confidently said. "She's a very good student. And, over the past month or so, Liz and Kian have formed a bond. If you're going to ride 100 miles, the rider and the horse better get along well. They need to become one and work together as a team - like dancers."

Weston indicated that Kian, a 900-pound Arabian belonging to Reed's sister, Lori, was difficult at first.

"He was kind of a jerk but I got tough with him and now he understands me and stopped trying to take advantage of me," she explained. "I think we'll have a really good time on the ride."

Reed said the Tevis Cup is considered the No. 1 endurance ride internationally in terms of technical difficulty.

The course features miles of rocky downhill trail and hours of night riding, imposing stress on both the horse and the rider. The ride begins at the Robie Equestrian Park a few miles east of Squaw Valley, then connects to the Western States Trail and finishes at the Auburn Fairgrounds. Weston hopes to complete the ride within 24 hours, which would include 21 hours of riding and a few hours at the various rest points.

It's not unusual for the most experienced riders and horses to be pulled for a variety of reasons. In fact, the completion rate is 50 percent because horses must successfully pass several vet reviews where professionals check for pulse rates, lameness, fatigue and weight loss.

Reed said that, according to American Endurance Ride Conference data, the mental stress is unlike any other ride. Practice riding in the dark of night is a key training element for the Tevis Cup, which is always scheduled for a night with a full moon.

But this is not necessarily true of practice rides.

Weston's first solo night ride was very dark, with no moon and no one else around.

"It was spooky," she said. "You can't even see the trail but the horse can see with his good night vision." Endurance riding requires more than trail-riding skills. A well- informed crew is essential to a successful ride.

And, according to Reed the crew needs direction from the rider. As a result, Weston learned management skills, too.

"My goal was to make Liz independent and able to make her own decisions," Reed said. "She has had to convene and manage meetings with her crew so they'll understand their roles during the actual ride."

Weston has a crew of eight or so who will take care of Kian during the vet checks and resting points so she can get a break. Training the crew is all part of the experience.

"Even if Liz doesn't turn out to be an equestrian," Reed said, "she'll be able to use what she's learned throughout her life."

Though Weston grew up with horses, her real passion is the theater. She plans to attend California State University at San Francisco this fall to pursue acting and costume design. But, Weston pointed out, this has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: "I'm off to college next year, and who knows? The next time I might have a chance to do something like this is 20 or 30 years from now."

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