GBR: Second Euston Run

Gulf News
Raed Mahmood of Bahrain Royal Endurance team placed fourth in the 160km category of the Second Thetford Endurance Race in England, while his teammate, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, withdrew from the 120km race due to injuries suffered by his horse in the third stage of the race. More than 30 riders took part in the 160km race. Shaikh Daij finished the 40km first stage in 14th place riding his horse LIBERTE with a time of 2 house, 14 minutes and 02 seconds.

First place was won by UAE's Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum with a time of 1:54:45.

The 25km second stage saw Shaikh Daij jump into the ninth place with a time of 3:42:12 and Shaikh Hamdan remain on top of the race.

In the third stage, Shaikh Daij withdrew after his horse was injured. UAE's riders also pulled out for the same reason.

Raed placed seventh in the 40km first stage of the 160km race with a time of 2:25:08, while UAE rider Mubarak bin Shafya finished first at 2:10:21.

Raed jumped to fifth in the 40km second stage with a time of 4:34:16, as Mubarak remained on top with a time of 4:16:56.

In the 25km third stage, Raed remained in fifth place with a time of 6:06:56, and Mubarak remained on top at 4:34:16.

The 16km fourth stage saw Raed jump to fourth with a time of 7:24:07, and Mubarak remain on top.

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."