Foot and mouth fears halt endurance event

Wiltshire Article

AN ENDURANCE riding event that attracted Dubai oil sheikhs to Swindon has been cancelled because of the foot and mouth crisis.

The Ridgeway Ride was due to take place on Saturday and Sunday at Barbury Castle, pitting long distance riders from across Britain against each other.

But the risk of spreading the disease during cross-country rides was too great and put the future of the event in jeopardy.

Jill Kent, 54, from Chiseldon, who was the co-organiser of the event with Mike Rowe, said: "It's a tremendous shame because the event was a real success last year.

"We had Sheikh Mohammed and his sons bring their Arabian horses here and people travelled from Scotland and Ireland.

"We held extensive consultations with landowners and the overall feeling was that we should cancel."
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The 280 entrants to the Endurance GB competition were set to ride in 20-mile loops around the Wiltshire countryside, through grazing land and along bridleways.

Jill said: "The nature of the discipline requires horses to go across country and therefore through different farms and estates.

"We do thorough health checks before each race, but it would not have been possible to eradicate the threat of spreading infection.

"We rely on landowners' goodwill to make the event a success, so it was decided to cancel to allow for a clear run next year."

Unfortunately for some competitors leaving Ireland and Scotland the call to cancel came too late.

Jill said: "Some people were setting out to come here when they received the news, which must have been disappointing.

"We have a tremendous range of people and horses come to the area, and after all the bad weather earlier in the summer this looked like being a success."

The ride originally took place in Chiseldon, but as more and more riders attended Jill switched venues.

She said: "We get stallions, geldings and mares competing, who all have different strengths.

"It's known throughout the UK and hopefully we will be back in 2008."

While The Gatcombe Horse Trials took place last weekend, Jill suspects that other horse shows will be cancelled in the coming weeks.

She said: "The movement of animals and trailers around the country introduces an element of risk that a lot of event stagers will want to avoid."

UAE team for European Open

Gulf News article
Staff Report
Published: August 05, 2007, 23:05

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday named the members of the UAE team who will take part in the European Open Endurance Championship.

UAE riders with outstanding international achievements were selected for the championship, to be held in Lisbon, Portugal early next month.

The team is headed by four of Shaikh Mohammad's sons - Shaikh Rashid, Shaikh Hamdan, Shaikh Ahmad and Shaikh Mayed.

It also includes Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi, Sultan Bin Sulayem, Mohammad Al Sabusi and Mubarak Bin Shafiah.

The event will see a strong participation by elite endurance riders from 40 countries including Qatar, Bahrain, France, Britain, Sweden and Norway.

UAE team

Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi, Sultan Bin Sulayem, Mohammad Al Sabusi and Mubarak Bin Shafiah.

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.




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