Belgium: Taquillero and Chris Yeoman 1st in 120 km

Endurancegb.co.uk - Story by Chris
5th May 2008

Chris and Taquillero have just competed at Mont le Soie in Belgium against competitors from other European countries. Chris has sent this report....

News update from Christine Yeoman:

Just got back from Mont Le Soie in Belgium having done a 120km race and won it.

Taquillero many of you will know was my Aachen horse two years ago has also won the Cirencester 160km FEI race and competed with me now for several years last year had a quiet year after coming 5th at Sangatte and winning best condition then had a leg injury a little later in the year which we gave him plenty of time off for.

He has come back this year full of himself...


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Belgium: Mont Le Soie CEIO 2008

by Leonard Liesens

On appréhendait le temps même si les prévisions météo nous annonçait une alternance de nuages et d'éclaircies. Finalement les cieux se sont montrés cléments et la compétition a pu se dérouler dans des conditions idéales.

L'organisation mise en place par Pierre Arnould et son équipe a bien fonctionné. Trois équipes nationales (France, Italie, Belgique) en compétition, ce n'est pas mal mais dommage que les voisins allemands et hollandais n'aient pas daigné présenter une équipe. Une prochaine fois peut-être...

Everyone was anxious about the weather, even if the belgian forecasts were on favourable for the week-end. Even if it rained just a few minutes before the initial trotting, the day after (on friday) was perfect for the sport of endurance. The organization worked well under the leadership of Pierre Arnould. There were three team competing for the CEIO (France, Italy, Belgium), which is not bad even if the organizers were expecting the visit of the neighbouring countries from Germany and The netherlands. Next year, maybe...

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Ride Report

Ride Photos by Caroll Gatelier / Léo Liesens

Australia: Endurance riders qualify for 2008 WEC

Efanational.com

A report on the Upper Murray Challenge

by Linda Tanian, Monday, 14 April 2008

Brook Sample and Meg Wade are the first riders from Australia to qualify for the 2008 Endurance World Championships to be held in Malaysia in November.

The first of three FEI rides schedule for Victoria this year was conducted on the weekend of 05 - 06 April at Walwa near the NSW border. The CEI 2 * 80km event was run on Saturday with the main event, the CEI 3* 160km event, run on Sunday.

Both events were small in number but the competition was strong, particularly in the 3* event. This was one of the qualifying rides for the World Championships for Endurance, which are to be held in Malaysia in November 2008. The qualification criteria for this event has been strengthened ahead of concerns about the ride being run in a tropical climate. Rider and horse combinations must successfully complete 2 x 160km events in a time of less than 13 hours and 20 minutes in the 24 months preceding the World Championships with one of those completions in the twelve month period prior to the event.

EI has affected, as it has for all horse sports, the preparations of combinations who are wanting to be considered for selection for the World Championships.

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Australia: Endurance riders flock to Cooyal

Mudgee.yourguide.com.au

9 May 2008

Mudgee Endurance Riders will be holding their annual endurance ride at Cooyal on May 17 and 18.

The venue at Cooyal Hall has proved very popular over the last five years and pre-nominations are being well received.

The team of volunteers consisting of the Cooyal Progress Association, Cooks Gap and Cooyal Bushfire Brigade ensures that everything runs smoothly in the canteen and at the three checkpoints out on the track.

The course is the same as last year and is very suitable for novice horses with no heavy climbs.

The main 80 kilometre ride will commence at 6am from the Cooyal Hall and riders will then travel along Cooyal Lane, private property and Ironbarks Lane Kains Flat, then White Cedars Road and up the fire trail to Botobolar. They then return to base through Kains Flat and back through paddocks.

The second leg takes the same course to Kains Flat, then does a loop up Kains Flat Road and private property to Botobolar Road, returning along Kains Flat to the third checkpoint and again through the paddocks back to base.

Motorists are advised that many horses will be out on local roads on Sunday May 18, between 6am and 4pm.

Local riders who plan to enter the 40 kilometre training ride are reminded that entry forms are available at Husbands Saddlery. Time is running out so don’t leave nominating to the last minute. For further information phone Pat Dickinson.

At recent endurance rides, local competitors who were successful at Tooraweenah in pair were Bernice King, Hayden Fisher and Paddy Smith who finished first heavyweight and fittest horse in the division.

At Bendemeer on May 4, Bernice King, Kate Pilley and Hayden Fisher were all successful. At Oberon in April, Mette Sutton was equal first across the line.

The club would like to thank John Prince, Phillip Kenn and Roy Tuck-Lee for allowing access through their properties.

The club has also received generous sponsorship and would like to thank Mid-Western Regional Council, Macquarie Valley Juices, Mudgee Vet Hospital, Tony Reeves, Glenyce Cook and Husband’s Saddlery.

Australia: Fernvale "Bremervale Justice" FEI ride

The Fernvale sports and rodeo grounds (and community church facility) are becoming very familiar to all of us SE Queenslanders, with this being the fourth ride held here so far this year! Oz Endurance Inc has been host to riders from all over the place, and this weekend was no different... with the Castlebar crew making the trip up from Victoria as well as many other NSW and VIC riders coming along too. (Hi Duncan!!)

The weather was clear and warm during the days, with cooler nights. The track was quite hard underfoot, and 'competitive' horses had been warned to be padded in advance. I chose not to pad any of mine, as we have not had any rain to speak of, and our training tracks are very hard anyway... so my horses were primed!

The facilities at this ride base are adequate, but there were a few hassels with the bigger rigs driving around the arena and getting stuck on the 'mound' halfway, due to the normal access being blocked off to traffic.

The presence of the Malaysian King and his entourage meant that the security blokes were very visible all weekend, and the limo drivers seemed to be pretty impressed and interested in the goings-on of the ride. A large contingent of other Malaysian and UAE riders also made for a real international flavour to the ride. Gilly Wheeler was also in attendance, so doubtless there will be a write-up in the next edition of Endurance World Online.

There were actually five different rides on during the day on Sunday, with an FEI*** 160km, an AERA 160km, an FEI** 80km, an AERA 80km, and an AERA 40km training ride.... meaning that the secretarial staff had a huge job to do. The volunteers came out of the woodwork to assist with the ride, and the FEI officials were also drawn from around the country. President of the Ground Jury was the awesome Barb Timms, and she kept everyone on their toes across the weekend.

I'd like to thank all the Veterinarians, the FEI Officials, the SES, the Ride Volunteers and the Ride Organisers for their efforts to make this ride the success that it was.

And the Splendacrest Team did have a very successful weekend!! I am thrilled with our results, and very proud to present such a cohesive team of riders and some very good horses!

In the FEI*** 160km ride, young Tarnia Kittel achieved 2nd placing in the Youth Division, and also then took out the Best Conditioned Horse award on Raaward Chanelle (owned by Zoe Gardner). Chanelle looked picture perfect the next morning at the BC workout, and certainly turned a few heads!

Gerard Bou completed his first ever 160km ride, riding Splendacrest Fiesta (owned by Shigeru Ogawa of Japan) to 14th Open placing in the FEI*** ride. We call this little mare 'the Machine', as she just never stops! G was a bit tired after it was all over, but extremely happy with his result... as he should be!

In the AERA 160km ride, young Ingrid Ambrosiussen rode one of Kate Gadsby's horses, Kazzy, to 2nd Junior placing.... for that horses' first 160km completion and Ingrid's second successful 160km ride.

In the FEI** 80km ride, Lisa Stoffel was mounted on Manana Gaylord, and also achieved 2nd Youth placing! (So that's three 2nd placings for these 3 young ladies over the weekend!) Thanks to Yvonne Knight for giving Lisa this ride!

In the AERA 80km ride, Angela Head had the responsibility for escorting our Japanese guest, Takeshi Ito, around. Angela (on Shaah) and Takeshi took out =9th Middleweight placing, with Takeshi being extremely happy to be once again riding his favourite horse, Splendacrest Perfection (owned by Shane Hopkins).

Jess Hewitt also completed the 80km ride, on Bacchante Silver Lace (also owned by Shane Hopkins), in 13th Middleweight position, bringing her into the Open Endurance Rider ranks with her third 80km completion! Congratulations Jess!

Amanda Powell completed the 40km ride on Summit Park Raz, and our thanks go to Lisa Stone for this ride!

I'd like to thank my crewing team of Sam Dobson, Britt Geddes, Jan Kittel, Viv Ambrosiussen, Shane Hopkins, Albie Knight, Yuko Crease, and Tanya and Roman Stoffel.... without you the weekend would not have been as successful or as fun!

One of the most amazing things I have ever seen in endurance occurred at the finish line of the FEI*** 160km ride. Brothers Matthew and Brook Sample WALKED over the finish line together, forcing a dead heat for 1st placing, and then Penny Toft and Meg Wade also WALKED over the finish line with their horses literally nose-to-nose forcing a dead heat for 3rd placing! The reaction from the crowd to this display of sportsmanship between these two highly competitive ladies was pretty wild!

Tanku Mizan (the Malaysian King) crossed the finish line for his 2nd successful WEC qualifying ride on the lovely appaloosa cross 'Pharaoh' and was surrounded by wellwishers, press, spectators, etc for some minutes, forcing his 'minders' into a mild panic!

All in all, a very good ride, and a great start to the season for us!

Best regards

Jay Randle
SPLENDACREST ENDURANCE TRAINING
www.freewebs.com/splendacrest

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Unofficial Results:

3* OPEN 21 starters

1.Matthew Sample Brookleigh Ricardo 11:25:23 Average recovery time 3:40mins BC
1.Brook Sample Brookleigh Casper 11:25:23 Av rec time 4:51mins
3.Penny Toft Don 11:48:16 Av rec time 4:27mins
3.Meg Wade Castlebar Balik 11:48:16 Av rec time 5:05mins
5.Derek Armitage M P Mickerby 11:54:14 Av rec 03:40mins
6.Donna Weismann H'glen Zepplin 12:01:04 Av rec 09:36mins
7.Jan Tyrrell Fabio 12:07:55 Av rec time 08:34mins
8.HM Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidan MAL T M Pharoah 12:55:23 Av rec 07:53mins
9.Halim Alihan Brookleigh Kentara MAL 12:55:30 Av rec 07:11mins
10.Mark Tylee Rowallan Curly Sue NZL 12:57:23 Av rec 8:35mins
11.Mohd.Shauib Ashak Blue Bronco MAL 13:00:58 Av 06:45mins
12.Faizal Ishmail Edenfels Zephyr MAL 13:01:02 Av rec 08:08mins
13.Sarah Love Dancing Diplomat 13:08:50 Av rec 08:15mins
14.Gerard Bou Splendacrest Fiesta 13:49:45 Av rec 09:06mins
15.Kristie McGaffin Kurrajong Concorde 13:49:50 Av rec 02:33mins

Eliminations
Omair Al Bloushi UAE Stanpark Strike horse fell leg 1
Yousif Al Bloushi UAE Sha'ahmaliah gate 2 lame
Jennifer Gilbertson Ferrymaster gate 2 lame
Mohd. Apandi Muhamad MAL Elshada Silvr Instinct gate 3 lame
Amily Daw C'bar Kalahari gate 3 lame
Joyce Corbett Reeflex gate 6 lame


3* YOUTH 6 starters
1.Terri Anderson Ashwind 12:54:44 Av rec 04:23mins
2.Tarnia Kittel Raaward Chanelle 13:49:40 Av rec 05:30mins BC
3.Kathrine Ryan Leopard 14:43:50 Av rec 07:17mins

Eliminations
Shelley Kimber El Quantum gate 4 lame
Carmel Trevorrow Burrulga Bourbon gate 5 lame
Leila Callendar H'brook Knightrider gate 6

Australia: Malaysia King qualifies for World Championship

The Star Online

MELBOURNE: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin qualified for next year's world endurance championship to be held in Terengganu when he completed the gruelling Nanango three-Star 160km International Endurance ride near Kingaroy in Queensland, yesterday.

The King, 45, was one of five Malaysians to join an international field of about 50 riders from New Zealand, Japan, Poland, Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Australia in the ride. They started their ride at 5am.

Tuanku Mizan completed the course in under 13 hours 20 minutes to qualify for the world event which requires a rider to finish the 160km ride twice on the same horse.

The King, who was astride Pharoh, rode the same horse in Queensland last year in the first leg.

Tuanku Mizan had already qualified for the world championships when he rode Ibrahim in Dubai in January and again in Abu Dhabi in February within the qualifying time.

This has given the King the choice to decide which horse, Ibrahim or Pharoh, to ride in Terengganu in the November world meet.

Royal Terengganu Endurance Stables general manager Che Mat Din said the 160km ride was tough and tested the competitors' strength, determination and riding skills.

The King loves horses and loves riding. He is a world-class endurance rider and he has competed in many parts of the world. – Bernama

Bahrain: Al Dossary lifts endurance title

Bahrain Gulf News Article
By RAMI HULAYYEL

GHAZI Al Dossary steered Jelham to victory in the 100-km Endurance Horseride Championship, organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef). The final event of the endurance season, sponsored by Zain-Bahrain and co-sponsored by GPIC, started on Thursday evening and concluded early yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

A total of 71 riders from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia lined up for the event which featured four stages, 30 kms each for the first three and 10 for the last stage.

The Royal Endurance Team dominated the race taking the first two positions with Al Dossary, coached by Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, coming on top with a total time of four hours, 15 minutes and 35 seconds.

Behind him in second place was teammate Nezar Hassan (4:26:44). Just five seconds behind in third was Ahmed Al Fateh Stable rider Ibrahim Al Jeboori.

Royal Endurance Team riders Ahmed Abdulla and Raed Mahmood were fourth and fifth respectively. Baqer Ali of Abdulaziz Yousef was sixth and he was followed by Jaffer Mirza and Abdulrahman Al Saad, both of the Royal Team.

Ninth overall was Mohammed Rasheed Al Malhasi of Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Stable while Mohammed Riyadh of Al Hafira Stable wrapped up the top 10.

The championship got underway with Mahmood leading the first stage with the fastest time of 1:10:42, average speed 25.46-km per hour.

Mahmood maintained his lead in the second stage and was followed by Hassan and Manal Fakrawi.

Al Jeboori made a strong comeback in the third stage, moving on top and ahead of Mahmood who went down to third with Hassan making a good leap to second position.

The fourth and final stage was the most exciting in the competition as Al Dossary regained his momentum to take over the lead from Hassan and Al Jeboori.

Among other top riders who took part was Bahrain Athletics Association president Shaikh Talal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa who was forced to quit following an injury to his horse.

Shaikh Talal was also on hand to present the trophies to the top three riders at the prize-giving ceremony which was held right after the race.

Meanwhile, Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa congratulated the winners and wished them success in the near future.