Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Brazil: Endurance Team Chages Route to Avoid Glanders Hotspot

Thehorse.com - Full Article

by: Irene Stamatelakys
October 14 2008, Article # 12893

The road to the FEI World Endurance Championship (WEC) will be a little longer for Brazil's six horses because of a recent case of glanders in a horse in Sao Paulo. The European Union (EU) originally refused to allow horses from Brazil to transit through Europe en route to Malaysia for the event. That decision has been modified, according to Derek Liebenberg, WEC technical advisor.

"(EU authorities) divided Brazil into different zones," Liebenberg explained on Oct. 11. "This meant that all the competition horses from Brazil are based in the so-called 'free zones,' and the EU ruled that the horses from these free zones may transit through Europe."

The EU declared Sao Paulo, where the glanders case occurred, a high-risk zone...

More...

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Malaysia WEC: First B747-400 to land in Terengganu

New Straights Times Online
2008/10/12
By : Sean Augustin

KUALA TERENGGANU: For the first time, a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 747-400 landed at the Kuala Terengganu Sultan Mahmud Airport, bringing a load of excited passengers and good news for the state. The debut flight yesterday signalled the beginning of direct flights to Mecca for Muslims on the east coast to perform the haj, bringing to fruit a four-year-old ambition.

This year will see 18 return flights to Jeddah beginning Nov 13 and the ferrying of about 3,000 pilgrims from Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang.

In the past, pilgrims from the east coast would head for Kuala Lumpur before boarding a flight to Mecca.

The landing also signified state preparations to fly in horses beginning on Oct 17 for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in early November.
The state government also signed an agreement to finance a sum of RM4.6 million with MAS, being the excess cost for the haj this year and the WEC, including transportation cost for ground service equipment, logistics and petrol.

The cost was supposed to be borne by MAS due to the change in flight schedules from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the Sultan Mahmud Airport.

"With the new facilities, the airport has reached international standard and we are working hard to get the title from the Transport Ministry," said Terengganu Men-teri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said after greeting 224 passengers, including 40 orphans and journalists, on the flight.

"It will be a gateway to the east coast," Ahmad said, adding that negotiations were also ongoing with the Department of Civil Aviation to bring in more flights from China because of the airport's convenient location.

"The airport is a long-term investment for the state and we hope to get more international flights and develop the tourism industry.

"Right now, we are looking at incentives, including an airport tax subsidy to attract more international landings."

MAS external relations senior general manager Datuk Mohd Nawawi Awang captained a fly-past over the airport and the city before landing about 3pm, when it received a water salute from two fire trucks.

Full article, NST Online

Brazil: Glanders Case in Brazil Affects International Horse Transport

Thehorse.com - Full Article

by: Irene Stamatelakys
October 11 2008, Article # 12861

A case of glanders in a horse in a Sao Paulo, Brazil, has impacted international transport and competition in Brazil and abroad. Event organizers, equine transport companies, and governmental authorities are working closely together to keep horses moving while minimizing risks.

A horse in a university veterinary hospital was diagnosed with glanders on Sept. 3. While glanders is considered endemic in some northern and north-eastern areas of the country, this case occurred in the southeastern portion of Brazil. The contagious disease has been eradicated from many countries, including the United States, Canada and Western Europe.

As a result, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) moved to delay the Global Champions Tour CSI-5* Final show jumping competition in Sao Paulo to Oct. 15-19. The event was postponed to give competing European horses time to travel to Brazil following a meeting of European Union (EU) authorities on Oct. 2 to determine the re-import procedure for those horses due to the glanders case. Authorization has been granted for the event to be held and European horses will compete.

The Sao Paulo glanders case almost kept Brazilian competitors out of the World Endurance Championships (WEC) to be held in Malaysia on Nov. 6-9...

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Thursday, October 09, 2008

Australia: Lachlan members few but spirited in endurance ride

Full article - Cowra Guardian

10/10/2008 9:04:00 AM
There were only a few of the Lachlan Club members attend this year’s state championships at Manilla as it was very close to both the Shahzada 400kms in August and the Tom Quilty which this year took the unusual date in September in Queensland at Nanango.

This was necessary due to the timing of the comeback out of EI restrictions and the Victorian committee not quite being ready to take interstate horses at the time.

The event attracted a good number of riders with a total of 86 combinations to tackle the Manilla course which was generally considered to be an “easy” course if there is such a thing in 100 mile rides.

What did make it difficult was the concussive nature of the hard roads and tracks in the district together with lack of natural water on track.

The ride organisers did put some troughs about on the later legs of the ride during the more difficult sections of the track.

Outright winner and state champion was Stuart Hitchcock of Kurrajong riding his gelding Farras coming across the line with lightweight rider from Blayney Dianne Luker riding Peter Cooper’s gelding Anabriar Khaboul.

Robin Gossip of Woodstock made the trip with her gelding Wesswood Willow and strapper Dianne Cameron. Robin unfortunately went out after the fourth leg with Willow pulling up lame.

John Symons of Canowindra also competed on his mare Forestdale Xasperation, however this duo also suffered lameness after the third leg.

Alan Lindsay took his mare Kintamani Charisma and junior rider Emma Smith rode Alan’s gelding Kintamani Mistral in the Manilla event in order to qualify for the Tom Quilty as riders have to have completed a 160km event before they are permitted to take on the Quilty.

Both Alan and Emma were successful with Emma coming in third junior, an excellent effort considering both her and the horse were making their first 160kms event.

Malaysia WEC: Definite Entry List is submitted

After months of non-stop hoping and waiting, the FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 Organising Committee has finally confirmed the definite entries for the most awaited championship of the Endurance Sport!

142 horses and their riders from 34 countries are set to battle to become World Champion for the FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 that will be held from 5 - 9 November 2008 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park.

View Definite Entry List

Spain: French riders win individual, team events in Oviedo

Thu Oct 09, 2008 By FEI

The 2008 FEI European Endurance Championships for Juniors and Young Riders took place Sept. 26-28 in Oviedo, Spain.

The difficulty of the trail was worthy of a championship with its many hills, but with the sun shining and a light breeze accompanying the riders throughout the day, they were able to enjoy the fantastic view of the mountainous surroundings of the trail.

With a 58-percent completion rate, the young participants showed they were up to the challenge and managed to combine both smart and efficient riding.

French riders dominated the competition by finishing first and second in the individual competition and winning the team event. Belgian riders also had a very successful weekend, winning bronze in the individual and silver in the team. With three out of four riders finishing the ride, Switzerland still managed to win bronze in the team competition followed by Great Britain in fourth place.

During the closing ceremony, the organizers of Oviedo passed on the FEI flag to the organizers of the 2009 FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders to be held in Babolna, Hungary.
Individual results:
Rider - Horse
1. Lucie MARIN (FRA) - LAMIAH EL OUED
2. Andéa PULICANI (FRA) - SPIGA
3. Selena DE WASSEIGE (BEL) - KALAH GREY
4. Uma MENCIA URANGA (ESP) - KIM BELLE DU MAGNY
5. Victoria GUTUBAKKEN (NOR) - IBN ARARAT
6. Laia MUIXI CRUSELLAS (ESP) - TROIAN 3
7. Ibon ALBERDI SANCHEZ (ESP) - KAT-MAKAN
8. Julien LAFAURE LAHARANEE (FRA) - CABIRAT
9. Lisa RIOU (FRA) - IAQUIB ARMOR
10. Laetitia GONÇALVES (FRA) - JASMINA DES AYSSADE
11. Enriqueta CAMPOS YLLANES (ESP) - CAPRI CP
12. Anna Lena WAGNER (SUI) - TESSA IV
13. Laura HOUASSIN (BEL) - QUICK DES SAUVLONS
14. Marlies HOUASSIN (BEL) - NADJI DES SAUVLONS
15. Patricia FEKETE (HUN) - METAXA OBAJAN ALADDIN
16. Fanny GUERISSE (BEL) - MOURAD RLA
17. Antonio BRAS (POR) - MOURA URANIO
18. Ana SORIANO LLUCH (ESP) - HOOR
19. Pere LLORENS RODRIGUEZ (ESP) - ANDURI
20. Marketa TERBEROVA (CZE) - WELLFARE
21. Indergand SASKIA (SUI) - SWWANN
22. Noémi TONET (SUI) - HUZOUT D´AX
23. Liza SUNDBERG (SWE) - KRISTALL
24. Alice SPINAZZE (ITA) - AMIR
25. Beth LANGLEY (GBR) - HS AMETISTA
26. Carri Ann DARK (GBR) - ELMSTEADS POLOISTIQUE
27. Mafalda MIRA COSTA (POR) - TAMARA
28. Kay COUNTER (GBR) - CHEEKY CHARLIE
29. Abigail TENNANT (GBR) - CHADOR
30. Veronika GRELL (GBR) - PIOVE
31. Ebba BOBERG (SWE) - PATOS
32. Yara DE BOER (NED) - SUMAYA G
33. Linn GUSTAVSSON (SWE) - EL PEPAS
34. Frida SODERSTROM (SWE) - CADAM
35. Carlo DI BATTISTA (ITA) - DALLAS
36. Serena FOSSI (ITA) - ABISY´NCZYK

European Endurance Championship Open 2009

Havas Sports will lead the communication strategy for European Endurance Championship Open 2009 and for Assisi Endurance Lifestyle

Havas Sports is the agency with the sole right to lead the communication strategy of Assisi Endurance Lifestyle, the most popular event organized by sistemaeventi.it with the support of United Arab Emirates. The French Agency, leader in communication of sport, will provide a strategic support for FEI European Endurance Championship Open 2009 that will be held in Assisi on the 26th of September 2009, inside the format of Assisi Endurance Lifestyle.

Gianluca Laliscia, CEO of sistemaeventi.it and Stephane Allio, CEO of Havas Sports Italy, just some days ago made the deal for a new operative collaboration starting this November in Malaysia for an official promotion and Public Relations activity on occasion of FEI World Endurance Championship 2008, the most important Endurance competition who will see the participation of Gianluca Laliscia in the National Team.

Assisi Endurance Lifestyle, fixed from the 17th to 27th of September 2009, will mean 11 days full of important moments and appointments as the European Championship, for whom we expect the participation of 30 countries including the Official representatives of GCC, an International Forum on Economics, B2B meetings, Cultural Conventions and Conferences, Medical Symposiums, Shows, Concerts, Gourmet Moments dedicated to Italian traditional food tasting, a Pony Village for all the children and naturally the Hospitality Village, a really big area located on the magnificent background of the Basilica of San Francis.

In some months press conferences and Gala Events will be organized in Parigi, Milano, Dubai, Roma and obviously in Assisi where the press could finally know the meaning of Assisi Endurance Lifestyle 2009 and where the commercial supply will be presented to potential Sponsors.

Assisi Endurance Lifestyle

Costanza Laliscia: the young Italian equestrian endurance champion

Sport.quotidiano.net - Full Article Costanza Laliscia, endurance champion, talks about her passion for horses and the sacrifices she makes...