Australia: Meg Wade Still Hospitalized

Tuesday April 28, 2009

Australian endurance rider Meg Wade remains unconscious in Canberra Hospital, after a fall from a horse while competing in the 100 km Tumbaramba endurance ride on April 4th.

She has been moved from ICU to the Neurological High Dependency unit, where she is breathing on her own and shows response to some stimuli. The doctors are pleased with her progress.

Her family and friends appreciate the overwhelming words of care and concern and support from around the world.

USA: Team USA Wins Silver at 2009 Pan American Endurance Championships

USEF Press Release: April 28 2009

By Joanie Morris and Vonita Bowers

Lexington, KY - Team USA put in a remarkable effort on the final phase at the 2009 Pan American Endurance Championships in Costa Azul, Uruguay to secure a Team Silver medal. They finished less than six minutes off the gold medal-winning pace of Argentina.

The American riders blazed through the final 15km phase: Cheryl van Deusen and on DA Al Capone (New Smyrna Beach, FL) and Stephen Rojek on Savvy (South Woodstock, VT) completed the final leg in just 37 minutes. Valerie Kanavy and LM Francesa Pharr (Fort Valley, VA) added to the effort with another strong final phase time and a sixth place Individual finish to secure a Team Silver medal.

The race was very close as the riders set off on the final phase, Team USA was just four minutes ahead of the Guatemalan Team and 25 minutes behind Argentina. The US riders made up considerable ground.

“We needed the riders to pick up the pace to assure a medal and the riders responded by turning in a phase speed of just under 16 miles per hour,” said Chef d’ Equipe Becky Hart. “The combined experience of not only the riders, but the crews, Team Veterinarian, and Team Staff contributed greatly to the overall result. This win was a true team effort.”

Gabrielle Mann and CM Big Easy (Bolinas, CA) served in the key anchor position in their first international competition. They delivered on their position and provided a security score in case one of the other members was unable to complete the competition. Her completion meant that the US Team was assured of at least the bronze, and allowed for a more aggressive strategy.

“Three of the American horses had to travel a long distance, and arrived with only a short time to prepare before the event. The horses and athletes adapted well to the short prep schedule and performed extremely well on a course that was quite different than what is common in the US. The result was a good performance,” said Team Veterinarian Jim Bryant. “They should be congratulated for the effort.”

Uruguay: King Begins State Visit To Uruguay

Bernama.com

April 27, 2009 14:47 PM

From Abdul Aziz Harun

MONTEVIDEO, April 27 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah today began their state visit to Uruguay.

Their Majesties flew in to the Carrasco International Airport in a special aircraft at 6.15pm Sunday (5am Monday in Malaysia), and were greeted by Uruguayan Foreign Affairs Minister Gonzalo Fernandez.

The royal couple was accompanied by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin as the minister-in-attendance and several senior government officers.

This is the second visit to Uruguay by a Malaysian head of state. The first was in September 1995 by the late Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

The current state visit is also to reciprocate the state visit to Malaysia by Uruguayan President Dr Tabare Vazquez Rosas in November 2007.

Tuanku Mizan and Tuanku Nur Zahirah are scheduled to have an audience with Vasquez tomorrow. In the evening, the President will host a state banquet in honour of Their Majesties.

The visit is expected to provide impetus for improving bilateral relations and symbolises the warm and close ties of friendship between the two countries.

Prior to the state visit, Tuanku Mizan participated in the Pan-American Endurance Race in Costa Azul, about 50km from here, on Friday at the invitation of Vasquez.

The Malaysian team clinched the first place among the six non-Pan American countries, which participated in the gruelling 120-km biennial challenge that involved a cross-country resistance race.

The six non-Pan American countries were Malaysia, England, France, Belgium, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In the overall individual event, Tuanku Mizan, who rode Tormento, came in on 21st place while another Malaysian rider, Datuk Abdullah Taib, came in on 24th.

Tuanku Mizan clocked 8 hours 36 minutes, also to finish second in the non-Pan American category, while Abdullah took third place after clocking 9 hrs 21 minutes. Briton Dominique Freeman clocked 8 hrs 6 mins to win gold in the category.

Abdullah was seen with his right hand in a sling at the prize-giving ceremony at Santa Maria, Costa Azul.

He had suffered a fracture of the right shoulder after he fell from his horse, Horus. He managed to finish the race, riding the last five kilometres of the race with the injury.

Portugal: 2009 Monsaraz - Campeonato Nacional de Portugal

2009 Monsaraz

18 April 2009

Ana Margarida Costa and Gozlane du Somail won the 2009 Portugal Championships held 30 kilometers west of the Spanish border, near the historic medieval village of Monsaraz, in the beautiful hills of the Alentejo province. (Alentejo means "far from Tejo", the river belonging to Lisboa going to the Atlantic.)

Finishing 2 minutes behind Costa was Joao Raposo riding Titanic, followed by Roberto Paul Carranza riding Repoker.

Endurance.net coverage and results, and photos by Alice Proust at 2009 Monsaraz.

France: 2009 Uzes - 90 km, 125 km

2009 Uzes - France

CEI** 125 km: Robert PASTOR and INCHALLA were second on the first loop (00:00:29 seconds after the first), then first on the three following loops. He arrived under a sunny weather, while it was pooring with rain on the following riders.

Coverage on 2009 Uzes by Endurance.net

Photos and complete results by Brigitte Huard

USA Team takes Silver at Pan American Championship

The United States team started and finished 4 riders at the 2009 FEI Pan American Endurance Championship held in Uruguay. The Championship distance was 120 kilometers (75 miles).

Argentina won the Gold Medal, and Guatemala took Bronze.

USA Team results:
Valerie Kanavy riding LM FRANCESA: 6th place, 6:31 hours
Cheryl Van Deusen riding DA AL CAPONE : 11th place, 6:50 hours
Stephen Rojek riding SAVVY : 12th place, 6:50 hours
Gabrielle Mann riding CM BIG EASY: 21st place, 9:15 hours

Three of the USA horses were shipped from the USA. One horse was already in Uruguay. The 100 percent completion rate and the high placement of the individual riders was a great accomplishment for the USA, especially considering that they were among the few competitors whose horses where shipped from afar.

Team Chef d' Equipe Becky Hart was very pleased with the results. The USA is gearing up to host the next World Endurance Championship in 2010 and Ms. Hart is focusing all of her efforts on training and preparing USA riders and horses for a competitive showing at this event. The winning of Pan American Silver Medal was a great boost for this effort.

Full Pan Americano event coverage at http://www.endurance.net/international/Uruguay/2009PanAm/

Canada: World Endurance Championships

Ogilvyequestrianeng.blogspot.com

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Following on strong results achieved November 7, 2008 at the World Endurance Championships in Malaysia, Canada is now preparing for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Placing 7th at the Championships, the team is made up of riders Wendy Benns (Pontypool, ON), Ruth Sturley (Owen Sound, ON), Yvette Vinton DVM (Simcoe, ON) and Bob Gielen (Norton, NB).

Throughout this year, results from both Canadian endurance teams (Canada East and Canada West) will be compiled for qualification for the WEG.

OE will follow the season with great interest : good luck to all riders!