The Netherlands: 2009 Ermelo: Dutch National Championship

Belgium's Kristel Van Den Abeele, riding Yasmina du Florival, won the
160-km CEI*** Endurance ride and Dutch Championship in Ermelo,
Netherlands on 12 June, 2009.

Finishing just seconds behind Van Den Abeele were Dutch riders Yvonne
Van Der Velde and Jeanne Linneweever, both of whom made up at least 17 minutes on the final 16 kilometer loop to
almost catch the leader Van Den Abeele. Unfortunately, both Van Der
Velde's horse Joy Escobar, and Linneweever's horse Riki's Macho Man,
were eliminated at the finish, for lameness and metabolics, respectively.

Lisette Druenen of the Netherlands, who came fourth across the finish
line 25 minutes later, placed second when her horse completed the
final vet inspection, making her the 2009 Dutch National Champion. Van
Den Abeele's mount Yasmina du Florival also received the Best
Condition award. Last year's Dutch Champions, Jannet Van Wijk and
Latino finished third. 19 riders from 9 countries contested the 160 km ride,
with 6 finishing. Winning time was 9:37.37, with an average speed of
16.62 km/h.

Additional rides were held, including the CEI** 125 km ride, where
Maike Grell of Germany, riding Tango Lady XX, finished in first place,
just a few seconds over Rashed Saeed Al Kamda of the UAE, riding
Taliesen. Heike Blumel of Germany and Voila Kossack finished third; 15
of 21 riders completed the race, and Tango Lady received Best Condition. In the CEI-J-YR** 120 km ride, all four entrants were elimated by lamenesses at the third vet gate.

Complete results and photos at

www.endurance.net/international/Netherlands/2009Ermelo

Great Britain: Team GB needs £500,000 for World Equestrian Games

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Butcher, H&H news editor

13 June, 2009
Prohibitively high costs of transporting horses and riders to next year's Alltech FEI (International Equestrian Federation) World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, Kentucky, could have serious repercussions for the competition.

National federations have expressed real concerns over the costs of flying horses to America for the 2010 WEG (25 September-10 October) and at the inflated prices that "official" hotels near the horse park are charging for accommodation.

Eight disciplines are represented at WEG — driving, dressage, endurance riding, eventing, paraequestrianism, reining, show jumping and vaulting.

The competition has been held every four years since 1990 and 2010 is the first time it will take place outside Europe.

New Zealand, Austria, Ireland, Australia and the British Equestrian Federation have told H&H they are struggling to meet budgets to send full teams.

Team GB manager Will Connell said: "It will cost between £1.25million and £1.5million to take eight full teams to WEG — it's an expensive operation."

More...

Australia: Record-breaker off to United States

Qt.com.au

David Lems | 13th June 2009

FOR record-breaking Australian endurance horse rider Linda Meredith, her latest success has been something special.

However, she's even more excited about her future after a stunning performance at the recent national titles at Imbil, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

By winning the 160km endurance event for the first time, Kalbar-based Meredith qualified to represent her country at next year's World Equestrian Games in the United States.

"That will be huge," Meredith said, delighted about the prospect of taking on the world's best in Kentucky next year.

"I'm absolutely over the moon."

Meredith has been competing in endurance riding since 1995, enjoying top 10 finishes at major events and competing in Trans-Tasman series at New Zealand championships.

She also won six Tom Quilty buckles (at national events).

However, her latest achievement is her best so far. She's ecstatic her husband Ted and rapidly maturing grey gelding Anglesea Trooper are sharing the journey.

"Ted is my strapper, coat person and taxi driver," she laughed.

"We're very much a team.

"We've just been waiting for our horse to explode out of the blocks."

Meredith, a registered nurse at Ipswich Hospital, said having nine-year-old horse Anglesea Trooper starting to peak gave her more confidence.

"I've always known he had potential and he's been very hard work to keep him under wraps," she said.

"He's old enough now to be able to race.

"I believe our best years are ahead."

Meredith's 160km endurance event is over six stages on different courses.

"It's a race against the clock or each other," the former Gold Coaster said, having been in Kalbar for seven years.

What satisfied her last weekend was clocking the fastest 160km time in Australia.

"It's the thrill of the race," Meredith said, explaining why she loves endurance racing.

Nationals course director Bob Sample said the Sunday of last weekend's competition "belonged to Linda Meredith and Anglesea Trooper" after they quickly took charge, leading all the way on the 160km course.

The rider and her horse completed the journey in eight hours, 56 minutes.

"Anyone who is familiar with the Imbil forest trails will know what a great performance this was," Sample said.

Australian endurance squad manager Barb Timms agreed.

"Linda Meredith and the big white horse Trooper established the lead well and truly in the first leg and never faulted for the entire ride," Timms said.

Meredith trains three to four times a week in the Kalbar area, often riding around Lake Manchester and up the Boonah hills.

'I believe our best years are ahead.'

- Linda Meredith

Australia: Gulgong ride will be popular

Mudgeeguardian.com.au

11/06/2009

Gulgong Endurance Club will hold their annual ride starting from the Gulgong Polocrosse grounds this Sunday.

Organisers report that more than 100 riders have nominated for the event with a number of top local riders taking part.

Promising local junior rider Ben Hudson will be taking part while Mette Sutton will be doing her last ride before she heads to ride in South Africa next month.

Sutton won the ride at Cooyal last month and says that Sunday's ride will be a good exercise before she leaves for South Africa National Championships in two weeks time.

Sutton said organisers of the South African event have arranged an attractive itinerary for the visiting international riders.

Australia and New Zealand are the only international countries that will be represented at the South African Nationals.

"We arrive on June 26 and travel to the event venue at Fort Buis Game Farm the next day," Sutton said.

"The next day we meet the horse owners and sponsors and our horses.

"Then on June 29 we will go on a leisurely trial ride to the Eland Safari Lodge and back, accompanied by local riders.

"We will also visit a stud and have time for shopping and sight seeing.

Sutton said she had received wonderful support from many local organisations who have either donated cash or held fundraising events to help with the cost of her trip. Sutton has received donations from Gulgong Sports Council, Mudgee Endurance Riders Club and the Gulgong Sporting Development Fund - an initiative of Gulgong Bowling & Recreation Club and Gulgong Sports Council.

The Bowling Club is also holding a charity bowls day on June 20 with proceeds to go towards the cost of the trip and everybody is welcome to come along.

Her work colleagues at Mid Western Regional Council have organised a trivia night for tonight (Friday) to raise more money for the trip and local wineries and the Scuba Diving Club have donated prizes for the night.

Motorists are alerted to the fact that horses will be present on many roads in the Gulgong area this Saturday and Sunday and are urged to use caution if driving in the area during the ride.

Roads likely to be affected are Barneys Reef Road, Old Barneys Reef Road, Jackson Lane, Puggoon Road, Tallawang Street, Station Street, Spring Creek Road, Snelsons Lane, Whitehouse Road, Henry Lawson Drive, Canadian Lead Road, Coming Event Lane, Springfield Lane, Reef Road, Hillside Lane and Williardt Lane.

France: 2009 Rambouillet

Cecile Miletto Mosti and Baja De Piboul of France won the CEII*** 160 km raid in 8:31.10 at Rambouillet, while Denis Le Guillou and Zannouba of France won the 160 km Amateur Elite GP in 10:37.43.

Frenchman Vincent Du Pont riding Nita Lotoise won the CEI** 130 km in 6:24.47, and Dorothee Rossez of France riding Dune D'Azat won the Amateur Elite 130 km in 6:56.13.

Photos and results at http://www.endurance.net/international/France/2009Rambouillet/.

South Africa: British endurance team win bronze at SA International Challenge

Horseandhound.co.uk
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor
10 June, 2009

A team of British endurance riders returned from South Africa yesterday with a bronze medal from the first South Africa International FEI Challenge.

The six riders — Tricia Hirst, Nicky Sherry (pictured), Abi Taylor, Rachael Claridge (pictured), Sophie O'Hara-Smith and Helen Perry — were picked to take part in the 120km endurance race near Beaufort West.

The team were on borrowed South African horses, which they were given just two days to become familiar with before the event began.

This was the first time that any teams outside of Southern Africa had been invited to compete in the challenge. Hosted by the Western Province Endurance Union, the event was the largest ever held in South Africa, with some 310 horses taking part.

And the race lived up to its challenging name.

...more

Great Britain: Winning spell of endurance

Perthsire Advertiser
Jun 5 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTHSHIRE rider Kirstie Graham and her lionhearted pony, Arabelle, emerged supreme in the ultimate endurance challenge – 100 miles in one day – at the Bahrain Festival of Endurance in Nottingham.

Kirstie, from Abernethy, explained: “One hundred miles in one day is the ultimate endurance goal. It is tough, gruelling, technical and horse and rider must forge an incredible partnership.

“Endurance riding has strict vetting parameters. A 160km race ride is run over six stages, with the horses being checked by vets after each stage. Horses can be failed on lameness, high heart rate or if they are showing any signs of dehydration or distress.”

Mum-of-two Kirstie, who is the current Scottish Endurance Champion, won convincingly, more than an hour ahead of the rest of the competition, on her Arab x Welsh 13.3hh pony Arabelle (Bella).

The Bahrain royal family sponsors the event, which is based in Thorseby estate in the area known as the Dukeries.

Kirstie continued: “Bella cantered out of the last vet gate without a care in the world. It was getting late and we were on the ‘dig deep’ stage – and she kept on digging deep. It was on this lap I allowed myself to acknowledge that if I finished the ride, I would win. Coming back to the finish, vets, crews and spectators had gathered to cheer us on. Bella surged forward, ears pricked and we floated home.”

Kirstie will be competing to retain her Scottish Champion title at the Scottish Endurance Championships, which will take place at Scone Palace on June 26-28.

As well as the longer distances, the event run by the Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC) will provide classes for everyone, including three different ‘Pleasure Rides’ of around 20km which are open to non-members of SERC.

Further details can be found at http://www.perthendurance.co.uk/