USA: American Rider Alexandria Kirkland Prepared to Contend for 2009 World Championships

Alexandria Kirkland, training for the 2009 Young Rider/Junior World Endurance Championships

Sixteen-year-old Alexandria Kirkland will be the U.S. representative at the 2009 FEI Young Rider/Junior World Endurance Championships, held in Babolna, Hungary on September 5. The prestigious 75 mile horse race will be attended by 29 countries and over 120 competitors. Kirkland will be the sole American rider to compete at these Championships, and she is coming off of a solid individual bronze medal at the North American Championships last month in Indiana.

"After such a strong performance at the North American Championships, I have high hopes for these World Championships. My sponsors, Hought Endurance Tack and The Distance Depot, have provided me with everything I need to be successful in Hungary. Being the United States' only hope for a medal definitely puts the pressure on, but I am confident in the talent of my support crew and the horse." Kirkland says about the Championships.

Accompanying Alexandria will be her mother and her chief crew, Deborah Kirkland. It will be the first World Championships for both Kirkland and her crew, though her mother has been a crew member for Alexandria’s entire career in Endurance.

"I've been coaching and assisting Alexandria for over five years now," says Deborah Kirkland. "She has always been an intense strategist at races, and a fierce athlete. Alexandria will be riding a leased horse from France, a horse she's never seen before, on a course that she's never ridden, so she will have to use her experience and riding skill to be successful."

The United States Young Rider Endurance program has never captured a medal at a World Championships, and Kirkland hopes to be the first. In fact, the United States has not stood on the podium of a World Championships in over ten years, since Valerie Kanavy's gold medal at the 1998 World Endurance Championships. However, the US is hoping to change their luck in time for next year’s 2010 World Equestrian Championships in Kentucky.

"A good showing at the 2009 World Endurance Championships would absolutely set the stage for Team USA in 2010, when the Championships are on our home turf in Kentucky," said Kirkland. "Hopefully we can put America back on the top of the sport of Endurance."






Qatar: Al Shaqab Wins 130km Endurance Race in Compiegne, France

Impressive Fourth Victory of French Campaign

Compiegne, France – The Al Shaqab Endurance Team continued their winning ways in the recent competition in Compiegne, France as rider Faleh Nasser Abugnaim won the 130km event for seven-year-old horses.

Abugnaim skillfully guided his mount, Orette de Tanues, to the victory in 6:30.10. Second place went to Virginie Atger of France in 6:35. A total of 55 riders from throughout the Europe began the race the northern French city with 35 contestants completing the course.

Fifteenth after the first veterinarian check, Abugnaim aggressively moved to second by the second lap and was able to gain the lead during the fourth and final lap to secure the victory.

Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, has been highly successful during their French riding campaign. Since arriving in late July the team has taken top honors in four separate events. The wins include 90km event in Tarbes, and two victories in St. Paulien, 90 km and 160 km races and the 130km Compiegne competition.

The team continues to train for the upcoming European Endurance Championships to be held in Assisi, Italy, September 26 and will attract riders from five continents.

Great Britain: Final selection for the World YR Championships

Endurancegb.co.uk

17th August 2009

The British Young Riders team to complete at the Young Riders World Championships at Babolna in Hungary in early September has now been announced ....



Carri Ann Dark on Esta Leonardo Diabo
Beth Langley on HS Ametista
Helen Perry on Wesam

Great Britain: British Team Selection for European Championships in Assisi

Endurancegb.co.uk

16th August 2009

Selection for the European Championships 2009 at Assissi took place this weekend at Waresley Park, Beds. The following horses and riders were successful and have been invited to compete for GBR in September in Italy ...


Beccy Broughton with Java Sunlight
Roz Clapp with Nazeeka
Fiona Hamilton with Sharifah
Annie Joppe with Dilmun
Catriona Moon with Leila
Christine Yeoman with LM Midday

Travelling reserve horse: LM Taquillero
1st non travelling reserve Rachael Atkinson with Vanash
2nd non travlling reserve Jan Cockley Adams Khadidja du Pont

UAE: Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum of Dubai Banned from Competing in Horse Races

Allheadlinenews.com

August 14, 2009

Anne Lu - Celebrity News Service News Writer

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (BANG) - Dubai's Crown Prince has been banned from riding in horse endurance races. The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has forbidden Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum from competing in any of its events for 10 months after his horse tested positive for a steroid.

The 26-year-old royal was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Hamden is the son of Dubai's ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who is currently serving six-month ban after one of his horses failed two drug tests.

Sheik Mohammed's horse trainer has also been banned from the sport after he admitted administering a steroid and a hypertension medication to his equines.

Hamden's horse Eo Fawati tested positive for anabolic steroids after a 120km endurance race in Bahrain in January.

In a written statement to the FEI, he claimed a private investigation at his family's stables had failed to discover how the drugs entered the horse's system.


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Great Britain: Team GBR Launch Fundraising Auction

Horsemart.co.uk

An Online auction has been launched by Equestrian Team GBR to raise funds to send the British Team to the World Equestrian Games in 2010. The site includes exclusive gifts, experiences and a huge array of items that will appeal to everyone. The auction forms a major part of Team GBR’s fundraising initiatives, which are now gathering momentum.

There are a number of lots on the site already that you can bid for. Items include the chance to join the eventing performance squad for winter training, a pamper day for two at Peter Jones in Slone Square, lessons with our equestrian stars, the 3ft tall Olympic mascot from Hong Kong and much, much more.

A World Equestrian Games includes the eight disciplines of dressage, eventing, show jumping, para-equestrian dressage, driving, endurance, reining and vaulting – for the British team this is more than 51 horses in total.

“The Games are being held in Kentucky, USA, the first time they have ever been held outside Europe,” comments Will Connell, Equestrian Performance Director. “To send a full team and remain one of the top equestrian nations in the world, we need your help. All proceeds of this auction will go towards sending the team to the Games and supporting our talented riders in their quest to compete and win on the World stage. Without your help we will not be able to send a full team.”

The Olympic and Paralympic teams are generously supported by lottery funding via UK Sport, but the non-Olympic sports of driving, endurance, reining and vaulting do not receive funding of any kind. GBP 500,000 is needed to support those teams and fund their trip to Kentucky next year.

The auction site has been launched with the generous support of the John Lewis Partnership who joined with the British Equestrian Federation as part of the British Olympic Association FTSE 100 partnership scheme.

The site is very easy to use, setting up an account will only take a few minutes and then you can start bidding straight away on any of the items. There is also the option to sign up for auction email alerts, to be the first to know about the exciting new lots being added to the site.

The British Equestrian Federation and all its member bodies are committed to sending a full team to the World Games and the auction site is just one way that people can get behind the Teams.

You can also show your support by joining Team GBR Ontrack. Supported across the British Equestrian Federation and launched in partnership with the equestrian Olympic and Paralympic teams via British Eventing, The British Show Jumping Association and British Dressage, Team GBR Ontrack brings together, for the first time, all equestrian and horse sport activity in the UK under one ‘supporters club’. There are two options to join, either free or a one-off fee of GBP 20 which brings with it a range of exciting benefits for you and the teams.

Everyone joining the full membership option will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a VIP trip the World Equestrian Games in 2010 and the first 500 members will get a unique black membership card.

Ontrack will officially launch at an exclusive fundraising event in the Cotswolds on 8 September. With a champagne reception, luxury lunch, showcase of all World Equestrian Games sports and the opportunity to meet stars of the past and future, this is a not be missed event. Details of how to buy tickets are available on the website.

Also look out for the exciting Team GBR raffle which will be coming very soon with the exciting first prize of a GBP 100,000 Olympic Horsebox and some great runners-up prizes too.

Visit the auction via www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk and find out more about the other initiatives at www.teamgbrontrack.com.

Show your support:
o Bid on an auction item
o Buy a raffle ticket
o Join Team GBR Ontrack
o Buy a ticket for the first Ontrack fundraising day

It’s all great value, only takes a couple of minutes of your time and will make a real difference to our equestrian teams while giving you some great benefits, gifts and prizes in return!

Area rider finishes well in Tevis Cup

SkyHiDailyNews.com
Tennessee (Lane) Mahoney "Tenney," former Grand County student and resident of a ranch owned by her family near Kremmling, recently placed sixth in the Tevis Cup, a 100-mile, one-day, equine race from Truckee, Calif., to Auburn, Calif.

The Tevis Cup race is considered one of the most, if not THE most, difficult horse race in the world. The 2009 race had entries from six countries and 33 states. About 180 riders entered and 87 completed the race.

Tenney and her husband, Sean Mahoney, train horses and teach riding at their home "Remuda Run," outside of Fort Collins.

Although Tennessee has been doing well in the Mountain Region AERC (American Endurance Riding Club) and has qualified her horse, DWA Pearl, through Federacion Equine Internacional to possibly compete in the Olympics, this was Tennessee's first time to ride in the Tevis Cup and her first time to ride Salty, a gelding of mixed breeds.

Tennessee began training in endurance riding with Global Endurance two years ago and she and her horse DWA (Drinkers of the Wind Arabians) Pearl have been selected to compete in the endurance riding Olympic Trials this October for the 2010 Olympics to be held in Kentucky that year.

Tennessee moved here from Virginia in 1989 when she was only 7 years old and had been doing horse work Western style both in Virginia, and at family ranches in Texas and New Mexico. She had done English riding and some jumping in Virginia since she was 3.

However, after moving to Colorado, she began riding in the local gymkanas and rodeos along with helping with cattle work at her home ranch. After going to High School at Fountain Valley School near Co. Springs, she learned to drive big Belgians in the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo and at the Denver Stock Show.