WEG Endurance Test Event Needs Volunteers

TheHorse.Com
by: Erin Ryder, TheHorse.com News Editor
September 04 2009

Want to spend a Kentucky autumn day watching some elite equine athletes and riders do their thing against a backdrop of Bluegrass? How about getting an inside view of the veterinary work behind the scenes at an international endurance event?

The organizers of the endurance portion of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are looking for a few good volunteers--160, in fact--to assist at their Kentucky Cup Endurance test event Oct. 14. The available positions include vet scribes, trail stewards, road crossing marshals, training trail marshals, stables stewarding, hospitality assistant to officials, and food runners. Some positions require a full day commitment, while others are broken into sessions.

Most of the jobs don't require specialized knowledge about endurance competition, explained Discipline Manager Emmett Ross. Those with some experience working in equine health might be most suitable for the veterinary scribe positions.

The Kentucky Cup Endurance will feature both a 75 mile (120 km) race, and a 100 mile (160km) race. Both races will start at the same time the morning of Oct. 14. Riders from 18 countries are expected to compete, including current and past national and world champions. The base of operations is the Kentucky Horse Park, with the course stretching out into surrounding property.

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The competition is held every four years, and the 2010 edition will be the first hosted in the United States. The games will run Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2010. Tickets go on sale Sept. 25, 2009.


Link to more info and registration page

Great Britain: Lord Stevens unveils radical proposals for equestrianism

Telegraph.co.uk - Full Article

By Pippa Cuckson
02 Sep 2009

Tougher stable security, more paid officials and an independent integrity unit to maintain a "corruption-free" environment are among radical proposals for equestrianism from former Metropolitan Police chief, Lord Stevens.

Stevens headed-up the International Equestrian Federation's new ethics panel in May. His recommendations were published on the same day that former Olympic dressage champion Isabell Werth was handed a six-month ban after her horse, Whisper, tested positive for an anti-psychotic.

Many recommendations are aimed at speeding up communication processes, minimising "conflicts of interest" through over-reliance on multi-tasking volunteers, and tightening up apparently casual procedures; horses have been medicated during championships without written permission.

Princess Haya – the wife of the ruler of Dubai – was elected to the FEI presidency on a clean-sport platform and initially set up a commission under Professor Arne Ljungqvist, vice-president of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

However, the FEI was wrong-footed this spring by the positive dope tests returned on endurance horses ridden by Princess Haya's husband, Sheikh Mohammed, and his son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohd Maktoum.

More...

Hungary: Entries announced for FEI Juniors & Young Riders World Endurance Championship

Two more days remain until the 2009 FEI Junior & Young Rider World Endurance Championship which will be held in Babolna, Hungary. 95 riders are pre-entered.

The ride will take place near the Babolna National Stud farm which was founded in 1789. There are just a few unique studs in the world, that operate for two hundred years, to preserve, promote and develop the values in breeding Arabian horses, created by the efforts of the predecessors.

The goal of Babolna Stud is not only to preserve, but also to convey their equestrian heritage to the general public, which once was closely connected to warfare, now has become the vehicle for a noble sporting activity.

The history of Babolna Stud, that is world famous today, looks back to the end of the 18th century.

In 2003, the previous president of the Hungarian Equestrian Federation's Endurance Committee, Bela Banyai, together with Tamas Rombauer, the previous president of the Babolna Stud, decided to organise an international endurance competition in Babolna, that would have gone from Babolna to the Austrian border. The competition was planned to be on the day of EU accession of Hungary. Technical obstacles did not make possible to make this dream come true, therefore it became the first international CEI*** endurance ride of Hungary in 2004. This was the first round of the Central European Endurance Cup.

By now the Babolna Derby has become a traditional ride; in 2009 it was organized for the 6th time. The competition is very popular because of its easy, sandy track and its historical environment. Over 100 horses and riders visit our competition each year.

In 2007, the organising committee and the small endurance team decided to apply for the right to organise the 2009 World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young riders. After four years of excellent teamwork and satisfied riders they knew that they owned all conditions needed to perform well.

Current Entries

Coverage at www.endurance.net/international/Hungary/2009Babolna

www.babolnamenes.hu

Italy: 26 Nations and 116 Riders Confirmed for European Championship

01-09-2009

Are 26 the nations, listed in the Nominated entries at the Meydan City FEI Open European Endurance Championships on 26 September 2009, the most important event for the ongoing year.

At the competition - constituted by 6 laps that winds along 160km in the Umbrian country side - are going to participate 19 European nations, 7 non EU nations for a total of 116 riders, 89 European and 27 non EU that will challenge for the European and Open Challenge scheduled for September 26th at 5.00 am from the Misura Village.

These are the numbers of the event, waiting for the definite Entries, that will be confirmed September 21st , that clearly show a great event, most of all for the rides reputation. In Assisi sport, environment, culture and history will be enhanced Sport, environment, culture and history can be enhanced here as in few places in the world.
This thanks to the special contribution of the binomials that will compete in the race that will wind along 5 municipalities. Meydan City FEI Open European Endurance Championships 2009 are also this but, most of all, are a melting pot occasion between people, culture and diverse stories in the name of sport.

Assisi has always been ambassador of welcoming culture and ideals sharing and is perfectly suited to be a the host of the event for all over the world horses and riders.

Coverage at www.endurance.net/international/Italy/2009Assisi

Spain: Jordi Romero, campeon de Catalunya de Raid

Federacio-catalana-hipica.cat

La disciplina de Raid ja te nou Campio de Catalunya, en la figura de Jordi Romero. El genet de Roda de Ter, que va muntar al cavall Roig, va aconseguir el millor temps del recorregut de 120 Km, que es va disputar aquest cap de setmana a les proximitats de Ripoll. El nou campio de Catalunya, va realitzar un temps final de 8 hores, 39 minuts i 40 segons, superant per un estret marge a una de les màximes favorites al titol, Maria Alvarez.

The discipline has already Raid Champion of Catalonia CEI**, the figure of George Romero. The rider of Roda de Ter, who rode the horse "Roig", had the best time to travel 120 km, which was held this weekend in the vicinity of Ripoll. The new champion of Catalonia, made a final time of 8 hours, 39 minutes and 40 seconds, beating by a narrow margin in a top favorite for the title, Mario Alvarez. Jaume Punti won the bronze.

Portugal: CEIO Nations Cup 2009 - 4 October 2009

Endurallportugal.com

CEIO 160 km Barroca D'Alva, Alcochete - 4th October 2009

Endur'All is now preparing the Nations Cup 2009 which will be the final of the circuit between France, Belgium, Italy and Portugal. Nations Cup 2009 is a 160 km course beside Tejo estuary, a natural reserve located in Barroca d'Alva, Alcochete, 30 km near Lisbon and the international airport.

The Competition
The competition will count with a presence of a large number of international riders that will not only be competing a 160 km but will be profiting a course through a beautiful landscape, a surrounding area of Lisbon that has revealed itself has a paradise at 20 minutes away from the capital. Tejo estuary, a natural reserve of the country that presents 325 square km of an enormous biodiversity and considered the biggest sanctuary of wild aquatic birds.

The course offers a unique terrain conditions for the practice of Endurance in Europe, since that has received the European Endurance Championship 2007 Open, and the Nations Cup CEIO 2006, 2007, and 2008. 160 km courses almost entirely cutting through estuary country criss-crossed with rice-paddies, canals and dukes as well as pine forests and oak plantations. We've chosen a pleasant, technical and fast course for the riders to enjoy but also to prove their level of competitiveness.

More information at Endurallportugal.com

Namibia: Walvis Bay Hosts Endurance Horse Riding

Newera.com.na

31-August-2009

by Albertina Nakale

WALVIS BAY - Excitement is mounting as horse riders prepare themselves for the annual International Horse Endurance Ride, which gets underway at Walvis Bay on Wednesday.

According to the Namibia Endurance Ride Association (NERA), a significant number of riders from South African and Botswana and hosts Namibia will be in action in this highly acclaimed competition.

"Walvis Bay is the ideal location for the competition. The dune landscapes provide for some of the toughest endurance rides, attracting riders from all over the world," said the secretary of NERA, Annette Hanekom.

The first endurance ride in Namibia was held in 1966 between Veldduin and Maroelaboom, and soon grew in leaps and bounds.

After the withdrawal of the South African Defence Force in 1989 endurance riding came to abrupt halt in Namibia. However, by 1990 the Grootfontein Endurance Ride Club was established and the first endurance ride after independence was held in April that year at Kranzfontein, near Grootfontein.

The maiden edition of the National Championships was held at Gobabis in 1992. Ever since the endurance sport has grown tremendously and there are currently more than 200 members and seven clubs.

"More important than the numbers is the quality of improvement that Namibia Endurance Riding has experienced. We have grown to become internationally competitive with our wonderful and tough horses.

While our riding routes are a true challenge in stamina, fitness and endurance."

As with the previous competitions the event has not only attracted top riders beyond Namibian borders but has lured high profiled technical delegates, veterinarians, supporters and friends.

"As you can imagine this is a healthy boost to the coastal economy and an opportunity to promote the area as a tourist attraction. The competition will be held in compliance with the regulations of the Federation Equestre International (FEI)."

The competition that wounds its way around Walvis Bay, covers a distance of 130 kilometers for the senior open division and 120 kilometers for the junior riders.

"This is the biggest equestrian event in Namibia. It does not only put the country on the international map, but also promotes Walvis Bay and the town's unique environment.

"According to our estimates, the income this event will generate will be thousands of dollars through accommodation, meals and other tourism activities as participants, officials and spectators will flock to the endurance championships," Hanekom concluded.