Australia: The Tom Quilty: Cardinia hosts legendary horse race

Starnewsgroup.com.au

By Melissa Grant

17th September 2009

Tom Quilty Gold Cup event organisers are: Alex Enticknap, Sandra Feil, Sue Cousin, MartinDeGroot, LissyVerity, Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson and Jane McLaughlin.

A civic reception was held in Pakenham on Tuesday night as the official countdown to one of the world's most prestigious horse endurance rides began.

About 200 competitors are expected to saddle up for the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, a 160km ride, at midnight this Friday.

The course is based at the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre, and includes the surrounds of the Bunyip State Park while traversing private land, bush tracks and all-weather roads.

It is the first time that the world famous event will be held in Victoria.

Event organiser Lissy Verity said a hard working committee had been preparing for the event for almost three years and had surpassed many hurdles along the way.

The cup, which was to be held last October, was postponed after the Equine Influenza outbreak. Then, there was a recession and the Bunyip Ridge Bushfire, which devastated the Bunyip State Park.

Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson said he was eagerly awaiting the event and paid tribute to those who had brought it to fruition.

"This race is the stuff legends are made of," he said at the civic reception, held at the Cardinia Cultural Centre. Riders and support crews from across Australia and from overseas countries, including Malaysia and Russia, will converge on the Shire for the ride, which winds up on Sunday.

Cardinia Shire chief executiveGarry McQuillan said the event was expected to inject $800,000 to $1 million into the local economy. Residents wanting to see the start of the ride are advised to be at the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre, in Sanders Road, Tonimbuk, by 11pm on Friday as road blocks will be in place after that time.

A public viewing point will be set up on Camp Road for people wanting to view the action over the weekend.

Mongolia stages 'world's longest horse race'

By Michael Kohn (AFP)

ULAN BATOR — More than two dozen horsemen raced across the finish line in Mongolia this month after a test of endurance that would have impressed even legendary conqueror Genghis Khan.

The international group of riders pounded 860 kilometres (530 miles) across the Asian country's vast grasslands in the 10-day Mongol Derby, which organisers call the world's longest horse race.

South African architect Charles van Wyk, 28, tied for first with local rider Shiravsambuu Galbadrakh, leading home a field from 10 countries including Argentina, Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Spain and the United States.

The Adventurists, a Britain-based organisation that dreamed up the derby, designed the race as a way to promote Mongolian tradition and culture -- while raising money for charity.

Participants changed steeds every 40 kilometres or so at urtuus -- horse relay stations patterned on those used during Genghis Khan's time to deliver post across the Mongol Empire, from the Pacific Ocean to the edge of Europe.

"Modern life is changing the steppes but that does not mean they are all coming to the city," Van Wyk told AFP.

"In fact the quality of life is quite good on the steppes and even the foreign riders longed to go back after we returned to the city."

Nomads in traditional gers, or round felt tents, manned each station, providing riders with boiled mutton and fermented mare's milk, a common drink in Mongolia. But on some nights, they slept in the open.

"There were days when I wondered why I had even started this race because I was so tired. But then I would get back into the rhythm of things and press on," said Van Wyk.
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2009 Florac

(reported by Brigitte Huard)
Results:
Best Condition CHARI'A D'ALAUZE 1998 Arabian, one of PERSIK's grand-daughters!

1 PAYEN Morgane AL DABARAN H 11 15.9875 Km/h
2 PERRAUD BONIN Horace FLAMENCO DE MESSEY H 16 15.9772 Km/h
3 GOACHET Julien LUBIANA DE COAT FRITY H 10 15.9745 Km/h
4 AIELLO Jean Daniel CHARI'A D'ALAUZE F 11 15.9723 Km/h
5 DEMIERRE Cecile KEFRAYA JAIS H 10 15.9238 Km/h
6 BLOT Nicolas KALIMA MARINE F 11 15.2249 Km/h
7 BEGAUD Marie Christine MAGUY DE LA PERRIERE F 9 15.1434 Km/h
8 BEGAUD Jack BRAZA H 10 15.143 Km/h
9 VIALLE Marie EL MEBROUK DU BARALY H 12 15.111 Km/h
10 BOULENGER Enora MERCURE DE TAFF H 9 15.1106 Km/h
11 HARDY Elisabeth LUTECE DE CROUZ F 10 14.8384 Km/h
12 JUDIC Muriel ISTINA DE JOUVENCE F 11 14.838 Km/h
13 LEON Allan NEVER SURRENDER F 13 14.8373 Km/h
14 ACQUISTAPACE Audrey OXANA DE TRETU F 10 14.7966 Km/h
15 VERGE Roland LOUXOR DU PESQUIER H 10 14.4674 Km/h
16 ROMEZY Sarah LESLY DU MORIAT F 10 14.4649 Km/h
17 TALIBART Rose Marie KAOLIN H 11 14.4495 Km/h
18 PESCE Denis KRAK II H 11 14.3476 Km/h
19 LAPORTE Romain MAYA F 9 14.3472 Km/h
20 BLANCHARD Jose JOURIKA D'ALAYRAC F 12 14.344 Km/h
21 SIMON Virginie MAM'ZELLE SULEIMAN F 9 14.3085 Km/h
22 AMANJEAN Anne JOCKER DE CROUZ H 12 14.1173 Km/h
23 VALDEBOUZE Laetitia LEADER DE FLOC H 10 14.117 Km/h
24 CORIOU Nathan MENVISE QUATRE VENTS F 9 14.1128 Km/h
25 SAROUL Ludovic JONAS DE GRIEGES H 12 13.8879 Km/h
26 DOMENET BONNIOL Axelle LARA DE L'AIGOUAL F 10 13.8875 Km/h
27 DENAYER Diane TANJAOUI EL PARRY H 11 13.8264 Km/h

photos by B. Huard

News from the 2009 FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders

Horsesinthesouth.com
Babolna (HUN), 4-6 September 2009

FACTS AND FIGURES

23 countries

93 horses

Total distance 118km (loop 1 – 35m; loop 2 – 24km; loop 3 – repeat of loop 1; loop 4 – repeat of loop 2)

Overall completion rate: 72%

Individual winner: Hussain Ali al Marzouqi (UAE) / Sergai – overall speed 22.46kph; overall time 05:15:10

Team gold: France – 100%, overall time 16:20:05

Best condition: Lamiah el Oued ridden by Lucie Marin (FRA)

Fastest Vet Gate Presentation time: Castlebar Sobia ridden by Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qasimi (UAE) – 36 seconds at Vet Gate 3.

FIRST TIME IN HUNGARY

The fifth FEI Young Rider and Junior World Endurance Championships took place from 4 to 6 September 2009 in Babolna, Hungary. The run up to the competition was hot and dry with temperatures reaching 34 degrees during the week prior to the competition. Whilst Hungary have previously hosted Driving Championships this was the first time they had attempted the organization of an Endurance Championship.

The 23 countries entered into the competition were hosted in the stunning surroundings of the Babolna Arabian Stud founded in 1789 and famous for breeding the Shagya Arab. The Pre-Ride vetting took place on Friday 4 September morning with the metabolic examination conducted in the stables and the trot up taking place under the beautiful Hungarian sun. 93 horses were presented and all passed fit to start the 120km course.

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France: Winner of Florac is Morgane Payen

The top 3 finishers of the 160-km Florac ride are:

1. Morgane Payen riding Al Dabaran, 15.998 km/h
2. Bonin Horace Perraud riding Flamenco De Messey, 15.977 km/h,
3. Julien Goachet riding Lubiana De Coat Frity, 15.975 km/h


Complete results at www.france-endurance.net

New Zealand: Looking ahead to 2010

2010radioshow.horseradionetwork.com

We check in with Jim Ellis, Chief Executive of Equestrian Sports New Zealand, to learn how the preparations are going for the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games. Plus, we have a lot of 2010 WEG news for you this week, listen in:

2010 Radio Show Episode 53 – A Report from New Zealand

UK: The Pony Club Saddles Up For Inaugural Endurance Championships

Horsemart.co.uk

Following the launch of Endurance riding as an official Pony Club discipline in March, The Pony Club is really excited about their coming inaugural Endurance Championships, to be held at The College EC, Bedfordshire.

The Championships will be the culmination of Pony Club Endurance rides all over the country throughout the year, and entry numbers have been very pleasing for the first year with over 50 Pony Club competitors anticipated at the Championships. Competitors will be split across Junior (eight to 12 years) and Senior (over 13 years) levels, both individually and in teams. As with the other Pony Club disciplines classes will be set at Novice (32km at 10km per hour), Intermediate (40km at 11km per hour) and Open (40km at 12km per hour).

Pony Club Endurance is generously supported by new sponsor Carr & Day & Martin and the Championship will be running alongside the EGB Cromwell Group’s annual ‘The College Ride’.

“We are really pleased with the way in which Pony Club Members have taken to endurance riding” commented Robert Blane, Chairman of Pony Club Endurance. “The inaugural championships will be a great opportunity for us to see what our Members already taking part can achieve, as well as a shop window for Pony Club Members wanting to see what it’s all about”

Spectators are welcome at the event, with no charge for entry, and food is available to purchase.