Australia: Sample Wins Fourth Quilty

Weeklytimesnow.com.au - Full Article

Fran Cleland

September 23, 2009

THE world famous Tom Quilty Endurance ride was held last weekend in the Bunyip State Park around Tonimbuk, east of Melbourne.

The challenge of riding 160km in 24 hours attracts riders from around the world.

It began in 1966, when the remarkable Gabriel Stecher rode bare-back on Arabian stallion Shalawi.

Queenslander Brook Sample has been riding in endurance events since he was a junior and took out the 1990, 1995 and 2002 events.

Brook, on Tuldar Saladin, and his brother Matthew, on Brookleigh Ricardo, were first to cross the finish line, in a time of 9 hours and 50 minutes. They were awarded the middleweight section.

Angela Hawks, 19, from Toowoomba, won the lightweight section on Crysari in 10 hours and 41 minutes.

Brodie Freeman, on Cedar Ridge Magnetic, won the heavyweight section in 11 hours and 17 minutes.

The junior winner was Shannon Hill, on Judah of Glendhu, in 12 hours and 5 minutes.

The ride began at midnight last Friday. About 150 horses completed. Each was vetted five times during the ride for lameness, high heart rate or dehydration. Any rider that makes it home with a sound and happy horse proudly takes home a buckle.

Italy: Definitive Entries for European Endurance Championship in Assisi

22 September 2009

Riders and horses from 25 countries have been entered in the 2009 FEI Open Meydan City 160-km European Endurance Championships in Assisi, Italy, to be held on 26th September.

For a complete list of entries, click here.

Australia: 2009 Tom Quilty Gold Cup 160km Endurance National Championship

Victoria, Australia
September 21, 2009

Report from Jennifer Green

In a thrilling finish, brothers Brook and Matthew Sample from Queensland, crossed the finish line in a tied finish to claim victory in Australia's premier 160km Endurance event. Brook, riding Tuldar Saladin and Matthew, riding Brookleigh Ricardo jointly claimed the famous Tom Quilty Gold Cup in a riding time of 9 hours, 50 minutes and 12 seconds. Kristie Taprell, riding Castlebar Concorde took 3rd position in a time of 9 hours, 55 minutes and 12 seconds. All three riders were members of the Australian contingent of riders contesting the World Endurance Championships in Terrengganu, Malaysia, last year.

Internationally renowned endurance rider and multiple Quilty winner, Meg Wade, recovering from a serious fall earlier in the year, assisted with the presentation of the gold cup in an emotional hand over ceremony. Meg has vowed to be riding again as soon as her rehabilition programme allows her too.

The event was based at the impressive Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre south east of Melbourne and the course traversed 5 loops of various lengths in and around the majestic bush land areas of the Bunyip State Forest. The course was described as a true championship course with undulating hills in all phases.

Riders from all Australian states shared the course with riders from overseas nations including USA and Japan and many commented on the professionalism of the event, the high standards of horsemanship and horse management and the pure enjoyment of riding through beautiful Australian bush land.

Event Director, Lissy Verity, could not have been more pleased with the way the event progressed and was overjoyed that the riders and their crews expressed how much they had enjoyed their experience at this year’s Quilty.

Further results by division:

Heavy Weight: (91kg and over)
1st Brodie Freeman Cedar Ridge Magnetic 11.17.10 BC
2nd Stephen Gray Kasbah Kid 11. 51.38
3rd Maurice Gray Chazar Fire N’ Ice 12.33.40
4th Paul Legronne Johroy Custom Made 14.29.30
5th Alwyn Torenbeek Dalgangle 15.03.52

Middle Weight (73kg and under 91kg)
=1st Brook Sample Tuldar Saladin 9.50.12
=1st Matthew Sample Brookleigh Riardo 9.50.12 BC
3rd Kristie Taprell Castlebar Concorde 9.55.08
4th Jodie Patterson Celebration 10.38.26
5th Leigh Ann Sample Brookleigh Scarlett 10.39.16

Light Weight (Under 73kg)
1st Angela Hawkes Crysari 10.41.44 BC
2nd Elodie La Labourier Castlebar Moonlight 10.54.46
3rd Irene Adams Takoi Watermark 11.21.45
4th Wendy Chambers KaiHai Stirling Shakeira 11.32.42
5th Rebecca Miller Aqarius Park Chantilly Lace 12.07.38

Junior (under 18 years)
1st Shannon Hill Judah of Glendhu 12.05.15 BC
2ndJessyca Dakin Allira Park Wings of Fire 12.07.38
3rd James Green Hirstglem Maybe 12.30.39
4th Lainie Zischke Glenwan Sprite 12.48.41
=5th Harlee McCarthy Hirstglen Conquistador 13.26.38
=5th Jasmine Shields Porcelain Doll 13.26.38



Complete Results

Endurance rider alludes to suspicious practices in UAE

HorseandHound.co.uk
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor
20 September, 2009

An endurance rider, who was last week banned from competing for 10 months and fined CHF3,000 (£1,745) after his horse tested positive for testosterone, has alluded to suspicious behind-the-scenes activity in endurance racing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Danjera Kadhir, ridden by Rashed Mohd Al Seyegh, was sampled by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) at the CEI JY* 119km in Abu Dhabi on 7 February.

Levels of testosterone found in the horse constituted a doping offence. Following the positive result, the horse's groom at the See Al Salam Stable in Dubai was dismissed, and left the country at the end of March.

In his defence, 19-year-old Al Seyegh said that he had, as an amateur rider, relied on the "reputation, skill and care of the trainer and the stable itself that his horse was competing free of prohibited substances".

[More ...]

New Zealand: 2009 Trans Tasman Team Named

NZEquestrian.org.nz

18/09/2009 12:29:22 p.m.

Endurance NZ is please to announce the selected 2009 Trans Tasman Teams who will compete against Australia at Ruahine on the 21st and 22nd. Congratulations to all combinations and we wish them well when they take on the Aussies!


SENIOR TEAM:

Deirdre Bartlett - Craig Royston De Luxe

Jennifer Worsfold - Aquilla Toby



Reserve: Rosemary Revell - AA Mystic Charm



JUNIOR/YOUTH TEAM:

Michael Wakeling - Delahaye Finali

Emma Mason - Tararua Mistalight


Reserve: Leanne Ireland - Alshar Blue Levi




Chef d’Equipe – Chris King

Great Britain: Chris Yeoman announces FEI ban

Endurancegb.co.uk

17th September 2009

Christine Yeoman was informed at approximately 11.00am this morning that a drug test performed on her horse Forrest at the Euston Park Ride on the 9th August was positive. As a result she has been suspended by the FEI and is now not allowed to ride in the European Championships in Assisi. Statement from Chris ....

"I was informed at approximately 11.00am this morning that a drug test performed on my horse Forrest at the Euston Park Ride on the 9th August was positive. As a result I have been suspended by the FEI and am now not allowed to ride in the European Championships in Assisi.

The substance involved is something that I have never heard of before and apparently is usually fed to pigs in order to promote growth. I can only at this stage say I am trying to find out how on earth this substance was found to be present in my horse and to state categorically that I have never knowingly fed it to my horses.

I am obviously devastated by this news and I will do everything in my power to clear my name, I have spent most of the last ten years training myself and my horses to compete and succeed at this level and now to have all of that taken away is devastating.

I would like to end by wishing the rest of the team all the success in the world in the European Championships."

Christine Yeoman

UAE: Sheikh's company, Meydan, becomes latest WEG sponsor

Bizlex.com

September 17, 2009

by Bizlex Staff

LEXINGTON, KY - Meydan Group, LLC developers the luxury Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse in Dubai, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has signed on as presenting sponsor of the Endurance Competition during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Sheikh Maktoum, United Arab Emirates Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai is expected to compete in the Endurance Competition which according to the World Games Foundation "will pit champions from more than 30 countries in the equestrian discipline of endurance riding, with competitors vying to complete a designated 6-loop course spanning 100 miles."

Sheikh Maktoum's wife, Princess Haya, is also the president of the FEI, governing body of the Games.

"We are extremely excited and proud to announce this sponsorship with Meydan," CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation Jamie Link said in a press release. "This not only further illustrates their dedication to the growth of horse sport around the world but also to the global nature of the 2010 Games. We are honored to have Meydan as a partner."

The Endurance Competition, one of eight disciplines awarding a world champion during the Games, will take place on Sept. 26, 2010, the second day of the 16 day Games. The amount of the sponsorship was not announced by the Games Foundation.