Canada: Rocking good time for riders

Hope Standard
Published: September 21, 2009 4:00 PM

Endurance Riders Association of British Columbia held its last endurance ride of the season on Saturday, Sept 12th in Westbank. The Westbank Rocker, as it is called, was attended by 70 riders, with three of them hailing from Hope.

Local riders Shelly Taylor, daughter Danielle and fellow rider Denise Pascucci, saddled up for the 22 mile ride through the telemark skiing trails of Crystal Mountain. Although billed as a 22 mile, the trails ended up amounting to 25 miles in total. After getting the all clear from the vets on Friday, all three horses settled in nicely for the night to prepare for the long haul the next day.

The first loop consisted of 16 miles of up and down terrain, a few good mud holes and some spectacular scenery overlooking Westbank and Okanagan Lake. With an 8 a.m. start, the trio completed the first loop by 10:15 a.m., vetted in to make sure all was well with the horses, had their mandatory 45 minute break, then headed out again at 11:35 a.m. The second loop of nine miles proved much more gruelling and technical, having to follow small trails, going through lots of mud and enduring several climbs.

Danielle Taylor, at the young age of 13, maneuvered her horse Sierra, like a seasoned pro, through the ever-changing terrain. The trio returned to base camp at 13:21 having completed the race in 4 hrs, 46 mins. With the final vet in, giving all three horses the clear, the race was complete, the horses unsaddled, fed and groomed and the riders happy with their results. Danielle placed 19th out of 32 riders and 6th place in the junior category, while mom, Shelly, placed 20th and Denise placed 18th overall.

Bahrain: Riders ready for European Open

Gulf-daily-news.com

September 23, 2009

BAHRAIN'S national endurance horse ride team arrived in Assisi, Italy, yesterday ahead of the European Championship Open 2009, which gets underway tomorrow.

The team, being led by Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, reached the venue via Amsterdam after spending a night in Rome.

Upon their arrival in Assisi, the team began training to acclimatise themselves to the location prior to the championship. Their horses had already been shipped.

In this weekend's event, which is regarded as one of the world's most challenging championships, the Bahrainis will be looking to conclude their annual camp in Europe on a high note.

Shaikh Nasser spurred the squad to a number of great results in their previous races in Europe this year. The team's first appearance in European competition was in the Compiegne Ride in France where the they successfully took a place on the podium.

That was followed by a first-place finish in the team category of the Thetford Ride in the UK and then they maintained their momentum to claim victory in the 160km Open Championship in Germany.

In this event, Shaikh Nasser will be accompanied by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and some of Bahrain's most prominent riders.

It will be the second time for the team to compete in Italy, having participated in the World Junior Championship in 2003 in Rome where Shaikh Nasser led a group of Bahrainis to their maiden appearance in such an event.

Shaikh Nasser confirmed that the team had reached a good level of fitness and were now set to compete with the continent's best riders, adding that both the horses and riders had been well-prepared during their summer camp in Europe.

The Bahrain Olympic Committee president said he was confident that the team would again clinch a place on the podium after successfully taking an overall third-place finish in the previous edition of the championship in Portugal two years ago.

Morale

Shaikh Nasser confirmed that the team's recent impressive participation in European races would certainly lift the team's morale prior to the prestigious Italian championship.

However, this weekend's event will also be part of the Bahraini team's World Equestrian Games which is set to take place in Kentucky, the US, from September 25 to October 10 next year.

The natural scenario of Assisi has been chosen to host the European Endurance Championship Open 2009, the most important event of the year for this discipline.

The championship takes place every two years, on a distance of 160 km, and involves - like its name suggests - European nations as well as nations around the world, after the decision of the FEI in 2001 to add 'Open' in the event's title given the growing importance of the discipline.

The last edition took place in Portugal with 88 riders from 20 different countries attending the event.

At tomorrow's opening ceremony, which takes place at Assisi's municipal square instead of in the stadium, each nation will pass by in procession with its own flag in a mediaeval atmosphere and setting.

The highlight of the event will be on Saturday when the best world riders will compete against one another, among them the official national teams of the countries of the Gulf region.

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