Volunteers Still Needed for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

HEROES WANTED!
Volunteers Still Needed for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

DATE: January 6, 2010

Lexington, KY—The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games needs Heroes! Thousands of volunteers are stilled needed to work hundreds of different jobs during the 16 days of the Games, which will be held for the first time in American from September 25-October 10, 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

"We need volunteers who can lend their expertise to help make these Games a success, no matter their professional skill level," said Melissa Gamble, Volunteer Manager for the World Games 2010 Foundation. "You might work as a ticket-taker, an usher, work at a visitor information desk, or help with transportation or event services, but each is a very important part of how these Games work every day."

Volunteer positions for competition-specific duties are currently being selected, but thousands of General Volunteers are still needed. Volunteers can still register their interest at www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer.

In addition, there is still time to reconfirm your interest as a volunteer if you signed up within the past two years. To reconfirm interest or adjust current contact information e-mail volunteers@feigames2010.org.

All volunteers will receive an official Ariat uniform and a volunteer credential, which will provide General Admission entry to the grounds of the park for all 16 days of the Games. In addition, meal vouchers will be provided for each volunteer during their shift.

According to current volunteers, the benefits of volunteering extend far beyond the uniform.

"The opportunity to assist with an international sporting event is something that many of us will never again experience," said Carolyn Greene, who volunteered during each of the 2009 Test Event competitions for the Games and is now volunteering full-time at the World Games 2010 Foundation office. "Volunteering is part of who I am and what I do, and I am having a blast here."

Martin Klotz volunteers his time as part of the Games' Speakers Bureau. After participating in a training program with staff members, Klotz carries the story of the Games to community groups throughout the Louisville area.

"After each presentation, I have come away with the feeling that I had created an awareness of the Games in those who had not thought much about them and enhanced the interest in those who had," said Klotz, who has also worked as an usher at the 2009 Test Events. "Of course, I hope I will continue to have the opportunity to help 'spread the word' about this monumental event."

It is not too late to experience the Games as a volunteer. For more information, visit www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer or call 859-244-2996.

2010 Tevis Cup Ride Application Available

The 2010 Tevis Cup Ride Application for the 55th Annual Tevis Cup, to be held on July 24, 2010, is now available for download from the WSTF website and is featured at the top of the home page: http://www.teviscup.org/home.

There will be a Tevis Cup Ride booth and cocktail party at the AERC Convention in Reno. The Western States Trail Foundation Board and the many volunteers hope to see you there and at the ride in July. It will be the best year yet!

New Zealand: Everything on track for championships

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

By DAVID DAWKINS - The Marlborough Express - 08/01/2010

Linda Harmon will have no excuses for getting lost at this weekend's South Island Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Championships in the Chestnut Valley.

It's not just because she is an experienced rider, or that the champs are in her home province, but because she has spent the past week marking out the tracks.

The South Island champs will see riders tackle courses ranging from 160 kilometres in the top endurance event to 32km trail rides.

For Harmon, the task has been finding tracks, which consist of large loops ranging from 20km to 40km, then marking them with whatever she can get her hands on – including a host of old roadside markers sourced from Works Infrastructure.

The reflective surfaces on the road markers will be particularly welcome to riders in the 160km event, which starts at 1am tomorrow. The first two loops will be completed in the dark with the aid of headlamps and glow markers.

The courses will take riders through the hills of the Chestnut Valley, in the Wairau Valley, weaving in and out of forestry along the way.

Harmon said riders could expect some challenges.

More...

Bahrain: Royal team set for Giant endurance

Gulf-daily-news.com

Posted on » Sunday, January 03, 2010


BAHRAIN Royal Endurance team members Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Yousef Taher and Abdulhaq Qadoori confirmed their participation in the 2010 Giant Endurance Horseride Challenge on Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The trio veterans will lead a group of team riders in this ride which is one of three events in the 2010 series being jointly organised by Bahrain and the UAE.

Top riders from other Gulf, Arab and international countries are expected to take part, including UAE's vice president, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead the Bahraini riders in Saturday's ride. He will be accompanied by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation's president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Nasser, who came second in last year's Bahrain round, hailed the international gatherings hosted by the Endurance Village in Bahrain as a chance for the elite of champions to compete and exchange skill.

The Bahrain Olympic Committee president expressed gratitude to Unicorn Investment Bank for sponsoring the prestigious event, especially its chief executive Majid Al Refai, and expressed his wish that the support would continue in future competitions.

He commended the directives and positive ideas of Breef president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, mainly in what pertains to prizes which were allocated in a gradually encouraging manner to add more thrills to the competition.

Shaikh Khalid gave his directives to allot a valuable cash prize for the best rider at each of the five stages and to honour the top three riders at the end of the championship.

Saturday's ride will be open to everyone and all participating riders must weigh at least 75 kilogrammes without riding equipment.

The third and final leg will be held in Dubai on the last week of this month and points accumulated over the three rounds will decide the overall champion.

In the first round of the series, which took place at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi last month, featured a disappointing finish for all the four Bahraini riders.

Bahrain were spearheaded by Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa and Ahmed Janahi who pulled out at different stages of the ride.


Photos of the upcoming ride on January 9, by the Bahrain Media Group, can be seen HERE

Colombia: CEI 3* scheduled for February

Colombia will host it's first 160km FEI event on February 5 and 6th. 40km, 80km, 120km and 16km distances will be offered.

Sun City Ride in New Mexico in February is FEI sanctioned

The Sun City ride in New Mexico on February 27 and 28, 2010, is an FEI sanctioned ride (CEI 1*/2*). It was left off the previously published calendar.

The USEF website lists the competitions of 2010 at http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/competitions/compSearches/compSearchResults.aspx.

USA: 2010 FEI Endurance Ride Calendar with Selection Trials

2010 Ride Calendar

December 19, 2009 Goethe, FL CEI 1 2 3*

January 16, 2010 Inyokern, CA CEI 2 3*

January 28,29 30 Ocala, FL CEI 1, 2, CEI 1, 2 and CEI 1 2 3*

February 27-28 Santa Teresa, NM CEI 1 2*, CEI 1, 2*

March 4-6 Williston, FL CEI & CEIJY 1,2 : 1,2 and 1,2 3*

April 10 Inyokern, CA CEI and CEIJY 1 2 3*

April 24 Decatur, TX CEI and CEIJY 1* 2* 3*

May 1 Asheville, NC CEI and CEIJY 1 2 3*

May 15 San Jose, CA CEI and CEIJY 1* 2*

June 12-13 Ashland, MT CEI and CEIJY 1 2, 1 3

June 20-26 Selection Trials for WEG
Dates to be approved by the HP Committee

July 1-3 New Lowell, Ontario, Canada CEI 1, 2, 3*

July 27-Aug 1 NAYRER CEIJY 2* (or 4*)

August 7-10 TBD Week of final Selection Trial
dates to be approved by the HP Committee

September 26 World Equestrian Games Endurance World
Championship