Great Britain: New Appointment to the International Selection Panel

Endurancegb.co.uk

9th February 2010

The International Committee have appointed Mrs G Payton onto the Selection Panel. Gilly is a well known Endurance GB member who has many years of experience of riding, crewing, organinising and spectating - both at home and internationally.

She will have special responsibility for the Young Rider Squad and the British Endurance Development Squad.

Sue Broughton
Chair of IC

Great Britain: Endurance GB Launches Fundraising Initiatives for 2010 WEG

Endurancegb.co.uk

Endurance GB (EGB) has launched new fundraising initiatives to support the British Team at this yea's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA.

The Kentucky Sponsorship Form

As many of you realise we are looking at methods of raising money to help the costs of our team at the world championships in Kentucky in 2010. If we are sending a team, plus one or two individuals then it is imperative that we send the best team and also the best prepared team as possible.

These members are representing Endurance in Great Britain and we feel it is important that we support them in every way we can, especially with the costs of transport. A figure of GBP20.000 is the calculation to send each member there, so we need to be raising about GBP120,000. Even more important is the exposure that Endurance will get at home if we can achieve this, leading in the future to a greater membership and further sponsorship.

In order to raise funds all E.G.B. members are asked to get themselves sponsored for every kilometre they ride at NCR.s, CR.s, or ER.s during the months of February, March and April.

The form is self explanatory. On the front of the card write down your own details, and then the name, address and telephone number of your sponsors and include how much per km they are sponsoring you for. (either 1p per km, 5p per km or 10p per km). On the back of the card write down the date, venue and distance for each ride you have competed at and get it signed by the ride secretary on completion of the ride.

I feel in these three months the average member will be riding approximately between 100 and 200 kilometers, some maybe a little less and some many more. Aim to get at least 20 sponsors onto your cards and hopefully each member could make between GBP200 and GBP400. Having collected your sponsorship money then send your completed cards back to the EGB Office (address below) with the appropriate money by the end of April. If you complete your card early then extra cards are available from headquarters, or from Robert Blane (01845 526185)

There will be a special prize for the individual who raises the most money and also for the group who does likewise.

Good luck. Keep smiling. And here’s to winning the world championships.


Kentucky Rides For Fun

Endurance GB (EGB) has launched new fundraising initiatives to support the British Team at this year’s World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA. The Kentucky Rides Series will provide an opportunity to encourage new members while also raising funds to Well over [number] Kentucky Rides are expected to take place at venues throughout the country between now and August 2010.

Kentucky Rides are a series of Non-Competitive rides organised by regional EGB groups, covering a range of distances to suit all levels of experience from 10 miles to longer rides of 25 miles. The rides are open to non members and offer a fabulous opportunity to ride over beautiful countryside, often over private land not normally open to the public. Riders will take part either for pleasure or as preparation for the competition season ahead.

"We have a really talented pool of riders and hope to be sending a strong team to the WEG in Kentucky. These rides are an excellent way for those interested in endurance riding to get a taste of what is involved, or just enjoy the beautiful countryside while raising valuable funds to support our international squad", says Jo Claridge, EGB Chairman.

Britain has been committed to fielding an international endurance team since the first FEI event in 1984 and British teams have an excellent track record in World and European championships, at one time holding more team and individual medals than all other countries except the USA and France. International teams are largely self funding and rely on fundraising to support their endeavours.


Kentucky - Three Peaks Challenge

A team of your Championship squad members and supporters are coming together to take on the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales all in 24 hours.

This gruelling, true endurance challenge will be attempted by riders Rachel Atkinson, Beccy Broughton, Rachel Claridge, Annie Joppe, Sarah Rogerson, Nicky Sherry and crew member Steve Masterson with well known photographer and already once successful 3 Peaks challenger David Saunders. A team of supporters will also be backing up the challengers throughout.

We will begin in Scotland with the ascent and descent of Ben Nevis, drive 7 hours to our next climb, Scafell Pike and then onto Wales with the ascent and descent of Snowdonia all within 24 hours.

Continual updates of the teams plans will be posted on the EGB website and our Team GBR Endurance 3 Peaks facebook page but for the time being please support us and donate here or if anyone can support us in the form of sponsorship to cover the various parts of the challenge or would like to be part of our team please contact us.



Kentucky - Tricia Hirst – Comrades Marathon

Having done the London Marathon and the New York Marathon last year, my entry has been accepted for my next challenge - The Comrades Marathon which is actually an Ultra marathon 56 miles in under 12 hours. This takes place in South Africa every year and you can read all about it at www.comrades.com Runners come from all over the world and out of the 20,000 runners they only accept 5,000 first time novice runners each year. These places were taken up within 27hrs of the opening date.
I have always strongly believed that money should not stop anyone putting their name forward to compete on a British team. So any money you can spare would go towards the team effort to enable anyone who is selected to have the opportunity to go and fly the flag for us. If you would like to help in this way please sponsor me on my endurance challenge. We would be very grateful no matter how little you can afford. Please make your donation here


Kentucky - Chris Yeoman - Bath Half Marathon

Faising Funds for the EGB WEF funda and also to raise money for MS - "as you will all know I have had this now for a lot of years and have had a lot of help from various sources I now feel the need to give something back and to help others with MS achieve their goals in life whatever they may be". To donate to this charity please see my just giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/CHRISTINE-YEOMAN or make your donation to EGB
PLEASE HELP ME KEEP MOTIVATED IN THIS FREEZING WEATHER AND KEEP TRAINING!

For more information, forms, donations, and list of rides, see http://www.endurancegb.co.uk/html/fundraising.html.

Canada: Alberta - Endurance Riding Celebrate 30 Years

Horsesall.com

Endurance riding has come a long way during its 30 year history in Alberta - from a handful of riders located in western Alberta to more than 100 riders province wide today. Among the internationally recognized disciplines governed by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) - endurance, jumping, dressage, driving, vaulting and reining - endurance stands out as one of the fastest growing disciplines.

The first world endurance competition took place in Virginia in 1988, with one member from Alberta, Joan Harris, nominated to enter. Without any support, she helped bring home a team silver medal. Now, for every rider heading to international events there is a support team of no less than three people per rider. Grooms, crews, coaches, team vets and chef d’equipes give their time and money to help our dedicated riders succeed.

And as interest in endurance riding grows, the qualifying process becomes more refined. In 1988 riders were chosen based on the number of rides they did locally. Having completed at least one, 100-mile event assured you of a placing. Now, there is a qualifying process in place. To be considered as a competitor, riders and horses must have competed in a number of FEI-sanctioned rides at a certain speed and in a certain length of time. The youth are also being included now with championship events being held for them.

All international competitions, whether championships or qualifiers are governed by the FEI with its head office in Lausanne, Switzerland. This assures riders that everyone competes on a level playing field.

In the past, FEI qualifying endurance rides in Canada were few and far between. Now, Alberta has a venue for a competition of this calibre, at Horseshoe Lake north of Edmonton and hosted on the Long Island Light Horse Associat ion’s grounds. The first FEI qualifer was held here last May. The event was such a success that many western Canadians have inquired if there will be another. There is a need, not only for riders but for people wishing to become FEI officials, to have a dedicated venue in the province where they can train and learn.

To become an official, one must go through qualifying stages, much like riders. Up until recently, Keith Thorne was the only official in Alberta. Now we have three more in training— Dr. Roxy Bell, Dr. Deanna Spiker and Joan Harris, along with others from the west. Having a regular FEI ride with the necessary courses taught here will put Alberta on the endurance map.

Last year, five riders trained and qualified in Alberta for a place on the Canada Endurance Team. They are chosen on a point-for-miles-completed basis. Tara MacLeod and her daughter, Ariel, were on the Canada West team that attended the pre-world competition in Kentucky last October. Kathy Irvine came in second overall on a grueling five-day, 250-mile ride in Idaho last September and Caroline Williams and Leanne Marchant travelled to eastern Canada to compete.

The date for the next FEI ride is May 22 and 23, 2010. It will be a two-day ride with open and FEI divisions. Visit our website at www.enduranceridersofalberta.com for more information.

President's Cup: Entries

The following foreign riders have been invited to participate in the CEI *** 160 km Presidents Cup, to be held on February 14 2010 in Abu Dhabi:

Pietro Di Geronimo - Belgium

Andre Vidiz - Brazil
Rafael Salvador - Brazil

Caroline Denayer Gad - France
Santisteva Benedicte - France

Belinda Hitzker - Germany
Sabrina Arnold - Germany

Valentin Kun - Hungary
Eniko Odor - Hungary

Jannet Van Wijk - Netherlands
Carmen Roemer - Netherlands

Beata Dzikowska - Poland
Ola Ciesielska - Poland

Boulbol Feras - Slovakia
Silvia Potocna - Slovakia

Ellen Rapp - USA
Jeremy Reynolds - USA

Bahrain: Princess Lalla Amina participates in King Hamad's Horse Racing Cup

Magreb Daily

Manama - Princess Lalla Amina, President of the Moroccan Federation of equestrian sports and of Special Olympics Morocco, participated in king Hamad's Horce Racing Cup, which took place on Saturday.

Princess Lalla Amina completed the 20-km distance in two hours.

The Princess was greeted at the end of the competition by King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

President of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF), Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, handed over a special prize of the Federation to Lalla Amina, in recognition of her remarkable participation in this competition.

Bahrain: Shaikh Khalid races to victory

Gulf-daily-news.com

February 07, 2010

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa yesterday won His Majesty the King's Endurance Ride Championship, which headlined a glittering equestrian festival at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

His Majesty King Hamad attended the event, alongside National Guard commander Major General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Mohammed later awarded the winners their prizes on behalf of His Majesty the King, in the presence of Royal Endurance Team captain and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikh Khalid.

Also present were Jordanian Equestrian Federation president Princess Alia bint Al Hussain and chairwoman of both the Royal Moroccan Equestrian Federation and Special Olympics Morocco Princess Lella Amina, who were in Bahrain especially for the event, which was organised by Breef and sponsored by Marsa Al Seef.

Riding Liqourice, Shaikh Khalid took first place after completing the five-stage, 120-kilometre ride in a total time of five hours, 43 minutes and 50 seconds. He registered an average speed of 20.94kph.

Shaikh Khalid ended the 30-km first stage in fourth place, but then fell to fifth after the 29-km second leg.

Powered

The Breef chief and Royal Endurance Team member returned to fourth after the 25-km third stage, but then powered to the lead after the 20-km fourth stage by when a majority of the participants were already out of the ride. One of them was Shaikh Nasser, who unfortunately had to retire due to health concerns for his horse Fabio.

Shaikh Khalid then capped his impressive performance by storming to victory in the 16-km final stage, earning him the right to lift His Majesty the King's Cup.

Fellow-Royal Endurance Team members Bagat Singh and Abdulhak Kaddouri claimed second and third places, respectively.

Singh, riding Jhelam, finished the ride in 5:44:02, while having an average speed of 20.03kph. Kaddouri completed the distance in 5:47:41, with an average speed of 20.71kph.

The juniors endurance ride, which was also held over 120 kms, was won by Mohammed Hilal Al Khatri of Al Asayel Stable, riding his horse Dixie Love.

In second place was Royal Endurance Team member Ahmed Adel Al Gaoud on Moondara Merlin, while Nasser Awad Ahmed of Al Muhqeerat Stable riding Al Fahd was third.

Meanwhile, other competitions were held yesterday as part of the equestrian festival. A showjumping event for Grand Prix-level riders took place and it saw the participation of a large number of Bahrain national showjumping team members.

Shaikh Hassan bin Rashid Al Khalifa won first place while Sami Ghazwan came second. Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa was third.

In the Arabian horse beauty contest, Ghazal Gulf owned by Sami Hassan Abdulla Abdulaziz took first place, while the Cowboy competition was won by Yahya Ahmed Jawad.

Photo Gallery by Osama Mohammed

Bahrain: Jordanian horse riders take part in Bahraini King Endurance Cup

Petra.gov.jo

Manama, Feb.6, 2010

Jordanian equestrians take part in King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Endurance Cup which kicked off Saturday in presence of HRH Highness Princess Alia bent Al Hussein, President of Jordan's Royal Equestrian Federation.

Taking part in the 120-km horse riding competition, organized at Bahrain International Endurance Village, are horse riders from Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Ajman.

The championship includes competitions in hurdle jumping, a beauty competition for the purebred Arabian horses and cowboy performances.

Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation and other Bahraini officials welcomed Princess Alia and commended Jordan's participation in the Championship.