Two legs good, four legs better: horse beats man … again

Heraldscotland.com

Grant Collinson

13 Jun 2010

While football was in the spotlight in South Africa yesterday, in some quieter corners of Britain some very peculiar sports were the order of the day.

Yesterday saw the start of three strange and most extreme endurance races: the Man v Horse contest (which features people on foot racing against horses across Wales), a 1000-mile bike ride from John O’Groats to Lands End and a 24-hour double marathon along the West Highland Way.

The Tennents Caledonian Challenge 2010 – a 54-mile, one-day trek across some of Scotland’s most beautiful and difficult terrain – got under way in Gairlochy near Fort William yesterday.

Now in its 14th year, the endurance challenge is organised by the Scottish Communities Foundation (SCF), a organisation which distributes funds to worthwhile causes across Scotland.

The course runs from Gairlochy to Strathfillan across the undulating hills of the Great Glen and West Highland Way footpaths.

Alistair Reid, 39, is taking the challenge this year. Speaking before the start, he said: “My daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago so since then we’ve been raising quite a lot of money for charity.”

The SCF hopes to raise £1 million from the 900 competitors taking part.

However, that challenge, gruelling though it is, pales in comparison to the annual Man v Horse Marathon in Llanwrtyd Wells in Central Wales.

The brainchild of a local hotelier, hatched over a drink 31 years ago, the race sets out to prove who would win over a long distance, a man or a horse.

Over a course of varying terrain, designed to keep the competition fair, yesterday 253 runners raced 44 horses over 22 miles. This year victory went to equine challenger Sly Dai, with Llinos Jones, 24, a primary school teacher, riding, in a time of 2.07.04.

Marathon runner Huw Lobb became the first man to win the event in 2004.

For those preferring two wheels, yesterday also saw around 500 cyclists start the 1000-mile journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End in the Deloitte Ride Across Britain.

The new event will see the riders travel across Britain over nine days, covering an average 114 miles a day through stunning scenery including Loch Ness and Lake Windermere.

Canadian Distance Riding Championship

Come and join us for a Festival of Endurance, Competitive Trail & Ride and Tie competitions in New Lowell, Ontario located in Simcoe County. Your trails will be varied and consisting of fields, sandy pine forestry, some hilly sections and roads.
We promise something for everyone with a 100 Mile FEI CEI***, 75 Mile FEI CEI**, and a 50 mile FEI CEI*. As well, there will be Young Riders Divisions in both the 75 and 50 Mile FEI events. Open Divisions will be offered for all endurance events in addition to the Championship challenges for Ride and Tie and CTR, as well as a 25 mile/40km Novice and 25 mile/40km mileage.

Download pdf flyer

Great Britain: Endurance riders canter to team win

Isle of Wight - County Press online

Friday, June 11, 2010
photo: Some of the winning team and their helpers, from left, Mandy Steen, Carla Maskell, Caroline Cooper, Anna Lek, Emma Broadhurst, Trudi Gatrell and Jessica Gatrell.

A TEAM of six Island riders produced a stunning performance at the Berkshire Downs Endurance Riding Event last weekend.
The team, from Vectis Equestrian Club, were representing the club for the first time in this discipline but despite their lack of experience at this event, still romped to victory.
The 30km route was mainly along the famous Ridgeway and comprised rolling hills with good through hard going.
With no gates to slow them down, the squad — Caroline Cooper (Peronne Pazazz), Emma Broadhurst (Lilly), Mandy Steen (Dynamite Daisy), Fliss Crouch (Tarran), Trudi Gatrell (Decadence) and Carla Maskell (Be Fine) — completed the route in good time, with final heart rates and average speeds deciding the result.
After everyone completed the route, they found they had all achieved the highest grade and had won the Riding Club team event.
This win qualifies the team for the national finals at Southwell Racecourse, Nottinghamshire in September.
The team was assisted on the day by Pauline Wade, Tina Murrant, David and Jessica Gatrell, Dave Dana and Anna Lek, who crewed the team at specified crew points and at the start and finish.
Meanwhile, members of Vectis Equestrian Club travelled to Sparsholt College to compete at the Riding Clubs Area Dressage to Music competition.
Wendy Warren with Truly Scrumptious rode an excellent test and qualified for The Riding Clubs National Championships in Aintree in October.
Kelly Blow and Sally McIntosh, with their horses Mirabella and Sibena were equal first in the pairs’ event while Marty Davison, riding her impressive Friesian horse, Geart, came fourth in their music class.
The IW Riding Club had two of its members placed at the competition.
Pam Gardener, riding Island Lad, came second in the novice restricted section, while Fiona King and Wilma F. Vejgard won the elementary 44 test and came third in the elementary section.

[More ...http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/sport/endurance-riders-canter-to-team-win-33198.aspx]

Australia: Horse Sports - Singleton Endurance riders

singletonargus.com
11 Jun, 2010 11:04 AM

photo: CHAMPIONSHIPS: Margret Boland with Alandell Karlinta and Darryl King with Shanadarr Khaleel.

The 160km ride will see King and Boland head off at midnight on Friday, June 24 and are required to complete the five legs within 24 hours.

Attracting international riders, the event is treated by King and Boland as a relaxing way to destress from life.

Facing cold temperatures and rough terrain, training is vital to the level of success endurance riders reach.

“It is just you and your horse in the elements,” Boland said.

Competing in the middle weight division, Boland and King have been preparing their animals with training and special care.

“They are athletes in the horse world and require all the vitamins, care and physical work of any athlete,” Boland explained.

King is entering the championship with only his 160km qualifying ride behind him.

Boland however has met the criteria to be a part of the New South Wales squad at the event.

Animals are vet checked at all five legs and there is a one hour break at legs one, two and three with a shorter one at legs four and five.

If an animal does not pass the final check they are disqualified from the event.

[More ...http://www.singletonargus.com.au/news/local/sport/general/horse-sports-singleton-endurance-riders/1856110.aspx]

Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky.com Team up with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

June 9, 2010

The Lexington Herald-Leader/Kentucky.com has been named the Official Print Media Sponsor of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The Games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25 to October 10, 2010.

As part of the sponsorship, the Herald-Leader will produce daily start lists and results sheets available on the grounds for Games spectators. The Herald-Leader also will provide the Foundation with promotional space to advance the Games.

“Our partnership with the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com fulfills a large need for us,” said Terry Johnson, vice president of marketing and sales. “The daily start lists will provide an invaluable resource for our fans to enjoy the event and their marketing assistance will help us effectively communicate with their readership.”

The partnership with the Games also includes expanded advertising and circulation opportunities.

Tim Kelly, president and publisher of the Herald-Leader, added, “We are pleased to play a major role in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The impact of the Games will be long-lasting on Lexington and Central Kentucky. We’re glad to make this contribution to the Games and to the communities we serve.”

The Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com will provide Kentuckians and visiting fans with comprehensive, multi-media coverage of the pageantry, the sports and the personalities of the Games, and the events and activities surrounding it, on a daily basis.


About the Lexington Herald-Leader

The Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com are committed to being Central and Eastern Kentucky’s primary sources of news, advertising, information and commentary. The combination of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com reaches seven out of 10 adults in the 40-county Newspaper Designated Market. Winner of three Pulitzer Prizes, the Herald-Leader is owned by The McClatchy Company of Sacramento, Calif.


About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The Games are held every four years and this will be the first occurrence in the United States. The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc., Meydan and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.


MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Walker
Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
859-255-2010 ext. 235
awalker@feigames2010.org

Malaysia Games: T'gganu eye gold in endurance

NST.com.my

2010/06/04
Zainuddin Muhammad

TERENGGANU'S hopes of winning gold in the endurance race team event in the Malacca Malaysia Games rest with the Regent of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, his sister Tengku Nadirah Zaharah and four others.

Team manager Ismail Awang said the siblings, aged 12 and 14, ely, have shown maturity in the sport after competing in various endurance competitions over the last two years.

Ismail said Terengganu, as hosts, took the team silver in 2008 but has predicted gold in Malacca.


"We still have Abdul Rahman Muhammad, who won the endurance individual gold medal in Terengganu, and chances are he will do it again," said Abdul Rahman.

"The 20-year-old rider from Kampung Nibong in Kuala Terengganu has established himself as an endurance rider of quality after securing several victories in the Sultan's Cup and events organised by the National Sports Institute."

The other riders are Mohamad Alif Zabidi, who took silver two years ago, Adib Shazmir Ismail and Shahruddin Abdullah.


Meanwhile, head coach Zulkifli Salleh said two more gold medals could be expected from showjumping and dressage.

"Muhammad Zulfikar Mohamad won the dressage gold in the previous Games and we have a feeling the 17-year-old can do it again.

"We also have Amini Shamira Zulkifli, who finished fourth in 2008 but has shown marked improvement in recent months and will be one of the leading contenders for a showjumping medal."


Also competing in the showjumping and dressage events are Fatin Nabila Zulkifli, 18, Lokman Abdul Ghani, 19, and Haris Abdul Majid, 14.

Read more: Malaysia Games: T'gganu eye gold in endurance http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/34zaintreng/Article/#ixzz0qDFmq3fA

Malaysia: Enduring Passion

Thestar.com.my
June 5, 2010

AS a teenager, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was active in various sports and activities like football, golf, taekwondo, scuba diving and horseback riding.

A taekwondo exponent, he has been patron of the Malaysian Global Taekwondo Federation (MGTF) since 1990. His active participation in the sport is acknowledged with an honorary award of the 7th Degree Black Belt given to him by the Global Taekwondo Federation (GTF).

Due to his involvement in this sport, Malaysia organised the World Taekwondo Championship in Kuala Terengganu in 1994, with participation from 88 countries.

Tuanku Mizan’s recent recreational and sports focus is horseback riding, particularly in the discipline of endurance. He has actively taken part in endurance riding competitions conducted both locally and abroad.

In 2004, he placed fourth at the 105km Johor Endurance Championship and was third at the 105km Kelantan Royal Jubilee Endurance Ride.

In the same year, he won the Wilga 80km Endurance Ride in Wilga, Australia.

In 2005, he represented Malaysia at the 160km Endurance Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and also emerged winner of the 90km Harris Ride Championship in Perth, Australia.

In 2007, he came in second at the International Endurance Ride Championship in Qatar.

Last October, Tuanku Mizan was among 97 local and foreign riders who rode off in the Pahang-PENN Endurance Challenge 2009 at the Pahang International Endurance Park in Cherating.

The King, representing the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (RTES), rode out for the 100km race astride his horse Tarjari Moonlight Pharoah. His two children, Tengku Muhammad Ismail and Tengku Nadhirah Zaharah, also took part in the race.

However, Tuanku Mizan could not complete the race as his horse fell ill during the event. The year before, he was champion of the same category in the challenge.

Besides being an active participant, Tuanku Mizan has played a vital role in promoting the sport in Malaysia and putting the country on the international equestrian tournament map.

Since 2002, the King has been instrumental in getting the country ready for equestrian tournaments.

He personally went to France in 2005 with the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) to bid for the Endurance Championship to be held in Malaysia.

In 2008, Malaysia successfully hosted for the first time the Federation Equestre Internationale (FIE) World Endurance Championship at Lembah Bidong, Terengganu. The championship featured 140 riders from 34 countries and Tuanku Mizan led the 12-member Malaysian team.

In 2005, Tuanku Mizan also pioneered the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (RTES), aimed at training horseback riding for participation in endurance competitions at national and international levels.

Since its inception, RTES has taken part in many championships in Malaysia and abroad.

In 2006, three riders from RTES represented Malaysia at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany.

Tuanku Mizan also played a strong role in establishing the Sultan’s Cup Terengganu Endurance Race in 2006 as an effort to promote sports tourism in the state.

He also initiated the endurance team at the Selangor Turf Club’s Equestrian and Sports Centre.