Australia: Endurance Team for WEG announced

Aera.asn.au

Penny Toft and Don (Queensland)
Successful competitors at the World Endurance Championships in Malaysia in 2008. Penny is a previous winner of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. Don is a 14 year old unregistered gelding and as a combination they have many successful 160km competitive completions over the previous five years and will be well suited to the Kentucky course.

Matthew Sample and Brookleigh Ricardo (Queensland)
A competitive duo, several wins and second placing in major FEI rides during the last five years. This will be Matthew and Ricardo’s second attempt at World Championship level, being unsuccessful in Malaysia two years ago. A dual Quilty winner in 2009 and winner of the Heavyweight division in the 2008 Quilty, Matthew is determined to do well in Kentucky. Brookleigh Ricardo is a 12 year old unregistered gelding and is now reaching his prime as an endurance horse and should do well in Kentucky.

Matthew Sample and Tarrangower Crescendo (Queensland)
The horse is owned and ridden by Matthew and is also qualified to compete in Kentucky. Crescendo is a 14 year old Arabian gelding, with a distinctive white face and strawberry roan in colour, dual Quilty winner in 2009 and winner of the Queensland State Championships in 2010.

Norbert Radny and West Coast Acharon (Western Australia)
A very successful combination in their home state of Western Australia, and now taking on the world at Kentucky. Acky, as he is commonly known, is an 11 year old Arabian stallion with many endurance wins as well as being successful on the show circuit both in hand and under saddle when shown and ridden by his other owner, Jane Radny. Acky, together with Jane, Norbert and their daughter Rebecca travelled to the Queensland State Championships to competently complete their qualifications for Kentucky.

New Zealand: Groom policy explained in 2009, says governing body

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

August 4, 2010

by Robin Marshall

Kiwi endurance riders in contention for representative honours were told in 2009 that they might not get their first-choice groom if selected, Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) says.

Chief executive Jim Ellis was commenting after the withdrawal of the second of five endurance riders selected to represent New Zealand at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky late in September.

The latest withdrawal, that of Jenny Champion and her mount Freckles, means chances of team honours at the Games are difficult, as there could be no discard time. Susan Reid withdrew from the team on July 13.

The withdrawals centred around both riders failing to see their first-choice grooms selected.

Ellis said officials from ESNZ's High Performance programme had talked with Champion over the past three weeks in a bid to resolve the dispute...

Read more here:
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/08/034.shtml

Enduroonlinemagazine.com - May/June 2010

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Great Britain: Christine forms part of 'exceptionally good team'

Thisisplymouth.co.uk - Full Article

July 23 2010

Senior endurance rider Christine Yeoman will contest her second World Equestrian Games after Endurance GB team selectors confirmed her place on the squad heading to Kentucky in September.

"I am really proud to be part of what I believe is an exceptionally good team.

"There is a very strong chance of bringing back a medal this time," said the Shepton-Mallet rider who competed at the last WEG in Aachen and twice at European Championships...

Read more here:
Senior endurance rider Christine Yeoman will contest her second World Equestrian Games after Endurance GB team selectors confirmed her place on the squad heading to Kentucky in September.

"I am really proud to be part of what I believe is an exceptionally good team.

"There is a very strong chance of bringing back a medal this time," said the Shepton-Mallet rider who competed at the last WEG in Aachen and twice at European Championships.

2010 WEG: Endurance Canada Announces WEG Squad and Alternate Riders

Horse-canada.com

July 30, 2010

Ottawa, ON - The Endurance Canada International Committee is pleased to announce the squad and alternates who will represent Canada at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) to be held in Lexington, KY September 25–October 10, 2010.

Endurance Canada WEG Squad

Rider - Home Town - Horse

Elroy Karius - Kelowna, BC - Apache Eclypse

Gail Jewell - Kelowna, BC - NL Temptation

Robert Gielen - Norton, NB - F.C. Galaxy

Ruth Sturley - Owen Sound, ON - RBF Super Sport

Yvette Vinton - Morriston, FL - Teese

Alternates

Gail Jewell - Kelowna, BC - Diamond Reo

Terre O’Brennan - Delta, BC - Koszaar

Carol Steiner - Vanessa, ON - Jumpin’ Jax

Kathy Irvine - Blackfoot, AB - Nightwind’s Savanah

Trisha Dowling - Saskatoon, SK - ZF Mocha

Gail Jewell - Kelowna, BC - A Salisbury Rose

Leanna Marchant - Calgary, AB - Samsons Fire

“On behalf of Endurance Canada International, I am extremely pleased to announce the list of ranked riders and alternates for the upcoming World Equestrian Games in Kentucky,” said Myna Cryderman, chair of Endurance Canada International Subcommittee. “I know how hard all the contenders for these positions have worked for their opportunity to represent Canada at these Games. I congratulate all of riders for their efforts.”

Members of the squad and alternates will arrive in Lexington on September 18th, giving them time to focus prior to the competition on September 26. The 160 km race, which will wind through the beautiful bluegrass countryside, will consist of five compulsory veterinary checks and hold times where the horses will be carefully monitored. The riders must complete the course in less than 12 hrs 20 min, but it is anticipated that the winning times will be much faster, but the final time is always dependent on weather conditions.

“I’ve had a wonderful opportunity this year to attend numerous FEI CEI 3* 160 km competitions in both the US and Canada to observe our elite athletes compete with top riders in North America who were building their resumes and fine-tuning their conditioning — all in preparation for the WEG,” Kay Melvin, Chef d’équipe of the Canadian Endurance Team. “I sincerely congratulate the members of our squad, and I look forward to being with them and the rest of the team officials and crew in Kentucky doing what we do best, which is working as a Team going for a spot on the podium.”

The official first veterinary inspection will occur on September 25, and following the inspection, the official Team and Individual competitors will be announced.

New Zealand: Second blow for NZ endurance team as groom row escalates

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

August 1, 2010

by Robin Marshall

By any standards, it looked to be an unbeatable team. A two-time national champion horse and rider, with an elite coach and former world champion as top groom, and a New Zealand World Games representative as second groom.

But not in the eyes of New Zealand endurance selectors.

The country's hopes of regaining its footing on the world endurance riding stage have faltered with the withdrawal of two-time national champion Jenny Champion from the country's World Equestrian Games endurance team.

The withdrawal of the Eketahuna-based rider follows the defection of 2010 national champion Sue Reid from the team two weeks ago. With two riders gone from the squad of five, it means that the three remaining riders must all complete the event for New Zealand to be in with a chance of success. Previously, one rider was to compete as an individual and the other four as a team.

Endurance is a sport with training and consistency at its heart. But New Zealand team riders have been told who will be grooming for them at the World Games...

Read more here:
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/08/007.shtml

WEG: Horse and rider pushed to the limits

BCLocalNews.com
By Mike Simmons - Kelowna Capital News
Published: July 30, 2010 11:00 PM

[More ...]
It costs $20,000 US to send a horse overseas by FedEx.

But local endurance horseback riders Gail Jewell and Elroy Karius have dodged that cost this year, as the World Equestrian Games visit North America for the first time.

Jewell and Karius both qualified for the Canadian team during nationals held July 1 in New Lowell, Ont.

The 100-mile race was completed in sections. The pair would ride out in a 12 to 20 mile loop from camp, return and hold with the race timer still running, and then go out again.

“Technically, you have 24 hours to complete a 100-mile race,” said Jewell.

At the level the pair are currently riding at, the distance usually takes anywhere from eight to 12 hours.

Her goal was to come in under 12 hours and 18 minutes, in order to qualify the horse she was riding as an alternate for the World Equestrian Games.

She was successful.

Jewell said she is the only one on the team that has qualified several horses as backup.

Karius and his horse Apache both qualified as the number one horse and rider in Canada.

...full story at http://www.bclocalnews.com/sports/99651139.html