Florac

Persik - 1969-2001

Friday September 10 2010

One of the most famously hard rides in Europe will take place tomorrow in southern France for the 30th time: the 160-km Florac. It is also the pre-ride for next year's European Championship. This region of The Cevennes is known as "Persik's Land" - named after the famous endurance Arabian stallion and sire Persik, who was the only horse to win Florac twice, in 1975 and 1976.

The course is one big loop over 6 stages, beginning at Ispagnac at 500 meters (1600 ft), travelling through the Cevennes National Park, climbing to Mont Aigoual, at 1567 meters (5141 ft) and eventually returning back to Ispagnac for the finish.

Despite the 350 Euro entry fee, approximately 87 foreign riders have been entered, hailing from Bahrain, Qatar, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Slovakia, Spain, Norway, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Uruguay, Brazil, and Russia. 92 French riders are entered, for a total of 179 horses and riders.

The start is tomorrow morning at 4 AM.


Persik the day after winning Florac in 1976

- Merri Melde

Portugal: Heading for the WEG

September 10 2010

Portugal is sending 3 horse and rider teams to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to participate in the World Endurance Championship in Lexington, Kentucky, to be held September 26, 2010.

The riders are João Raposo with Titanic (the Portuguese champions 2010), Ana Margarida Costa with Gozlane du Somail, Paulo Branco with Ken du Moulin. The chef d´équipe is Vasco Lopes Avó, and the team veterinarian is Dr. Pedro Jorge.

The Portuguese team won the bronze medal in the last World Equestrian Games that were held in Aachen in 2006.

WEG Endurance - A Preview of the Major Teams

By Leonard Liesens, Endurance-belgium.com

It's on 18th September that most of European horses will embarq to Kentucky. They will all head from all over Europe to the Liège's Airport in Belgium. All endurance horses, but also all European horses representing all disciplines. A huge promotion for the Airport of Liège and for the region which has invested a lot in this new airport for boosting its economical activity.

Back to endurance... Lexington will not reach the record level of participation of Dubai in 2005. But nevertheless there will be a huge contingent participating at the endurance event. Actually, all nations represented in Lexington will have at least one couple competing in endurance.

What about Nobby

Maria Alvarez gave birth to a daughter, another little Maria. Just in case, Jaume Punti qualified himself with Nobby during a 160 km race ran in Dubai. But it will be Maria who will defend her title with her small bay Nobby. "Three weeks after the birth of our little Maria, her mother was already riding 40 km workout. Then after six weeks she rode Nobby on 80 km. Both were already ready for a 160 km" said Jaume.

The Spanish team won the team gold in Italy last year, thanks to the good time made by Nobby but also because France was out of the competition with just two horses. It is very unlikely that this could happen again. But who knows...

In the individual competition, it is another business. Nobby is capable of reaching a good speed (he demonstrated that at Dubai) and he has the temper of a champion. He will the one to beat...

Read more here:
http://endurance-belgium.com/team/weg2010_preview.htm

Stephen "the German explorer"

Sportendurance.it - Full Article

September 1 2010

The tireless and ever "explorer" Stephen Chidichimo never stops, always in search of experience to the limit, special flavor and charm.

After his experiences in raids in Morocco and Spain, it was the turn of Germany, writes the GPS Schwabish Alb - Weites Land Distanzritt of 360 km.

Stephen, just back in Italy, had just enough time to send sensations to hot, with a promise to put on paper a more detailed story that could fascinate so many Italian fans. It 's the first time an Italian raid in five-year history of the particular race.

More...


Stefano e ” l’esplorazione tedesca ”
Pubblicato il 01 settembre 2010 in Endurance, Racconti

L’instancabile ed eterno “esploratore” Stefano Chidichimo non si ferma mai, sempre alla ricerca di esperienze al limite, particolari, dal sapore e dal fascino antico.

Dopo le sue esperienze ai raid in Marocco ed in Spagna, è la volta della Germania, il GPS scrive Schwabish Alb – Weites Land Distanzritt di 360 km.

Stefano, appena rientrato in Italia, ha avuto giusto il tempo di inviarci sensazioni a caldo, con la promessa di mettere su carta un racconto più dettagliato che potrebbe affascinare tanti appassionati italiani. E’ la prima volta di un italiano al raid nella storia quinquennale della particolare gara...

di più:
http://www.sportendurance.it/2717-stefano-e-lesplorazione-tedesca/

Horse farms will open doors to visitors during WEG

Kentucky.com - Full Article

September 9 2010

By Alicia Wincze - awincze@herald-leader.com

One of the things Lexington is best known for is its accessibility to the Thoroughbred stars that reside on the horse farms that dot its landscape.

With the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games set to begin its run on Sept. 25 and the influx of equine enthusiasts expected to visit Central Kentucky, some top farms are expanding the opportunities for visitors to get an up-close view of the signature industry.

That glance behind the scenes may also give the Thoroughbred racing world a chance to attract new fans.

As the owner and breeder of this year's Derby winner Super Saver, WinStar Farm has been inundated with requests to see its sprawling facilities and has responded by offering as many as four tours a day of its stallion barn free from Sept. 18 through Oct. 17.

Read more here:
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/09/09/1427574/horse-farms-will-open-doors-to.html

South Africa: Top three for Jenna at Hofmeyr Endurance

Stfrancisvillagenews.com - Full Article

The 32nd Hofmeyr 100 Miler Endurance Ride was held on August 28 with only 26 horses taking part. The Hofmeyr is known to be an extremely challenging course for both horse and rider and only three horses entered the full 100 Miler.

The competition among the junior riders all doing the 80 Miler was strong. Jenna Lucas won this division on Lormar Ceasar in a time of 8h49 followed by Ninine Erasmus on Fidel in 8h50 and St Francis Bay’s Jenna Masterson on Xantium Zulu in 9h13. Only 3 horses did not complete the ride.

The Hofmeyr 100 Miler is a ride that one has to attend to understand what endurance riding is all about. The winner and only rider to complete the full 160km, Barrie Badenhorst on Christal Razib, finished in a time of 12h40. Barrie said “if you haven’t done the Hofmeyr, you haven’t done Endurance. It is a must.”

The Hofmeyer 100 Miler is the second oldest Endurance Ride in South Africa...

Read more here:
http://www.stfrancisvillagenews.com/blog/2010/09/top-three-for-jenna-at-hofmeyr-endurance/

King To Lead Local Charge In Sultan Of Terengganu Endurance Race

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newssport.php?id=526106
KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is expected to spearhead the local charge at the Sultan of Terengganu Endurance Race in Lembah Bidong, Setiu from Nov 5-7.

State Youth and Sports Committee Chairman Rozi Mamat said 100 riders from 12 countries, including Malaysia, are expected to take part in the 120km category endurance race.

"So far, seven countries have confirmed their participation," he told reporters here Friday.

According to Rozi, United States, Chile, Uruguay, France, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore had confirmed while the organisers were still waiting for confirmation from UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and India.

He said local clubs competing in the race are Wilayah Equestrian Team, Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (RTES), Penn Endurance Club, Kelab Tanjung Keling Riding Centre, Ar-Raudah Equine Centre, Langkawi Endurance Stable, Masterscaff Endurance Team and Perlis TSAB Stable.

The event, previously known as the Terengganu Endurance Race offers RM30,000 for the winner, RM20,000 for runner-up, RM15,000 for third placing, RM10,000 for fourth and RM8,000 for the fifth, he said.

Rozi said the annual event was sanctioned by the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) and Federation Equestrian International (FEI).

-- BERNAMA