Australia: Riding for a Cause

Merredinmercury.com.au - Full Article and photos

12 Oct, 2011 10:47 AM
LAST Thursday afternoon, people on the streets of Merredin may have noticed a group of people riding their horses along Barrack Street.

The horse riders were on day six of their endurance horse ride from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie to raise funds for cancer research, education and support services for the WA Cancer Council.

Holly Bongers, Larissa Cooney, Bessie Traylen and Maddison King are all young members of the Wooroloo Horse and Pony Club who jumped at the chance ride along the pipeline for a good cause.

The girls aged 14 and 15 aim to raise $25,000 during their 14-day trek to Kalgoorlie called ‘Kalgoorlie or Bust’.

On day six, they left Kellerberrin for Merredin and they were half way there having already raised $12,500.

However, this was no easy task; the girls have had 12 months of physical endurance and mental training in preparation for the event and were starting to feel the strain and exhaustion during their stopover in Merredin.

Every day the girls wake up at 4.45am to feed their horses, go back to sleep, then wake up again to have their breakfast at 6am before they hit the road at 6.30am.

The girls are usually on the road for about five hours before they stop to rest for the day.

About 20 people, including friends and family of the girls, have come along for the pipeline ride by driving in support vehicles.

Holly Bongers said she decided to participate in the fundraising event because her grandfather suffered from cancer and all the other girls had been close to cancer at some stage in their 14 years.

It was then decided to make something that they love to do and turn it into a fundraiser for the WA Cancer Council.

Kylie Martin, a good friend and mentor to the girls has also come on board...

Read more here:
http://www.merredinmercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/riding-for-a-cause/2321758.aspx

Australia: Endurance achiever Dean Walkom's ultimate reward

Portstephensexaminer.com.au

BY DANIEL MILLS
12 Oct, 2011 01:00 AM
SOME five years of endurance training between horse and human will reap the ultimate reward for Woodville's Dean Walkom.

The long-distance horserider, who competes in some of the most gruelling rides in the country, has trained his horse to carry him incredible distances in the sport known as long distance endurance horseriding.

Dean and his equine companion, Santa Pasa Zaraq, of Arabian breed, will receive the prestigious "Big three Award" next year.

The award recognises that the horse and his rider have competed in and successfully finished the NSW state championships, Shazdada 400km marathon and the Tom Quilty National Championships within the space of a year.

Both championship events consist of a 160km journey from start to finish while the marathon is a 400km trek spread over five days.

Dean most recently completed the Tom Quilty ride over the October long-weekend.

"The horse pulled up really well," Dean said.

"He just powered on to the finish."

The horse, at 12, is at the peak age for long-distance endurance riding and will now have a three month spell.

The task of competing in these rides took Dean five years, in which he broke in his own horse and trained it over 40, 80 and 120 km distances.

Malaysia: Thai Wipawan Wins Sultan Mizan Cup CEI 2* Endurance Challenge

Setiu, 9 October 2011 – Coming in first place at the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011, Wipawan Pawitayalarp of Thailand rode home with USD20,000 in her pocket and an AmaSwiss watch worth USD17,200 on her wrist. Wipawan astride Mulawa Angelus completed the 120 km track in 6:17:43 with an average speed of 19.06 km per hour.

Next to finished in good condition was M. Marlon and Mohammad Fuad Hashim from the State of Terengganu Endurance Team (STET) who clock a time of 6:29:17 riding at an average speed of 18.5 km per hour. He received a tidy sum of USD14,000 as the second place winner. In third place was Zelma Lotter from South Africa riding for TMKN Equestrian on board Nashaar, who won USD10,000 after having completed in a time of 7:02:35 with an average speed of 17.04 km per hour.

Completing the ride in 7:38:30 on Shardell Gazalan, Warit Khuntarhporn from Thailand rode into fourth place at an average speed of 15.7 km per hour. Mohd Sulaiman Muda of Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable mounted on Jakim Murphy came in fifth, clocking 8:15:15 and an average speed of 14.54 km per hour. Warit and Sulaiman received prizemoney of USD6,000 and USD4,000 respectively.

The much coveted Best Conditioned Horse Award went to M. Marlon ridden by second place winner Mohammad Fuad Hashim, who won additional prizemoney of USD6,000.

The prizemoney for the 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup has been doubled that of last year. The Honourable Dato’ Seri Hj Ahmad Said, Chief Minister of Terengganu presented prizes to the fifth, fourth, third and second place winners while His Majesty, the King of Malaysia, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin did the honours for the Champion of 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup as well as the winner of the Best Conditioned Horse Award.

The Honourable Chief Minister of Terengganu said, “Our vision is to make the Sultan Mizan Cup the region’s premier event and Terengganu the regional hub for the sport of endurance.”

Riders who completed the Sultan Mizan Cup International Endurance Challenge successfully each received an award of USD6,000 and a buckle, a tradition of the sport of endurance. They were Nik Sabarudin Nik Daud, Mohd Nizan Muda, Muhamad Adhwa Embong, Syarifuddin Shamsul Anuar, Mohd Halim Abd Rahim and Mohd Afendi Mohd Rafi.

His Majesty Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin riding RTES Smith, a 9-year-old gelding, was among the 53 Malaysian riders from teams across Malaysia. The other riders were from Australia, Chile, Slovakia, France, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

Ian Williams, FEI Director of Endurance said, “I witnessed yet another superb competition. The ride was very tough for both the riders and horses. I must say it is a world-class event. The officials and support crew did a fantastic job. It is not easy to run an endurance ride in conditions like you have in Terengganu.

“The FEI really looks forward to the further development of the sport in Malaysia, particularly development of youth.”

Williams also remarked that the facilities at Terengganu International Endurance Park are first-class and that it is one of the top three endurance villages in the world.

Jointly organised by the Terengganu State Government and the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable, the 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup was held from 7-9 October at the Terengganu International Endurance Park.

Sponsors of the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011 include Sime Darby Berhad, Norlan United & Carriage Sdn Bhd, AmaSwiss, Public Bank Berhad, Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd, Mitavite Asia Sdn Bhd and Ari Usaha Murni Sdn Bhd.

Horses and Riders Head to Chile for 2011 Pan American Endurance Championship

By USEF - ALL DISCIPLINE - Posted October 11, 2011

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation has named the following horse/rider combinations for the 2011 Pan American Endurance Championship being held in Santo Domingo, Chile, October 22, 2011.

The following horse/rider combinations will represent the U.S. at the Pan American Championship (listed in ranked order):

Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Breed/Age/Sex/Owner

John Crandell III/49/West River, MD/Heraldic/Arabian/13/Gelding/John Crandell JR
Meg Sleeper/43/Frenchtown, NJ/Syrocco Cadence/Arabian/8/Mare/Meg Sleeper
Deborah Reich/51/Croton on Hudson, NY/Pandor/Arabian/12/Gelding/Deborah Reich
Melody Blittersdorf/51/Jeffersonville, VT/Synthetic/Arabian/11/Gelding/Melody Blittersdorf
Valerie Kanavy/65 /Fort Valley, VA/Spectacular Gold/Arabian/9/Gelding/Valerie Kanavy
Cheryl Van Deusen/52/New Smyrna, FL/Moro Amado/Arabian/8/Gelding/Miguel Pavlovsky

Running over a 120km course, riders will race for both Team and Individual medals.

Two members of the Silver medal winning U.S. team from the 2009 Pan American Endurance Championship in Uruguay will once again represent the U.S., Kanavy and Van Deusen. Kanavy, who finished sixth individually in 2009 will ride her own Spectacular Gold, a 9-year-old Arabian gelding who has raced to top ten finishes both in the U.S. and abroad. Van Deusen will ride Moro Amado, owned by Argentinian endurance competitor Miguel Pavlovsky.

The U.S. will also be represented by two members of the U.S. team from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), Reich and Sleeper. Reich, the only U.S. rider to complete the WEG course, will ride her new partner Pandor. The 12-year-old Arabian gelding has finished in the top 10 in all CEI outings in the last three years. Sleeper will ride her homebred mare, Syrocco Cadence, an eight-year-old Arabian. The pair most recently finished second at the Asheville CEI3* 160km.

Crandell and Heraldic, a 13-year-old Arabian gelding, are veteran partners having been the first pair in history to win the endurance "Triple Crown" crossing the finish line first at the Old Dominion 100, Tevis and the AERC Championship 100 in 2006. In 2010, the pair took two legs of the "Triple Crown" winning at the Old Dominion 100 and at Tevis. This will be Crandell's second time representing the U.S., having ridden on the U.S. team at the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship in Malaysia.

Rounding out the U.S. team is Blittersdorf and Synthetic. Partners since 2003, Blittersdorf and Synthetic began competing in CEI events in 2008 and have consistently finished in the top 10.

Malaysia: Terengganu To Enhance Sultan Mizan Cup Endurance Challenge Next Year

Bernama.com.my

October 9 2011

SETIU, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The state government will ensure the Sultan Mizan Cup Endurance Challenge 2012 will be a more exciting affair offering bigger prize money next year to attract more local and foreign riders.

State Youth and Sports committee chairman Rozi Mamat said that more international riders would be invited to participate in the tournament next year.

"Therefore, we will enhance the tournament to be more exciting and better in future. The state had set aside a bigger allocation for prizes this year," he told reporters after the Sultan Mizan Cup Endurance Challenge 2011 prize-giving ceremony here Sunday.

Also present was the World Endurance Equestrian Championship (FEI) director Ian Williams.

Williams said that the challenge could be expanded across Asia since Terengganu has a strategic venue that was suitable for high-level tournaments.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia: Thai Rider Wins Sultan Mizan Cup 2011

Bernama.com

October 9 2011

SETIU (Terengganu), Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Wipawan Pawitayalarp of Thailand rode home first to pocket RM63,000 cash and an AmaSwiss watch worth RM54,000 at the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011.

He completed the 120km track astride Mulawa Angelus in 6:17:43 with an average speed of 19.06km per hour. This is the third time Wipawan, 35, has competed in the endurance challenge formerly known as the Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge.

Mohammad Fuad Hashim from the State of Terengganu Endurance Team (STET), riding M Marlon, finished next on 6:29:17, and received RM44,000 as the second-placed winner.

M Marlon won the Best Conditioned Horse Award, and for that, Mohd Fuad received an additional prize money of RM18,000.

In third place was Zelma Lotter on board Nashaar, winning RM32,000 after having completed in a time of 7:02:35.

Completing the ride on 7:38:30 astride Shardell Galazan, Warit Khuntarhporn rode in fourth while Mohd Sulaiman Muda on Jakim Murphy came in fifth, clocking 8:15:15. The fourth prize winner took home RM19,000 and fifth, RM13,000.

A total of 11 riders who completed the 120km race were awarded a sum of RM6,000 and a buckle, a tradition of the sport of endurance.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, riding RTES Smith, a nine year-old gelding, was among the 53 Malaysian riders from teams across Malaysia.

The other riders were from France, Australia, Slovakia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said were present at the prize-giving ceremony today.

Jointly organised by the Terengganu government and the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable, the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011 was held from Friday to today at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong here.

-- BERNAMA

Australia: Will Rewarded

Dailyadvertiser.com.au - Full Article

SIMON BRUNSDON
08 Oct, 2011 01:00 AM

WHEN most school students were spending the holidays playing video games and hanging with their friends, Wagga's Courtney Lewis was competing for a national title.

The 14-year-old Mater Dei Catholic College student made the marathon two-day road trip to South Australia's Barossa Ranges to compete in the prestigious Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

The cup is the national championships for endurance horse riding and brings together hundreds of Australia's best riders.

Created by famous Australian horseman Tom Quilty in 1966, the Gold Cup is now known as the largest professional endurance ride in the southern hemisphere.

It was Lewis's first time travelling to South Australia to compete, and she ended up running third in the junior division on horse Kyang Mister Personality.

The pair was one of just nine to finish the 160-kilometre endurance ride in their division, and Lewis returned home to Wagga with one of the coveted buckles she went over there to claim. She says while the trip took a lot of effort and organising, she loved the experience and was stoked with the result.

"The trip itself was really long, it took us two days to get over there," Lewis said yesterday while enjoying the last of her school holidays...

Read more here:
http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/other/will-rewarded/2317231.aspx