Spain: Four candidates to succeed as national coach Quico Yebra Raid

Ecuestreonline.com

March 13 2012

Fernando Carrillo, Ignasi Casas, Jordi Sánchez Arboix and Manolo are the candidates to succeed Quico Yebra as coach and team leader of Spanish Raid. These names were proposed in the March 12 meeting of the working forum formed by the FEI and representatives from different sectors of the discipline.

Australia: Applications for Chef d'Equipe

AERA.asn.au

March 15 2012

Equestrian Australia are calling for applications for the position of Chef d’Equipe for the World Endurance Championships to be held at Euston Park, Great Britain, in August 2012.

View/download the job description, resume template and nomination form or contact the AERA Secretary, Ieva Peters, email: ieva.peters@bigpond.com or from the AERA website.

Applications must be to the Equestrian Australia (National Office) by no later than 16th April 2012.

Great Britain: Equilibrium Products Sponsor the 2012 Endurance International GB Teams

Endurancegb.co.uk

12th March 2012

We are delighted to announce that Equilibrium Products are sponsoring the Endurance GB International Teams this year with the Equilibrium Therapy range of massage and magnetic products.

The first to benefit will be the World Class Start and Potential Squad who are competing in Belgium in just over a month's time. Next will be our Elite Team in the World Endurance Championships at Euston Park in August, and finally our Young Riders will also benefit in September in their European Championships in Belgium.

The Equilibrium Therapy massage and magnetic therapy pads have been very well received by International riders including Carri Ann Dark, Lorna Kidson and Louise Rich. Emma Miller, Chair of International said "We are really pleased to have this sponsorship and support from Equilibrium with such well designed and popular products. The riders will have access to the massage and magnetic back pads during each vet gate and pre and post-ride at their respective International competitions allowing the horses to benefit from these fantastic products."

Information on the Equilibrium range of products can be seen on their website:
http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/

Bahrain: World military endurance ride set

Gulf-daily-news.com

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

BAHRAIN will be hosting the First World Military Endurance Horse Ride Championship this year in December.

First vice-chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa has issued directions for the preparation of the prestigious event.

The first edition will be organised in co-operation with the International Military Council (CISM), with large number of riders from around the world expected to take part.

The organising committee is yet to announce further details regarding the upcoming championship.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Khalid has approved the working committees. This was announced after Shaikh Khalid's meeting with Bahrain Military Sports Association president Col. Dawood Hussain Al Manea.

Shaikh Khalid also chaired the Executive Committee meeting, which was attended by committee deputy chairman Al Mane and tournament director Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa.

CISM vice-president Abdulhakim Al Shino of Bahrain was named head of communication committee, while the technical committee is headed by Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan.

Shaikh Khalid noted that the military championship, to be organised for the first time at the international level, has received big interest from His Majesty King Hamad, who always shows interest and support for equestrian sports.

Shaikh Khalid praised Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his keenness to improve the abilities of the Bahraini riders and encourage them to participate in different endurance competitions.

He also hailed the role played by the Military Sports Association in Bahrain in preparing talented riders for the national military teams which have achieved outstanding results over the past years.

On his part, Al Manea expressed thanks and appreciation to Shaikh Khalid, praising his efforts in supporting and patronising horseracing tournaments, and for issuing his directives to develop plans and programmes to organise such events.

He emphasized that the Bahrain Military Sports Association, through its working committees, and in co-operation with Breef, will do its utmost for the success of the World Championship, which was approved by the CISM.

UAE: Polish rider rules endurance race

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Kart made a quantum leap from 10th place on first day to overall winner after three days

By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter
Published: 00:00 March 11, 2012

Abu Dhabi: Kamila Kart seems to be enjoying her endurance season here in the UAE.
The Polish rider won the gruelling 240km three-day Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival endurance ride at the Boutheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem here yesterday.

Riding 11-year-old Novisaad d Aqui, Kart did very well to finish a mere two seconds ahead of Ceinwen Morgan on Kalawind de Sommant with the UAE's Noora Abdullah Ahmad Al Hosani on Fanmar Baza in third place.

Feature ride

Kart's win in the feature ride of the Festival, organised under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President's Representative, is her second after the Polish rider had earlier done well in two Ladies rides.

Kart had won the President's Cup for Ladies over 90km held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba and had earlier finished sixth in a Ladies Ride held at the same venue.

The three-day 240km ride was run with the riders negotiating 80km each day. At the end of the first day, Kart was in 10th position.

At the end of 160kms and after two days, Sabrina Mendiz was leading with Kart in fourth place.
In yesterday's final 80km leg, Kart initially slipped a place lower to finish the first stage in 5th place,but later gathered pace to top the final stages to stave off the second-placed Morgan.
Another consistent performer this season, Fatima Jasem Saeed Al Marri came up on top once again, this time winning the 120km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Cup. Al Marri, who won the prestigious National Day Cup earlier in the current season, pipped Emma Victoria Finnie of Germany with just a second separating the two after five loops covering a distance of 120kms...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/polish-rider-rules-endurance-race-1.992710

Great Britain: Endurance rides get under way ahead of first competition

Thisisdevon.co.uk - Full Article


Friday, March 09, 2012
Western Morning News

The new season of pleasure rides organised by the South West Group of Endurance Great Britain (GB) have now started.

Open to both members and non-members, these rides cover routes from ten miles up to 18 miles over a variety of terrain. For members, they are an opportunity to gauge the fitness of horses and ponies before the first competitive ride of the season. For non-members, they are a chance to experience an endurance ride and to enjoy riding across new and exciting countryside.

There was sunshine and a brisk wind for the first two rides, the first on Dartmoor from a venue at Okehampton and the second in Cornwall, around Cardinham Woods.

The Okehampton ride had a new venue this year, from the car park at Meldon Quarry, used with permission of the Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council. Some 30-plus horses and riders enjoyed a challenging route across north Dartmoor.

From the venue, the horses and riders headed up tracks on to the moor at Langstone Hill before riding down to Meldon reservoir and crossing the dam. The route then took them along the West Devon Way to Sourton Tors and the long canter up the grassy slope to the top of the ridge. From here the route carried on across Coombe Down, below Great Nodden, and on to the turning point at Nodden Gate.

On the way back, there was an alterative fast loop up towards Okehampton Camp, for those horses and riders who still had some energy left after the steep canter up Langstone Hill...

Read more here:
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Endurance-rides-way-ahead-competition/story-15456268-detail/story.html

Great Britain: Try Before you Buy Scheme Continues in 2012

Endurancegb.co.uk

12th March 2012

Non-members of EGB are welcome at all non-competitive rides, but Try Before You Buy provides a great opportunity to try this challenging sport in a competitive ride.

Following on from huge success last year, the Try Before You Buy scheme will continue this season. Try Before You Buy is aimed at people wishing to experience competitive Endurance riding, and offers free registration for horse and rider to enable them to compete in two competitive novice rides up to 40km before becoming a full member of EGB. The list of rides to choose from is extensive, with 23 regional EGB groups and a busy EGB calendar offering over 100 rides, from February to October, covering all levels.

Endurance GB’s chairman, Jo Claridge said “try before you buy was so popular last year we have decided to continue it for 2012. The number of people wanting to take up Endurance riding is increasing all the time making it one of the fastest growing equestrian disciplines. Many people who took part in try before you buy in 2011 have now taken out full membership for this season”.

Endurance gives competitors the chance to ride through new and exciting countryside and rides frequently take part in areas where general hacking is not permitted. There is good camaraderie between riders and competitors have great fun taking part. For those who do decide to join EGB having participated in Try Before You Buy, there is an excellent coaching, training and support system for all the levels of competition for members. Welfare of the horses is paramount and there will always be someone experienced on hand at a ride to answer any queries.

Non-members of EGB are welcome at all non-competitive rides, but Try Before You Buy provides a great opportunity to try this challenging sport in a competitive ride. Participating riders will pay just the competitive ride entry fee for the ride which is £37. The registration fees for horses and riders, which are usually £97, will be free to allow participation in two rides under the scheme. Rosettes will be awarded for completion, but there will be no eligibility for trophy points or progression towards novice qualifications.

Riders may only participate in the scheme for one season, anyone who took part in 2011 will not be eligible to do so again in 2012.

For more information see http://www.endurancegb.co.uk/html/item.asp?ItemId=2699