Thursday, April 05, 2012

Bahrain: Stage set for Crown Prince endurance ride

Gulf-daily-news.com

April 3 2012

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Beef) has stepped up its preparations to host the Crown Prince Endurance Night Ride, to be held on Friday. To be hosted by the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir, the prestigious event will be open to all riders and is covering a total distance of 120km.

Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Bahrain Olympic Committee President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa highlighted the significance of this event and its popularity among stables.

He expressed thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, for his support for the activities of the federation and all riders.

Shaikh Nasser stressed that this continued backing is an incentive for everyone to give their best and achieve the needed aspirations and goals.

He also asserted the importance of the upcoming event, which will be for the Crown Prince Cup, and vowed to provide all forms of support to the federation to ensure this ride is a big success.

And following the great success over the past five years in the Crown Prince Cup, Shaikh Nasser noted that the night rides have special taste with different environment that has its influence on the competition.

Shaikh Nasser believes the competition for this weekend's race will be fierce as all the riders are presently having serious preparations.

The Royal Endurance Team captain also noted that his stable has been training hard over the past few weeks and in accordance to the plan for this race. He lauded the efforts and contributions of the team members in past achievements.

Shaikh Nasser stressed that the Crown Prince Ride is one of the largest and most important races in the Kingdom, especially as it comes at the end of the season.

Shaikh Nasser noted that specific strategies need to be set up for night rides, and wished everyone success.

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Reynolds tops Endurance Trial
http://theequestriannews.com/2012/04/03/reynolds-tops-endurance-trial/

Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above win in Texas. (Photo by Donna Shifflette)
By Paula Parisi April 3, 2012

Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above took the win in a flat-out race to the finish at the Endurance Ranking Trial CEI 160km in Mt. Pleasant, TX. The race served as the USEF Selection Trial for the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship taking place in August.
Jeremy Reynolds racing his grey endurance horse, A Kutt Above.

Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above win in Texas. (Photo by Donna Shifflette)

Forty-five of the nation’s top endurance riders took to the trail at Priefert Ranch, March 31, over a “cloverleaf” course designed to replicate the Championship environment. Nineteen crossed the finish line and were named to the United States Equestrian Federation’s “long list” of contenders for the FEI Championship, Aug. 25 in Euston Park, Thetford, England, where only six U.S. riders will compete.

Reynolds narrowly beat Wendy MacCoubrey and Reach for the Gold, at 8:16:03 versus her 8:16:05. Becky Hart was a close third riding No Repeat (8:16:09), Heather Reynolds was fourth on Riverwatch.

The top finishers were strong all day and recovered well in the vet gates. Reynolds (San Jose, CA) and A Kutt Above also earned the coveted Best Conditioned Award/ Along with the other 18 finishers the pair was named to the USEF “Long List” of championship contenders (the horse with both Reynolds as riders).

Although Reach for the Gold was ridden by proxy jock MacCoubrey, the horse made the Long List with owner Valerie Kanavy of Fort Valley, VA. Both Kanavy and Hart (San Juan Bautista, CA) will seek a chance to earn another FEI World Endurance Championship title. Kanavy currently has two titles to her name and Hart will seek a fourth, this time with her own No Repeat.

Endurance chef d’quipe Emmett Ross said he is “extremely pleased” with the horses that made the long list and also with the fact that three young riders completed the race, calling it “encouraging for the future.” Junior and young riders in the sport of endurance are any riders between 14 and 21 years of age. While Ross acknowledged “a few disappointing absences” on the list – notably Lindsay Graham and Monk, who failed to finish, and Kelsey Russell, who chose to skip the event – overall he characterized it as “a fantastic group of horses and riders who all have potential to be extremely competitive.”

Race day was hot and humid in Texas, but with the exception of one boggy area that had to be repeated several times, the triple-loop course rode well and the times were good. Ross said he was “very pleased with all the officials, staff and volunteers [at] Priefert Ranch,” which he called “phenomenal and very supportive with both materials and staff.”

In addition to the 19 finishers, Ross has three discretionary horse/athlete combinations he can add from among those who did not compete or complete in Texas. Two of those slots have been taken: he named John Crandell III and Heraldic even though Crandell elected to withdraw Heraldic after the gate 2 vet check, which the horse passed but Crandell had concerns about deficiencies in his mount’s metabolics.
Jeremy Reynolds and his grey arabian A Kutt Above.

Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above, are ready to race in Texas.

Ross also named to the long list Deborah Reich who was unable to compete in the selection trial due to injury. Her horse, DJB Juniper, finished seventh.

Sometime in July the top 19 plus Ross’ wildcards will go on to complete a short course (40-60km) that will serve as an evaluation for soundness, and 12 horse and rider pairs will be named to a “short list” from which the final six competitors will be named (plus alternates) no later than one week prior to the FEI Championship, which takes place a week after the Olympics and about 35 miles away.

USEF director of endurance and reining Vonita Bowers said the U.S. has a talented field of athletes and horses from which to choose, and is looking forward to once again standing on the international podium for endurance, from which the country has absented itself since Valerie Kanavy’s individual Gold Medal in 1998.

“We’ve won medals at the Pan Ams, but not since ’98 at the World Championship level,” Bowers said, noting, “Prior to ’98 we won on a regular basis, then the rest of the world caught up. They started figuring out how to compete. Also, she noted, the sport has changed. “The U.S. version of endurance had always been on a very difficult course – closer to the Tevis Cup. The international rides are much flatter, faster courses. So the sport has changed a lot, and now we’re the ones catching up.”

The USEF is verifying the complete long list. It will be posted here as soon as it is made available.

To find out more about the FEI World Event Championship, visit http://www.eustonparkendurance.co.uk/ full article

Friday, March 30, 2012

Great Britain: WCSPS Squad is Announced

Endurancegb.co.uk

29th March 2012

The International committee, Selectors and the Management Team of the WCSPS would like to thank the ride organisers of Kings Forest, Di Luke and Karen Collier, for once again welcoming the Squad for their selection ride in preparation for the competition at Mont Le Soie, Belgium on 28th and 29th April 2012.

Congratulations to the following combinations who will be representing Great Britain at the ride.

Caroline Cowley and Summer Mistral
Jane Greatorex and Trust me Too
Alison House and Aberllwyd Briar Rose
Rebecca Kinnarney and Seren Capella
Jo Malcolm and Rasslan

Helen Boston the Young Rider Chef with Young Riders Kate Atkinson, Brett Corcoran, Carri Ann Dark, James Dickinson and Louise Rich will be travelling with the Team and competing at Mont Le Soie which is also the pre-run for the Young Rider European Championships on 8th September 2012. Emma Miller, Chair of International, said "We would like to wish the riders the very best of luck at this ride."

Great Britain: Riders enjoy the Camel Valley scenery as part of endurance ride

Thisisdevon.co.uk - Full Article

Friday, March 30, 2012
Western Morning News

Members of Endurance (GB) South West and pleasure riders from across the Westcountry have enjoyed two gloriously scenic rides in Cornwall, thanks to the county's landowners.

The first, at Colquite, near Bodmin, was held with permission of the Countess Pinky Le Grelle, the Colquite Estate and the Forestry Commission. Nearly 70 riders turned out to enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful scenery of the Camel valley. The route covered 19km (12 miles) of woodland, fields and tracks along the Camel River. Riders wound their way down through the woods to the bank of the river at Helland Bridge, where they crossed the lane and turned uphill on forestry tracks towards Tresarrett...

Read more here:
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Riders-enjoy-Camel-Valley-scenery-endurance-ride/story-15667516-detail/story.html

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Great Britain: First home in 120km ride

Midweekherald.co.uk - Full Article

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Young endurance rider Dace Sainsbury from Lyme Regis has won a 120km FEI 2* ride with her horse Ballota.

The pair are aiming to get qualified for the Young Rider championships which will be held in Belgium this year.

After a winter spent keeping Balotta (Lottie) fit and building her stamina up, they had their first training ride on Exmoor with lots of hills and tough terrain.

They started the competition season successfully, finishing third in the 80km Jubilee Trail ride in early March.

To qualify for the Young Rider Team the pair had to pass a 120km FEI 2* ride early season. Endurance rides have vet gates where the horses have to pass strict recovery and fitness tests before they can carry on. Dace entered for a ride at Bury St Edmunds, and despite the distance, Lottie finished full of running, and held a 20 minute lead over the field at the final vetting...

Read more here:
http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/sport/first_home_in_120km_ride_1_1331574

Monday, March 26, 2012

Bahrain riders crash out

Gulf-daily-news.com


Sunday, March 25, 2012

BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team riders Jaffer Mirza, Ahmed Al Hazza and Abdulrahman Al Zayed crashed out of the 120km Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup held yesterday.

The trio were unable to complete the prestigious four-stage ride, which took place at the Dubai International Endurance City in Seeh Assalam area in the UAE.

Both Al Zayed and Al Hazza were eliminated after their horses suffered injuries at the end of the first stage, which was over 40 ams, while Jaffer made his exit during the second stage for the same reason.

Host country's Sultan Al Beloushi of Al Reef Stable steered Corns to victory with a total ride time of four hours, 21 minutes and 46 seconds at an average speed of 27km per hour.

Behind him was Nad Al Sheba Stable's Abdulla Al Ghanim on Angelica (4:22:49) in second place while Fatma Jassim Al Mirri (4:22:02) of Seeh Al Salaam Stable was third on Ohio.

Completed

Riding Saj, Al Zayed completed the first stage in one hour, 36 minutes and eight seconds with a 27km per hour average speed.

Al Hazza, who came second in the 160km Sheikh Mohammed bid Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup held two months ago, was also out after his horse Sondon was unable to reach the finish line.

As for Mirza, he successfully passed the veterinary examination at the end of the stage on Dancer, clocking 1:36:16 and an average speed of 24km per hour.

Thani Al Muhairi of Seeh Al Salaam Stable took the lead after the first stage in 1:25:42, followed by Al Reef Stables' Abdulla Khamees (1:25:47) and Mohammed Sulaiman (1:25:59) in second and third positions, respectively.

In second stage, which was also over 40 kms, Al Muhairi maintained his lead in 2:57:49. Ghanim Al Owaisi (2:57:50) moved up to second and Al Mirri (2:57:53) climbed into third position.

The 20-km third and penultimate stage saw major changes in the standings with Saeed Al Ma'amari (3:48:00) of Ammar Stable taking over the lead.

Al Beloushi (3:48:09) rose up to second and ahead of third Khalfan Al Sabri (3:48:05) of Ammar Stable.

At the end of the race, Bahrain Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa said his team took part in this event due to the strong linking both Bahrain and the UAE.

Shaikh Nasser congratulated the Crown Prince of Dubai Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the success of the race.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Scotland: Borders ride sees new distance

Thesouthernreporter.co.uk - Full Article

Published on Thursday 22 March 2012 19:43

THE Scottish Borders Endurance Club saw the return of their popular Harstanes ride near Jedburgh on Sunday.

With an excellent turnout of more than 70 horses and riders, and the weather playing its part too, the day was a great success.

Options included 18km or 30km and the new 40km, this being a first for Scotland, the caravan and vet crew were kept hard at work.

The ride itself was marked out well with the usual orange tape and pink arrows ideal for helping direct the 12 non-members who attended on the day.

With a great long stretch of railway line in position at the beginning of the ride and lengthy woodland tracks, it had the makings of what was a very fast ride...

Read more here:
http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/sport/other-sports/borders-ride-sees-new-distance-1-2186901#

Costanza Laliscia: the young Italian equestrian endurance champion

Sport.quotidiano.net - Full Article Costanza Laliscia, endurance champion, talks about her passion for horses and the sacrifices she makes...