Great Britain: Euston Park hosts final qualifiers for Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012

24 June 2012

Sh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and Kurajong Concorde from the UAE headed a strong field to win the penultimate qualifier for the Longines FEI  World Endurance Championships (25th August 2012) at Euston Park, near Newmarket, Suffolk, UK. 
The pair completed the FEI CEI 3* 160km competition over August’s World Championship course in a ride time of 7hr30min14sec at an average speed of 21.32km/hr.
They won by a nose after a tight finish with Mohd Ahmad Al Subose and Kedjari Des Serres (UAE) in second place. Compatriot Mohd Saeed Mohd Al Faresi and Ainhoa Tijmili crossed the line six minutes later.

A total of 28 combinations took part in Sunday’s 160km qualifier run over the Euston Park course in the build-up to the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships. 
Organised by Janah Management, Sunday’s programme featured a CEI 3* 160 km, CEI 2* 120km, a CEI 2* YR 120km and a CEI 1* 80km, with classes on Monday including a CEI 3* 160km and CEI 2* 120km.

The ride was completed in tough conditions with strong winds and bursts of heavy rain affecting the going.

As the penultimate qualifying ride for the World Championships ahead of the deadline on 26th June, the event attracted riders from around the globe.

Having aimed to qualify ZT Richshakfy for a place on the British team, Susan Hawes sadly opted to withdraw on course on the fourth loop putting paid to her chances of qualifying for a place on the championship team in August.

"It’s a shame but he was not feeling quite right so it wasn't worth continuing - he's only 11 and there'll be another day. This course is really challenging and it will find out any niggles. I have huge respect for the horses that are out in front and still going strong - they are awesome," she said.

The other British contender Melanie Davison and CS Khan contesting their first 160km had aimed for a steady completion but also withdrew at the fourth vetgate. “This is definitely a championship course and very technical -  one minute you are in sand and the next mud and then harder tracks which means you really have to concentrate - it is tricky."

The UAE’s Saeed Ahmed Murad Al Khattal riding the Al Aasfa Stables-trained Glendaar Greystar captured the CEI 2* 120km class in fine style having led all the way from the first vetgate. The duo’s time of 5hr43min57sec was completed with a consistent performance across all five loops at an average speed of 21.28km/hr.

They were chased home by fellow UAE riders Saeed Saqr Mohd Qabir Al Ameri with Saxon of Bedain and Spain’s Nuria Serrabasa Fabre and Nasik Des Fabries.

Chris Wray, riding his first 120km with Takwenya was among four British contenders in this class finishing in 12th place behind fellow Briton Caroline Cowley with Summer Mistral.

His crew Georgina Bull said: “Takwenya only did her first 80km ride back in March and won it so we felt she was ready to do a 120km class.”

Georgina the British team riders’ osteopath said Chris, who bred the nine year old palomino, is aiming to get the horse onto the elite squad by 2014.

Georgina added: “The wet weather did not bother them. Chris found the going deep in places but just pushed on when he could and slowed down where necessary.  We used less water than we would on a hot day and mostly rugged up to keep her warm after the vet gate.”

Saeed Mod Khalifa Al Mehairi of the UAE and Gem El Gem took the top slot in the CEI 2** YR 120km at an average speed of 21.28km/hr

The 14th running of the FEI World Endurance Championships will see around 160 riders from up to 40 countries lining up for the contest around the deceptive Euston Park track.

Ian Williams, FEI Non-Olympic Sports Director, said:  “This was the third event held as part of the preparations for the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship.
 
“Despite the difficult weather conditions, the vetgate stood up to the test and ran incredibly well as did the course. The electronic timing system had its final live test and lived up to all expectations.
 
“Representatives from many nations had taken this opportunity to make their final recce of the course and venue and I can only believe that they found it to be a true championship test and will be returning home excited about beginning their countdown to the main event in August.”
 
Alongside title sponsor Longines, the Championships has the support of Dubai industry giants, Meydan and Emaar Properties as additional supporters.
With around 1000 participants, riders, crew and officials, the championship will have a significant economic impact on the area around Euston Park and the Newmarket area during the build-up and immediately post competition.

Hungary pulls out of WEG 2018 contention

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article
By Horsetalk.co.nz on Jun 23, 2012 in News

Hungary has withdrawn from the bidding process to stage the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018.

Its capital Budapest had been named as one of the five 2018 bid cities earlier this month, but in a letter to FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos this week, the President of the Hungarian National Federation Vilmos Lázár confirmed that the Hungarian bid has now been withdrawn.

In the letter Lázár stated that the Hungarian Federation’s Board had made the decision to withdraw the Budapest bid as there were two candidates from the same region. Hungary’s immediate neighbour, Austria, is also one of the official candidates to host the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018.

Lázár said that his Board hoped that the withdrawal of the Hungarian bid would enhance the chances of Austria staging the Games in 2018.

“Of course we are sad to lose the Hungarian bid for 2018,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said, “but we respect the National Federation’s decision and admire its generous support of the neighbouring bid from Austria. We still have four very strong candidates in the mix and it will be a very exciting bidding process. We very much look forward to welcoming them all to FEI Headquarters next month...”

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2012/06/23/hungary-pulls-weg-2018-contention/#.T-XPhI7G5yQ

FEI World Rankings

6/21/12

Kamila Kart of Poland tops the Endurance Meydan Open Riders World Ranking with 690 points through June 15, 2012.

UAE riders fill the next 4 spots: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum in 2nd, Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri in 3rd, Fatma Jassem Saeed Al Marri in 4th, and Mubarak Awad Al Khatiri in 5th.

USA's Jeremy Reynolds ranks 6th.

In the Meydan Open Combination World Ranking, UAE's Sultan Ahmed Al Bloushi and Cronus hold 1st place with 308 points, and UAE's Fatma Jassem Saeed Al Marri and Ohio hold 2nd place with 289 point.

USA's Cody Boysen and Viktory Banner rank 3rd with 261 points.

In the Meydan Open Horse World Ranking, in 1st is Shardell Aladdin, 2nd is Tonki Dee Boo Kokoda, 3rd is Cronus, 4th is Madji du Pont, 5th is Ohio.

Ranking in 6th is USA's Riverwatch, the 2011 Tevis Cup and Haggin Cup winner, part owned by Heather and Jeremy Reynolds.

Maria Santina of Argentina tops the Meydan Young Riders World Ranking with 327 points, with USA's Kelsey Russell in second with 312 points.

Full list of rankings are here:
https://data.fei.org/Ranking/Default.aspx

Mohammed wins European Endurance Race in Italy

Khaleejtimes.com

(WAM) / 20 June 2012

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice -President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was crowned, for second running year, champion of the 160-km European Endurance Race 2012 at Ancona race track in Italy. By this wonderful victory, Shaikh Mohammed will lead UAE riders to the World Endurance Championship 2012 in England next August.
Last year, Shaikh Mohammed won the first round of the European Endurance Championship, staged in Verona, Italy.

Shaikh Mohammed clocked in at 8:51:10 beating an elite of the world’s rival riders.

Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, came second and third respectively.

Australia: Teenager and $200 horse headed to World Endurance Championship

Pozible.com

June 20 2012

WHO ARE TALEA & BLAKE'S HEAVEN BOMBORA?

In January 2002 Fia Hasko-Stewart purchased an unwanted Arabian yearling for $200 from a friend. All other buyers had ignored him. Ten years later the horse, Blake’s Heaven Bombora, is one of Australia’s top endurance horses.

It has been a long journey. Endurance is a grueling sport where each competitor rides one horse over long distances (minimum 80kms, up to 160kms in one day). The fastest horse home is the winner, but riders must balance speed with the need to manage their horses’ welfare, as strict vet checks are completed at the start, middle and end of the ride. If the horse fails any vet check, the rider is eliminated.

Talea Haskow-Stewart and Bombora have come up through the ranks of endurance through thousands of hours in the saddle and many thousands of kilometres in training and competition in all conditions - in the pre-dawn dark; the wind, the rain and cold; or blazing heat. They have galloped along forest trails and picked their way down treacherous cliffs, and together they have become a top team.



THE WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Now, after performing outstandingly in qualifying events, Talea and Bombora have been chosen to represent Australia at the highest level– the World Endurance Championships to be held in the UK in August. See http://www.eustonparkendurance.co.uk/ for more information on the event.


WHY TALEA & BH BOMBORA NEED YOUR HELP.

Although in negotiation, endurance riding is not yet in the Olympics and this means there is no government funding for the Australian team. Return airfares for Bombora are $35,000, and estimated total costs for the trip are around $50,000.

Talea isn’t part of a professional endurance business. She’s just a young lady with a lot of passion. Talea has repeatedly declined offers to sell Bombora to Arab sheiks (for whom endurance is as important as thoroughbred racing), although his worth is in six figures.

To allow Talea to bring her best friend home from the UK, she needs help.  Fia and Talea are currently seeking corporate sponsorship, but donations from family, friends, Endurance Riders, and people who are passionate about seeing others realise their dreams, will help make this trip a reality and bring Bombora home.

A Sydney filmmaker, Adeline Gibson, is also traveling with Talea to the WEC and filming a documentary about Talea, BH Bombora & the Aussie Team. Donations of $60 or more will receive a copy of the final film, so you can go on the journey with them. 

For more information, or to donate, see:
http://www.pozible.com/index.php/archive/index/6594/description/0/0

Australia: 2012 Tom Quilty

Endurancenews.com.au

An exciting weekend of dedicated endurance riders and their horses was to be found at St Helens, Tasmania for the 47th running of Australia’s national endurance event, the 160km Tom Quilty.

Founded by the legendary Australian RM Williams, the first Tom Quilty event was held in 1966 in NSW. The event was named after Tom Quilty, the man who donated $1000 to make the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, which would be presented to the winner of the event. The event has run each year since then, and continues to be Australia’s national event, with riders flocking from across Australia (and at times internationally) to attend.


This years Quilty saw 115 riders entered attempting to gain their Quilty Buckle. This is a smaller number then usual for the national event, but many mainland riders were hesitant to travel their horses to Tasmania and chose to skip this event and aim for attending the 2013 Tom Quilty which will be run from Queensland.

The riders that did attend the event were rewarded with absolutely gorgeous riding weather, the sun shone gaily throughout the weekend with many lovely photo opportunities being offered! The Quilty is renown for being a ‘wet’ ride and riders often joke that the number of dry Quilty’s can be counted on one hand. Being winter, and being Tasmania it was still a very chilly weekend, but the sun was most welcome and made the event a pleasurable experience.

The race was won by well known endurance rider Brook Sample riding the very experienced endurance gelding Brookleigh Excalibur. They cantered across the finish line to win the race in spectacular style in a time of 9 hours and 14 mins. Both Brook and his horse have competed previously in the Quilty with Brook now holding 12 buckles and having an impressive 6 wins. A momentous effort from an exceptional horse person, this achievement can be most appreciated when you look at the full results with only 54% of people entered in the event successfully completing .

Brook Sample and Brookleigh Excalibur with the Tom Quilty 2012 winners cup
Sunday saw the top 5 riders in each division presenting for the Best Conditioned awards, as well as 10 riders presenting for the Pat Slater Cup.

Top 5 Juniors:
Alice Mitchell / Beer Street Takone (Best Conditioned)
Sarah Parker / King Park Aberdeen Pelion
David Anderson / Karrana Crackerjack
Amelia Napier / Bellawongah Holly
Ellie Maddick / Armidale Flash Jack

Top 5 Lightweights:
Jacopo Di Matteo / Lockleigh Park Wildfire (Best Conditioned)
Wendy Dower / Castlebar Tempest
Jennifer Annetts / Churinga Goldfire
Antonia Gilbertson / Kurrajong Shadad
Linda Blanchard / Galoubet

Top 5 Middleweights:
Brook Sample / Brookleigh Exalibur (Best Conditioned)
Bradley Hill / Lockleigh Park Sparks Afire
Akhmed Pshunov / Tarrangower Crecendo
Matthew Sample / Brookleigh Ricardo
Debbie Grull / Lauralyn Notorious

Top 5 Heavyweights:
Dennis Foley Jr / Jack
Robbie Walsh / Free Spirit Czar (Best Conditioned)
Mark Johnson / Sharah Lateefah
Elizabeth Laurie / Kholonial Farrington
Gerald Nicklason / Wongawal Digger
Jeremy Ford / Ruby Running Bare

The Tom Quilty is now over for another year, with many riders leaving ride base smiles from ear to ear for their success, and other riders leaving with the sigh of anticlimax, thinking ahead to next year when they can have another shot at that elusive Tom Quilty Buckle.

Just Chaps sponsors the Endurance Young Riders GB Team and international endurance rider Abbi Tennant

Horseandrideruk.com - Full Article

Just Chaps, manufacturers of the widest range of Half and Full Chaps, are proud to sponsor the Endurance Young Riders GB team and international endurance rider Abbi Tennant.


The Young Riders Squad have been out competing in Mont Le Sole, Belgium this season under chef d’equipe Helen Boston. The riders competed in endurance rides of up to 160km! That is definitely a feat of endurance, and takes an awful amount of training. To help them on their way Just Chaps provided the team with this season’s GB Chaps.

Just Chaps is also proud to sponsor international endurance rider Abbi Tennant. Abbi, at only 22 years old, represents Britain as an Advanced FEI** Endurance rider...

Read more here:
http://www.horseandrideruk.com/article.php?id=2237