Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012 set to open with a strong field and a flourish

August 24 2012

The Longines FEI World Endurance Championships (25th August 2012) will open this evening (Thusday 23rd August 2012) with a lavish opening ceremony in the grounds of Euston Hall near Thetford, Suffolk.

A press conference today (23rd August) heard that the event to declare the competition officially open would celebrate the horse with a sensational display.

Created by Prisme International, the spectacle will include 3D mapping onto the side of Euston Hall following by a breath taking live show including fifty dancers together with performers and opera singers.

Organisers said creator Pierre Markout’s ceremony would also reflect the equestrian spirit of the Championships including a display by Mario Lurashi, one of the world’s leading stunt riders.

The multi-layered ceremony will also be lighting up the skies using a choreographed firework display, laser lighting and a hot-air balloon.

Speaking at the opening press conference, Ian Williams, FEI Director Non-Olympic Sports said: “These Championships will be a benchmark for others to follow in the future. It is a significant step up that reflects the worldwide growth and strength of endurance, which is now the second largest of the FEI disciplines.”

Ian Williams confirmed that there had been definite entries from 153 horse and rider combinations from 38 nations with 29 teams entered.

Mohammed Esse Al Adhab, President of the Organising Committee said: “Our focus at all times in creating this competition has been the welfare of the horse and rider as the number one priority. The Championships and opening ceremony will be a celebration of the athleticism of the endurance horse.”

Technical advisor John Robertson told the conference that the course would be “highly technical”.

He said: “This is a true riders’ course with lots of twists and tight turns. In some parts the track has been worn away leaving exposed flint stones – this going will need skill to negotiate and will benefit the most balanced horse and rider combinations.”
James MacEwan, Managing Director of Janah Management, organisers of the Championships, paid tribute to the hosting landowners and sponsors. “Without the support of the Duke of Grafton and the Euston Estate together with all the neighbouring landowners this event would simply not be possible and we are grateful to both them and our sponsors for their great generosity in enabling us to produce a competition of this quality and stature.”

Mohammed Al Khayat, Commercial Director of Meydan Group LLC said that Meydan together with title sponsor Longines and fellow supporting sponsor Emaar, was delighted to be involved in the Championships.

He said: “On behalf of Meydan, Longines and Emaar, we send all the horses and riders and their crews all good wishes for a wonderful Championships.”

Duke of Grafton opens Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012

PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 24th August 2012
EMBARGO:
Immediate release

The Duke of Grafton has officially opened the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2012 set to be held tomorrow (25th August 2012) at Euston Park near Thetford, Suffolk.
Speaking at a lavish opening ceremony held last night at Euston Hall, the Duke welcomed 153 athletes and crews from 38 nations.
Around 2000 guests included team members, crews and supporters who were also joined by UK Minister of Sport Hugh Robertson MP.

The Duke of Grafton said: “This gathering of 153 of the world’s leading endurance riders from all corners of the globe is the culmination of nearly a decade of development of Euston as a venue for the world’s fastest growing equestrian sport. It has been a hugely enjoyable process and it is a great honour to see you all here.

“At that first endurance ride held here in 2005 – there was a considerably smaller field, but nonetheless, it was my late father’s vision that one day, we would host a World Championship. It is sad for myself and family, that he is not here to see that dream realised, but I know that he would have been proud, to welcome you here today.

“Euston Hall has been the home of the Dukes of Grafton for more than 300 years. Traditionally renowned for their love of horse racing, the third and fourth Dukes could often be seen in this very parkland admiring the many successful horses they bred and trained. The Euston Estate comprises a rich mixture of woods and arable land and this, together with the generous support of neighbouring landowners, we hope will provide a stunning setting for a memorable sporting occasion.

“This wonderful course and spectacular venue would not however be possible without the support of our sponsors and I would like to add my thanks and those of the organizing committee to Longines, Meydan and to Emaar.

“I also want to pay tribute to all those who have worked tirelessly since we were awarded the honour of hosting the championships 15 months ago.

“It has been a fantastic summer of competitive sport with the European Football Cup and we have just enjoyed 16 days of glorious sporting action at the London 2012 Olympics, thanks in no small part to a huge army of volunteers – the Games Makers. Well we have our own team of Games Makers here in Suffolk, as there will be around 100 volunteers involved over the next few days, and I would like to thank them for their efforts.

“Finally to the riders, crews and supporters. To compete for your country at this level takes years of dedication and hard work to develop the special partnership between horse and rider and supreme athleticism to complete that grueling 100 miles in one day.

“I along with all the supporters here wish the very best of luck and great success for this exceptional competition that lies ahead.”

Ian Williams, Director of Non-Olympic Sports for the FEI said: “After so many months of planning, and dedicated hard work, we are now all here at the start of this World Championship.

“On behalf of the FEI President, her Royal Highness Princess Haya, we wish everyone an exciting, competitive and above all safe championship.

“On Sunday we will gather here again to present the FEI medals to those teams and individuals who have excelled at the very highest level of their sport.”

The event will see a star-studded field of riders and horses including three former world champions tackle the 160km (100-mile) championship course in a single day.
The 14th running of the championships will see the current holder, Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton, attempt to match the USA’s Becky Hart in winning three World titles in succession – a feat first achieved by Hart in 1988, 1990 and 1992 with the great RO Grand Sultan.

Alvarez will partner her 17-year-old superstar Nobby as the pair attempt to make
history.

Meanwhile HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose son Sheikh Ahmed won the world individual title in 2002 at the age of just 16 and one of the world’s leading racehorse owners, is also taking part leading a strong UAE defence of its world team title for the third time in succession.

A total of 29 teams have entered the championship including the host nation Great Britain who were last on the medal table at the 2000 World Championships in Compiegne, France.

Several landowners and farmers have given access to their land to enable the organisers to create a 100-mile route over the Breckland course covering heathland, forest tracks and open farmland. Hundreds of local volunteers will be involved in the event which is expected to draw around 2000 people including participants, crew, officials and spectactors.

The opening event was devised by show director Pierre Marcout together with Gilles Ledos and Jean Marc Chandoo of Prisme International.

Alongside title sponsor Longines, two Dubai industry giants, Meydan and Emaar Properties are additional supporters of the championships.

2012 World Endurance Championship: Definite Entries Announced

August 19 2012

Definite entries have been announced for the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships.

154 riders from 38 countries are scheduled to cross the starting line on August 25 at Euston Park, Great Britain.

Entries, and more information here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/GreatBritain/2012WEC/

Three world champions line up at Euston

Gilly Wheeler photo

PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 19th August 2012

Star-studded line-up for Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2012
A huge international field of 153 riders from 38 countries is set to line up for next week’s Longines FEI World Endurance Championships next week (25th August 2012) at Euston Park near Newmarket, Suffolk.

A star-studded field including three former world champions is set to tackle the FEI CEI 4* 160km competition whose title sponsor is Swiss watchmaker Longines.
The 14th running of the championships will see Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton attempt to match the USA’s Becky Hart in winning three World titles in succession – a feat first achieved by Hart in 1988, 1990 and 1992 with the great RO Grand Sultan.
Alvarez will partner her 17-year-old superstar Nobby as the pair attempt to make history. Already unbeaten in four successive championships, with two World and two European titles to their name since 2008, unlike Hart and RO Grand Sultan whose victories came on home ground in the USA and in Europe, Alvarez and Nobby have won over widely differing terrain. Their first victory in 2008 came at the inaugural world championship run in a tropical country which was held after the hours of darkness in Terengganu, Malaysia. They went on to romp home at the Europeans at Assisi in Italy in 2009 and then again over the relatively flat track at the Alltech Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010 following this up with an invincible performance over the steep climbs at Florac at the 2011 European Championships. A win at Euston Park would cement the diminutive 148cm-high Nobby’s place as the greatest endurance horse of all time.

Fittingly, Becky Hart stages a return to the USA team for the first time for several years as does her compatriot Valerie Kanavy, a double world champion.
Meanwhile HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose son Sheikh Ahmed won the world individual title in 2002 at the age of just 16, will lead a strong UAE defence of its world team title for the third time in succession having won convincingly in both Kentucky and Terengganu.

Alvarez’s winning time of 7hr: 35min.44sec at the Alltech Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010 will be a target for the winning rider, while teams will be looking to emulate the UAE’s 2010 winning total ride time of 23hr53min36sec – the fastest yet scored a championship.

A total of 29 teams have entered the championship including the host nation Great Britain who were last on the medal table at the 2000 World Championships in Compiegne, France.

Championship organiser James MacEwan said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the world’s leading endurance riders and horses to Euston Park and to what should be a memorable championship in a great year for sport in Britain.”

Alongside title sponsor Longines, two Dubai industry giants, Meydan and Emaar Properties are additional supporters of the championships.

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.

2012 WEC: Meet Netherlands rider Carmen Romer-Theunissen

Ponypraat.nl

[google translation]

I'm Carmen Romer-Theunissen, 27 years old and married to Kay Theunissen.

I am active since 1995 in the endurance sport, a branch of equestrian sport in which 160 km in one day is made. Since 2003 I make part of the Dutch team.
game 19 times from 160 km of spreading, 5 times Dutch champion, european champion 2006 peak.

I travel for the sport around the world, am now in 23 countries and have started a total of 134 completed matches well with a total of over 12,000 well driven race kilometers. Of these 28 victories, second place 22 times and 10 times third.

My race reports are always available on www.Carmenromer.web-log.nl

Australian Endurance horses settle into their Suffolk training base ahead of World Championships

the horses are hand walked on the grounds of the Riddlesworth Equestrian Centre
WA.Equestrian.org.au

Thursday, 16 August 2012

The team of horses which have travelled to the UK for the World Endurance Championships are settling into their temporary accommodation at the Riddlesworth Equestrian Centre in Suffolk.

The four horses arrived in the UK last Thursday ahead of the World Endurance Championships which take place on 25 August.

“All four horses have recovered from the long trip and have been exercised with light rides and hand walks. They are doing good work and in the next few days they will do longer and faster sessions,” said Chef d’Equipe Peter Toft.

“The horses have great stables and paddocks and the training trails are excellent – we have a nice marked 20 kilometre loop,” he added.

“The grass here is lush and green so although the horses have enjoyed it, we are limiting the grazing,” Toft said.

Riders Penny Toft, Talea Haskow-Stewart and Norbert Radney have arrived at camp with Alexandra Toft due to arrive later this week.

Great Britain: An update from Endurance rider Chris Yeoman

NSBits.com

15 Aug 2012 05:41:02

Chris Yeoman has a very busy few weeks ahead of her. Not only has she been picked to represent GB in the World Endurance Championships at Euston Park, Thetford, with her horse LM Crazy Girl; her other horse LM Greyson has been picked as the fourth reserve horse.

This is a fantastic achievement and we are looking forward to seeing how she does! The Neue Schule advice team is travelling down to the Endurance Championships on the 25th August to support Neue Schule stockist Saddle Exchange. If you are going to the Endurance Championships and would like advice on any aspect of bitting please don’t hesitate to come and visit the stand.

We asked Chris which Neue Schule bits she finds best for her horses:

“My endurance horses have to be light and manoeuvrable at speed and controllable on a start line of anything up to 100 horses so the bit I use is a very important tool that I have and Neue Schule are excellent for a variety of horses with individual issues.

Greyson was always strong in the hand and would lean heavily on me on the first loop. I now have him in a Neue Schule Swales bit which has taken the pressure off the poll leaving him lighter in the hand and more responsive to my aids.

Crazy Girl my championship horse is from Argentina and very sensitive to her bit so she is in the Universal which gives me stopping power without a fight and she mouths the bit well giving a softer feel to my hands.”

Posted in News Sponsored Riders By Rhiannon Lister