Brazil: 2012 Multidays

Arabianhorse.com.br - Full Article

Text and photos: Cidinha Franzão

The charming Multidays is a different ride from all others carried out in Brazil. It is about an itinerant ride in which the set horse / rider runs to a distance of approximately 60 km per day, totaling 180 km in three days.

Not only the riders, but all those participate in the event (organizers, veterinarians, course designer and timekeeping) staying in the same hotel. Every night there is a fantastic cocktail, so that those who competed during the day will fraternize in the night launching each other new challenges for the next day.

And every night are awarded the winners of the day. Besides, to relax, also awards which came in last place. And as is traditional, since its first edition in 1999, there is the famous and not so expected Trophy Coalheira, name of farming instrument used in the animals to pull the plow.

It receives the trophy Coalheira that one person who during the day made ​​a faux pas. Therefore, everyone is watching everyone to see who commits it. During the awards are announced the names of people and what they did and the audience decides who receives it. In the final award, is named the winner of Coalheira of the year.

The idea that everybody hosts at the same hotel and share the cocktails and dinners is to create a very special atmosphere of understanding between everyone, without, however, leaving the competitive side...

Read more here:
http://www.arabianhorse.com.br/magazine/agosto2012/en/54.html

Bahrain: Top riders for military endurance

Gulf-daily-news.com

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

NINETEEN countries have submitted their entries for the First World Military Endurance Championship (WMEC), to be organised in Bahrain on December 15.

Riders will come from Azerbaijan, Kuwait, the UAE, Estonia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Palestine, Oman, Italy, Brazil, Yemen, Jordan, Ireland, Uruguay, Albania, Ecuador, UK and hosts Bahrain.

The organising committee, headed by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has stepped up preparations for the day-long event.

Delegations are scheduled to arrive in Bahrain on December 10, five days before the start of the championship.

Bahrain is organising the upcoming event in co-operation with the International Military Council.

The Bahrain event will coincide with the festivities marking His Majesty King Hamad's Accession Day and Bahrain National Day.

Latest developments and arrangements to prepare for the championship were discussed yesterday during a committee meeting, chaired by Shaikh Khalid.

Shaikh Khalid stressed the strategic significance of the first military championship, which gives it a special dimension with several prominent riders from all around the world taking part.

Shaikh Khalid and other members of the committee also discussed a number of points on their agenda, which included suggestions by the ceremonies committee to select the most suitable venue for the opening ceremony.

Shaikh Khalifa received work plans from committee officials Mohammed Al Jowder, Abdulhakim Al Shino, Ebrahim Al Binali Ahmed Hamada, Mishari Al Hanafi, Dr Khalid Ahmed and Tawfeeq Al Salehi.

FEI World Rankings

As of October 20, 2012, Linda Cowperthwaite and Maraday Mystaron of Great Britain topped the FEI Meydan Open Combination World rankings. Cowperthwaite said, "Just a quick note to let EGB in on my horse, Maraday Mystaron's, exciting news. As a result of Ron’s successfully season and trips overseas we have been rewarded. The current FEI ranking have been updated and he’s number 1 in the world combinations.

It’s still not quite sunk in. I dared to think he could go top for a time but to see, it is just amazing."

Dana Hladisova and Dean are second, and Juan Lacasi and Rock and Roll are ranked third. USA's Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above made 16th on the list.

In the Meydan Open Riders World Ranking, UAE's Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum is first, with France's Lisa Riou second, and UAE's Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum 3rd.

In the Meydan Open Horse World Ranking, Intissar tops the list with Yamamah second. Both horses are ridden by UAE riders, with Yamamah (formerly known as Kurrajong Concorde) finishing 2nd in the World Endurance Championship in Great Britain in August. Maraday Mystaron is ranked 4th.

For complete rankings, see
https://data.fei.org/Ranking/List.aspx

Kathy Brunjes

photo: Kathy Brunjes riding Theatric at the 2008 World Endurance Championship in Malaysia

Kathy was a true athlete, a generous and sincere woman. A class act.

She will be remembered lovingly by her friends and family and many around the world who shared her commitment to the sport of Endurance.

Kathy, you will be missed.

Steph
Endurance.Net

Australia: Shahzada 2012 – The 32nd Shahzada…..

AERA.asn.au

The last week of August, 2012 saw the running of the 32nd Shahzada – the ultimate test of horsemanship – with 60 horses and riders from all over Australia covering 80kms a day for five days from the ride base in St Albans up and down the mountains that surround the MacDonald Valley in north west Sydney. There were two entrants from WA, two from Tasmania, three from SA, five from Qld, two from the ACT and 46 from NSW all embarking on long trips to experience the magic of Shahzada.

We had superb weather with some rain the week before to soften the tracks and then beautiful sunshine. The Committee and some of the wonderful volunteers without whom this ride would not go ahead, were there up to ten days prior to the ride erecting tents and gazebos, placing all the early birds in their campsites which continued right up to the start of the ride, putting water up in those mountains which is a major feat in itself as well as marking and still clearing after the savage winds that hit the area prior to the ride. 4am Monday, 27th August sixty riders took off up the Common Road…..what a buzz!!!

Kim Hagon on her part Arabian gelding Diamond R Boston recorded the fastest time of 34 hours for the 400 kms and was one of four horse and rider combinations to be called up for the Best Conditioned/Best Managed Horse award – the others were Sue Todd on her Appaloosa mare Shakista (six out of six completions), Cherry Cummins on her Arabian mare Winter Hill Alice and Jody Smith on her Anglo Arab gelding Rage On with Jody and Rage On taking out the prestigious award – a huge trophy and rug as pictured. There were 29 completions – each horse and rider earning a Shahzada buckle, acknowledging this amazing achievement.

The Halifax Hayes Fit & Well Award was presented to two horse and rider combinations this year – Ron Malone on Maringo and Stewart Lymbery on Garonne Park Walker with Maddie Hayes saying that both combinations were deserving of the recognition.

There were two encouragement awards for the ride this year….the Newscom Award for first time horse and rider combination went to Trish Smith from Tasmania on Beaucheval Akhiran and the Darryl Davis Encouragement Award went to Robert Catlin on Copperkahn Tiara. The First Australian Stock Horse across the line was Razorback Kadance ridden by Robin Young. There were a number of awards donated by the Knihinicki family – the oldest rider to complete was Karen Rhodes (this was Karen’s 17th buckle) on Stratfield Ghayth (Billy), the youngest was Tiarna Young on Burren-dah Narla who also received the Steve Locke Memorial Award, and Lyn Summerfield from WA took out the last rider home and the rider who travelled furthest on Orchid Park Silver Mecca. The Suncrest Arabians Award for the First Stallion to Finish went to Burren-dah Gladiator ridden by Martin Gregson.

There were 86 entrants in the Mini Marathon which was held over three days of 40kms per day and gave riders and horses the opportunity to get the taste of marathon riding with the idea that they will take up the challenge next year and attempt the 400 km Shahzada……63 riders were successful.

Shahzada is put together by a small committee and a large number of dedicated volunteers – thank you to everyone involved in the success of the 2012 Shahzada.

Great Britain: End of the season for Team Omar

Brechinadvertiser.co.uk - Full Article

Monday 29 October 2012 06:41

With competitive endurance riding now entering the close season, Brechin rider John Thomson and his pure bred Arabian gelding Prince Omar completed the final ride of the year in the hills of Easter Ross.

With a revised layout from last year, the first part of the course was fast before the riders headed into the 40 per cent strenuous climbs. From there it was a gentle gradient into the Kildermorie Estate and Vet Gate One at 31kms. Omar was quickly vetted then set off on the second loop of 32kms, which was covered in just on two hours. At the 63kms Vet Gate there was nothing between the lead riders but Team Omar had quickly bought back time to break their record for the distance.

It has been a remarkably successful year with a course record broken on the first ride of the season, a new course record set on the second ride but in a season remembered for wet weather and cancellations, Omar fell foul of the plague of hoof abscesses that had swept the country and was knocked out of action for four weeks. Many thanks to local vet Lindsay Cameron for working so quickly to produce those ever so important blood tests throughout the season and to ensure that Omar stayed at the peak of conditioning.

On the return to competition, a 44kms nonstop at Clashindarroch Forest saw horse and rider pick up a third fastest time. A few weeks later near Nairn, Omar turned in a remarkable speed during the 53kms. Despite the loss of a shoe seven kms from the end of the second loop and frantic activity by the duty farrier and crew to prepare for the final vetting, Team Omar maintained the fastest time over the distance.

Horse and rider then returned to lay the ghost of last year’s Red Rock Relay Team where an injury had witnessed their elimination. However despite the deteriorating conditions Team Omar went on again to take the fastest time...

Read more here:
http://www.brechinadvertiser.co.uk/sport/end-of-the-season-for-team-omar-1-2597918

Malaysia: Thai Rider Wins Sultan Mizan Cup Endurance Race For Second Consecutive Year

Bernama.com

October 21, 2012 19:03 PM

SETIU, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Wipawan Pawitayalarp of Thailand swept her male counterparts aside to win the Sultan Mizan Cup endurance race for the second consecutive year at the Terengganu International Equestrian Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong here Sunday.

The 38-year-old Thai rider who was a cut above the rest, pocketed USD10,000 (RM30,500) and a watch worth RM25,000 for her effort.

Wipawan, riding Mulawa Angelus, swept aside 51 other local and foreign riders to win the 120km race with a time of 7 hours 18 minutes and 8 seconds while the State of Terengganu Endurance Team (STET) rider Mohammad Fuad Hashim clocked 7'28:38s to finish second ahead of Mohd Bukhari Rozali (7'50:45s).

"The heavy rain yesterday added the level of difficulty in the race because the track was heavy, providing a major challenge for the horses," said Wipawan here today.

The Sultan of Terengganu, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin who also competed in the 120km race on his "RTES Annaversary" horse, later gave away the prizes.

--BERNAMA