Bahrain: Mohammed lifts Nasser trophy

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Article

March 17, 2013

HUSSAIN Mohammed was crowned winner of the Nasser bin Hamad International Endurance Race trophy yesterday.

The Royal Endurance Team rider came on top in one of the most exciting national endurance races, which took place at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Mohammed completed the race in a total time of five hours, two minutes and 50 seconds, with 23km per hour average speed.

He finished ahead of fellow team member Raed Mahmood (5:07:15), who settled for second place, while Ahmed Al Fateh Stable rider Shaikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa came third.

In the stables category, Shaikha Najla's overall finish time saw her win the competition and one of the three Toyota SUVs awarded by championship patron Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The second fastest in the stables competition was Abdulrahman Al Zayed of Ajyal Stables (5:24:37), with Fahad Al Azri (5:27:26) of Al Asayel Stable third.

Organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef), being presided by Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the event also featured an 80km international qualifying ride.

But the main race of the day saw riders from across the kingdom battling over five stages for the cup glory.

The qualifying ride consisted of three stages. The first and second each covered 30kms, followed by 20km for the third.

Jaffer Mirza of the Royal Team took an early lead in the first stage, which was over 30km. He was followed by Mohammed Abdulsamad, also of the Royal Team, in second place, with Hussain Mohammed coming third.

Another 30km distance was waiting for the participants in the second stage, which ended with no significant changes as Mohammed took over the lead from Mirza, as Mahmood and Ghazi Al Dossary climbed up to second and third places, respectively.

In the 20-km third stage, Mahmood moved ahead of Mohammed, who slipped to second, for the overall lead. Al Dossary followed in third position.

Mahmood stayed ahead of everyone in the 20-km fourth stage against Mohammed and Olalya Gonzales, who were in second and third places, respectively.

But in the fifth and deciding stage, Mohammed showed some outstanding riding skills and stamina to take over the lead and celebrate a well-deserved victory with his stable mates.

Shaikh Nasser, in the presence of Shaikh Khalid and other Breef officials, presented trophies to the winners in the main event, and keys to the SUV winners in the stables competition at the prize-distribution ceremony held at the endurance village after the race.

Shaikh Nasser praised the outstanding performance of the riders yesterday and the competitive level which added more thrills to the race.

He said this race is regarded as one of the distinctive events this season, which was clearly emphasised by the participants' keenness to take part and claim podium finish.

Shaikh Nasser thanked the working committees, who exerted extra efforts in preparing for the races and pulled off great success in organsing last year's edition.

The Royal Endurance Team captain also expressed appreciation to Shaikh Khalid for backing the federation in organising all races in general, and this competition, in particular.

Canada: Port Hope rider goes the distance

Northumberlandnews.com - Full Article

Karen Longwell|Mar 17, 2013

Teen excels at competition

PORT HOPE -- Solstice Pecile, 13, started riding horses before she could walk.
Solstice's mother Phyllis Pecile is an avid rider and took her riding as a young child. The Grade 8 C.R. Gummow Public School student started riding on her own when she was six. Recently Solstice is excelling in the sport of long distance riding. The Ontario Competitive Trail Association presented Solstice with nine awards in February including Top Junior Rider for 2012.

Following in her mother's footsteps, Solstice started distance riding at eight years old. She completed a six-mile team event called ride n' tie.

"I loved it so much that I wanted to do more," she said...

Read more here:
http://www.northumberlandnews.com/sports/article/1593403--port-hope-rider-goes-the-distance

Great Britain: Horse tips that are meant to last lifetime

Morpethherald.co.uk - Full Article

Published on Friday 15 March 2013 00:05

STANNINGTON Village Hall was packed as members of the public received top equine tips at a special event.

The themes for the evening presentations, organised by the Endurance GB Northumberland & Tyneside Group, were ‘Equine Weight Management’, by vet Colin Mitchell, a partner of Scott Mitchell Associates, Hexham, and ‘Endurance Riding and How to Get Started’, by Diane Holmes, chairwoman of the group.

She gave those in attendance an interesting insight into endurance riding, describing the fun of pleasure rides suitable for all shapes and sizes, and the challenges of the graded endurance rides at varying distances, in which the rider learns to get the best from a horse over different terrain and weather conditions.

To encourage more junior and young riders to the sport, she announced that under 16s go free if accompanied by a paying adult when entering its pleasure/social rides.

During the break for refreshments, guests browsed over several displays, including horsemanship equipment and care products for the barefoot and bitless horse...

Read more here:
http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/sport/local-sport/other-sports/horse-tips-that-are-meant-to-last-lifetime-1-5501408

Bahrain: Valuable prizes for endurance championship winners

Gulf-daily-news.com

March 16, 2013

THREE Toyota SUVs will await the top three finishers at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir, hosting the Nasser bin Hamad International Endurance Race today.

Stables from across the kingdom have prepared their horses ahead of this prestigious event, which gets underway at 6am.

Participants will come from well-renowned local stables, including the Royal Endurance Team and Al Khalidiya, who have a vast riding experience as they head into this battle as favourites.

The championship features a 120km ride for seniors as well as an international 80km qualifying race, also open for senior riders.

The 120km ride was divided into five stages, starting with 30km for the first stage. The second stage will also cover 30km, while each of the remaining three stages will each be over 20km.

As for the international 80km qualifying ride, it consists of three stages. The first and second will each cover 30km, to be followed by 20km for the third.

This ride will be held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The organising committee, headed by Breef president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has approved the total weight for both races.

Participants' weight in the 120km event should not exceed 75kg with the saddle, while a maximum weight of 70kg for each riders is allowed in the 80km race.

The veterinary area, meanwhile, yesterday hosted the veterinary examination held at the endurance village, in the presence of Shaikh Nasser and race organisers.

Shaikh Nasser said he believes that today's main race promises to be exciting and breathtaking until the final steps of the final stage due to the importance of this event and the keenness of the local riders to take part.

Shaikh Nasser thanked the working committees, who spared to effort in preparing for the races and pulled off great success in organsing last year's edition.

The Royal Endurance Team captain also expressed appreciation to Shaikh Khalid for backing the federation in organising all races in general, and this competition, in specific.

On his part, Shaikh Khalid affirmed the importance of having a variety of races in this weekend event, and giving all stables and its respective riders the opportunity to participate.

He stated that this race is regarded one of the distinctive events this season, which comes within a series championships organised by the federation.

Nutrition Service Co. Seals Commits as Alltech Official Partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy

March 13, 2013

[PULASKI, Wis.] – Nutrition Service Co., a Wisconsin-based developer of equine and livestock nutrition, has joined as an Alltech Official Partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. Officials with the company announced the partnership March 9 during an open house at Nutrition Service Co.’s headquarters in Pulaski, Wis.
 
This partnership provides a wide range of benefits including exclusive marketing rights. Nutrition Service Co. will activate a number of marketing and promotional campaigns through its line of Equi-Rich Horse Feeds, which are developed through the Alltech Equine Advantage Program. As an Alltech Official Partner, the company will involve their customers throughout Wisconsin in the excitement of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.
 
“Nutrition Service Co. is proud to sign on as an Alltech Official Partner of Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy,” said Wayne Nighorn, president of Nutrition Service Co. “This is a priceless opportunity for our company to reinforce its support of the equine community and link our new Equi-Rich Horse Feeds to the most celebrated event in the world of equestrian sport.”

“Alltech and Nutrition Service Co. have a long-standing history of service to the agricultural community of America,” said Jennifer Rittenhouse, regional marketing manager for Alltech. “Sharing Alltech’s commitment to health and performance of horses, Nutrition Service Co. will help spread the news of the Games to farming communities in America’s Midwest region.”

The Alltech Official Partner Program is a strategic sales and marketing partnership with leading horse feed and animal health companies throughout the world. It enables these global partners to differentiate their feed with the Alltech Equine Advantage and also provides them with the right to use Alltech Official Partner brand marks linked to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. This exclusive program allows partners and their customers to share in the excitement of the world’s most celebrated equestrian championships.


Press Contacts: Elizabeth Adams, Alltech PR
eadams@alltech.com; (859) 401-2964

Wayne Nighorn, President of Nutrition Service
(920) 822-8881

Australia: Valley endurance event falls victim to weather

Gympietimes.com.au - Full Article

12 March 2013

TWO months of extreme weather have forced organisers to postpone the 2013 Far A Way Easter Endurance Carnival in the Mary Valley.

The event committee made the announcement yesterday saying a new date would be advised for a rescheduled event.

"Unprecedented weather events this year and most recent rain events have significantly reduced the availability and compromised the safety of tracks throughout Imbil State Forest," a committee statement read.

"There is no guarantee that the forestry will be in a position to carry out significant repairs in time for competition...

Read more here:
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/valley-endurance-event-falls-victim-to-weather/1787520/

France: The equine sector and the region of Normandy back the Games

Jemfeialltech2014-normandie.fr

11/03/2013

On Friday 3 March, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy Organising Committee brought together nearly 200 members of the Norman equine sector at the Lower Normandy Crédit Agricole Bank of Caen. The Committee was able to run through its plans for getting everyone to back the event just 18 months before the actual start of the Games.

Laurent Beauvais, president of the Normandie 2014 Organising Committee, along with Fabien Grobon – managing director, and representatives of the regional equestrian authorities (the Regional Equestrian Committee, the Lower Normandy Horse Industry Council, and the Hippolia Foundation for equine research and innovation) made the most of the occasion to review what had already been done and to prepare the major stages of the next 18 months. Those involved in the project were keen to highlight the importance of mobilising the support of the entire region in addition to the equine sector. The idea is to make this event a popular, sporting celebration so that the economic and social benefits for the region will be maximised for the coming 15 years.

« L'Elan des Jeux » (Run up to the Games) : a unifying regional project

As well as being a unique opportunity for Normandy to write a page in the history of top-level equestrian sport, hosting the Games is all part of a serious development strategy for the whole region. It is with this in mind that the call for project initiatives was launched by Luc Avril, the Lower Normandy Council territorial project manager. It is hoped that this will incite people to suggest their projects and to play an active part of the momentum that the Games will generate.

There are currently several thousand sports-related and cultural initiatives on the table, as well as social, non-profit and educational organisations that all stand to be rewarded and given official endorsement. These initiatives should promote Norman excellence, popularise both the event and equestrian activities and encourage an eco-friendly and innovative event.

All the Norman supporters wishing to get involved in the promotion of the Games and equestrian sports in Normandy, on a not-for-profit basis, have until 5 May 2013 to submit their candidature on the www.elandesjeux.fr website (French-only website). The results will be announced from June 2013 onwards.

A 15-year legacy: « Beyond the Games »

This mobilisation should create a long-lasting heritage and breathe new life into the region. Seventeen strategic projects all linked to the Games or to the Games’ partners are going to be set up. They should go towards creating a positive image of Normandy as a region full of vitality. These projects will concern infrastructure/land development, tourism, research, promoting Norman and French excellence in terms of equine research, economy etc They will give prominence to a whole set of values; values that are dear to the Norman people and for which they are proud of. They will be the ambassadors of a truly attractive region. ,

Now is the time to get everyone together for what will be an exceptional year. An expected 500,000 visitors will all be playing a part in the biggest equestrian competition in the world!

Check the official website « Elan des Jeux » www.elandesjeux.fr (French-only website) for further information concerning the territorial project and the call for initiatives.