Thursday, August 22, 2013

One for the bucket list: Australia’s Quilty ride



Australia's famous Tom Quilty Ride is on the bucket list of endurance riders world-wide. Amanda Rayner looks back at the history of the ride, and forward to its net running as the 2014 Australian National Championships in Western Australia.

One for the bucket list: Australia’s Quilty ride [More ...]

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Canada: Young riders on 145-km endurance expedition

Journalpioneer.com - Full Article

Published on August 19, 2013
Eric McCarthy

ALBERTON – Green Cart day in Alberton proved to be the biggest challenge Monday for some of the young riders on the first leg of their 145-kilometre horseback riders. Five Trailblazers with the Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary Youth Club are using the ride to help fulfill the requirements of their Duke of Edinburgh Challenge Program.

They left St. Felix shortly before 10 a.m. Monday and arrived at the Prince County Exhibition Fair Grounds in Alberton just after 2 p.m., travelling mostly cross-country and on dirt roads where possible. The horses were being stabled at the fairgrounds Monday night and their riders were staying with them.

Today, Tuesday, the group will ride to Port Hill, travelling mostly along Highway 12.

Big transfer trucks are a concern admitted Ashley Crombie, 22, who was riding Image, 15.

“You have to talk to them,” she said of the need to keep their horse calm. “I just say, ‘easy girl...’”

Read more here:
http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2013-08-19/article-3356823/Young-riders-on-145-kilometer-endurance-expedition/1

Monday, August 19, 2013

Hong Kong Riders Complete WEG Test Ride

Nicky Freud photo

August 19 2013

The latest country to start competing in endurance gave a very good account of themselves at the WEG test ride. There were only two countries to get their two riders home - Holland was one and Hong Kong was the other. Jason Tse and Vivian Cheung, who are more than happy to embrace 'To Finish Is To Win,'  brought their horses home in 24th and 25th positions, having been delighted to have ridden with Meg Sleeper on the fourth loop.

Their horses, Siroco Toul Ar C'hoat and Chazan, are trained in the UK by Richard Allen and Nicky Freud.

Kingwood equestrian rides for U.S. in France

NJ.com - Full Article

By Lillian Shupe/Hunterdon County Democrat
on August 18, 2013 at 2:27 PM, updated August 18, 2013 at 2:28 PM

Dr. Margaret Sleeper of Kingwood Township was one of two riders that represented the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games endurance test event on Friday, Aug. 16. The ride was held at Sartilly in Manche, France.

Sleeper rode Sandra Fretelliere's 10-year-old mare Tikis Twistyr. The pair had moved up from 50th in the first loop to 30th at the end of the third. The horse became lame in the fourth lap and was disqualified.

Sleeper, who was a last-minute substitution, was the highest placed American at the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship a year ago...

Read more here:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2013/08/kingwood_equestrian_to_ride_in.html

France: Hamdan wins endurance race

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

18 August 2013

Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, emerged winner of the 130-km preparatory race of the World Endurance Cup 2014 held in Normandy, France, on Friday.

At the end of the race, which was held in four stages, Shaikh Hamdan was crowned the champion amid a storm of applause by spectators who attended the race.

“I dedicate this win to all the young UAE riders and wish them good luck for the World Cup race next year,” said Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationsports/2013/August/nationsports_August114.xml§ion=nationsports

Royal Team excel in Normandy ride

Gulf-daily-news.com

Posted on » Saturday, August 17, 2013

THE Royal Endurance Team's success in Europe continued yesterday with a fine showing in the international endurance ride held in the territory of Normandy in France.

Led by team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Al Khalidiyah Stables commander Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahrainis were among the race's elite.

Royal Team ace Raed Mahmood finished as the overall runner-up, being beaten only by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum from the UAE, who registered an impressive victory.

Oman's Ahmad Hamdani finished in third, confirming the high class of Gulf-based riders on the international stage, especially in European races. Yesterday's event also featured many riders from across the continent and the rest of the world.

Delight

Shaikh Nasser expressed his extreme delight with the fine performance of Mahmood, and said that it was an important step in the Royal Team's preparations as they gear up to participate in next year's world championships, which are set to be held in the same French venue.

For his part, Shaikh Khalid praised the efforts of the Royal Team as well as that of Sheikh Hamdan, who had a wonderful ride en route to claiming the win.

He added that the Royal Team continues to succeed in their events thanks to the guidance of Shaikh Nasser, who gives the utmost care and support to the sport.

Sheikh Hamdan won the four-stage race in a total time of six hours 14 minutes 34 seconds. He led from the very start of the race and never trailed the field.

Mahmood followed in the runner-up spot with a time of 6:18:02, while Oman's Hamdani claimed third place after clocking a finishing time of 7:02:28.

The Royal Team had two other participants in the event, including Ghazi Al Dossary and Issa Al Hazza. Both of the Bahraini riders were forced to pull out during the opening stage due to injury to their respective horses.

Yesterday's ride was the latest event on the Royal Team's European campaign this summer season.

They had previously participated in another event also held in Normandy but at a different location. Al Dossary was then the winner of the 125-kilometre ride, while fellow-Bahraini Mohammed Khatri claimed first place in the 90km race.

France: 2014 World Equestrian Games test events begin with endurance race


First-place finishers HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (left) riding Nikos, and HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum and Yamamah competing at the endurance test event for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo: Philippe Millereau KMSP Horsechannel.com

With just over a year to go, WEG preparations took off in the village of Sartilly, France.
August 17, 2013

Edited Press Release

The test events for next year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ opened with endurance in the Basse-Normandie village of Sartilly today, and it was HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Nikos who took the honours for the United Arab Emirates.

Bahrain’s Raed Mahmood, deputising for HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who was sidelined by injury, was three minutes 28 seconds behind for the runner-up spot with Sandine Phoenix, while Oman’s Ahmed Al Hamdani and Raffale de la Fageole were some distance behind the two leaders to claim third, fractionally ahead of Spain’s Jaume Punti on Ramses de la Rotja.

A total of 58 horses representing 35 countries set out at 6:30 a.m. on the four-loop, 129.3-kilometer (approximately 80-mile) course designed by Jean-Louis Leclerc of France, who skillfully incorporated the naturally occurring challenges of the Normandy countryside, including hills, forests and beaches. The scenic track wound past iconic landmarks, including the island commune at Mont Saint-Michel and the beautiful Abbaye de la Lucerne.

Sheikh Hamdan, who was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky and at last year’s world championships in Euston Park in Great Britain, was in the leading pack throughout today’s ride. Team mate HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum and Yamamah headed the front-runners until the Australian mare was vetted out for lameness at the final vet gate, leaving Sheikh Hamdan out on his own to claim a classy victory with the 12-year-old gelding, Nikos, returning to the land of his birth after training in Dubai for the summer.

"It was a very good course”, Sheikh Hamdan said after his win. "It was technically challenging and needed an experienced rider who thinks, and that’s what will be needed for next year too.”

Bahrain’s Raed Mahmood took over the ride on the Australian-bred Sandine Phoenix following the injury to Sheikh Nasser at Argentan (FRA) last month when the eight-year-old gelding fell, leaving his owner with a fractured wrist. But Sheikh Nasser was on hand in Sartilly to see his horse challenge for the lead and eventually claim second.

"It was definitely a technical course”, Sheikh Nasser said, "and we knew it wouldn’t be a fast track, but that’s what endurance is all about.”

Ahmed Al Hamdani, a member of the Omani bronze medal team at last year’s world championships, was also riding a French-bred gelding, Rafale de la Fageole. The pair led the second group of horses across the finish line for third place, almost 45 minutes behind the winners, but just two seconds divided Al Hamdani and Spain’s Jaume Punti Dachs and Ramses de la Rotja in fourth.

The Spanish rider is celebrating after his wife Maria Alvarez Ponton gave birth to the couple’s third child last Saturday. The baby girl is called Anna, and her mother is hoping to defend her European title at the championships in Most (CZE) next month if she is fit enough.

Today’s endurance competition was the first in a series of test events that will be staged by the organising committee in the build-up to next year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Eventing also started today with Dressage, and continues with the Cross Country at Haras du Pin tomorrow, while Driving takes centre stage at the Hippodrome in Caen next week (23-25 August).

"The test events are designed to test both the sport and the logistics and today has given us lots of valuable feedback”, said Fabien Grobon, CEO of the Organising Committee. "For endurance it is important to provide a good course that tests the horses and riders, but keeps the welfare of the horse to the fore. We know that there are some things that we will have to change for next year, but we will work closely with the FEI and the National Federations to make sure everything is right for 2014.”

Ian Williams. FEI Director of Endurance, was also pleased with the outcome of today’s competition. "It was a very good test event and did exactly what a test event should do, which is to highlight some of the very good aspects of what will be in place for the 2014 endurance event, as well as identify aspects that need some work. Overall it has been an extremely good day that was very much appreciated by everyone who has been here.”

Results:

HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (UAE), Nikos, 6:14:34;
Raed Mahmood (BRN), Sandine Phoenix, 6:18:02;
Ahmed Al Hamdani (OMA), Rafale de la Fageole, 7:02:28;
Jaume Punti Dachs (ESP), Ramses de la Rotja, 7:02:30;
Brigitte Pinto (POR), Nita Lotoise, 7:09:51;
Mahmood Al Fori (OMA), Osmos, 7:09:54.

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...