2014 WEG: The Games’ programme of festivities is finally unveiled!

Normandy2014 - Full Article

Wednesday 14 May 2014

The 183 hours of competition will not be the only entertainment provided during the fortnight of the Games. In addition, the Games Village, which will be at the heart of the event, will offer a varied programme of top-quality festivities and entertainment !

More than 150 hours of entertainment planned!

Open from 11am to 10pm, the Games Village will be accessible free of charge to everyone who has a ticket for one of the day’s sporting competitions, and entry will be just 5 Euros for anyone else. In total, the Village will offer more than 150 hours of entertainment, spread over an area of 110,000m2 and with no fewer than 500 horses and 450 people in action on site. Horses will of course take centre stage, but the Norman region will also be honoured! The thousands of visitors expected will be invited to discover the shared history and culture of the horse and France’s number 1 horsey region...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/421/the-games-programme-of-festivities-is-finally-unveiled

Spain: Raid de Bàscara

10 May 2014

On Saturday May 10 three international tests in Bàscara Raid (Gerona), were attended by 62 pairs from Spain , United Arab Emirates, France, Belgium and Italy.

The CEI** and CEI*** races were dominated by pairs of Juma's Team, with victories by Maria Alvarez on RAMSES-DE-LA-ROTJA in the 160 kilometer race, and Gil Berenguer with NINA-BIN-MENFIS in the 120 kilometer race.

The participants in the CEI*** rolled together for the first three phases. In the fourth phase differences occurred and in the final phase, María Álvarez ,and RAMSES-DE-LA-ROTJA and Nuria Serrabassa with NOVISAAD-D'AQUI , went first and took the top two spots with no problems.

The first phase of the CEI** ran more than 21 km / h average speed, with a lead group of ten pairs, of which only four reached the final goal, all of Juma 's Team. The winner was Gil Berenguer riding NINA-BIN-MENFIS ahead of Mireia Clua riding SOULETOULE-DE-SOMMANT, Sandra Dachs riding TSUNAMI-BIN, and Angel Soy riding SUPER- SANG.

The most contested race of the day was definitely the CEI* where Goyo Núñez de Arenas riding ANWAR-RAINA set the pace in the lead from the first phase, accompanied by Mohd Balarti riding TRA-IRKUT, and Dani Marfa riding MIDNIGHT MIRAGE. In the second phase were left only Marfa and Núñez de Arenas, and in the final phase Gregorio Núñez de Arenas and ANWAR-RAINA, and alone in the lead, dominated the race and finished the winners.

Italy: National Championship Suspended During Ride Due to Sabotage

10 May 2014

Even as the 160-km Italian Championships at Golvant were underway on May 9th, the race was suspended because of poorly marked trails and missing signage. More than 30 riders were lost out on trails between the first and second phases. Aside from a few who were able to find and follow the trails, most of the others, lost in the forest, threw in the towel and returned back to the vet gate. The event was noted by one Italian reporter as the most 'miserable' event in the history of Italian endurance.

An urgent meeting was held between race judges and the Italian coach, where it was decided the Italian Championships would be cancelled, and any riders wishing to try to qualify and rank for the August WEG could continue to ride a distance of 160-km. A loop was selected, which would have to be ridden 3 more times with the required vet stops. Eight riders chose to continue riding the rest of the 160 kilometers, while the other riders left, with the promise of rescheduling the Italian Championship on May 31 in Castiglione del Lago. Entry fees were refunded to the riders.

The next day a CEI** and CEIJYR** and CEI* were held (repeating 2 loops to get the mileage) and all went smoothly, with a motorcycle and two cars on the course to make sure markings were not removed.

The culprits of the sabotaged trail markings are not known, but it was noted that a mountain biking race with hundreds of participants not far from the endurance race had no problems with their trails. it is thought that better relations between ride management and locals - not just political leaders of the territory - could forestall such further incidents.

France: Raid Al Shaqab Yvelines Cup

The 29th edition of the Rambouillet ride, known as the Raid Al Shaqab Yvelines Cup, took place on May 2 and 3 in Rambouillet, France.

152 riders took to the trails for the races, which included a CEI***, two CIS*, CEI**, CEIYR**, and CIS*.

20 of 44 riders completed the CEI*** 160-km, with France's Emilie Lambert riding Ekstrem Black Font coming in first in 9:04.21. In second place by one second, was France's Sandrine Lance riding Samba Island, and third was France's Tiphaine Leon riding Natifao Bozouls, in 9:05.02.

Except for ground which had suffered heavy rains the day before the CEI***, and an unexpected traffic jam in the village of Sonchamp during an assistance point, the races were conducted in the best possible conditions - climatic and organizational.

Riders and audience enjoyed both dinners and a final concert by the rock band The Luciolles, offered by Enduro Horse Association, who teamed up with Al Shaqab and Rambouillet to put on the ride.

Full results can be seen here:
http://www.atrm-systems.fr/index0eng.htm

Morgan to represent NI at UK championships

Antrimtimes.co.uk - Full Article

11 May 2014

Antrim Grammar School pupil Morgan Skillen has come third in the recent St Patrick’s Coast Endurance Ride.

The Year 10 pupil, who was representing both her school and Mid Antrim Pony Club at the event, has now qualiied to go to the UK championships in England to 
represent Ulster.

She will go forward to represent the Ulster Region in Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire on August 15–18.

This is the first time that any competitors have succeeded in reaching the Champsionships from NI and the first time that any schools have taken part.

Morgan took part in her first Pleasure Ride with the Irish Long Distance Riding Association in September 2012 at Shane’s Castle Antrim and was smitten immediately.

Since then she has been taken to Gosford in County Armagh, Woodburn in Carrickfergus, Tyrella Beach in Co Down, several times back to Shane’s Castle and countless cross country events all to train and build up both Mayo’s endurance and her 
own stamina...

Read more here:
http://www.antrimtimes.co.uk/sport/other-local-sport/morgan-to-represent-ni-at-uk-championships-1-6049033

Canadian Wins FEI Biltmore Challenge 160 km CEI3*

Horse-Canada.com
Wendy MacCoubrey became the first Canadian to win the 160 km race at the 2014 CEI3* FEI Biltmore Challenge, held in Asheveille, NC, aboard Raven About Gold. Photo by Becky Pearman Photgraphy

Wendy MacCoubrey of Ste Justine De Newton, QC made history this past weekend when she became first Canadian ever to win the 160 km race at the 2014 CEI3* FEI Biltmore Challenge, held in Asheveille, NC, from May 3-4.

Paired with Valerie Kanavy’s eight-year-old Arabian mare, Raven About Gold, MacCoubrey completed the 160 km race on the grounds of George Vanderbilt’s historic Biltmore Estate in a time of 12 hours for the FEI win and tied first for the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

“She’s an awesome ride,” said MacCoubrey about Raven About Gold. “I got to ride another amazing horse on another great trail.”

The 2014 Biltmore Challenge marked the 21st event along the challenging French Broad River, over rolling hills and low mountains testing the skills of both horse and rider.

“This was the toughest Biltmore ride yet,” stated MacCoubrey. “A technical trail is always a challenge hence the name Biltmore Challenge. This year was nothing less than challenging – with new trail being added this year”

[Read more ...]

Australia: Homewood Farm Endurance Ride

Winghamchronicle.com.au - Full Article

By Gemma Colefax May 6, 2014

Homewood farm welcomed its first endurance event which saw over 85 people and horses compete.

It all started some years ago in Jerrys Plains - another sleepy town more than 300km away. Nigel and Gemma Colefax would befriend neighbours Gary, Deb and Meik Pevy. The Pevy's were known names in the endurance world and they would share their passion for horses and involvement in the sport. Nigel was convinced to park up his motorbikes for the long distance training and competition of endurance while Gemma gravitated towards the less competitive, social side of the ride...

Read more here:
http://www.winghamchronicle.com.au/story/2262604/homewood-farm-endurance-ride/?cs=1551