Great Britain Endurance Team Announced for WEG

Equestrianteamgbr.co.uk

15/07/2014

Endurance GB has today announced their squad for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which takes place in Normandy, France (23 August – 7 September, with the endurance competition taking place 27-28 August in Sartilly).

The selected team comprises (in alphabetical order):

Annie Joppe (56) from Goonhavern, Cornwall riding her own Dilmun
Beth Langley (23) from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire riding Mrs Cate Langley’s HS Ametista
Annette Masterson (44) from Staffordshire Moorlands riding Mrs Ann Harrison’s Millenium Chorus
Catriona Moon (32) from Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire riding her own Leila
Anna Williams (29) from Salcey Forest, Northamptonshire riding Mrs Jane Williams’ Crystal Wissam

The non-travelling reserves are (in ranked order):

Abigail Tennant (24) from Holme Lacey, Hereford riding Delwyn Hall’s Barik
Carri Ann Dark (23) from Near Devizes, Wiltshire riding her own Kates Mate
Annette Masterson riding her own El Sabio

Chef d’Equipe Andrea Baker, commented; “This year sees a complete mix of experienced riders and those progressing on from Young Rider level. It’s exciting for some of the young riders selected as this will be there first senior championships; whilst all five boast previous championship experience for GBR. There’s a great team network behind the squad and we’re looking forward to the final push to this summer’s competition.”

Chef de Mission, Will Connell commented; “Equestrian Team GBR were well represented at the Test Event in 2013 so they will have a good understanding of what lies ahead of them. They have prepared professionally and I wish the riders, their crews and the team staff an enjoyable and successful Games."

Commenting on their selection;

Annie Joppe: “It’s like a dream come true, I’m just over the moon. It’s been a whole team effort; I’ve known my crew for a long time and we’ve been working as a team for several years now, so huge thanks to them and especially to my husband. Dil [Dilman] is an absolute superstar, I’ve brought him up through the ranks and he really is a horse of a lifetime and it will be my second Championship with him. We’ve been working for so long and training so hard and it’s all come together – now we just have to do the job.”

Beth Langley: “It’s my pony’s sixth championships having come up through Young Riders with her, but it’s our first senior Championships so I’m so pleased. It feels completely different to Young Riders but what I’ve been preparing for; really excited about being part of the bigger GB team, I’m definitely going to try and watch other sports out there. My family [who are also Beth’s crew] have never missed a ride and will be out at WEG with me; it’s great to have such great support and backing, and from my sponsors as well.”

Annette Masterson: “Very pleased and honoured to be selected and I’m really looking forward to representing Great Britain out in Normandy. It will be my third championships but I think it will be very special because it’s a WEG. Lenny is a half-brother to El Sabio [Annette’s reserve horse] and will be competing at his second championships, after the Europeans last year.”

Catriona Moon: “I am absolutely thrilled; I’d been shortlisted for Jerez (2002) and Aachen (2006), and had to pull out before Kentucky qualifying so for fourth time round, to make it is indescribable. This is the one I’ve been trying for, it’s just amazing. To have mum there [Jackie Moon, who is head crew for Catriona] is just going to be extra special, and also to be alongside my best mate from university, who’s been crewing for me since 2001, Zofia [also part of Catriona’s crew], is going to be amazing.”

Anna Williams: “I’m absolutely chuffed to bits, it’s been a long journey and I’m really very, very happy. It’s my first senior championships; it’s always something you strive for, to represent your country, and WEG does have a special atmosphere. To see it from a riders take will be a whole different thing; last year we decided to move back to the UK from Switzerland, it definitely feels now that we made the right decision. I owe a huge thanks to my parents, how they’ve supported my move back to the UK and my aim for WEG, and to the whole of my crew. It doesn’t get better than this, it’s the pinnacle, it’s breath-taking.”

All riders compete as individuals at the Championships, as well as representing Great Britain in the team competition. The one-day competition is set over a distance of 160km and sees five vet checks during the course - horses must be declared fit at the pre-ride vetting and each vet gate in order to progress.

Equestrian Team GBR is supported by the UK Sport National Lottery funded World Class Programme; the British teams are very grateful to the support they receive from official Team GBR suppliers Dodson and Horrell, Land Rover, Mears Country Jackets, NAF, NuuMed, Point Two Equine, Tagg Equestrian and Toggi.

Spain Wins 2014 European Junior & Young Rider Championships

July 12, 2014



Double European champion Spain at the 2014 Junior & Young Rider Championship Raid. Individual and Team Gold at the 2014 European Championship.

Spain has won the double gold at European Championships Junior and Young Riders Endurance 2014 Championship in Verona (Italy), last Saturday July 12, about 120 km in 5 phases, led by Catalan coach Ignacio Casas. Starring the magnificent Spanish junior team raid in the European Championship 2014, where the five pairs were classified Spaniards and got the Gold Medal Team and Individual Gold Medals and Bronze.

From the first kilometers Gil Berenguer, riding NINA-BIN-MENFIS and Paula Muntala, riding a SHAGYA-IRISZ, were in the lead group with the best French, Italian and Belgians, rolling above 18 km / h medium. Over the kilometers the lead group slowly fell apart, for eliminations in some cases, and lack of reserves in others.

Then came the last vetgate where only three remained in the lead, the two Spaniards and French rider Nina Lissarrague, riding AINHOA-CATHARISSIME. In the final phase Gil Berenguer and NINA-BIN-MENFIS shot at over 27 km / h to be crowned 2014 Junior & Young Rider European Champions, arriving with a lead of over two minutes. Lissarrague was second while 1 minute after arrived Paula Muntala and SHAGYA-IRISZ to clinch the bronze medal.

Maite Meadow and HIABEN arrived soon after to secure the Gold Medal Team, followed closely by Maria Dulcet with LUCERO-MIKI, and, somewhat calmer, Marc Oliva with ESSO-LYCAON, completing the classification of the five Spaniards pairs taking departure.

Besides these Medals obtained in competition, the jury awarded him test the Spanish Team Special Prize for Elegance, for exemplary Starring throughout the Championship, both in career and in the days before and after cohabitation.

Another great international success of the Spanish Raid. Congratulations to amazon, riders, owners and coaching staff!

Spain wins Individual and Team Gold in European JYR Championship

July 12 2014

Spain's Gil Berenguer Carrera won the FEI European Junior Young Rider Championship in Verona, Italy today. Riding the 12-year-old mare Nina Bin Menfis, the duo completed the 120 km championship trail in 5:49.40, averaging 21.277 km/h. The silver medal went to France's Nina Lisssarrague aboard Ainhoa Catharissime in 5:52.09. Bronze went to Spain's Paula Muntala Sancez riding Shagya Irisz in 5:53.40.

Spain took home the Team Gold medal with a total team time of 18:06.12. Belgium took the Team Silver in 18:09.02, and the home team Italy took the Bronze medal in 18:26.57. Russia was the only other country to finish a team. Their time was 24:25.39.

28 of 57 riders completed the ride.

For complete results see:
http://www.endurance-timing.net/event_news.php?id=198

Italian race for young rider

Salisburyjournal.co.uk - Full Article

11 July 2014
By Joel Holt

EAST Grimstead’s Alice Loten will be waving the Great Britain flag when she competes at a horse riding event in Italy.

The 21-year-old, and her horse Warrens Hill Kizmet, have already set off for Verona to take part in the European FEI Endurance Championships for Young Riders on Saturday.

The 124k race consists of competitors doing five loops of various lengths through Parco di Pontoncello in temperatures of about 31 degrees.

After a loop is completed, each horse is subjected to a thorough veterinary inspection to ensure that it’s fit to continue in the race...

Read more here:
http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/sport/11329628.Italian_race_for_young_rider/

Endurance racing community descends on Verona, Italy

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Mansour Global Arabian Racing Festival supports two-day event in Italy this weekend

Staff Report
Published: July 11, 2014

Dubai: Nearly 60 riders and horses representing 16 countries will be in action in the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival-supported Italia Endurance Festival, which takes place in Verona, Italy, this weekend.

Saturday’s highlights include the European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders and the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup.

Apart from the riders competing for individual honours, many countries will also be taking part in the team championship. Riders will represent Belgium, Slovakia, Denmark, Spain, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/endurance-racing-community-descends-on-verona-1.1358560

South Africa: Saddle up in the Swartberg

Iol.co.za - Full Article

July 10 2014 at 06:00pm
By Myrtle Ryan

Cape Town - South Africa’s famous horse endurance event, an eye-watering, bum-numbing ride of over 210km, takes place annually in Fauresmith in the southern Free State.

Not for me, thanks. I would probably fall off long before the nether regions became even remotely uncomfortable. Still, riders often travel considerable distances to participate in qualifying events for this bone-cruncher, which challenges both horse and rider.

One such qualifier is the De Zeekoe Meerkat Challenge, organised by Saddlebag Horse Events on behalf of the Winelands Endurance Club.

For those who might be champing at the bit to get the De Meerkat Challenge under their saddle blanket, SM Travel sussed out the terrain...

Read more here:
http://www.iol.co.za/travel/south-africa/western-cape/saddle-up-in-the-swartberg-1.1717733#.U8BHc41dWnk

India: Giddy up, how about some endurance riding?

Mydigitalfc.com - Full Article

By Yana Bey
Jul 10 2014

Endurance horse riding, though a developing and little-known discipline in India, has a national champ-ionship in our country. A charming adventure sport, it is yet to get its fair share of public, media and sponsor attention. Hopefully, that will change with the holding of an event — Kross Terrain Endurance Ride 2014 — on the outskirts of Jodhpur in the second week of October this year. Those who are riders, or interested in equestrian sport, should begin preparing to attend this event.

Though it is competitive, endurance riding is a world away from conventional horse racing — and truly rewarding for those with an attachment to animals. It is far removed from the first-past-the-post-at-any-cost aggression of traditional races. Over the course of the long ride (there are events of 120, 100, 80, 60 and 40 km), there are periodic veterinarian checks at ‘vet gates’ to ensure that the animal is in good enough condition to carry on. For instance, a pulse rate over 64, dehydration level over 3, a gait that is not smooth, gut sound that is not normal and any bruise, swelling or wound on the legs, girth, back, withers or anywhere else can see a horse eliminated from the competition...

Read more here:
http://www.mydigitalfc.com/leisure-writing/giddy-how-about-some-endurance-riding-035