Great Britain: New qualification for Brechin rider

Brechinadvertiser.co.uk - Full Article

Brechiner John Thomson, who is an Endurance rider for Great Britain, has qualified as a sports psychologist.

The achievement follows a successful Cairngorm 100 (Blue Mountain 160) endurance test ride.

The MA (Hons) graduate, who originally studied psychology at the University of Dundee, gained a Diploma in Sports Psychology with Distinction.

Being no stranger to the stresses and strains of top level competition, John dug deep into his own experiences during the diploma course.

Endurance is a tough, challenging sport that places huge amounts of physical as well as psychological stress on it’s serious competitors and demands high levels of focus, motivation and concentration for long periods of time. He said: “Sometimes the race is played out in a five and a half square inch court – the space inside your head!...”

Read more here:
http://www.brechinadvertiser.co.uk/sport/local-sport/new-qualification-for-brechin-rider-1-3477097

USA's Kelsey Russell: The "Gonna Go Someplace Kid"

July 17 2014
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

Kelsey Russell, a Young Rider, is one of the USA Endurance Team riders for the 2014 World Equestrian Games Endurance Race in France

"She's as cool and calculating as any of the senior riders," says USA Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross of Kelsey Russell, the first Young Rider to ever make the senior World Championship USA Endurance Team. "And of course she's a chip off the old block, because she rides for Valerie Kanavy, and Valerie has been coaching her ever since she's been a kid."

Kanavy hardly needs any introduction in endurance circles, being a 2-time former World Endurance Champion in 1994 in The Netherlands, and 1998 in the United Arab Emirates. Being only 18, Russell isn't as well known yet, but that's not because she's been hiding in the stables.

"I've been on horses pretty much my whole life," Russell says. "With my aunt I do barrel racing and western riding." It wasn't till about 5 years ago that Russell boarded her horses in Kanavy's stable across the street and discovered endurance. "I started riding endurance with her the following winter, and I have been ever since."

It was obvious to Kanavy that Russell was a horsewoman from the beginning. "She was like a little monkey that hung on, no matter what. Sometimes the horses would do things, and we'd be going, 'Oh no!', but she didn't come off," Kanavy laughs.

Russell, from Williston, Florida, did her first endurance ride in January of 2010 on one of Kanavy's horses, Layla Z Gold. Since then, Russell has racked up over 1800 AERC miles, a first place finish in the 2011 North American Young Riders FEI Championships aboard Kanavy's My Wild Irish Gold, a 6th place finish aboard Kanavy's Gold Raven in the 2011 FEI Young Rider Junior World Endurance Championship in Abu Dhabi, and a 5th place finish with My Wild Irish Gold in the 2013 Young Rider Junior World Endurance Championship in Tarbes, France.

Russell will be riding My Wild Irish Gold on the USA Team in the 2014 World Equestrian Games Endurance Race in Normandy, France on August 28, 2014. "Irish" is a 10 coming 11-year-old bay Anglo-Arabian mare, owned and bred by Kanavy's Gold Medal Farms. She is Russell's favorite horse in the stable to ride. "She's comfortable; she likes to go, but she has a brain. She doesn't get stupid, and she doesn't waste her energy," Russell says.

Russell's first endurance ride on Irish was a 2nd place finish in the Goethe Challenge 75-miler in December of 2010. Since then, they've completed 10 endurance races in the USA together (including 4 wins and a Best Condition), and the 2 overseas races. Their best ride, Russell says, was the Young Rider Junior Championship in France last year where the mare covered the 120-km course in 6 1/2 hours.

Russell is not daunted at all by riding alongside experienced senior riders in such a prestigious Championship race in France. "I ride with quite a few of them and I hang out with them at the rides so I know them pretty well. It'll be different than the Young Riders, but I think it'll be fun and it'll be a really good experience," she says matter-of-factly.

Kanavy knows Russell can handle the pressure, and is delighted with her accomplishments. "I'm pretty proud of her all the way around. I'm proud of her for what she does in school and all her other activities too; it's not just about riding. She's an all-around 'Gonna Go Someplace Kid.' She has great family support, and I think where she is, and what she's accomplished, is because she's determined, and she is a dynamite worker. I'm more proud of the way she's conducted her whole life; and her good will and determination to go somewhere and be somebody, and be the best you can be - she takes that to another level."

Russell will be riding at the top level in France next month, aboard a top level mare, with a top level team, coach, family, and mentor rooting her on, and it's likely she will take it all in stride.

Correction:
Kelsey Russell is the second junior to ride as a senior team member.
Joe Mattingly rode as a 16-year-old as a US Team Member at the 1988 World Championship in Front Royal, Virginia and placed 7th overall. In 1990, at the age of 18, he was a US Team Member at the 1990 World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden at the first ever World Equestrian Games (his horse retired at 75 miles).

2014 WEG: Record number of nominated entries for Endurance

Normandy2014.com

Friday 11 July 2014 - 14h57

A record total of 49 nations have put in nominated entries* for the Endurance competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. The list of nominated entries shows 260 riders with 348 horses for Endurance, which will be held in Sartilly (Bay of Mont St Michel) on Thursday 28 August 2014.

Thirty-four nations have three or more riders and will be bidding for team honours, while 15 countries will participate with one or two individuals. Definite entries for Endurance close on 14 August.

Laurent Cellier, Sports Director of the Normandy 2014 Organizing Committee, welcomes the high turnout, and the diversity of nations represented: "I am very pleased with the enthusiasm around Endurance this year, with a record number of nations putting in nominated entries, and more generally the excitement around the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy. We are now just six weeks away from the start of the Games, and our priority is to keep working to ensure we welcome athletes and horses in the best possible conditions."

*For the nominated entries in Endurance, each National Federation may enter a maximum of 10 Athletes and 14 Horses. For the definitive entries on August 14th, each National Federation may enter a maximum of 5 athletes and 7 horses.

Argentina Endurance Team Announced for WEG

16/07/2014

Argentina has 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).

They are:

Chef d'Equipe Eduardo Beccar Varela
Josefina Chas with Riverwatch
Andres Cordoba with Koela de la Dour
Mercedes Tapia with Trek Rania

Josefina rode in WEGs at Jerez, Spain, in 2002, and Aachen, Germany, in 2006. This will be the first WEG for Andres, an Argentinian born in Corrientes, who lives in Italy competing there for 6 years. He qualified with 2 horses, Koela de la Dour and Maestro.

Josefina and Mercedes are the two Elite riders from Argentina, so they will be riding foreign horses. Mercedes' mare, Trek Rania, is owned by Josep Tapias from Vic, Spain, near Barcelona. Unrelated to each other, this will be the first time Mercedes and Josep will meet, at the WEG. Having first started riding horses in the year 2000, this will be Mercedes' 5th WEG, having previously ridden at Jerez, Spain, in 2002, Dubai, UAE, in 2005, in Aachen, Germany, in 2006, and Lexington, KY, USA, in 2010!

Eduardo was previously Argentina's Chef d'Equipe in Dubai and Aachen.

Canada: Katya Levermann and TEF Sunflash to represent Canada at NAJYRC

EnduranceCanada

Ottawa, ON, July 15, 2014 - Endurance Canada is very pleased to announce that Katya Levermann, from 100 Mile House, BC, will be attending the North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in the endurance competition, which will be held on Friday, July 18. Levermann is both excited and honoured to again be a member of the Canadian Team heading to Kentucky. Unfortunately, her endurance teammates have been forced to withdraw, so Levermann will be our sole representative. Her dad, Peter, will accompany her to this competition, and chef d'équipe Maura Leahy and team veterinarian Glenn Sinclair, DVM, will be there to support Levermann as well.

Levermann will be riding a leased horse, TEF Sunflash, a 14.2 hh 14-year-old Arabian gelding, bred and owned by Tracy Reynolds from Pennsylvania. There is a wonderful story behind this horse- last year Levermann actually had, as her first choice, the opportunity to take Sunflash to Kentucky. She declined, since she was also qualified on Parker AES (a Canadian-bred), which enabled a US Young Rider, Michael Bishop, to ride him instead. Bishop rode Flash to a fifth place finish and won the best conditioned award. This year it's Levermann's turn. On her 15th birthday her parents surprised her with the announcement that she was going to the NAJYRC with Flash, and she was thrilled.

The entire endurance community, from coast to coast, will be following her every stride as she canters along the 75 miles of Kentucky bluegrass pathways. Good luck!

A complete biography for this most accomplished young rider can be found here.

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!