Gulfnews.cm - Full Article
Endurance competition is the biggest in the history of the World Equestrian Games
By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 19:29 August 27, 2014
Dubai: The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has developed a new format and measures that will both test the riders and also improve the welfare of endurance horses when the marathon event takes place on Thursday.
Held over 160km, the endurance ride is one of the biggest events at the World Equestrian Games, which are currently taking place in Normandy, France.
More than 1,000 riders and horses from over 70 countries are competing at the two-week extravaganza including first-timers from Peru, Palestine and Kazakhstan.
The endurance competition, which is the biggest in the history of the event, is attracting a lot of attention.
A total of 260 riders representing 49 countries will be seen in action, among them past winners, new riders, old horses and new horses...
Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/new-format-will-test-horse-and-rider-1.1377432?utm_content=1.1377432&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=Feeds&utm_campaign=New_format_will_test_horse_and_rider&localLinksEnabled=false&utm_term=Sport_RSS_feed
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Rain test awaits UAE endurance team in Normandy
Gulfnews.com - Full Article
Endurance trainer Esmail Mohammad hopes hard work will pay off
By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 18:27 August 27, 2014
Dubai: Endurance trainer Esmail Mohammad expects the hard work put in by the UAE team during the summer to pay off when the five-member squad compete in the gruelling showpiece event at the FEI Alltech Equestrian Games at Normany on Thursday.
Led by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the defending champions take on some of the world’s best endurance riders in the 160 metre event, which for the first time, will be held over five loops.
Mohammad understands that it takes more than just practice to excel at this level of competition and is also hoping that the individual horse skills of each rider will hold them in good stead.
“The team have been practicing very hard all summer, at various endurance sites across Europe,” he told Gulf News. “The acclimatisation is important but nothing can prepare you for the conditions that you will encounter on the day of the ride...
Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/rain-test-awaits-uae-endurance-team-in-normandy-1.1377405
Endurance trainer Esmail Mohammad hopes hard work will pay off
By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 18:27 August 27, 2014
Dubai: Endurance trainer Esmail Mohammad expects the hard work put in by the UAE team during the summer to pay off when the five-member squad compete in the gruelling showpiece event at the FEI Alltech Equestrian Games at Normany on Thursday.
Led by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the defending champions take on some of the world’s best endurance riders in the 160 metre event, which for the first time, will be held over five loops.
Mohammad understands that it takes more than just practice to excel at this level of competition and is also hoping that the individual horse skills of each rider will hold them in good stead.
“The team have been practicing very hard all summer, at various endurance sites across Europe,” he told Gulf News. “The acclimatisation is important but nothing can prepare you for the conditions that you will encounter on the day of the ride...
Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/rain-test-awaits-uae-endurance-team-in-normandy-1.1377405
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
USA Team Starters for 2014 WEG Endurance Championship
August 27 2014
After today's veterinary inspections in Normandy, France, the final USA Team has been announced. They are:
Heather Reynolds on Chanses
Ellyn Olson on Hot Desert Knight
Jeremy Reynolds on Gold Dust Rising
Kelsey Russell on My Wild Irish Gold
Jeremy Olson on Wallace Hill Shade
Alternate Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill Shade moved up to starting position when Meg Sleeper's Syrocco Reveille passed the vet inspection but showed a lameness for part of the trot out.
USA Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross said, "After careful consideration, the team Vet, Chef d'Equipe and Selector, have decided to substitute Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill Shade for WEG 2014. We share in Meg's deep disappointment and appreciate her continued commitment to team success. We thank Meg, her crew and supporters for all they have done and will continue to do to help the US Team, on race day, August 28."
Meg commented, "There are times that are difficult and painful, but the good times far outweigh the bad ones." She'll be crewing for the US Team and sending updates if possible (Wifi is sketchy at the venue.)
Starting time for tomorrow's 160-km race is 7 AM in Normandy; 2 AM (tonight) eastern, 1 AM central, 12 midnight mountain, and 11 PM pacific.
Follow the race here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/France/2014WEG/
After today's veterinary inspections in Normandy, France, the final USA Team has been announced. They are:
Heather Reynolds on Chanses
Ellyn Olson on Hot Desert Knight
Jeremy Reynolds on Gold Dust Rising
Kelsey Russell on My Wild Irish Gold
Jeremy Olson on Wallace Hill Shade
Alternate Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill Shade moved up to starting position when Meg Sleeper's Syrocco Reveille passed the vet inspection but showed a lameness for part of the trot out.
USA Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross said, "After careful consideration, the team Vet, Chef d'Equipe and Selector, have decided to substitute Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill Shade for WEG 2014. We share in Meg's deep disappointment and appreciate her continued commitment to team success. We thank Meg, her crew and supporters for all they have done and will continue to do to help the US Team, on race day, August 28."
Meg commented, "There are times that are difficult and painful, but the good times far outweigh the bad ones." She'll be crewing for the US Team and sending updates if possible (Wifi is sketchy at the venue.)
Starting time for tomorrow's 160-km race is 7 AM in Normandy; 2 AM (tonight) eastern, 1 AM central, 12 midnight mountain, and 11 PM pacific.
Follow the race here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/France/2014WEG/
Kiwi Endurance Team Looking Strong at WEG
Scoop.co.nz
Wednesday, 27 August 2014, 4:50 pm
Press Release: Equestrian Sports New Zealand
ENDURANCE PREVIEW
New Zealand's endurance riders will have a world-famous back-drop for their 160km race at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France on Thursday (France time).
One of the five loops of the race, takes competitors past Mont Saint-Michel, one of France's most iconic landmarks and a world heritage site.
Lining up for New Zealand in the one day marathon are mother and daughter Andrea and Georgia Smith (Mangaweka), Alison Higgins (Nelson), who makes her second WEG team, Braden Cameron (Wellington) and Susie Latta (Otago).
The Smiths are the first such combination to represent the sport at an equestrian championship together, and at 17 years old, Georgia is believed to be the youngest ever.
Andrea Smith rode the test event at the Sartilly venue last year, gathering vital intel for the team.
“It is not going to be a straight foot race in Normandy, which is great for teams like us,” says endurance chef d'equipe Tony Parsons (Taupo). “It’s going to require a lot of mental toughness.”
There was plenty of rain when the team arrived at the endurance stables on Monday, but that didn't bother Parsons.
“This is endurance riding,” he says. “It rains . . . we just get on with it.”
He says the horses have all travelled extremely well and the few weeks the team has had at their Brittany base has been hugely beneficial to them all.
“We're in as good a shape as we could be,” he says. “Anything can happen on the day, and we are well prepared for that.”
The 160 km race will be run over five loops, instead of the usual six, at Sartilly – which is situated just over 100 kms from the main games venue in Caen. It has attracted 173 entries from 47 nations
The Smiths are not the only family combination in the event – six other teams boast similar connections.
The race starts at 7am on Thursday (France time) and horses will be checked by vets at the end of each loop. Organisers say it is one of the most technical courses in recent championship history. Loop one, La Lucerne, is 37.9km long and stretches to the north of the venue. Loop two, Avranches, is 35.8km long, and includes the stunning bay with the incredible backdrop of Mont Saint-Michel. Champeaux, the third loop, is 32.8km long and covers ground to the west of the venue. The penultimate loop, Jullouville, is 33.1km long while the final loop, Dragey, is the shortest at just 20.4km long, stretching out to the south-west of the venue.
The age span of entrants is impressive, with 72-year-old Rouslan Gekiev (Russia) the oldest and 14-year-old Constanza Laliscia (Italy) the youngest.
Organisers are expecting the endurance event to be one of the closet contests in years, and no-one is discounting New Zealand.
The Fact Box
• The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games run from August 23 – September 7 in France.
• New Zealand will be represented by teams in endurance (Aug 28), eventing (Aug 28-31) and vaulting (Sept 2-5), and individuals in para-dressage (Aug 25-29) and showjumping (Sept 2-7).
• WEG is held every four years in different locations.
• A record 76 countries are expected to take part, making it the world’s largest equestrian sport event which includes 1000 competitors.
• More than 500,000 people are expected to attend over the two weeks.
• For more information, head to www..normandy2014.com .
Wednesday, 27 August 2014, 4:50 pm
Press Release: Equestrian Sports New Zealand
ENDURANCE PREVIEW
New Zealand's endurance riders will have a world-famous back-drop for their 160km race at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France on Thursday (France time).
One of the five loops of the race, takes competitors past Mont Saint-Michel, one of France's most iconic landmarks and a world heritage site.
Lining up for New Zealand in the one day marathon are mother and daughter Andrea and Georgia Smith (Mangaweka), Alison Higgins (Nelson), who makes her second WEG team, Braden Cameron (Wellington) and Susie Latta (Otago).
The Smiths are the first such combination to represent the sport at an equestrian championship together, and at 17 years old, Georgia is believed to be the youngest ever.
Andrea Smith rode the test event at the Sartilly venue last year, gathering vital intel for the team.
“It is not going to be a straight foot race in Normandy, which is great for teams like us,” says endurance chef d'equipe Tony Parsons (Taupo). “It’s going to require a lot of mental toughness.”
There was plenty of rain when the team arrived at the endurance stables on Monday, but that didn't bother Parsons.
“This is endurance riding,” he says. “It rains . . . we just get on with it.”
He says the horses have all travelled extremely well and the few weeks the team has had at their Brittany base has been hugely beneficial to them all.
“We're in as good a shape as we could be,” he says. “Anything can happen on the day, and we are well prepared for that.”
The 160 km race will be run over five loops, instead of the usual six, at Sartilly – which is situated just over 100 kms from the main games venue in Caen. It has attracted 173 entries from 47 nations
The Smiths are not the only family combination in the event – six other teams boast similar connections.
The race starts at 7am on Thursday (France time) and horses will be checked by vets at the end of each loop. Organisers say it is one of the most technical courses in recent championship history. Loop one, La Lucerne, is 37.9km long and stretches to the north of the venue. Loop two, Avranches, is 35.8km long, and includes the stunning bay with the incredible backdrop of Mont Saint-Michel. Champeaux, the third loop, is 32.8km long and covers ground to the west of the venue. The penultimate loop, Jullouville, is 33.1km long while the final loop, Dragey, is the shortest at just 20.4km long, stretching out to the south-west of the venue.
The age span of entrants is impressive, with 72-year-old Rouslan Gekiev (Russia) the oldest and 14-year-old Constanza Laliscia (Italy) the youngest.
Organisers are expecting the endurance event to be one of the closet contests in years, and no-one is discounting New Zealand.
The Fact Box
• The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games run from August 23 – September 7 in France.
• New Zealand will be represented by teams in endurance (Aug 28), eventing (Aug 28-31) and vaulting (Sept 2-5), and individuals in para-dressage (Aug 25-29) and showjumping (Sept 2-7).
• WEG is held every four years in different locations.
• A record 76 countries are expected to take part, making it the world’s largest equestrian sport event which includes 1000 competitors.
• More than 500,000 people are expected to attend over the two weeks.
• For more information, head to www..normandy2014.com .
2014 WEG: Notes from Becky Pearman
www.endurance.net/international/France/2014WEGAugust 27 2014
Photographer Becky Pearman has kindly agreed to share her observations with us as she follows the USA Endurance team around Normandy as they prepare for the August 28th race.
She shared some images of the area, and of the USA Team as excitement builds around the horses arriving at the venue stables:
http://www.endurance.net/international/France/2014WEG/BeckyPearmanNotes.html
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
UAE endurance squad gear up to defend title
Gulfnews.com - Full Article
Shaikh Hamdan leads five-strong squad in showpice event at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
By Leslie Wilson Jr
Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 19:01 August 26, 2014
Gulf News
Dubai: The UAE endurance team faces its first test of reckoning on Thursday when it defends its title at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy, France.
Significant interest has centered on the 160 metres marathon which has attracted a record 170 riders from 48 nations.
The UAE return as defending champion having won the gold at the 2010 WEG Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.
Led by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the five-member squad also includes Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri and Saeed Mohammad Khalfan Al Mehairi.
Shaikh Hamdan leads five-strong squad in showpice event at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
By Leslie Wilson Jr
Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 19:01 August 26, 2014
Gulf News
Dubai: The UAE endurance team faces its first test of reckoning on Thursday when it defends its title at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy, France.
Significant interest has centered on the 160 metres marathon which has attracted a record 170 riders from 48 nations.
The UAE return as defending champion having won the gold at the 2010 WEG Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.
Led by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the five-member squad also includes Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri and Saeed Mohammad Khalfan Al Mehairi.
France Rates Chances in WEG Endurance Contest
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full ArticleThe home team of France is among the favourites for the 160km endurance competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and its riders took to the sandy Kairon beach on Monday as they work to peak their horses for Thursday’s contest.
The race will start from Sartilly and will feature five loops, which is slightly different for a modern race. For French team rider Jean-Philippe Frances, having five instead of six loops will add some extra excitement...
Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/08/26/france-rates-chances-weg-endurance/#ixzz3BVXRHuye
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