Six candidates declare for FEI Presidential election

FEI.org

2 Sep 2014

Representatives of six National Federations have submitted applications for the position of FEI President.

The candidates, in order of receipt of the candidacy files by the FEI, are:

- Pierre Genecand (SUI)
- Ulf Helgstrand (DEN)
- John McEwen (GBR)
- Javier Revuelta del Peral (ESP)
- Pierre Durand (FRA)
- Ingmar De Vos (BEL)

The presidential election will take place on 14 December at the FEI General Assembly in Baku (AZE). Current President, HRH Princess Haya, confirmed last month that she would not stand for a third term.

The application process began on 14 May, with candidates requested to send the FEI a curriculum vitae form, signed by the candidate’s National Federation, and a motivation letter. The deadline for submission of candidacies for the position of FEI President was 23.59 CEST on 1 September 2014.

Brief biographical information on the candidates follows.

Pierre Genecand, 64, is proposed by the Swiss Equestrian Federation. A businessman, banker and insurance broker by profession, Genecand served as president of the Geneva International Horse Show from 1989 to 2003. He has been a member of the board of the World Cup of Horsemanship, the Alliance of Jumping Organisers, and the Committee of Swiss Top Sports. He is the current president of the Polo Club Gstaad and the Hublot Polo Gold Club.

Ulf Helgstrand, 63, is proposed by the Danish Equestrian Federation. A medical doctor by profession, Helgstrand is a professor of vascular surgery. He has served as President of the Danish Equestrian Federation since 2003. He was board member and Vice President of the Danish Warmblood Association for 10 years and currently serves as Vice President and charter member of the European Equestrian Federation. Helgstrand is a former Dressage rider and has run a stud with several approved Dressage stallions since 1991.

John McEwen, 69, is proposed by the British Equestrian Federation. A qualified veterinary surgeon with wide international experience, McEwen served as veterinary surgeon to the British Show Jumping and Dressage Teams until the London 2012 Olympic Games. He was vice chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee from 1999 to 2003 and has been the Committee’s chair since 2006. He currently chairs the FEI Prohibited Substances List and Laboratory Groups. McEwen has served on an advisory panel for World Horse Welfare for more than 15 years. He represents the FEI at the World Organisation for Animal Health specialising in horse transport issues and on the International Sports Horse Federation. McEwen was appointed FEI 1st Vice President in 2010.

Javier Revuelta del Peral, 57, is proposed by the Spanish Equestrian Federation. Revuelta is a lawyer and attorney at law for the Spanish government. He has held senior management positions at various Spanish and international companies in the telecommunications, media, food, financial, and renewable energy industries. Revuelta has competed nationally and internationally in Eventing and Jumping. He participated in the Eventing competition in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, was a member of the Spanish Eventing team at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 1994 and at the FEI European Championships the following year. Since 2005 Revuelta has served as the chairman of the Spanish Equestrian Federation and is a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee. He breeds and owns racehorses.

Pierre Durand, 59, is proposed by the French Equestrian Federation. Durand holds a degree in business law, is a former professional rider and wine grower. He was Olympic Jumping champion at the 1988 Seoul Games with the 13-year old gelding Jappeloup. He also competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and became European Jumping champion in 1987. He won many other international and national titles. From 1993 to 1998 Durand was President of the French Equestrian Federation. He has held various executive positions in the media industry and is currently chairman of the board of directors of the French National Institute for Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP).

Ingmar De Vos, 51, is proposed by the Belgian Equestrian Federation. De Vos holds degrees in political science, business administration and international and European law and started his career as an advisor to the Belgian Senate. He joined the Belgian Equestrian Federation as managing director in 1990, and held the additional role of Secretary General from 1997 to 2011. He was Secretary General of the European Equestrian Federation from 2010, the year the organisation was formed, until 2011. During his time at the Belgian National Federation, De Vos was chef de mission for the Belgian Equestrian Team at all FEI World Equestrian Games™ from 1990 to 2010 and at several Olympic Games. De Vos has been FEI Secretary General since May 2011.



Notes to Editors:

The election process for the FEI President is detailed under Article 24 of the FEI Statutes. The relevant articles are detailed below:

24.2 The President shall be elected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast. Abstentions are not counted as cast votes. In the event multiple Ballots are necessary under Article 24.4, a Simple Majority shall be sufficient for Election on the third Ballot, or on the second if only two (2) Candidates remain.

24.4 When there are multiple Candidates and none receives the necessary majority, the Candidate with the least number of votes received shall be removed from the list of Candidates and another Ballot shall be held. This procedure shall be repeated until a Candidate receives the necessary majority.

First ever FEI Observer Programme run at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy

FEI.org

3 Sep 2014

A high-level observer programme for organisers of future key equestrian events is being carried out for the first time at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA). Teams from the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Bromont (CAN) are currently in Normandy to experience and get a detailed understanding of the complex organisational requirements of top-level equestrian events.

Paul Coté, President of the Bromont Organising Committee COJEM2018, Roger Deslauriers, general manager of the Bromont Equestrian Park, and the Mayor of Bromont Pauline Quinlan are the key members of the Canadian delegation attending the Games in France. They will remain at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ until the end of the event and will be involved in the handover ceremony that brings the Games to a close this Sunday.

Impressive Brazilian delegations are also in attendance at the Games in Normandy. The members of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games were joined by seven representatives of the Ministry of Sport, the universities in charge of the preparation of the Eventing cross country course, as well as the architects responsible for the development of the equestrian venue, which is part of the Deodoro cluster in Rio.

“The FEI Observer Programme provides a valuable opportunity for the organisers of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 in Bromont to witness first-hand an equestrian event of this magnitude,” Tim Hadaway, FEI Director, Games and Championships, said. “The delegations have visited all the competition venues here in Normandy, as well as back-of-house locations including stabling, training areas, and veterinary facilities. This process has helped them understand the standards expected by National Olympic Committees and National Federations at equestrian events at the very highest level.

“Challenges faced by every organiser differ. The extent and variety of disciplines at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy has enabled our Canadian and Brazilian partners to observe the intricacies of running an event on this scale. We are working very closely with the teams in the lead-up to Rio 2016 and Bromont 2018. We have emphasised the importance of providing optimal conditions and services to the human and equine athletes, sponsors, media, spectators and television viewers.”

COJEM2018 President Paul Coté applauded the FEI Observer Programme initiative. "The organising committee of the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 in Bromont really welcomes this process set up by the FEI,” he commented. “It is a great opportunity for us to learn from the experience of the previous Games organisers, and the close cooperation with the FEI on location will help us launch our activities in partnership with them."

Namibia Dominates Africa Endurance Champs

Allafrica.com - Full Article

3 September 2014

Namibia dominated the African Endurance Championships which took place in and around Walvis Bay last week by winning three of the four individual and team titles on offer.

Competing against South Africa, Namibia won the Heavyweight, Junior weight and No weight categories over 122km but for the first time in recent years lost the Standard weight category.

About 60 South African riders and 110 Namibian riders took part in the championships which started in Walvis Bay and included various loops to the salt pans, to the lagoon and through the dunes.

Namibia's George Wessels on Kalharabi Romeo won the individual heavyweight category in a total time of six hours 41 minutes 13 seconds, finishing more than 10 minutes ahead of compatriot Pierre de Wit on Dr Pepper (6:51:30), while Rex Barnard of South Africa on Rexette Missy came third in 6:51:35.

The times of each country's top three riders were taken into account for the team competition, with Namibia winning the gold medal ahead of South Africa...

Read more here:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201409031394.html

Australia: 2014 Shahzada

9/3/2014

The 34th annual Shahzada, "the ultimate test in horsemanship" was run August 25-29 in historic St Albans, New South Wales, Australia. The ultimate test is held over 400 km over 5 days, and you get a completion and placing only if you finish all 5 days.

This year there were 57 entries; 27 completed all 5 days.

First place was Ian Curtis and Blakes Heaven Summer Wind in a total time of 35:02 for the 5 days. Second was Narelle Childs and Halo Kazaam in 35:56.

Four juniors completed the marathon, with Josephine Jansen and Windaroo Devina Glamour finishing 4th. Fifteenth place Karen Rhodes received her 19th Shahzada buckle. Sixteenth placed Marg Boland and Rosebrae Cameo won the Best Managed Award.

Riders had to deal with occasional showers, and heavy overnight rain for the second day. "The already tough terrain became almost impossible when rain made the course and river crossing nearly impassable," the Shahzada website reported. Some of the course had to be re-routed for the horses' and riders' safety.

For complete results, see http://www.shahzadaresults.org/14entry.htm

Australia: Bendigo horse riders win Granite Rock 80km endurance event

Bendigoadvertiser.com.au - Full Article

By Raelee Tuckerman
Sept. 3, 2014

TWO Bendigo horse riders and their steeds showed great stamina as they led the field home in the recent equestrian endurance competition at Lexton.

Vincent Comer and Angela Nicholls rode side-by-side to take out their divisions of the 80km Granite Rock event.

Comer - who runs the Campaspe Valley Arabians stud in Axedale - won the heavyweight title on Aloha Zabit, completing the distance in 6:28 hours.

Nicholls, who rides for Comer and was competing in only her second 80km endurance test, was victorious in the lightweight section aboard Miss Pasha...

Read more here:
http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/2533865/endurance-riders-prevail/?cs=3380

Olson Overcomes Testing Trail as Standout U.S. Competitor

Diana DeRosa Photo
USET.org

By USEF - ALL DISCIPLINE - Posted September 2, 2014

Sartilly, France - On Thursday morning, 165 horse-and-rider combinations set out on the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games endurance course. Covering stretches of sandy beaches, wooded trails, and town streets, Jeremy Olson (La Motte, Iowa), riding his and Amy Wallace-Whelan's Wallace Hill Shade, were one of only 38 combinations to complete the trying course.

Rain throughout the week created difficult footing, leaving teams to strategize how best to handle the 160 km trail.

Coming through the first vet gate, Olson was in 51st place. He took the course steadily throughout the day, a strategy which allowed him to climb the ranks by the end, finishing in 31st place with a time of 10:46:16.

Riding his entire life, Olson grew up around the sport of endurance with both his parents and sister being active competitors. Olson was placed on the team as an alternate; however, after teammate Meg Sleeper decided it would be in the best interest of her mount, Syrocco Reveille, to be withdrawn from competition, Olson was ready to make his World Equestrian Games debut.

Coming into the Championship, Olson had a second-place finish in the Broxton Bridge Fundraiser CEI3* riding Wallace Hill Shade. He then scored a win in the CEI1* at the Zone Team Endurance Challenge with Noslo's RRenaldo.

Fellow U.S. Endurance combinations were unable to overcome the challenges Thursday would pose, as they were withdrawn at vet gates throughout the day, ensuring the horse's welfare was held as the utmost priority.

Spain was victorious in the Team Championship to take home the Gold medal with a total combined time of 28:56:02. France claimed the team Silver medal and Switzerland earned the Bronze medal.

The Individual Gold medal was awarded to Sheik Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Maktoum, who rode his mare, Yamamah, in a total time of 8:08:28. Marijke Visser and Laiza de Jalima earned the Silver medal, and Bronze went to Abdulrahman Saad A.S.Al Sulaiteen riding Koheilan Kincso.

New Jersey endurance rider does not get to compete at the World Equestrian Games

NJ.com - Full Article

By Hunterdon County Democrat
on September 02, 2014

Margaret Sleeper of Kingwood Township, N.J. was slated to make her third FEI World Equestrian Games appearance in Normandy, France on Aug. 28, with her own Syrocco Reveille. However, after being accepted at the first Horse Inspection on Aug. 27, it was decided by Sleeper, in consultation with the Chef d'Equipe and Team Veternarian, that it would be in the best interest of Syrocco Reveille to be withdrawn from competition.

In 2012 Sleeper was part of the Endurance World CHampionships in The United Kingdon, UK moving onto the squad as a replacement member and turning in the best performance of all U.S. combinations...

Read more here:
http://www.nj.com/horsenews/2014/09/endurance_rider_sidelined.html