UAE: Excitement builds for third desert triathlon

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Unique March 13 event combines endurance riding with running and cycling

Staff Report
Published: 20:50 March 2, 2015

Dubai: The third edition of the Dubai Desert Triathlon, to be held on March 13, has generated significant excitement within the triathlon and endurance horse riding communities in the UAE and Middle East.

The Dubai Sports Council (DSC), in partnership with Meydan, debuted this innovative event — which combines the traditional Emirati heritage sport of endurance horse racing with the triathlon disciplines of running and cycling — in April 2014.

“We are very pleased with the response we have had from teams, triathletes and endurance riders so far. This is the third running of the Dubai Desert Triathlon and we see this as the new sport from the Middle East,” said a spokesperson from DSC.

“This event showcases not only the strength of these sports in Dubai and the region, but also the creativity and innovation which has become Dubai’s international trademark...”

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/uae/excitement-builds-for-third-desert-triathlon-1.1465539

Middle Eastern endurance: Do not pass Go, do not collect $200

Neil Clarkson
Horsetalk.co.nz

My friends gave up playing Monopoly against me many years ago. Apparently, I’m not much fun to play against.

It wasn’t about cheating. Apparently, I’m too officious and determined, and revel in the fact I’m slowly grinding my opponents into poverty with my hefty rents and expansive property holdings.

It was a case of going directly to the doghouse without passing Go and without collecting $200.

The lesson, learned rather belatedly, is that if you don’t play nice, eventually no-one will want to play with you.

It seems, after several years of controversy around welfare issues, doping infractions, and what would seem to be a pretty loose interpretation of the rules, the nations at the centre of the endurance controversy in the Middle East might have to learn this lesson, too.

[More ...]

Middle Eastern endurance: Do not pass Go, do not collect $200

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Neil Clarkson | March 2, 2015

My friends gave up playing Monopoly against me many years ago. Apparently, I’m not much fun to play against.

It wasn’t about cheating. Apparently, I’m too officious and determined, and revel in the fact I’m slowly grinding my opponents into poverty with my hefty rents and expansive property holdings.

It was a case of going directly to the doghouse without passing Go and without collecting $200.

The lesson, learned rather belatedly, is that if you don’t play nice, eventually no-one will want to play with you.

It seems, after several years of controversy around welfare issues, doping infractions, and what would seem to be a pretty loose interpretation of the rules, the nations at the centre of the endurance controversy in the Middle East might have to learn this lesson, too...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/03/02/middle-eastern-endurance-do-not-pass-go-do-not-collect-200/

Great Britain: Go the distance on Exmoor this spring and try one of its long distance trails

Easier.com - Full Article

26th February 2015

Celebrating the recent of announcement of an injection of £637,050 Government funding into West Somerset's Steam Coast Trail, Visit Exmoor looks at some of its other well-known Trails that provide a breath-taking network of multi—user paths for walkers, cyclists, runners and in many cases wheelchair users.

The Steam Coast Trail will provide a multi-use coastal path between Minehead and Williton, creating a traffic-free route open to walkers and cyclists between Minehead, Dunster, Carhampton, Blue Anchor, Washford, Watchet and Williton. It will weave walkers, cyclists, runners and wheelchair users through 36km of glorious countryside and in and out of picturesque heritage towns and railway villages. Find out more at: steamcoasttrail.org.

There are already five very popular Trails criss-crossing the amazing Exmoor landscape and probably the best known of all is the South West Coast Path. It's the country's longest path and it starts by traversing the rugged coastline of Exmoor. The total length is 630 miles from Minehead to Poole Harbour via Lands' End. The first section across Exmoor is widely acknowledged as one of the highlights and this can usually be completed in three days from Minehead to Combe Martin.

For those who like to link some culture to their outdoor activities, The Coleridge Way is the perfect walk for fans of the Romantic Poets. At 51 miles this is a great introduction to long distance walking and links the Quantock Hills with Exmoor National Park charting the paths that the likes of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Wordsworth, Shelley and Byron followed while writing some of their most influential works. The original route opened in 2007 running a total of 36 miles from Nether Stowey to Porlock. In 2014 an extension was added to make a walk 51miles in total length running between Nether Stowey and Lynmouth.

The route starts at Nether Stowey where Coleridge once lived, passing through the Quantock and Brendon hills before traversing the high moorland of Exmoor. The route then drops down to picturesque Porlock before heading inland via the wild Doone Valley and finishing on the coast at the pretty harbour side of Lynmouth. There is an optional short extension to Poets Corner high above in the Valley of Rocks. For more information: coleridgeway.co.uk

For experienced horse riders, there is also The Coleridge Way Bridleway, a route open to horse riders and cyclists as well as walkers. Much of it follows the same route as the walking route, other than a short section on the Brendon Hills and the final route from Wheddon Cross which instead of skirting the east side of Dunkery Beacon follows the southern slopes and finishes in the village of Exford which is a traditional centre for riding within Exmoor...

Read more here:
http://www.easier.com/129274-go-the-distance-on-exmoor-this-spring-and-try-one-of-its-long-distance-trails.html

British endurance racing rips up Sheikh Mohammed sponsorship deal

Telegraph.co.uk - Full Article

Endurance GB takes 'difficult' decision because of horse welfare crisis in Middle East

By Pippa Cuckson, Equestrian Correspondent
4:05PM GMT 28 Feb 2015

Endurance GB has dropped a proposed “blanket” sponsorship deal from Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Meydan corporation for this season, as the crisis about horse welfare in the Middle East sport rages on.

EGB’s decision represents a second major setback for the UAE in 48 hours, following the International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) cancellation of the UAE’s FEI rides scheduled for March, in the wake of widespread flouting of the rules, welfare concerns and global outrage about Splitters Creek Bundy, the horse who fatally broke both forelegs in a race ride on January 31.

EGB chairman John Hudson told members: “Sponsorship negotiations with Meydan will be suspended until further notice. This has been an extremely difficult decision but we believe, in view of the current national and international sensitivities and pressures surrounding the sport of endurance, it would not now be in Endurance GB’s interests to enter into a sponsorship agreement...

Read full article here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/11442015/British-endurance-racing-rips-up-Sheikh-Mohammed-sponsorship-deal.html

Endurance Great Britain Suspends Meydan Negotiations

Endurancegb.co.uk

Update on the Meydan sponsorship negotiations - (Published:28 February 2015)

We regret to inform you that, after much deliberation, taking into account the recent announcement by the FEI and following consultation with the BEF, the Board of Endurance GB has decided that the sponsorship negotiations with Meydan will be suspended until further notice. This has been an extremely difficult decision but we believe, in view of the current national and international sensitivities and pressures surrounding the sport of endurance, it would not now be in Endurance GB’s interests to enter into a sponsorship agreement at this time.

As a consequence of this decision, we are unable to proceed with the three rides scheduled for Euston Park in 2015.

I hope you will understand and respect our decision which has not been taken lightly. We will be looking at ways to try and deliver at least some of our exciting plans to improve the sport of endurance for all Members, although without sponsorship this will be a significant challenge. However this does not affect our normal activities which will continue to offer a wide range of local, national and international rides at all levels throughout England and Wales.

Best regards

John

John Hudson
Chairman EGB
For and on Behalf of the EGB Board

French Endurance Federation (FFE) Supports FEI Cancellation of UAE Races

FFE.com

27/02/2015

(translated from google)

Temporary removal of Equestrian Endurance Race

The French Equestrian Federation approves the action taken by the International Equestrian Federation removing from the official calendar the next two international Endurance races Endurance in the United Arab Emirates. This decision follows the incidents where trained horses died in the sands of the Emirates during endurance races.
 
FFE has been involved for many years in a policy of respect for the health of horses, including the establishment of appropriate national sporting regulations. The federal teams of technical staff working in the coasts of the FEI on this subject. Future work will focus on the development of rules on the responsibility of the competitor Endurance rider.