Great Britain: Endurance Riders Don’t Stop for Wintry Weather

25th April 2016

Kings Forest near Thetford, Norfolk was the setting for three days of competitive routes through the iconic woodland of ‘The Brecks’. This unique area covers 393 square miles – the UK’s largest lowland forest, with miles of tracks and paths making it an ideal setting for Endurance GB’s main class of the weekend – a CEI 3* 160km (100 miles) competition. This distance is the ultimate challenge to the Endurance rider and four combinations rode up to the start line last Saturday morning in the dark at 5.00 am, head torches at the ready. The route comprised 6 loops, all coming back to the venue at Wordwell for strict veterinary checks and controlled rest breaks. The weather proved the biggest challenge on the day with a cold wind and persistent rain, with occasional hail, making the going slippery in places and special attention needed to stop horses and riders getting cold at rest points.

Two horses were stopped during the day by the vets due to minor lameness. The remaining two combinations went out together on the final loop with darkness descending. A strong bond develops between riders at this level of competition. Riders work together to motivate each other and their horses. Fiona Griffiths from Powys, South Wales, riding Oliver Twist IV and Mel Bradley from Devizes, Wiltshire, riding 15 year old CS Khan, owned by Linda Cross, left the venue knowing that they were running close to the maximum time allowed. A small crowd gathered at the finish line waiting for news from the course. Word came in that they were approaching the finish line and a cheer went up. Mel and ‘Khan’ came into view with only minutes to spare, urged on by their crew. They dug deep and cantered brightly to the finish with just 22 seconds remaining on the clock. Fiona felt that ‘Oli’ was tired and decided to slow down on the last loop so finished some time later but to equal cheers from the waiting group. Both horses passed the final vetting in good form but sadly no completion for Fiona due to being out of time.

Mel Bradley was thrilled with her win. “This has been my biggest win yet and brought up so many emotions. It was the most amazing feeling cantering towards the line with people cheering us on after such a long hard day. It certainly picks you up! After all Khan has been through we could only dream he would get around a 160km and he has done us proud.”

The other FEI classes yielded a good completion rate, with many happy riders achieving their qualification goals.

The weekend also had a full schedule of supporting classes at every distance demonstrating that Endurance really is a sport for everyone. The event was sponsored by Bury St Edmunds based, Science Supplements – leading suppliers of equine supplements, with welcome ‘goody bags’ and prizes galore. The riders and officials also benefited from a heated marquee generously provided by local FEI rider, Nicki Thorne and her husband, businessman Andy Thorne of Kestrel Liner Agencies.

The next Endurance event at this venue will be over the weekend of the 8th to 10th July and details can be found on our website: www.endurancegb.co.uk

Results from main classes:

Saturday 16th April

CEI 3* 160km
1st Mel Bradley and CS Khan  14.00 kph

CEI 2* 120km
1st Harry Ingram and Warren Hills Chayze  16.81 kph
2nd Rachel Pemberton and Deemonstrator  14.40 kph
3rd Ruth Chadwick and Aragorn  14.11 kph
4th Heather Whiteley and Distance Oasis  13.81 kph
5th Amy Theodorou and My Marco  13.10 kph

CEIYJ 2* 120km
1st Katie Bedwin and Burfield Goodie Two Shoes  14.76 kph

CEI 1* 80km
1st Lesley Ann Parker and Velvet Echo  18.48 kph
2nd Robert Newall and Loti du Caussanel  15.53 kph
3rd Lauren Mills and Crystal Magic Star  15.38 kph
4th Andrea Champ and A Little Bit of Magic 14.74 kph
5th Pam James and HS Asraf  14.74 kph
6th Francesca Bakker and Aratahnes Aphrodite  14.30 kph
7th Amy Boston and Burfield Court Appearance  14.06 kph
8th Susan Cox and Eden El Nyhl  13.03 kph
Completion Fiona Bloom and Verwa

CEIYJ1* 80km
1st Tess Wheldon and Verythas de Loc 17.12 kph
2nd Ella Bunting and Eas Boadicea  16.32 kph
3rd Tessa Kilpatrick and Aratahnes Phoebe  14.97 kph

National CER 80km
1st Antonia Hardwick and Shingle Street Speshal 18.93 kph
2nd Julie Kendall and Perfeq Pacha De Blaziet 18.86 kph
3rd Lesley Anne Booth and Rassam 18.08 kph
4th Josie Ratter-Evison and Krayaan Nasser 15.28 kph

Sunday 17th April

CEI 1* 80km

1st Ylva Sam Mowatt and Terminator’s Dream  17.33kph
2nd Carri Ann Dark and Emir  17.18 kph
3rd Abigail Tennant and Barik  16.73 kph
4th Linda Cowperthwaite and Maraday Mystaron  16.73 kph
5th Susan Hawes and Remynisce  13.62 kph
6th Andrea Champ and Drumghigha Lantana  13.39 kph



The photo is of Mel Bradley riding Linda Cross’s CS Khan to win the CEI 3* 160km event.  Photo credit:  Saunders Photography.

Endurance GB - National Governing Body for competitive Endurance horse riding in Great Britain a member body of the BEF. Offering rides for non-members and members from pleasure rides to competitive rides www.endurancegb.co.uk

Australia: Horsing around has taken Irvine across the globe

Sunshinecoastdaily.com.au - Full Article

A LOVE of horses has opened many doors for Kelsey Irvine.

The 25-year-old elite endurance rider and horse trainer has been a polo groom at Kerry Packer’s property in the Hunter Valley, trained Arabian horses in Dubai and ridden the Canadian Rockies as a horseback tour guide.

She also worked at stables in Eumundi and Kenilworth, for champion endurance rider Brook Sample.

Between horsing around, Ms Irvine has worked the Victorian ski fields and travelled throughout Canada and America in an old blue Chevy with older sister Jess.

It’s a long way from her family’s 162-hectare farm in Central Queensland but in an industry where pedigree counts for everything, hers provides a clue to the reason for her success.

Ms Irvine’s grandfather was bush legend and horse whisperer Alwyn Torenbeek, who is a triple Hall of Fame inductee as a rodeo champion, stockman and endurance rider...

Read more here:
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/horsing-around-has-taken-irvine-across-the-globe/3006472/

Bahrain: Nasser bin Hamad endurance championship held

BNA.bh - Full Article

Manama, Apr. 23 (BNA): HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee and Honorary Chairman of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) crowned Mayoof Al Rumaihi as the champion of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Night Endurance (120km) Championship in the presence of HH Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid, President of Breef.

Al Rumaihi came in the first place in 00:47:38 time and speed of 25 km/h ahead of Mohammed Al Shammari and Al Miqdad Janahi who finished second and third respectively...

Read more here:
http://bna.bh/portal/en/news/723800

South Africa: Authorities Move Swiftly To Contain AHS

Sportingpost.co.za - Full Article

Cape authorities launch testing campaign following AHS death

UPDATED ON APRIL 13, 2016

A press release from the office of Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, dated 13 April 2016 stated that vets in the Western Cape have moved swiftly to contain the spread of African Horse Sickness in a bid to protect the province’s multi-million rand horse export industry.

Last Friday, 8 April 2016, an African Horse Sickness related death was confirmed in the Western Cape and movement restrictions implemented.

Minister Winde stated, “Following the confirmation of AHS, vets immediately launched a testing campaign. We have already tested 70 horses in this surrounding area and we will continue to test until we are sure there are no other infected horses in the area. At this stage, we are in the clear.”

On Tuesday, 12 April 2016, Winde visited Schoongezicht, the Paarl farm where the AHS death occurred last week. The owner of the farm, Lodewikus Hanekom, has nine horses left, most of which are Arabians. He uses two for endurance riding competitions. None of the other animals have tested positive for AHS...

Read more here:
http://www.sportingpost.co.za/2016/04/testing-campaign-following-ahs-death/

FEI suspend United Arab Emirates from equestrianism following spate of scandals

Telegraph.co.uk - Full Article

Concerns over horse welfare, doping, the use of 'ringers’ and phantom races in the Middle East country lead to shock decision

By Pippa Cuckson, Equestrian Correspondent
12 Mar 2015

World equestrianism’s governing body (FEI) took the dramatic step on Thursday of suspending the United Arab Emirates from the sport following scandals over horse welfare, doping, the use of 'ringers’ and phantom races.

The full ramifications of the FEI’s shock decision to exile the UAE federation and all its athletes in the discipline of endurance racing may not emerge for weeks, but Ingmar de Vos, FEI president, said that “indeterminate suspension“ was “the only option left” after UAE riders – many from stables owned by the ruling families of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Maktoums and the Nayhans – failed to reduce catastrophic horse injuries or adhere to FEI rules during their current winter season...

Read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/11468943/FEI-suspend-United-Arab-Emirates-from-equestrianism-following-spate-of-scandals.html

South Africa: Deadly horse sickness hits Cape

IOL.co.za - Full Article

NEWS/SOUTH-AFRICA/WESTERN-CAPE /
09 April 2016
By: Yazeed Kamaldien

Cape Town - Thousands of Western Cape horse owners have been told to lock up their horses, with an indefinite quarantine announced in the province to prevent a deadly horse disease from spreading.

Alan Winde, Economic Opportunities MEC, said on Friday the quarantine had been instituted after a Paarl veterinarian detected a case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) in a horse this week.

“Samples collected from the colt tested positive for the AHS virus,” said Winde.

“We activated a routine surveillance programme immediately. Our vets are working in the area to determine whether any other animals on the property are affected.”

Movement restrictions were in place and no movement of horses was allowed into the containment zone “without a movement permit from a state vet”. The quarantine is in place for a 50km radius around Paarl, and has led to the cancellation of various horse-related events planned for the weekend.

The discovery of AHS could also affect South African horse exports to the EU, state veterinarian Gary Burhmann said on Friday...

Read more here:
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/deadly-horse-sickness-hits-cape-2007243

Malaysia: Endurance Horse Riding Set To Replace Monsoon Cup As Tourist Attraction During Monsoon Season

Bernama.com.my - Full Article

April 11, 2016 14:18 PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, April 11 (Bernama) -- "Beautiful State, Beautiful Culture" the tagline used by Terengganu for 27 years now, remains relevant in the promotion of tourism locally and internationally.

Though the tagline will continue to be used, the tourism industry in Terengganu will be boosted by the inclusion of various activities and programmes to cater for tourists.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the state was well known among local tourists as a leading popular holiday destination with pristine beaches, islands, batik and handicraft.

However, Terengganu's position internationally as a tourism destination need to be given additional focus, especially sports tourism, as a new attraction to stimulate the tourism industry.

"The weather and geographical positioning of Terengganu have been the state's two main setbacks although hosting the Monsoon Cup had given a new impetus to the tourism industry during the monsoon season.

"But we did not see a strong impact from the Monsoon Cup towards the people of the state in general, so we are looking at other avenues, including endurance sports as an attraction.

"We are looking at Endurance Racing as one of the events to attract tourists," said Ahmad Razif during an exclusive interview with Bernama at his official residence, Seri Iman, here recently...'

Read more here:
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/state_news/news.php?cat=et&id=1234013