UAE: New endurance season gets under way with double-header

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Seeh Al Salam Endurance Challenge and Al Wasl Endurance Cup to begin build-up towards HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup Festival and Crown Prince Endurance Cup Festival

Published: 18:02 October 19, 2017 Gulf News
Staff Report

Dubai: The 2017-18 endurance season gets under way at Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) this Friday and Saturday with two rides held over 100km — the Seeh Al Salam Endurance Challenge and Al Wasl Endurance Cup, restricted to private stables and individuals.
The purpose-built DIEC facility, located adjacent to the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa, is gearing up to host some of the UAE’s most prominent endurance rides including the HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup Festival as well as the Crown Prince Endurance Cup Festival.

The much-awaited HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup presented by Longines now leads a week-long endurance festival to be held between December 28 and January 6, comprising a total of four rides, to celebrate the remarkable contribution and support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for endurance riding and equestrian sport at large...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/new-endurance-season-gets-under-way-with-double-header-1.2109403

New Zealand: Endurance horse rider inducted to Marlborough Sports Hall of Fame

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

ANGELA O'CARROLL
Last updated 14:59, October 18 2017

An endurance horse rider has been inducted into the Marlborough Sports Hall of Fame.

Renwick woman Tess Wells was added to the region's list of sporting elite at a special ceremony at the Marlborough District Council on Monday.

The South Island champion has just returned from Queensland, Australia after representing Equestrian Sport New Zealand (ESNZ) in the Endurance trans-Tasman challenge.

Wells was named Marlborough Endurance Rider of the year by the Marlborough Endurance Club in July.

Wells said she was "quite nervous" for Monday night's ceremony, but excited to be inducted into the Marlborough Sports Hall of Fame, which is for Marlburians who have competed for New Zealand, in an international event at a senior level.

Her horse Barney was quite a character, with his "own opinion, everything else is a compromise", she said.

"He's not naughty, [he] just has a mind of his own..."

Read more here:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/97972128/endurance-horse-rider-inducted-to-marlborough-sports-hall-of-fame

Equestrian Australia focussed on drug-free awareness

Equestrian.org.au

17/10/2017

Equestrian Australia (EA) will be working closely with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and introducing random drug testing at events throughout Australia moving forward.

We are continually focussed on building awareness of the importance of drug-free competition at all EA sanctioned events as well as improving Member safety and horse welfare. As highlighted in EA’s Strategic Plan 2017-2020 it is a priority for Equestrian sport’s National Federation to promote safe, fair and drug-free competition and develop sound policy and process to manage and monitor Member safety.

EA urges all Riders, Stable staff and Owners involved in Equestrian sport to diligently study and observe anti-doping guidelines as set out by ASADA and the FEI, as well as the Equestrian Australia Anti-Doping policy which can all be found here http://www.equestrian.org.au/content/clean-sport-humans

From March 31st 2018, all EA coaches will have completed a minimum of the ASADA online Level 1 anti-doping course which can be located at https://elearning.asada.gov.au/ in order to renew their coaching memberships. However, EA also invites any equestrian member to take the free, online course that takes just over one hour to complete.

Officials will continue to be vigilant and will follow a strict reporting procedure at all EA sanctioned events should they be concerned about any athlete’s welfare in relation to any form of substance abuse.

This initiative is aimed at helping to ensure that competitors present themselves and their horses at all events drug-free and uphold the values of clean sport at all times.

French Success for Endurance in Capitals Challenge In Fontainbleau, France

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival Sponsors Endurance in Capitals Challenge outside of Paris

16 October 2017, Paris, France ~ Arthur Desprez riding 8-year-old Verseau D’Aurabelle led a clean sweep of the French riders in the CEI Two-star 120-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup held on Saturday, 14 October 2017 in the forest of Fontainebleau about 60 kms from the French capital of Paris.

Desprez and his horse were in 5th place when they started on the final stage of 23kms. Until then they had averaged just over 20kmph, but in the final stage Desprez increased the pace to 25.89 kph gaining the lead from Laetita Pegaz Tocquet on Vegas De Majorie, with only one second separating the two riders. The winner completed the four-stage 120-km ride in a timing of 6 hours 02 minutes and 36 seconds.

French riders filled the top ten finish except for Germany’s Sabrina Arnold riding Bolt De Venelles who finished in seventh place. Bolt De Venelles is owned and trained by Jean-Philippe Frances...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/endurance-in-capitals-challenge-in-fontainbleau-france/

Canada's Anya Levermann Makes History on the Endurance World Stage

Equestrian.ca - Full Article

Long Distance. Young Rider. Big Accomplishment!

10 October 2017

In early 2017, Anya Levermann of 100 Mile House, BC received elite status from the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), allowing her to represent Canada in the FEI World Endurance Championships for Juniors and Young Riders in Verona, ITA on Sept. 23, 2017.

Equestrian Canada (EC) caught up with Anya after she returned home, to talk about her experience becoming the first Canadian to complete the championship, and finishing 51st out of 93 of the top junior endurance athletes in the world.

It was 10 years ago that Anya began riding endurance, an equestrian discipline that tests the endurance of horse and rider over varied terrain. As her passion for the sport grew, so did her ability to maintain safe management of a horse’s stamina and fitness. Endurance is a discipline that, although timed, puts the true emphasis on completing the race in good condition rather than racing the clock.

“The biggest highlight of the race was crossing the finish line with the Canadian flag in Italy,” said Anya. “But, the race was not finished at that point. My horse had to pass the final inspection with three veterinarians voting on the condition of my horse. I was very happy when she passed the final inspection...”

Read more here:
https://www.equestrian.ca/news/oe6mmymgpQwheZcPc/anya-levermann-makes-history-on-the

Pan American Championship: Uruguay takes all the gold

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

14 October 2017
Race report made with the assistance of Lucia Olascoaga.

Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay. Thursday 12 October 2017.

Pan American Championship, Uruguay gets all four gold medal medals: Individual Senior, Team Senior, Young Rider Individual and Team Young Rider.

The Pan American Championship being held every two years, reunites the power endurance nations of the region like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala and Uruguay. Is was the first time that this championship took place in Punta del Este.

The 120km were divided into 4 stages of 39.6km, 28.7km, 28.7km and last loop of 23km. We witnessed some very intense racing in both categories.

The senior category was won by Isha Judd – URU riding JQ Zarial. This horse raced to fifth place in the last World Championship in Slovakia.

Jonatan Rivera – URU (El Sheik) lead the race from the first loop. Along with team mate Isha Judd they were fighting against Monica Pinto Lima – BRA (CAETEC CSM) who was also pushing to get the gold. In the last loop Isha and Jonatan increased the pace to 27km.h to finally arrived hand in hand. Unfortunately Jonatan’s horse failed with metabolic at the last vet control...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/pan-american-championship-uruguay-takes-gold/

Tickets Now on Sale for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

USEF.org

Tickets Now on Sale for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 in Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA on September 11-23, 2018

by Edited Press Release | Oct 16, 2017, 3:52 PM EST

Mill Spring, N.C. - Tickets for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG) are now on sale. Set for September 11 through September 23 in the scenic Carolinas region of the United States, spectators can choose from a variety of ticket types to experience the world's largest equestrian championship. With all competitions happening on site at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, N.C., attendees can come for the day, a week, or the entire Games. Tickets are available online at www.tryon2018.com. Select "Buy Tickets" from the menu. Click here for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 tickets.

Click here for WEG Ticket FAQ
Click here for 2018 FEI WEG Lodging

The initial sale of tickets for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 includes the following options: All Games Pass, Week 1 Pass, Week 2 Pass, and All Session Day Passes for all of the eight disciplines. Individual Discipline specific day sessions will be sold, subject to availability, in early November after all multi-session discipline tickets are sold.

Mark Bellissimo, CEO of host venue Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C., USA, said: "Demand from the event is way beyond our expectations, and it would not surprise me if this event were to sell out early. We have experienced unprecedented demand, far bigger than we ever anticipated. There is tremendous appetite for this event, so we encourage people to buy now."

As one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world, the WEG is the world championship event for eight equestrian disciplines: jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting, and reining. In looking forward to the WEG, Michael Stone, President and Sports Director of FEI WEG organizing committee, shared, “This is going to put Tryon and the equestrian sports on the map.”

Stone continued, “We really want to enhance the words of US Equestrian’s vision, ‘Joy of Horse Sports.’ We want to show people how fantastic all of the horses are, while showing the successes of the world’s best equestrian athletes. We want everybody to have fun and to see it all. We look forward to sharing all eight disciplines and explaining each discipline to those who come to enjoy the FEI World Equestrian Games.”

Opening Ceremonies and Closing Ceremonies tickets will be sold separately in early December after details are released. Day passes that allow access to the venue to experience the trade fair, event expo, as well as equestrian demonstrations will be sold three months prior to the event.

VIP tickets and hospitality packages will also be released in early November, and customers can trade up their purchased tickets toward these higher-value ticketing/hospitality options.

Due to the high demand for ticket packages, those ticketing types are being offered first to ensure that those who want to purchase ticket packages can receive the same seats for all events. Seats will be assigned on a first come, first served basis according to the date and timestamp of the ticket purchase. The earlier your purchase, the better your seats.

All Session Day Passes are currently SOLD OUT. We will re-evaluate the release of additional All Session Day Passes at the time of Individual Discipline Session tickets in November
We anticipate a sold-out event, as pre-purchase ticket sales were significantly above estimates
Ticket prices listed on the website are the advance public ticket prices, which are discounted from prices for sales, subject to availability, on the day of the event

Prices do not include tax and 8.5 percent processing fee, which will be applied upon checkout.

To start planning a trip to the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, visit www.tryon2018.com.