Team France become FEI Endurance World Champion 2022 following FEI Tribunal Decision

Inside.FEI.org

05 June 2023
Author: FEI Communications

Crowned Team World Champion for the first time at the postponed FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 held in Butheeb (UAE) from 20 to 26 February 2023, Bahrain has been stripped of the team title following an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance and the horse Hera Durances, ridden by Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed (the third Bahraini combination). The FEI Tribunal confirmed the disqualification of the athlete and horse combination from the event and imposed an eighteen-month ineligibility period for the athlete, who has also been fined (See FEI Tribunal Equine Anti-Doping Consent Award here).

As a result, Team Bahrain’s results are null and void as they no longer have the three required combination results to count for the team ranking and all the remaining teams on the leader board move up by one place, with France taking gold, Portugal slotting into silver and Italy stepping onto the podium with bronze (See updated Results here).

Team France are no stranger to the top spot of the podium having had their share of Team golds in the past, although the most recent dates back to 2006. This places France well and truly at the top of the leader board for Team titles, with five to their name since the first edition was held in 1986, followed by UAE and Spain who both have three World Championship team titles in their record of achievements. |

“While it is never optimal to have medals re-distributed following an event due to medication control and anti-doping related offenses, we view this as confirmation that the systems we have in place are thorough and effective”, said FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch.

“The FEI’s Clean Sport programme has extensive processes to ensure we not only educate the community, but also have the tools to follow up and uphold the Rules at play in order to guarantee a level playing field, and safeguard the welfare of our human and equine athletes.”

The FEI has extensive procedures in place to uphold and ensure the integrity of competition through the FEI Clean Sport Programme which encompasses both human and equine anti-doping rules and processes. For human athletes, the FEI is a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), whilst for horses, the FEI has developed and runs the Equine Anti-Doping and medication Control System (EADMCR), which sees extensive testing at FEI Events around the world.

Prior to all major Championships and Games, the FEI prepares and shares specific “Doping & Medication Control Guides” with the participants such as the nominated athletes, chefs d’equipes and concerned National Federations in order to raise awareness, explain the processes and avoid any inadvertent positive cases. The relevant Guide for Butheeb refers to extensive testing to be carried out, the testing process, reminding Athletes they are the “Person Responsible” for their horse and will carry the ultimate responsibility, which includes legal proceedings should their horse test positive.

Relevant Links:

Updated Results for the FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 in Butheeb (UAE), 20-26 February 2023: https://data.fei.org/Calendar/EventDetail.aspx?p=85523E304F8C186FF3CF540509DCEDF1 Table for FEI Tribunal Equine Anti-Doping Consent Awards 2023: https://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/athletes/fei-tribunal/equine-anti-doping-consent-awards/2023

More at:
https://inside.fei.org/media-updates/team-france-become-fei-endurance-world-champion-2022-following-fei-tribunal-decision

Oman's Said brothers win German endurance race

MuscatDaily.com - Full Article

4 June 2023

Muscat – Omani riders H H Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib al Said and H H Sayyid Ali bin Ghalib al Said have emerged as champions in the highly competitive German Buch Endurance Race.

This prestigious event, organised by the International Equestrian Federation, serves as a qualifying race for the FEI 2024 World Endurance Championship in Monpazier, France, in September.

The victory achieved by the two riders marks a significant milestone in their journey towards the World Cup finals...

Read more here:
https://www.muscatdaily.com/2023/06/04/said-brothers-win-german-endurance-race/

Rochester woman in Mongolia for Gobi Gallop, world's longest charity horse ride

Fosters.com - Full Article

Lara Bricker
June 2 2023

ROCHESTER — As a lifelong horsewoman, Christina Keim has ridden long distances on horseback before.

She’s ridden a mule down the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail, horse packed to visit mustangs in the Eastern Sierras of California and twice completed the three-day 100-mile distance ride at the Green Mountain Horse Association.

But nothing compares to her current equine challenge, the Gobi Gallop, the world’s longest charity horseback ride across Mongolia. Alternating between two Mongolian horses, she will cover 500 miles in 10 days in support of the Veloo Foundation, which supports disadvantaged children in the country’s capital.

Keim, 46, left for Mongolia on May 30 and will begin the ride June 2. This year’s route will cross rivers, go over mountains and along the Mongolian steppe as the horses and riders leave from the wilds of Sukhbaatar Province and finish up outside Ulaanbaatar, the capital of the country which is bordered by China and Russia.

“It’s the adventure,” Keim said of what attracted her to the ride...

Read more here:
https://www.fosters.com/story/news/local/2023/06/02/rochester-nh-horsewoman-christina-keim-mongolia-gobi-gallop/70275007007/

Bahrain: Galloping to Glory

Gulfweekly.com - Full Article

May 31 - June 6, 2023
By Mai Al Khatib-Camille

Equine endurance queen Manal Fakhrawi, who returned to the kingdom after consecutive racing successes overseas, is already back on the saddle in preparation for another feat to be held next month in France.

After some much-needed rest and relaxation from finishing fourth in the Royal Windsor Horse Show staged in England’s Windsor Park and securing second place in the Spanish Endurance Championship in Ademuz, the horse-loving mum is now working on her strength and stamina for her upcoming challenge.

“With two back-to-back races, I took some time to recover and now I’m preparing for the next race,” said Manal, who was awarded the Efficiency Medal by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, alongside other members of the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team for their victory in the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) Endurance World Championship in Abu Dhabi in February...

Read more here:
http://www.gulfweekly.com/Articles/43273/GALLOPING-TO-GLORY

100 Days Until FEI Endurance European Championship

Maria Alvarez Ponton (ESP) with Jaume Punti Dachs (ESP) and family at the FEI Endurance European Championship 2021 in Ermelo (NED). (Imke Lamsma Photography)

HorseSport.com - Full Article

The Dutch town of Ermelo is set to host the highly-anticipated event that will bring together elite combinations from across the continent.

By: Stacey Stearns/FEI | May 30, 2023

In just 100 days, all eyes in the Endurance world will turn to Ermelo in the Netherlands, as the Dutch town is set to host the highly anticipated FEI Endurance European Championship 2023 – an event that will bring together elite athlete combinations from across the continent.

The Championship promises to showcase some of the finest Endurance combinations in Europe, and is no stranger to world-class performances. At the 2021 Championship – also hosted at the same venue – the Spanish were in full force as Angel Soy Coll (ESP) & Warrens Hill Chayze took to the top spot on the podium, while his compatriot Maria Alvarez Ponton took bronze, with Frenchman Vincent Gaudriot clinching silver. Spain made it double-whammy as they also clinched top spot in the Team competition with France taking silver and Italy, bronze.

France and Portugal, who achieved notable team finishes at the postponed FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 in Butheeb (UAE) that ultimately took place in February 2023, are eager to build on their success, while Spain – that perennial powerhouse in Endurance – is also eyeing a team medal in Ermelo after their captain, Jaume Punti Dachs, claimed an individual bronze in Butheeb this year...

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/100-days-until-fei-endurance-european-championship/

FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors application deadline is May 30

USEF.org

by US Equestrian Communications | May 27, 2023, 8:00 AM EST

Lexington, Ky. -- The application deadline for the 2023 FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors is Tuesday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Applications and additional information on the selection procedures are available at www.usef.org or by clicking here.

The 2023 FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors will take place in Castelsagrat, France, on September 2, 2023. Athletes wishing to be considered must complete the online application and pay the appropriate fee before the deadline.

If you have any questions on the application process, please contact Steven Morrissey, Managing Director of Sport Logistics & Non-Olympic Disciplines, at smorrissey@usef.org.

More:
https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/fei-endurance-world-championship-for-young-riders

Selection Memo Now Available for 2024 FEI Endurance World Championship

USEF.org

| by US Equestrian Communications Department | May 25, 2023, 3:00 PM EST

Lexington, Ky. – The Selection Memo for the 2024 FEI Endurance World Championship is available on the Endurance section of USEF.org.

The 2024 FEI Endurance World Championship is scheduled to take place in Monpazier, France, on September 7, 2024. This Selection Memo is provided to assist athletes with their competition planning and is subject to change due to the final approval of the full Selection Procedures by the USEF Board of Directors or USEF Executive Committee. The Selection Memo can be found here.

If you have any questions or feedback on the selection process prior to the approval of the full Selection Procedures, please contact Steven Morrissey, Managing Director of Sport Logistics & Non-Olympic Disciplines, at smorrissey@usef.org.

More at:
https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/selection-memo-now-available-for-2024-fei