Inside.FEI.org
02 September 2024
Author: Mirjam van Huet
A total of 145 athletes and 155 horses are currently preparing for the journey to Monpazier in the south of France for the FEI Endurance World Championship 2024.
Set in natural surroundings on the border of the Lot and Dordogne, the combinations will begin the 160-kilometre Endurance ride on Saturday, 7 September 2024. It's an interesting mix of participants: from the reigning world champion—on a new horse—to young and veteran talent.
As is customary at the FEI Endurance World Championship, all eyes are on the three individual winners from the previous edition, as well as the three national teams that reached the podium last time.
Mediterranean countries aim to defend their positions
For the team medals, it's up to the Mediterranean countries—France, Portugal, and Italy—to defend their positions. In Butheeb, they claimed the gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. Notably, all three nations have registered seven combinations, giving the chefs d’equipe in Monpazier the option to finalise their teams of five combinations each, right up until the day before the competition.
France's selection includes three riders who were part of last year's medal-winning team: Virginie Atger, Clementine Chaud, and Philippe Tomas. Additionally, France's vast pool of Endurance riders has provided new talent for the national team, including Camille Garbet , Melody Theolissat and Julien Lafaure
Portugal's selection features the experienced rider Ana Barbas, who has already won team silver (FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb, 2022) and team bronze (FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, 2006). That team performance in Aachen was partly due to Jao Raposo, who is also in the selection for Monpazier.
Italy has selected three riders who also competed in Butheeb, where they won bronze: Letizia Milani, Carolina Tavassoli Asli, and Costanza Laliscia. The latter brings two possible contenders to Monpazier: Fara du Barthas and Emirat du Barthas.
New horse for reigning World Champion
The reigning World Champion, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa (Bahrain), has opted for a horse swap just before Monpazier. Instead of Darco la Majorie, with whom he won both the 2022 World Championship in Butheeb and the test event in Monpazier (2023), he plans to saddle Darco’s half-brother, Everest la Majorie. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has demonstrated in the past that he can triumph with multiple horses: in his ten previous World Championship appearances, he has won one individual gold (2022, Butheeb), one individual bronze (2016, Samorin), and one team bronze (2008, Malaysia). Each time with a different horse.
The runner-up from the last World Championship is Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi (United Arab Emirates). He has only ridden in two World Championships before. On both occasions, he secured a podium finish: gold in Pisa (2021 ) and silver in Butheeb (2022). Both times with the horse Haleh, who is once again ready for Monpazier.
Should Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi and Haleh secure another podium finish, they will join the elite group of combinations in history that have won an individual medal in three consecutive championships. Only Becky Hart and Valerie Kanavy have ever achieved this. Hart, together with her horse Grand Sultan, claimed the world title three years in a row (1988, 1990, and 1992). Kanavy was World Champion in 1994, runner-up in 1996, and World Champion again in 1998.
Jaume Punti Dachs, the Spaniard who has so far won five medals across seven World Championships (individual gold and silver, and three team golds), is bringing his trusted partner Echo Falls. The horse is not only known for his achievements and striking appearance (a white coat with dark spots), but at eighteen years old, he is also one of the oldest horses competing at the highest level. However, he is not the oldest in this championship; there are two others of the same age. Spirit de Crouz and Sabah du Courtisot, representing Portugal and Belgium respectively, are also registered.
Oldest and youngest participants
That equestrian sport can be practised well into later life is exemplified by Tom MacGuinness. The 73-year-old Irishman is competing in the FEI Endurance World Championship for the fifth time. His first time was ten years ago, at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Caen. In Monpazier, he will start with his thirteen-year-old mare Horseware HLM Fontana.
The youngest entrant is sixteen-year-old Jiahe Sui, who will represent China on the back of the French-bred Eiwa de Bozouls. This is Sui’s first time being selected for a World Championship. The young athlete has no fewer than six teammates by her side, bringing the total number of entries from the Chinese federation to seven. The chef d’equipe will have to make a choice, as each country can field a maximum of five combinations at the start.
China is on the rise in the sport of Endurance. After fielding a team for the first time in history at the FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 in Butheeb (UAE), they now have another team ready. The four combinations that competed were then unable to complete the ride. With seven contenders, China has new opportunities in France.
To compete for a team result, a country needs three combinations to finish the distance within the allowed time. On the list of final entries, 21 countries have three or more combinations heading to Monpazier. Additionally, 18 countries were able to field one or two combinations.
For the full list of Definite Entries, click HERE
