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FEI Endurance Forum in Costa Rica discusses new Endurance rules

News Desk — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 07:37:25 +0000

FEI Endurance Forum in Costa Rica discusses new Endurance rules

Over 64 delegates attended the FEI Endurance Forum in Tilaran, Costa Rica, as part of the FEI’s plan to further develop Endurance worldwide. (Photo: FEI)

Over 64 delegates from FEI Group V attended an FEI Endurance Forum in Tilaran, Costa Rica on 23-25 January 2015, the first Forum following the introduction of the new Endurance rules on 1 August last year.

FEI Group V covers Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

Athletes, officials including judges, technical delegates and veterinarians, as well as coaches and owners, gathered for the three-day Forum organised with the Costa Rica National Federation and Costa Rica Endurance Association to discuss Endurance across Central and South America and globally.

Key areas addressed included horse inspections, the field of play, anti-doping and veterinary rules, disqualification and the FEI Online Entry System, which gives access to over 100,000 international athletes through a single online platform.

At the end of the Forum, a one-hour Endurance ride was held to demonstrate the new rules in action.

“The FEI Endurance Forum was extremely productive in a region where Endurance enjoys huge success,” FEI Endurance Director Manuel Bandeira de Mello said.

“We’re now looking forward to rolling out our series of Endurance courses and seminars throughout 2015, as part of our plan to develop one of the FEI’s fastest-growing disciplines.”

About FEI

The FEI, founded in 1921, is the world governing body for Jumping, Dressage & Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving & Para-Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining, in which last year alone 3,557 events were held around the world representing over 150% growth since 2003.

The FEI, which is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), celebrated 100 years of equestrian sport in the Olympic movement at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The FEI also became one of the first International Federations to govern and regulate international para sport, alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines, when Para-Equestrian Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para-Equestrian Dressage, which has been a regular fixture at the Paralympic Games since 1996 and joined the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2010, and Para-Driving.

Eagerly anticipated Endurance event at iconic site

News Desk — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 09:09:25 +0000

Maria Alvarez Ponton (ESP) and Nobby on their way to individual gold in the Endurance event at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010. (Kit Houghton/FEI)

Endurance will see an impressive number of starters for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, beating all previous records by almost 10% when the 160-kilometre ride gets underway on Thursday 28 August.

Written by By Berry Pattison

The competition takes place in Sartilly, just over 100 kilometres from the main Games venue in Caen and a total of 47 nations from as far afield as China, Colombia, Kazakhstan and Thailand will be welcomed onsite when the stables open next Monday 25 August.

The definite entries for the discipline show a total of 173 athletes, with 198 horses declared. National Federations are able to enter up to five athletes and seven horses for the pre-ride inspection, with chefs d’equipe declaring their final horses after the inspection.

The 2014 Games has seen the introduction of a higher minimum speed, this year set at 15kph, to ensure that all horses competing are fit enough to deal with the distance and tough questions asked on track. And for the first time at Championship level, the 160km track is made up of only five loops rather than the more traditional six-loop format.

With a start time of 7am, combinations will set out to tackle one of the most technical courses in recent Championship history. Loop 1, La Lucerne is 37.9km long and stretches to the north of the venue. Loop 2, Avranches is 35.8km long, and includes the stunning bay with the incredible backdrop of Mont Saint-Michel.

Champeaux, the third loop, is 32.8km long and covers ground to the west of the venue. The penultimate loop, Jullouville, is 33.1km long while the final loop, Dragey, is the shortest at just 20.4km long, stretching out to the south-west of the venue.

This year will see many familiar faces, both equine and human, battling for the ultimate title in Endurance riding. Expectations are high for the home nation, France, which has one of the most consistent track records of podium positions over recent years. France took team gold in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) in 2002 as well as Aachen (GER) in 2006. The French also scooped team silver in 2010 in Kentucky (USA) and will no doubt be looking to step back up to first place on home soil.

Whilst the French team fields some new faces on the Championship scene, one of the most experienced team riders of all is included in the line-up. Jean Philippe Frances has, since 1997, represented his country at Championship level no less than 10 times and will certainly be looking to claim the gold in front of his home crowd.

Alongside France, there will be a keen interest in the UAE, Germany, Spain and Oman, who have dominated the top spots over recent years. But, with the emergence of some exciting new Endurance nations such as Costa Rica and Slovakia, the race is wide open. Both the United States, who narrowly missed out on a team medal in the 2012 World Championships at Euston Park (GBR), and New Zealand have a high chance of bringing home a medal, with both nations showcasing young, upcoming talent alongside experienced, seasoned combinations.

On an individual level the event is just as open. With the notable omission of the Endurance great Nobby, who is now enjoying his well-earned retirement, the status of favourite equine must be held by the incredibly talented 15-year-old mare, Yamamah (previously named Kurrajong Concorde and bred by FEI Award Winner Meg Wade of Australia) which is declared as one of the squad horses for the UAE. Another familiar name on the definite entries list is the legendary Easy Fontnoire, which was part of the silver medal French team in Kentucky. Four years on, this 12-year-old mare will now be partnered by Saudi athlete Tarek Taher.

Many young riders are included in the 2014 line-up and they pose a formidable threat to the senior opposition. Oriana Ricca (URU), winner of the 2013 Pan-Am Games, will partner Talita Kumi, the Spanish horse she rode to fourth place in the Junior/Young Rider World Championships in Tarbes (FRA) last year. Kelsey Russell (USA), who finished fifth in the same Championships aboard Valerie Kanavy’s My Wild Irish Gold, will once again partner this talented bay Anglo-Arab, competing in their first senior Games.

With such high levels of team work required, Endurance is often thought of as a family, all-inclusive discipline and this year is no exception. Nearly 60 years cover the ages of the athletes, with the youngest entrant being 14-year-old Constanza Laliscia (ITA), with the oldest – 72 year old Rouslan Gekiev from Russia – turning 73 just three weeks after the event.

No less than six teams include family connections. Both Germany and Luxembourg field sisters, Melanie and Sabrina Arnold competing for Germany, and Mickels and Valy Schmartz flying the Luxembourg flag. The well-known faces of Heather and Jeremy Reynolds will both be part of Team USA, whilst Spain will be represented by well-known husband-and-wife team, Jaume Punti Dachs and Maria Alvarez Ponton. The Spanish family links at the Games don’t stop there, as fellow team member Javier Cervera has a cousin competing in the Jumping at D’Ornano Stadium in Caen.

New Zealand has selected mother and daughter Andrea and Georgia Smith, who will both be competing on home-bred horses. And finally, it really is a family affair for Australia, with mother and daughter Penny and Alexandra Toft competing and father Peter Toft acting as chef d’equipe.

With such widespread talent the Endurance event at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy is sure to be one of the closest contests in a long time and is most certainly not one to be missed.

For the non-Olympic athletes competing in Endurance, the FEI World Equestrian Games™ is the absolute pinnacle of their sporting career, with many years of training and dedication going into just one day of performance. With horse welfare and fair play top of the agenda, the opportunity to watch the talents and abilities of these top level combinations competing across the dramatic French countryside is eagerly anticipated.

Shetlands to Arabians at St Patrick’s Coast Endurance Event

News Desk — Wed, 07 May 2014 08:36:09 +0000

Robyn Catterall Helen Mc Farland Michelle Carthy enjoying the beach trail Photo: Gilly Wheeler

The inaugural St Patick’s Coast Endurance event was judged by all to be a grand success. Over 100 riders from juniors to pensioners competed in a wide selection of competitions from FEI to pleasure rides. Indeed it was very much a family affair for Kelsie Erskine who rode along side her daughter and three grandchildren and Irene McDowell who had four grandchildren riding in three different school teams. The competing horses ranged from Pure bred Arabians to Shetland ponies. This was indeed an event that appealed to a very large selection of riders.

Photography supplied courtesy of Gilly Wheeler; www.photogilly.com

Not only was this the first edition of St Patrick’s Coast Endurance but it was also the first time that Downpatrick Racecourse had hosted an endurance event and it was the first time that Riding Disabled in Northern Ireland had tackled this equestrian discipline.

Regent House School William Girvan, Anna Brown and Amy McKeown setting off Photo: Gilly Wheeler

The ride organizer David Cunningham had the support over 45 farmers and land owners who had allowed the course to go over their land, opening gates and moving stock which included a very independent bull who needed some encouragement to leave his home patch. Cunningham had left no stone unturned as he had gathered together an international group of officials whose expertise ensured the event ran smoothly.

The longest ride was over 75 miles, the shortest 10 miles, with the route travelling along forest tracks, three different beaches, lush green fields, gravel tracks and a little roadwork.

June Close of the RDA enjoying the scenery at Downpatrick Racecourse Photo: Gilly Wheeler

Kerry Burch and Gail Baillie crossing the bridge Photo: Gilly Wheeler

In the FEI 80km is was a gallop up the finish straight to capture first place for Michelle Carthy riding La Rousse by a mere 17 seconds from the event Treasurer Helen McFarland on She Stoops to Conquer. The schools event was won by Regent House Grammar School, Newtownards, represented by William Girvan, Anna Brown and Amy McKeown. The award for riding in a Bitless Bridle went to Hannah Catterall. Jenni Cunningham won the Western Riding trophy and the Barefoot award went to Katlin McKibbon riding Tango.

One of the main sponsors was Horseware Ireland whose founder Tom MacGuinness was competing in one of the FEI classes. McGuiness will represent Ireland at this years World Equestrian Games, as will two others Robyn Catterall and Helen McFarland who were also competing.

Emily Stewart and Minty Dromara Primary School Photo Gilly Wheeler

Another sponsor was Al Aaasfa 2 Endurance Stables Dubai owned by HH Sh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum owner of Kildangan Stud in Co Kildare .His Endurance Stable Manger and trainer Mohammed Al Sabouse flew over from Dubai, just two days after his honeymoon, to be at the St Patrick’s Coast Ride. He was delighted to present and sponsor the Riding for the Disabled awards and the construction of two new bridges on the course.