This week-end international endurance
events will occur on 4 contentents as the national teams for the up-coming
World Endurance Champions continue to be formed. Italy, Spain, South Africa,
Australia, and the United States provide venues for CEI*** events.
EnduranceWorld.net will provide focus on the USEF National Endurance
Team as they attend their second training event of the 2004 ride season. These
training sessions provide the 10 Team members the opportunity to demonstrate
their competetive and team abilities in head-to-head competition.
The HH President of the UAE Austrailian Challenge 160 will take place
first (on Saturday), then Costa Volpino in Italy, Ripoll in Spain, and Sladanha
in South Africa. On Sunday, Fort Howes will be run. The 50 mile event will be
held on Saturday at Fort Howes, following the schedule which will be used next
year when Fort Howes will provide the venue for the AERC National Championship
Event. This allows entrants to compete in both distances (on either the same or
different horses). Many riders, especially those traveling long distances will
be in both the 50 on Saturday and the 100 on Sunday.
This will be the
8th year that Fort Howes has been run. It has continued to draw a broader set of
competitors during each of the previous outings. This year, there are 40+
entrants in the 100 mile event. The weather is predicted to be cool (@70F/21C).
There are thunder storms predicted, and the rain can come hard-and-fast when
the skys open in Montana.
Ride Managers Bill and Jan Stevens will be
hosting one of the greatest endurance get-togethers this side of the missouri.
