Longines WEC Report from Holdsworth PR

29th August 2012

UAE SWEEPS THE BOARD BUT BRITISH RIDERS SHOW TRUE GRIT - The sun rose on a clear morning at Euston Park, near Thetford, on Saturday 25th August, as horses were led from their stables, tacked up and prepared for the gruelling 160km Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships 2012

As the start time approached, 153 eager horses and riders representing 40 countries lined up, and as the clock reached 7am there was a cavalry charge as those at the front set off at a gallop.

FEI CEI 4* LONGINES WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS - REPORT FROM HOLDSWORTH PR

UAE SWEEPS THE BOARD BUT BRITISH RIDERS SHOW TRUE GRIT

The sun rose on a clear morning at Euston Park, near Thetford, on Saturday 25th August, as horses were led from their stables, tacked up and prepared for the gruelling 160km Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships 2012. As the start time approached, 153 eager horses and riders representing 40 countries lined up, and as the clock reached 7am there was a cavalry charge as those at the front set off at a gallop.

Endurance is a competition to test the competitor’s ability to safely manage the stamina and fitness of the horse over an endurance course in a competition against the track, the distance, the climate, the terrain and the clock. Diligent application of skill together with a caring, knowledgeable attitude by the rider is vital to be successful, and those setting out today would need every ounce of experience as well as a portion of luck to get to the end. The average speed at World Championship level is expected to be 20kph to be in medal contention, which means keeping up a good canter for most of the 160km or 100 miles.

A good pace was set from the outset, with riders from the Arab nations setting the pace. The reigning World Champion, Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain, riding her popular 17 year old horse, Nobby, was in the leading group along with riders from the UAE including HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Of the British contingent, Annette Masterson riding El Sabio, and Alice Beet riding Adara Sauveterre both got off to a good start. Lesley-Ann Parker riding Velvet Echo, Catriona Moon and Leila, Tricia Hirst and Majin des Pins and Chris Yeoman with LM Crazy Girl preferred to stay out of the mêlée and with 160km to go, a steadier start would prove a wise move.

The layout at Euston Park enables the course to be set out as a series of loops, with a central vet gate located at the main venue, close to the start/finish line, providing excellent viewing for spectators. The leaders came back into view at 8.30am, and to everyone’s delight, the first into vet gate 1 was Maria Alvarez Ponton with Nobby, having completed the first loop of 38km at an average of 24.39km per hour.

On arrival at the vet gate, the support crew get to work to cool the horse and bring the heart rate down to 64 bpm or below as quickly as possible. The horse must be presented for veterinary inspection to check pulse, soundness and metabolics. There is then a compulsory stop of 30 minutes for rest and refreshment before they can depart on the next loop. The top horses have a remarkable recovery rate and at vet gate 1 they were presenting to the vet in less than 2 minutes.

News soon filtered back of the retirement of British individual rider, Catriona Moon riding Leila, out on the first loop due to lameness. This was devastating for Catriona but was a stark reminder that this flat course was extremely technical with sharp turns and variable going that could be sandy then stony then soft. The first British rider into vet gate 1 was Annette Masterson with El Sabio, coming in 12th making an average speed of 23.38km per hour. Alice Beet and Adara Sauveterre came in 46th, making a speed of 20.36km per hour. Chris Yeoman and Tricia Hirst both made a speed of over 18kph and Lesley-Ann Parker was just behind.

Vet gate 1 is hectic as not too much time separates the competitors. After their compulsory 30 minutes, riders queued to get out on the second loop of 29km. There was disappointment for Lesley-Ann as she realised that her mare, Velvet Echo, has stiffened up during the stop and the decision was taken not to continue.

After the sunshine of the early morning, a heavy downpour had spectators rushing for cover while competitors battled the elements on course. The rain soon passed and the first riders started to arrive at vet gate 2 at around 10.30am. First back was HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, followed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Maria and Nobby had slipped back to 4th but were still averaging 23.21kph. Annette Masterson and El Sabio were going strong in 13th, and Alice Beet and Adara were holding a good position in 57th.

Tricia Hirst and Madjin des Pins, and Chris Yeoman and LM Crazy Girl, had picked up the pace on the second loop and came into vet gate 2 looking good, but there was disappointment for Chris when LM Crazy Girl failed to pass the veterinary inspection on lameness. “There were some very stony bits on that loop and she must have just trodden on something or knocked herself. There was nothing to see. We were going so well. I am gutted”, said Chris later.

Loop 3 was 30km and saw competitors cross the picturesque water crossing twice; a magnet for photographers, as well as being a useful spot to allow horses to take an extra drink. On each loop there are several designated crewing points where horses are “sloshed” with water to cool them and offered a drink and riders can also pick up refreshment - the crew often run alongside the horses throwing water onto them to minimise the time that they are delayed.

The leaders were back at vet gate 3 by 12.35, and HE Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum was still leading for the UAE, followed by two Spanish riders, including Maria and Nobby in 3rd. Annette and El Sabio had been going well but sadly they vetted out at gate 3 on metabolics. The organisers expected a high attrition rate this is renowned as a tough course and the veterinary inspections are stringent. “This is the World Championships and to be competitive we need to be making these speeds. It is what we have trained for, so it is very disappointing for Annette and sadly also the end of our team chances”, said team chef d’equipe, Annabelle Schofield. Alice and Adara were maintaining a good, consistent pace, completing loop 3 at 20.38kph and climbing to 42nd place. Tricia was also keeping up a strong pace at 20.89kph and now in 55th postion.

The 4th and 5th loop of 20km and 23km saw Alice and Tricia claiming yet more places and vetting through well, despite more torrential rain. They set out from vet gate 5 on the 6th and final loop of 20km at around 5.30pm.

The crowds gathered to give HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum a rapturous welcome as he rode a strong finish to cross the line first riding the 12 year old chestnut gelding Madji du Pont, with the top 3 places all going to riders from the UAE. The final vet inspection confirmed his victory and he became the World Endurance Champion. He completed the 160km at an average speed of 22.82kph, riding the final loop at 27.6kph to complete the course in 7 hours and 45 seconds.

A violent storm struck and torrential rain fell as many riders were still on course, but hardy spectators remained to cheer home the British riders in an emotional finish; Tricia Hirst and her 12 year old grey gelding, Madjins des Pins, in 15th place, completing the final loop at 22.63kph, and Alice Beet, with the 16 year old grey mare, Adara Sauveterre, in 25th place, completing on an average of 19.34kph. “The hail on the last loop was unbelievable and the going had become really slippery. Adara slipped and nearly came down once, and it did slow us down a bit, but we came home safe and it was not worth the risk to go any faster. Adara was very consistent throughout the race, maintaining consistent loop times and she presented [at the vet gates] very fast as her heart rate was excellent. The next morning she was absolutely fine and she had lost no condition. Our average speed was our best time ever”, explained Alice.

The powerful thunderstorm caused a dramatic conclusion to the event in the early evening. The top 52 individuals and top four teams had already finished and the medals had been decided, but some of the slower competitors had still not started out on the sixth and final loop. The inclement weather meant that there were concerns for the health and safety of horses, riders and everyone else involved due to the thunder, fork-lightning and torrential rain that suddenly descended. As a result, the distance was reduced to allow those combinations still on the latter stages of the course to finish at vet gate five and to be classified according to timings on the shortened distance.

Great Britain 2012 World Endurance Championship News

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An update from Endurance rider Chris Yeoman

15 Aug 2012 05:41:02

Chris Yeoman has a very busy few weeks ahead of her. Not only has she been picked to represent GB in the World Endurance Championships at Euston Park, Thetford, with her horse LM Crazy Girl; her other horse LM Greyson has been picked as the fourth reserve horse.

This is a fantastic achievement and we are looking forward to seeing how she does! The Neue Schule advice team is travelling down to the Endurance Championships on the 25th August to support Neue Schule stockist Saddle Exchange. If you are going to the Endurance Championships and would like advice on any aspect of bitting please don’t hesitate to come and visit the stand.

We asked Chris which Neue Schule bits she finds best for her horses:

“My endurance horses have to be light and manoeuvrable at speed and controllable on a start line of anything up to 100 horses so the bit I use is a very important tool that I have and Neue Schule are excellent for a variety of horses with individual issues.

Greyson was always strong in the hand and would lean heavily on me on the first loop. I now have him in a Neue Schule Swales bit which has taken the pressure off the poll leaving him lighter in the hand and more responsive to my aids.

Crazy Girl my championship horse is from Argentina and very sensitive to her bit so she is in the Universal which gives me stopping power without a fight and she mouths the bit well giving a softer feel to my hands.”

Posted in News Sponsored Riders By Rhiannon Lister

Nikki gets Great Britain Call

13 August 2012

DORSET’S Nikki Malcolm will represent Great Britain at this year’s Longines World Endurance Championships in Suffolk.

The Whitcombe rider booked her place in the squad following a final performance trial at Wolverhampton racecourse.

Riding Khartoum With A K, Malcolm will be joined at the Aug-ust 25 event by Alice Beet, Tricia Hirst, Annette Masterson, Lesley-Ann Parker and Christine Yeoman.

Chairman of selectors Di Latham said: “We are confident that we have a strong team, with a vast amount of experience at International and Championship level, capable of competing against the best in the world and securing a result to make Great Britain proud of our athletes.

“We are all excited about having the championships on home soil, giving endurance enthusiasts the opportunity to support their team from the front line.”

Chairman of EGB’s International Committee, Emma Miller, added: “The performance day was made up of horse assessments and work on the race course...

Read more here:
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/sport/9870047.Nikki_gets_GB_call/?ref=nt

Championship call for Shepton rider

August 9 2012

Shepton Mallet rider Christine Yeoman has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Longines World Endurance Championships.

Yeoman and her horse LM Crazy Girl earned their place after finishing second at the recent final team selection trial and will now compete in the 160k race at Euston Park on August 25.

She is one of the most experienced riders in the country, having competed several times at the World Championships during the 14 years she has been competing in endu

rance riding. "We are delighted to be selected for the team and are all ready to go out and do a good job," said Yeoman, who will be assisted on the day by her crew of husband John Yeoman, Nigel Perrott, Zoe Horton and Lisa Davenport...

Read more here:
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Championship-Shepton-rider/story-16682153-detail/story.html

Supergran prepares for gruelling 100-mile horse marathon

by Abbie Wightwick, WalesOnlineAug 5 2012

At a time when most Welsh grans are beginning to look forward to a relaxing retirement, Tricia Hirst is instead preparing for a gruelling 100-mile horse marathon – at the age of 54.

The supergran will represent Britain when the Longines World Endurance Riding Championships, one of the toughest for horses and riders, takes place in Suffolk later this month.

Cantering at 20km an hour for 100 miles on her horse Madjin des Pins Tricia will be part of the Great Britain team competing against 160 riders from 40 teams across the globe.

It’s the latest challenge for an athlete who recently completed a 56-mile ultra marathon on foot.

“I’ve been training all year for this one goal. I’m the fittest I’ve ever been in my life,” says Tricia, who started endurance riding at the age of 38.

“It’s a wonderful sport and I’m looking forward to the race.”

The mum of three, who became a grandmother earlier this year, lives in Meifod, near Welshpool, where she keeps eight horses and rides every day...

Read More Here:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/need-to-read/2012/08/05/supergran-prepares-for-gruelling-100-mile-horse-marathon-91466-31547063/#ixzz22sAb7vlB

Endurance GB Team announced for the Longines World Endurance Championships 2012

24th July 2012

Following a final performance trial at Wolverhampton racecourse on the 21st July, Endurance GB has today announced the team of horses and riders that will represent Great Britain for the Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships 2012.

A report from Holdsworth PR

The riders in alphabetical order are:
· Alice Beet from Surrey riding Adara Sauveterre
· Tricia Hirst from Mid Wales riding Madjin des Pins
· Nikki Malcolm from Dorset riding Khartoum With A K
· Annette Masterson from Staffordshire riding El Sabio
· Lesley-Ann Parker from Cambridgeshire riding Velvet Echo
· Christine Yeoman from Somerset riding LM Crazy Girl
· First Reserve - Catriona Moon from Somerset riding Leila
· Second Reserve - Beccy Broughton-Booker from Nottinghamshire riding Tawmarsh Muharram
· Third Reserve - Emma Finnie riding Sha Ali
· Forth Reserve horse – LM Greyson

Chairman of selectors, Di Latham said, on behalf of the selectors and management team, “We are confident that we have a strong Team, with a vast amount of experience at International and Championship level, capable of competing against the best in the World and securing a result to make Great Britain proud of our athletes. We are all excited about having the Championships on home soil, giving endurance enthusiasts the opportunity to support their Team from the front line”.

Chairman of EGB’s International Committee, Emma Miller, said, “The Performance day was made up of horse assessments and work on the race course. They all looked super and I am delighted with the progress that has been made this year. We are on great form and there are good omens for the championship”.

The Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships takes place on Saturday 25th August, at Euston Park near Newmarket, Suffolk. The 160km race across the undulating Suffolk countryside will see around 150 riders line up with up to 40 countries represented. Among contenders vying for the top spot at the 14th world title event will be defending world champion Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain and the United Arab Emirates, winners of the team gold medal at the 2010 world championships.

There will be a live twitter feed throughout the day of the Championships @enduranceGB. For further information about the sport of endurance riding visit www.endurancegb.co.uk. For more information about The British Equestrian Team go to www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk.

Endurance Great Britain Team Shortlist announced for 2012 WEC

2nd July 2012

Following a very successful team selection trial at the Kings Forest ride in Suffolk on the 29th June, Endurance GB has today announced a shortlist of horses and riders for the Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships 2012.

The shortlisted riders in alphabetical order are:

· Alice Beet from Surrey riding Adara Sauveterre
· Beccy Broughton-Booker from Nottinghamshire riding Tawmarsh Muharram
· Emma Finnie from Abu Dhabi riding Sha Ali
· Tricia Hirst from Mid Wales riding Madjin des Pins
· Rachel Ingvaldson from Somerset riding Nazeeka
· Nikki Malcolm from Somerset riding Khartoum With A K or L R Bold Greyson
· Annette Masterson from Staffordshire riding El Sabio
· Catriona Moon from Somerset riding Leila
· Lesley-Ann Parker from Cambridgeshire riding Velvet Echo
· Christine Yeoman from Somerset riding LM Crazy Girl or L R Bold Greyson
· David Yeoman from Somerset riding Haszar

The shortlisted combinations have been asked to attend a final performance trial at Wolverhampton racecourse on the 21st July when the final team of six plus reserves will be selected.

Chairman of selectors, Di Latham said, on behalf of the selectors and management team, “we are happy to confirm that the Championship Trial held at Kings Forest this weekend was a great success, with horses stepping up to the challenge. We are delighted with the progress that has been made this year and we are on target for the ultimate goal”. “We are fortunate to have so many combinations from which to select for the Endurance World Championships. We are committed to sending our best possible Team to the Championships to ensure that we are able to compete on equal terms with the best in the World and to secure a result to make Great Britain proud of our athletes. We are all excited about having the Championships on home soil, giving endurance enthusiasts the opportunity to support their Team from the front line”.

The Longines FEI CEI 4* World Endurance Championships takes place on Saturday 25th August, at Euston Park near Newmarket, Suffolk. The 160km race across the undulating Suffolk countryside will see around 150 riders line up with up to 40 countries represented. Among contenders vying for the top spot at the 14th world title event will be defending world champion Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain and the United Arab Emirates, winners of the team gold medal at the 2010 world championships.

There will be a live twitter feed throughout the day of the Championships @enduranceGB, for further information about the sport of endurance riding visit www.endurancegb.co.uk. For more information about The British Equestrian Team go to www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk. The final team announcement will be made as soon as possible after the 21st July.

HoldsworthPR
Public Relations and Marketing

Endurance GB Elite Squad Stepping up the Pace

18th June 2012

Endurance GB Elite squad members Christine Yeoman and Nikki Malcolm have both recently been out to strengthen their chances of team selection for the Endurance GB team for the 2012 Longines FEI World Endurance Championships at Euston Park near Thetford on the 25th August.

The 2011 National Endurance Champion, Nikki Malcolm (28) from Whitcombe in Dorset has qualified a second horse to be eligible to take part World Championships. Nikki took 4th place in the 160km FEI 3* Endurance Ride at Euston Park near Thetford recently with L R Bold Greyson.

Owned by Christine Yeoman, L R Bold Greyson is proving to be a solid performer. Greyson was bought from America at the end of 2011 and has so far completed two 160km rides with success this season. Christine also finished in 6th place in the FEI 3* Haywood Oaks ride in Nottinghamshire in April with him.

Nikki said “Christine had already qualified for the World Championships with Greyson earlier in the year, our plan was for us to both qualify on him as well as our other horses to create more options and a stronger team for the Championships”. Nikki’s other ride is the consistent Anglo Arab Khartoum With A K, with whom she holds a 100% ride completion record.

All three horses, Khartoum With A K, L M Crazy Girl and L R Bold Greyson will now go to the final team trial for the 2012 World Championships at Kings Forest, Bury St Edmunds on the 29th June. Nikki is set to take Khartoum With A K, Christine will partner Crazy Girl and New Zealander, Lisa Davenport will ride Greyson. The team for the World Championships will be announced shortly after this final trial.

Endurance GB Elite squad member Kirsty Wiscombe from Lyme Regis took 7th place in the 160km Endurance ride at Euston Park on the 27th May with her stallion, Yawlhill Billy.

Article by Holdsworth PR

Equilibrium Products Sponsor the 2012 Endurance International GB Teams

Endurancegb.co.uk

12th March 2012

We are delighted to announce that Equilibrium Products are sponsoring the Endurance GB International Teams this year with the Equilibrium Therapy range of massage and magnetic products.

The first to benefit will be the World Class Start and Potential Squad who are competing in Belgium in just over a month's time. Next will be our Elite Team in the World Endurance Championships at Euston Park in August, and finally our Young Riders will also benefit in September in their European Championships in Belgium.

The Equilibrium Therapy massage and magnetic therapy pads have been very well received by International riders including Carri Ann Dark, Lorna Kidson and Louise Rich. Emma Miller, Chair of International said "We are really pleased to have this sponsorship and support from Equilibrium with such well designed and popular products. The riders will have access to the massage and magnetic back pads during each vet gate and pre and post-ride at their respective International competitions allowing the horses to benefit from these fantastic products."

Information on the Equilibrium range of products can be seen on their website:
http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/