The 2007 National Championship of Portugal

The 2007 Barroca d'Alva CEI*** 160km Open

Race Trial of European Championship and National Championship of Portugal

Jack Begaud (FRA), Joao Raposo (POR), Ana Margarida Costa (POR), Juan Paulo Branco (POR), Maria Alvarez (ESP), Jaume Punti Dachs (ESP), Leatitia Goncalves (FRA), Carlotta Dupas (FRA), Marilyn Lemoine (FRA), Grégoire Tilquin (FRA), Rui monteiro (POR).

The ride was divided in 5 loops of 38, 32, 29, 32 and 29 Kilometres and respective hold time of 30, 40, 50 and 50 minutes. The ride was organized in between the two biggest properties of the aera; Barroca D'alva and Companhia das Lizirias.

22 riders start at 6.30 a.m with a temperate climate from the hudge property of Sr Lupi. The experience of the CEI*** on last October 2006 in the same place, where heat, mosquitoes and speed were difficult conditions to manage-with a high numbers of horses retired from the competition-was in everybody's mind.

So, the field went for a reasonable peace on the opening stage and reach the first vet-gate in Companhia das Lizirias, in more than two hours. Three horses were lamed and declared "not fit to continue" and the local riders took the lead, followed by a group of french riders leaded by Jack Begaud, and Juma Punti from Spain.

The day was just perfect; temperature didn't reach more than 25°c, a little wind was refreshing the camp, and sun plays its ballet with friendly clouds. So, in the way back to Barroca, the pace increased and gap between group of riders start to be important. At the third vet-gate, two more horses were vetted out lamed.

And the competition started to really warm up from this stage; 6 riders couldn't do the difference and were flying on the track.

Grégoire Tilquin and Koum des Jamets (FRA-who just won a CEI***160 Km ride in Le Vigan, France, the week before), Jack Begaud and Kefir de Sommant (FRA-Twice 1st at the FEI rider world ranking and french champion*** 2006), Ana Margarida Costa and Gozlane du Somail (POR-12th WEG 2006-many participations in championship as member of national portuguese team), Joao Raposo and Quinza (POR-6th at WEG 2006), Marilyn Lemoine and Pieskal (FRA-successfull international rider), Pedro Godinho (POR) and Olimpico de Ameira. The crew were driving very fast on the road, it was difficult to exit the crew points because of the dust they were sending over.

Out for the last loop, excitement was at its top, people were singing, screaming on the crew points and it seemed to be the day of Ana Margarida Costa and her mare Gozlane du Somail, who was trying to take advantage of the two classifications, national championship and european trial.
But the french riders didn't let her go and Joao Raposo and his amazing little bay Quinza was not the last on track, riding on side with Ana.

The finish was amazing, the 6 horses were still together at the last crew point, only three kilometers from the finish. After an incredible sprint, Grégoire Tilquin took the lead and won the ride (9h15'37''), Jack Begaud was Second by two necks, Ana Margarida third and national champion, and then came Joao Raposo, Mariline Lemoine and Pedro Godinho.

In total, eleven competitors were classified in the ride, 10 horses were retired from the competition for lameness and only one for metabolic.

The following day, best condition was awarded to a delighted Grégoire Tilquin for Koum des Jamets, and after a meal set on the beautifull guest hall of Barroca d'Alva, prize ceremony was held with a so authentic good endurance athmosphere.
French delegation song its national hymn, followed by the portuguese, in a friendly and sportive collaboration between all.

It was a positive test, the FEI members of jury for the coming championship were here as jury and observers and did a fantastic job; Maurizio Stecco (Ground jury -Italia) with Ibrahim Al Malqui (member of ground jury and sponsor representative-QAT) , Rui Amante (member of ground jury-POR), Fransico Barras (member of ground jury-POR), Derek Liebenberg (Chief Steward-RSA), Carol Bunting (Technical Delegate-GB), Antonia Mota (President of vet comity-POR), Daniele Giagliardi (vet-ITA), Ray Randall (vet-USA), Franz Arts (foreign vet-HOL), and some local veterinarians and stewards FEI.

We have to thank Paulo Branco, the president of OC for his consideration, contibution and investment in this event, the portuguese federation and its incredible secretary Filipa Rebeldo de andrade, the almost efficient Julita Santos, Sr José Samuel Lupi and his family for their sense of hospitality, and wish to the coming european endurance championship all the best !

Alice

THE VENUE

Tejo's estuary is a natural reserve of the Country. Located in Alcochete, it presents 325 Km2 of an enormous biodiversity and is also the biggest sanctuary of wild aquatic birds.In Alcochete we have also the rice-paddies located mostly in Barroca D'Alva, between the mounting and the cattle. The rice-paddies are one of the most interesting systems of nature's conservation as well as all the natural patrimony of Alcochete's council is intimately connected with the great forestall stain of cork-oaks - 1/3 of the council - that extend to the south of Portugal and goes until the central nucleus of the Iberic Peninsula.All this biodiversity wouldn't be complete and would be much more poorer if we did not talk of the salt marshes still existing in Alcochete and the fight cattle, the bulls, both ex-libris of this region.

COMPANHIA DAS LEZÍRIAS:

Barroca D'alva:

International Endurance Championship :

The International Equestrian Federation (F.E.I) has the guardianship of the Championship; The Endurance European Championship, of the Senior, happens every two years, intercalated with the World Championships;
Such as the name suggests, it?s meant for the European nations and, therefore, it is with World Championships; Due to the huge attendance of the discipline, F.E.I. decided to include in these Championships the assignment "Open"; At the end, it is the equivalent to a World Championship once most of the countries of all the continents mark presence in this European Championship "Open".Any national championship, of the Europe or the World, as well as the so called 4 stars (****) competitions, must be competed in a 160 km ride, in one same day, in varied lands, in order to test the resistance of the horse.The departures are given in line, i.e. in set, and with free speed. It is, at the end, a true race of horses in long distances.It will have, however, two classifications ? the final classification of the European Championship (individual heading and team heading), attributed only to the European nations and the final classification of the "Open" competition, also attributed by individual and teams, but having in account all the participant nations of the event.

A first time event in Portugal in what concerns equestrian sport but also in what concerns any other sport:

• It will allow to bind the image of Portugal and link it to the development of other sides not yet explored such as the equestrian tourism and all the natural resources in the area that surrounds Lisbon;
• It will impel in an active way the discipline of Endurance;
• It will provide the national riders, participating in the event, with a bigger knowledge and more experience in the plan of international competition;
• It will shake the national investment in what concerns de acquisition of new mountings, of believing in future projects, new knowledge of training and preparation of horses and riders;
• It will allow that all the FEP officials, technicians and organisers, have direct contact with the international?s competition panorama, which, in any other way, is almost impossible to deal with;
• It will allow the agents who have the guardianship of the national sports to realise, undoubtedly, that the equestrian development in Portugal is being implemented and successfully implemented, not only in what can be seen in the results but also in what relates infrastructures and the participants;

• The tourism, hotels, gastronomy, trips, the several routs created in the meanwhile such as the Wine Rout or the Bull or Ribatejo Rout;
• Developing the agriculture by presenting outdoors other agents such as our cattle, rice-paddies, marshes, pastures or the Tejo?s estuary, amongst many others;
• That national economy starts to look to the equestrian sport as a partner in Portugal name?s divulgation, inside and outside of the county;
• That the top equestrian events become credible and of national impact.