Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2016: Jaume Punti Dachs takes Spain to team and individual gold

18 Sep 2016
By Pamela Burton

In a day of weather that changed as often as the ride leaders, Spain’s Jaume Punti Dachs captured individual gold and led his compatriots Alex Luque Moral and Angel Soy Coll to the team title at the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2016 in Samorin (SLK).

Punti Dachs, who also took team and individual gold at the European championships at the Samorin venue 12 months ago, had a perfect ride on the nine-year-old grey Twyst Maison Blanche to complete the 160km track in 06:46:42 with an average speed of 23.60 km/h.

Fellow Spaniard Alex Luque Moral and Calandria, the lovely 10-year-old grey mare that deservedly took the best conditioned horse award, were 50 seconds off the pace to take individual silver, with Bahrain’s HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Al Kalifa taking bronze with Waterlea Dawn Treader in a time of 06:49:47.

The Spanish led an all-European team podium, with France taking silver and the Netherlands holding on for bronze.

The track, which ran between the river Danube and the neighbouring canal, as well as through forestry and farmland, was flat and fast and the 134 starters set off at pace from the 6am mass start.

Punti Dachs was consistently in the top 10 over the first four loops, and the 47-year-old, who was a team gold medallist over the challenging Sartilly terrain at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA), ended his day with a flourish to scoop double gold and add the world title to his European crown. His wife Maria Alvarez Ponton, who was vetted out after the second loop, previously held the two titles concurrently after winning European and world gold in 2009 and 2010.

Twyst Maison Blanche wasn’t the first horse across the finish line, but the final vet check is the real finish line and when both the United Arab Emirates runners, Napoli Del Ma (Saif Ahmad Al Mazroui) and Quran El Ulm (Ganem Abdullah Al Merri) were vetted out and Uruguay’s LG Muneerah wasn’t presented by Jonatan Rivera Iriarte, top honours went to Punti Dachs.

In fact none of the UAE team recorded a completion score, even though HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Ramaah had been at the head of the field throughout, until the 12-year-old gelding went out at the fourth vet gate. Sadly, Ajayeb, the 15-year-old chestnut mare ridden by Sheikh Hamdan’s team mate Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, tripped and fell on the fourth loop of the track, suffering an irreparable injury to her right front leg and had to be euthanised.

“It was a very tough day”, Punti Dachs said. “There were magnificent horses in front of me, but endurance sometimes happens like this. You do everything right and then something goes wrong. It’s like life.”

It’s been something of a winning spree for Spain as their all-female team won the European Endurance Young Riders and Juniors Championships in Portugal earlier in the month.

Alex Luque Moral was thrilled to take team gold and individual silver in Samorin. “I slowed down to save my horse after the first fast loop, and then for the last loop, I decided to really have fun with my mare and show everyone what she could do after all the training for this championship.”

Angel Soy Coll, whose sixth-place finish sealed Spain’s victory, said: “I am very happy and very grateful to have been part of the team. It was a tough day but think I managed to do what was expected of me and my horse and get a good result for the Spanish team.”

Bronze medallist HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the only non-European on the podium, trained the 11-year-old Waterlea Dawn Treader for the championships at home in Bahrain and France. “The race was very difficult especially the third loop because of the humidity. I believed in my plan and it worked. My horse was not tired at all, he was perfect.”

Spaniard wins FEI World Endurance Championship gold after three riders disqualified

By Liam Morgan
Saturday, 17 September 2016

Spain's Jaume Punti Dachs sealed the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Endurance Championships title amid controversial circumstances on board Girola de Querchus in Samorin in Slovakia today.

The bizarre finish to the race began when Saif Ahmad Al Mazroui started to wave the United Arab Emirates flag as he crossed the line in first position, only for his horse Napoli Del Ma to be disqualified by the judges for an imperfect gait.

Jonatan Rivera Iriarte of Uruguay appeared well placed to secure the crown but the same fate befell his horse - LG Muneerah - meaning he was also disqualified.

Al Mazroui's compatriot Ganem Abdullah Al Merri was the third rider who thought he had done enough for victory only to have his hopes dashed as his horse Quran El Ulm was found to have a metabolic condition by the vet, ruling him out of contention.

Dachs, forced to deny allegations of wrongdoing back in 2013 when the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Britain seized over 100 veterinary products from Moorley Farm East in Newmarket, finished the gruelling 160 kilometres course in a time of 6 hours 46min 42sec...

Read more here:
http://www.insidethegames.biz/index.php/articles/1041747/spaniard-wins-fei-world-endurance-championship-gold-after-three-riders-disqualified

Slovakia: Veteran Dachs follows in wife’s footsteps

Published: 21:42 September 17, 2016 Gulf News
By Leslie Wilson Jr Racing & Special Features Writer

Dubai: Jaume Punti Dachs, a veteran endurance rider and trainer, clinched the gold medal at the FEI World Endurance Championship in Samorin, Slovakia, as a spirited performance by the UAE’s Saif Ahmad Al Mazroui and Ganem Abdullah Al Merri, ended in heartache at the final vet gate.

Triumphantly waving the UAE flag, Al Mazroui crossed the finish line first following a final loop cat and mouse battle with Uruguay’s Jonatan Rivera Iriarte, only to see his horse, Napoli Del Ma, disqualified due to an imperfect gait.

Iriarte’s horse, LG Muneerah, suffered a similar fate which left third placed Emirati rider Al Merri in the number spot and anxiously awaiting the vet results. But as luck would have it.

Quran El Ulm was found to have a metabolic condition and was also disqualified.

Dach’s horse, the nine-year-old grey gelding Twyst Maison Blanche, passed the vet test ensuring he would emulate his wife, Maria Alvarez Ponton, who was a two-time World Endurance Championship in 2008 and 2010...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/veteran-dachs-follows-in-wife-s-footsteps-1.1897692

Bahrain King attends World Endurance Championship - BNA.bh

UAE VP attends endurance ride - Gulftoday

World Endurance Championship - USA Team Eliminated

The USA Team of Meg Sleeper/Shyrocco Rimbaud and Tom Hagis/Indian Reinman vetted in healthy and sound for the 2016 World Endurance Championship in Slovakia today, but unfortunately vetted out during the ride. Indian Reinman was eliminated at the third vet gate for lameness, and Rimbaud was eliminated at the 4th vet gate for lameness.

"Fortunately neither lameness was severe and both horses will be fine to compete another day," Meg said.

"It is hard to put into words how one feels after a pull at this kind of event. It is awesome just to be selected to represent the USA, but of course the idea is to do well and there are so many people that give so much to make it possible for us to be here, it is rather demoralizing to feel like you are letting everyone down."

Meg's other horse, the mare Syrocco Rabia, finished 29th under Guatemala's Fernando Paiz Larrave in a time of 8:35.50. The other USA horse, Colin for Gold, owned by Valerie Kanavy and ridden by Japan's Hirofumi Ono, finished 47th and last in a ride time of 10:23.48.

42 of the 133 starters finished the race, for a completion rate of 35.3%.

2016 World Endurance Championships - Samorin, Slovakia

Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2016 allocated to Slovakia The Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2016 will be held in Samorin (SVK) following a decision at yesterday’s FEI Bureau monthly teleconference meeting. A unanimous proposal from the FEI Endurance Committee recommending the Slovak venue received the support of the full Bureau.

Three bids to host the Championships were received when the bid process was reopened in April of this year following the decision to reallocate the event. Also bidding were Fontainebleau (FRA) and San Rossore, Pisa (ITA), but the Bureau ruled that neither of these two venues were suitable due to concerns over welfare and safety. Both venues proposed mid-October dates, meaning that the rides would start and finish in the dark, potentially putting horses and riders at risk. There is also increased potential for heavy rain in these areas at that time of year.

Samorin Equestrian Centre, the brain-child of Slovakian businessman Mario Hoffmann, staged very successful FEI European Endurance Championships last year. The 2016 World Championships will run from 15-18 September, with the qualification period ending on 16 July.

The Championships had originally been allocated to Dubai and were scheduled to be held in December of this year, but at its spring in-person meeting on 6-7 April, the FEI Bureau voted to remove the Championships from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as it felt that the UAE National Federation is not currently in a position to guarantee that horse welfare would be fully protected.

“We were very happy to receive three bids and appreciate the willingness to support the FEI at such short notice for this year’s World Championships”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said, “ but the Bureau had no hesitation in opting for Samorin. Horse welfare has to be the most important element in the allocation of these major events and Samorin has a proven track record, having already run both the young horse and European Endurance Championships very successfully.

“The timing of the Championships was also important and, with the three bids all coming from Europe, the Bureau felt that a September date was more appropriate. Both Fontainebleau and San Rossore were proposing mid-October when the reduced daylight hours could potentially have an impact on safety. Safeguarding the safety and welfare of the equine and human athletes is our top priority in all our disciplines.”

Managing Director of x-bionic® sphere Ján Mašek is also very pleased with the FEI Bureau’s decision: „This is great news and another challenge for x-bionic® sphere. Our resort is developing rapidly. We recently renewed the tradition of the well-known P-T-S athletic meeting, we will host the Nations Cup (CSIO3*) in show-jumping on the last weekend of July, one of the most prestigious triathlon races, Challenge Šamorín, will be held here at the end of August and next year we will host The Championship triathlon event and the European Championships in cross-country run. After the well-organized European Endurance Championships we hosted last year, we convinced the FEI representatives of our preparedness to organize a world-class endurance event too. We look forward to the race and we are prepared to organize another great event in this beautiful equestrian sport. “

Slovakia braced for FEI World Endurance Championships after stepping in for axed Dubai

By Liam Morgan
Wednesday, 14 September 2016

A total of 136 riders are due to compete at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Endurance Championships, which get underway with the Opening Ceremony in Samorin in Slovakia tomorrow.

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar are all expected to do well at the event, which remains shrouded in controversy after Dubai was stripped of the hosting rights earlier this year following horse welfare concerns.

Uruguay and Spain are also sending strong teams to Samorin, which was confirmed as the replacement for Dubai in June, while Mario Hoffmann of Slovakia will be looking to make full use of home advantage.

The FEI have confirmed 46 countries from five countries will be represented at the World Endurance Championships, with the main bulk of the action due to be held on Saturday (September 17).

The Samorin Equestrian Centre, the venue for last year’s European Championships, was chosen to stage the event ahead of rival submissions from Fontainebleau in France and Pisa in Italy by the FEI’s Endurance Committee.

Both the French and Italian bids were rejected after they proposed mid-October for the Championships, meaning rides would start and finish in the dark.

Dubai's axing came after the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) was suspended by the FEI for "major horse welfare issues" in March 2015.

Read more here:
http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1041631/slovakia-braced-for-fei-world-endurance-championships-after-stepping-in-for-axed-dubai

4 Days till the 2016 World Endurance Championship in Slovakia

September 13 2016

46 countries, 5 continents, 136 riders, 149 horses ! The World Endurance Championship of Samorin promises to be a great event!

The best riders are gathered in Slovakia for the highest level of competition that exists in endurance.

If Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed al Maktoum is considered to be the ultra favorite, other rider can take the supreme title. Which one? This is very hard to say!

Unquestionably, UAE, Bahrain and Qatar are to be taken seriously. For the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum arrives with the best M.R.M Stables’ team.

The countries of the Gulf have very good horses with beautiful and long career, like Leonardo, Ajayeb, Napoli del Mar and many others.

Uruguayan riders are known to be fast, but Spain presents a strong team with its two stars riders, Maria Alvarez Ponton and Jaume Punti Dachs.

Other countries have good chances too like France with Jean-Philippe Frances, and Slovakia with Mario Hoffmann, who can be galvanized by running at home.

Before the race, nobody can say who the winner will be. There are too many parameters to be taken into account: how did the horse travel, the configuration of the race, the weather, the fitness of both rider and horse the day of the race …

And the coach can change riders and horses until the pre vet check and equestrianism is always a matter of the horse plus rider.

All that can be said is that this Championship will offer a very nice show.

So let’s meet on next Saturday at the x-bionic® sphere – Samorin !

Definite Entries Announced for 2016 World Endurance Championship

Definite entries have been announced for the 2016 World Endurance Championship to be held this weekend in Samorin, Slovakia.

136 riders and 149 horses are on the entry list representing 45 countries.

The complete list can be seen here: http://www.endurance.net/international/Slovakia/2016WorldEnduranceChampionship/DEFINITE-ENTRIES.pdf

Opening ceremonies will take place at 8 PM on Thursday, September 15. Horse inspections will begin at 2 PM on Friday, and the race begins at 6 AM on Saturday. A live stream of the race will be available at http://www.feitv.org/live

Nominative Entries Announced for 2016 World Endurance Championship

186 nominated riders represent 46 countries for the 160-km race. Final entries will be announced after horse inspections. The complete list can be seen here: http://www.endurance.net/international/Slovakia/2016WorldEnduranceChampionship/Nominative_entries_08_2016.pdf

Opening ceremonies will take place at 8 PM on Thursday, September 15. Horse inspections will begin at 2 PM on Friday, and the race begins at 6 AM on Saturday. A live stream of the race will be available at http://www.feitv.org/live

Ellen Olson and Bey Gibby Withdraw from 2016 Longines/FEI World Endurance Championships

RELEASE: August 24, 2016
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation has announced that Ellen Olson has withdrawn her and Jeremy Olson’s 2001 Arabian gelding, Bey Gibby, from the 2016 Longines FEI World Endurance Championships due to veterinary concerns. Although, there is not a definite timeline for Bey Gibby’s return to competition, Olson looks forward to competing with the gelding following recovery.

As a result, Olson (La Motte, Iowa) will not substitute a horse for the competition so the following combinations will represent the United States as individuals:

Thomas Hagis (Fries, Va.) and his own Indian Reinman, a 2006 Arabian gelding

Dr. Margaret Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Shyrocco Rimbaud, a 2006 Anglo Arabian gelding

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members. Without the support of these organizations and individuals, it would not be possible to support U.S. athletes. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.

A Mount Laurel veterinarian and her horse prepare to take on endurance event

By Kristen Coppock
August 22 2016

Riding 100 miles on horseback in Europe is just what the doctor ordered for herself.

A veterinarian and accomplished equestrian, Meg Sleeper is preparing to compete next month in the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2016 with her appaloosa, Shyrocco “Rim” Rimbaud. Held at the Samorin Equestrian Center in Slovakia, the event runs Sept. 15-18 and features some of the world’s most committed athletes.

“It’s an event that’s done in one day, usually about 12 hours,” said Sleeper, whose practice is affiliated with the Mount Laurel Animal Hospital. “There are multiple checks along the way. Horses are evaluated to make sure they’re fit to go on...”

Read more here:
http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/life-style/local-feature/a-veterinarian-and-her-horse-prepare-to-take-on-endurance/article_275e8d8c-6491-11e6-ac2c-57cdf92d948a.html

USEF Announces Team for the 2016 Longines FEI World Endurance Championships

August 2, 2016
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the combinations that will represent the United States at the 2016 Longines FEI World Endurance Championships in Samorin, Slovakia, September 16-17, 2016. They will be led by U.S. Endurance Chef d’Equipe Mike Dial.

The following athlete-and-horse combinations will represent the U.S. in the 2016 Longines FEI World Endurance Championship (listed in alphabetical order):

Thomas Hagis (Fries, Va.) and his own Indian Reinman, a 2006 Arabian gelding

Ellen Olson (La Motte, Iowa) and her own and Jeremy Olson’s Bey Gibby, a 2001 Arabian gelding

Dr. Margaret Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Shyrocco Rimbaud, a 2006 Anglo Arabian gelding

Norwegian Championship Team Announced

- Olaug Carstensen with Yassir II
- Tonje Danielson with Kayo
- Gina Saetrang with PL Sharif
- Mariann Seglem with Mynt
- Ellen Suhr with Shah Nahim.

Endurance Great Britain Championship Team Announcement

01 August 2016

The Endurance GB International Committee is delighted to announce the athletes and horses chosen to represent Team GB in the upcoming Senior and Young Rider Championships.

The Senior Team will compete in the 160km, FEI Longines World Endurance Cham- pionships to be held in Samorin, Slovakia from the 15-18th September. The following combinations have been successfully selected:

Carri Ann Dark with HS Drift

Fiona Griffiths with Oliver Twist IV

Nicola Thorne with LR Bold Greyson or LM Bolena (travelling reserve horse)

Christopher Wray with Takwenya

Senior Team Chef D'Equipe, Liz Finney commented that “after a late change of venue, we now have a team of four horse and riders, plus a reserve horse, who are extremely keen to compete at the World Championships in Samorin, Slovakia in the middle of September.

They are all very experienced international riders, three of whom have already competed at a championship ride, so will cope well with the environment and hype of a world championship.”

The Young Rider team will compete in the 120km, FEI European Endurance Cham- pionship for Young Riders & Juniors to be held in Rio Frio, Portugal from the 02-04th September. The following combinations have been successfully selected:

Kate Atkinson with DNS Ronaldo

Charlotte Chadwick with Hazelcroft Gosens Tsar

Bella Fricker with Eskar

Caitlin Theodorou with My Marco

Young Rider Chef D'Equipe, Jo Chisholm, commented that "we now have an excel- lent squad of Young Riders who have worked extremely hard to qualify themselves and their horses. Having worked with them during the year I can say that it is an absolute honour and pleasure to be working with a group of such dedicated and professional youngsters."

John Robertson, Director of International for Endurance GB, added that "the path to both Championships has not been straightforward, but we are reassured by the high calibre combinations who will be representing Team GB at both Champi- onships this summer. I would like to wish all GB competitors a safe journey and the best of luck for the competitions that lie ahead."

Endurance GB - National Governing Body for competitive Endurance horse riding in Great Britain a member body of the BEF. Offering rides for non-members and members from pleasure rides to competitive rides www.endurancegb.co.uk

Photo: Team GB Young Riders at their selection ride at Pilgrims Trail. From left to right: Charlotte Chadwick, Caitlin Theodorou and Bella Fricker. Photo courtesy of Event to Event Photography - http://eventtoevent.co.uk/

Quotes

“Despite not having a large pool of horse/rider combinations qualified for the YR Championships, we now have an excellent squad of young riders who have worked extremely hard to qualify themselves and their horses. Having worked with them during the year I can say that it is an absolute honour and pleasure to be working with a group of such dedicated and professional youngsters.

Travel plans are coming together and we are working closely with the YR Squad Management and the riders, their families and crews to get the best possible op- tions for them and the horses, to ensure they arrive in Portugal in tip top condi- tion. We believe the course will be fairly flat but probably dry and sandy, which is similar to some of the qualifying rides that the combinations have experienced this year. The temperature at the Championships will likely be in the high 20's to low 30's, but fortunately we have been experiencing some hot weather in the UK this summer and coupled with the riders training, especially for hot conditions, we are confident that this will be well within their comfort zone.

Over the next few weeks the riders will taper their training to build up to the Championships and preparations for the trip will be ongoing. Everything from the ferry crossings and flights for the crews down to the spare sets of shoes for the horses will be planned down to the last detail. We are all very much looking for- ward to representing our country in these Young Rider Championships.”

Jo Chisholm, Team GB Chef D’Equipe for the Young Riders

“After a late change of venue, we now have a team of four horses and riders, plus a reserve horse, who are extremely keen to compete at the World Championships in Samorin, Slovakia in the middle of September.

They are all very experienced international riders, three of whom have already competed at a championship ride, so will cope well with the environment and hype of a world championship.

It is a long journey to the venue, involving two overnight stops on the way, the temperature at the venue will probably be in the 30'sC so careful planning is un- derway to ensure the horses have the best possible journeys, followed by a good period of acclimatisation on arrival in Samorin.

The team and squad management team will meet in August shortly before the horses leave for the Championships, for a final check and to concentrate on the small details that can make the difference between success and failure.”

Liz Finney, Team GB Chef D’Equipe for the Senior Team

Australia Announces team for 2016 FEI World Endurance Championships for Seniors

July 22 2016

National Endurance Selectors have announced the athletes that will represent Australia at the upcoming FEI World Endurance Championships for Seniors from 16 – 18 September 2016, in Samorin, Slovakia.

Congratulations to those selected in the team, listed in alphabetical order:

Ben Hudson & Oso Cap Braveheart
Sasha Laws-King & Oso Edith
Rebecca Pinder & Safwa
Jodie Salinas & Koela De La Dour
Alexandra Toft & Dream Dancer te
Travelling Reserve Rider: Penny Toft
Travelling Reserve Horses: Charlotte te & Oso Lee

The team will be accompanied by Andrew Kettlewell in the role of Chef d’Equipe.