ridecamp@endurance.net: Results from the World Nature Games - Parana, Brasil

Results from the World Nature Games - Parana, Brasil

Dominique Freeman (fadjurs@sadandy.hpl.hp.com)
Tue, 14 Oct 1997 09:34:47 -0600 (PDT)

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Hi All,
Just back from the World Nature Games in Parana, Brasil, where
40 endurance riders from around the world were invited to participate
in the first World Nature Games. The "Hippismo" (Equestrian event)
was one of 13 sports (including sailing, white water rafting, canoeing,
hot-air ballooning, decathalon, climbing etc) bringing together
over 700 athletes from around the world. The aim of the games was to promote
the environment, and sports related to natural use of water,land, and air,
hence no mechanical/gas powered sports were included.

We (the athletes) were met at the airport at Foz do Iguazu, and
taken to a large hotel in town where we were "processed", i.e.
given photo i.d cards with access codes, t-shirts, and maps. Foz do
Iguazu are sperctacular waterfalls existing between Argentina and Brasil
and formed the backdrop for the games.

The endurance (Hippismo) event was quite a challenge, as the format
was entirely different from what we are used to. We were given two
horses, and a course of 6 days, averaging between 25 and 35 miles per
day, starting and finishing at different bases along the Parana river.
The horses were "Mangalarga", (or Brazilian saddle horses), a cross, it
seems, between Andalusioan, Arabian and Thoroughbred. When asked to be
a bit more specific about the proportion of each breed, one Brazilian
commented wryly that you would get the same if you put all horse breeds
in a blender, and out would come "Mangalarga". These horses
had been in training for six months prior to the event at different
Haras or Fazendas (Farms) throughout the Sao Paulo region. Horses
were separated into two groups, A and B depending on their recovery
rates after a calibrated distance. Riders were allocated horses by a
lottery system.

The challenge was to finish both horses over the course
of six days. Vet checks were run as for FEI(gate into hold,
with 30 minute penalty for entering with a pulse over criteria (64)).
Horses were brought to the staging areas every morning,
and the course usually had two vet checks. The event was extremely well
promoted, every little town we rode through had the streets lined with
people clapping and shouting encouragement, TV cameras followed us out
on the trail. At vets checks we had crew provided to cool horses, and sack
lunches prepared.

At the finish of each leg, we were given lunch at the newly built centers, and
presented medals or trophies by the mayor from each town. Each start and
finish line was lined with school children who would often run up and ask
for autographs. By the end of the week, we were no longer noticing the
TV cameras, interviews, paparazzi which seemed to be following the athletes
and their mounts everywhere We did manage to engender a huge amount of
interest along one particular piece of trail when, while letting the horses
recover, my riding partner pulled out a harmonica. We each took turns
massacreing "Oh Suzanna" to the delight of the film crew.

There were many great moments during the week we spent at the games, and
I'm sure some of the riders will send excerpts to the list. One of my best
memories was the camaraderie between all the riders, irrespective of nationality,
and the overwhelming hospitality and warmth of our Brazilian hosts who
made us feel at home, and part of their family.

Here are the results. If anyone is interested, there is a website address for the games,
and photos of each discipline avaliable. The website is:

http://www.pr.gov.br/jmn

Dom

Results:
1. Darolyn Butler (USA)
2. Jose Seabra Marino (BRA)
3. Marie Noelle Juste (BEL)
4. MArco Mulheim (SUI)
5. Roberto Guglielmino (ARG)
6. Marcos de Abreu Pereira (BRA)
7. Ariel Adjman (BRA)
8. Christian van SAnte (BEL)
9. Marcail Taverne (CHI)
10. Silvia Assi Vacari (BRA)
11. Alice Proust (FRA)
12. Jannet van Wijk (NED)
13. Tony MAlta (BRA)
14. Ingrid Bostrom (SWE)
15. Stephane Chazel (FRA)
16. Fokkeline Dingemans (NED)
17. Jensen Nils Bowall (DEN)
18 Dom Freeman (USA)
19. Lara Rigato (ITA)
20. Jorge MAlouf (BRA)
21. Sergio Thomasi (ITA)
22. Sergio Iasi (BRA)
23. Grainne Beggs (IRL)
24. Edson Rocha (BRA)
25. David Slagueiro (POR)

Pulled
Eliana da Rocha Leao (BRA)
Johann Raubenheimmer (RSA)
Ricardo Dib (BRA)
Marcello Roberto Strauss (BRA)
Antonio Lompart (CHI)
Marcella Pavord (GBR)
Anna Luisa Meirelles (BRA)
Walter Alonso Checoli (BRA)
Felipe Salgueiro (POR)
Leo Steainbruch (BRA)
Carol Bunting (ESC)
Olivia Junqueira Franco (BRA)
Roser Xalabader (ESP)
Elisabet Xalabader (ESP)
Sebastian Guglielmino (ARG)

_______________________________

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