Duke opens World Endurance Champs
It has been a decade inward the making, as well as yesterday the Duke of Grafton realised a identify unit of measurement dream past times declaring the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2012 at Euston Park officially open.
Speaking at a lavish opening ceremony held final black at Euston Hall, close Thetford, Suffolk, the Duke welcomed 153 athletes as well as crews from 38 nations.
About 2000 guests included squad members, crews as well as supporters who were likewise joined past times Britain Minister of Sport Hugh Robertson MP.
“This gathering of 153 of the world’s leading endurance riders from all corners of the globe is the culmination of well-nigh a decade of evolution of Euston equally a venue for the world’s fastest growing equestrian sport. It has been a hugely enjoyable procedure as well as it is a swell honor to encounter yous all here,” the Duke said.
The commencement endurance ride was held on the grounds inward 2005, he said, as well as it was his belatedly father’s vision that 1 day a World Championship would live on hosted there.
“It is distressing for myself as well as family, that he is non hither to encounter that dream realised, but I know that he would receive got been proud, to welcome yous hither today,” the Duke said.
Euston Hall has been the habitation of the Dukes of Grafton for to a greater extent than than 300 years. Traditionally renowned for their honey of Equus caballus racing, the 3rd as well as quaternary Dukes could frequently live on seen inward the parkland admiring the many successful horses they bred as well as trained.
The Euston Estate comprises a rich mixture of woods as well as arable reason as well as this, together alongside the neighbouring landowners, is expected to furnish stunning setting for a memorable sporting occasion.
Several landowners as well as farmers receive got given access to their reason to enable the organisers to practice a 100-mile road over the Breckland class roofing heathland, wood tracks as well as opened upwards farmland. Hundreds of local volunteers volition live on involved inward the upshot which is expected to pull some 2000 people including participants, crew, officials as well as spectactors.
“This wonderful class as well as spectacular venue would not, however, live on possible without the back upwards of our sponsors as well as I would similar to add together my thank yous as well as those of the organizing commission to Longines, Meydan as well as to Emaar,” the Duke said.
“I likewise desire to pay tribute to all those who receive got worked tirelessly since nosotros were awarded the honor of hosting the championships xv months ago.
“It has been a fantastic summertime of competitive sport alongside the European Football Cup as well as nosotros receive got simply enjoyed sixteen days of glorious sporting activeness at the London 2012 Olympics, thank yous inward no pocket-size purpose to a huge regular army of volunteers – the Games Makers. Well, nosotros receive got our ain squad of Games Makers hither inward Suffolk, equally in that place volition live on some 100 volunteers involved over the adjacent few days, as well as I would similar to give thank yous them for their efforts.
“Finally to the riders, crews as well as supporters. To compete for your province at this score takes years of dedication as well as difficult run to develop the special partnership betwixt Equus caballus as well as passenger as well as supreme athleticism to consummate that gruelling 100 miles inward 1 day.
“I, along, alongside all the supporters here, wishing the really best of luck as well as swell success for this special contest that lies ahead,” the Duke said.
Ian Williams, Director of Non-Olympic Sports for the FEI said: “After then many months of planning, as well as dedicated difficult work, nosotros are straightaway all hither at the start of this World Championship.
“On behalf of the FEI President, her Royal Highness Princess Haya, nosotros wishing everyone an exciting, competitive as well as inward a higher identify all rubber championship. On Lord's Day nosotros volition assemble hither in 1 trial again to acquaint the FEI medals to those teams as well as individuals who receive got excelled at the really highest score of their sport.”
The upshot volition encounter a star-studded plain of riders as well as horses including 3 one-time Blue Planet champions tackle the 160km (100-mile) entitle class inward a unmarried day.
The 14th running of the championships volition encounter the electrical current holder, Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton, get to tally the USA’s Becky Hart inward winning 3 World titles inward succession – a feat commencement achieved past times Hart inward 1988, 1990 as well as 1992 alongside the swell RO Grand Sultan.
Alvarez volition partner her 17-year-old superstar Nobby equally the distich get to brand history.
Meanwhile, the married adult man of Princess Haya, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose boy Sheikh Ahmed won the Blue Planet private entitle inward 2002, is likewise taking purpose leading a rigid UAE defense strength of its Blue Planet squad entitle for the 3rd fourth dimension inward succession.
A total of 29 teams receive got entered the championship.
The opening upshot was devised past times present managing director Pierre Marcout together alongside Gilles Ledos as well as Jean Marc Chandoo of Prisme International.
Alongside entitle sponsor Longines, 2 Dubai manufacture giants, Meydan as well as Emaar Properties are additional supporters of the championships.
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