WEG endurance: A true battle of the fittest
Baca Juga
The seat out of endurance riders together with nations competing at the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games beats all previous attendance records, writes Berry Pattison.
When the 160km ride gets nether agency at Normandy on Thursday, August 28, around 47 nations from as far afield every bit China, Colombia, Republic of Kazakhstan together with Thailand, volition cause got their identify on the track.
There are definite entries from 173 athletes, with 198 horses declared for the rival inwards Sartilly, simply over 100km from the principal Games venue inwards Caen.
The ride base of operations opens on Monday, August 25, and National Federations are able to teach into upward to v athletes together with vii horses for the pre-ride inspection, with chefs d’equipe declaring their in conclusion horses afterwards the inspection.
The 2014 Games has seen the introduction of a higher minimum speed, this yr laid upward at 15kph, to ensure that all horses competing are correspond plenty to bargain with the distance together with tough questions asked on track. And for the starting fourth dimension time at Championship level, the 160km rail is made upward of exclusively v loops rather than the to a greater extent than traditional six-loop format.
With a start fourth dimension of 7am, combinations volition laid upward out to tackle 1 of the nearly technical courses inwards recent Championship history. Loop 1, La Lucerne is 37.9km long together with stretches to the N of the venue. Loop 2, Avranches is 35.8km long, together with includes the stunning bay with the incredible backdrop of Mont Saint-Michel.
Champeaux, the tertiary loop, is 32.8km long together with covers the world to the westward of the venue. The penultimate loop, Jullouville, is 33.1km long spell the in conclusion loop, Dragey, is the shortest at simply 20.4km, stretching out to the south-west of the venue.
This yr volition encounter many familiar faces, both equine together with human, battling for the ultimate championship inwards endurance riding. Expectations are high for the domicile nation, France, which has 1 of the nearly consistent rail records of podium positions over recent years. French Republic took squad golden inwards Jerez de la Frontera inwards Espana inwards 2002 every bit good every bit Aachen (Germany) inwards 2006. The French also scooped squad argent inwards 2010 inwards Kentucky (USA) together with volition no incertitude live on looking to footstep dorsum upward to starting fourth dimension identify on domicile soil.
Whilst the French squad fields around novel faces on the Championship scene, 1 of the nearly experienced squad riders of all is included inwards the line-up. Jean Philippe Frances has, since 1997, represented his province at Championship score no less than 10 times together with volition sure as shooting live on looking to claim the golden inwards forepart of his domicile crowd.
Alongside France, at that topographic point volition live on a keen involvement inwards the UAE, Germany, Espana together with Oman, who cause got dominated the hap spots over recent years. But, with the emergence of around exciting novel endurance nations such every bit Republic of Costa Rica together with Slovakia, the race is broad open. Both the United States, who narrowly missed out on a squad medal inwards the 2012 World Championships at Euston Park (GB), together with New Zealand cause got a high jeopardy of bringing domicile a medal, with both nations showcasing young, upcoming talent amongst experienced, seasoned combinations.
On an private score the termination is simply every bit open. With the notable omission of the endurance neat Nobby, who is instantly enjoying his well-earned retirement, the condition of favourite equine must live on held past times the incredibly talented 15-year-old mare, Yamamah (previously named Kurrajong Concorde together with bred past times FEI Award Winner Meg Wade of Australia) who is declared every bit 1 of the squad horses for the UAE. Another familiar lift on the definite entries listing is the legendary Easy Fontnoire, which was business office of the argent medal French squad inwards Kentucky. Four years on, this 12-year-old mare volition instantly live on partnered past times Saudi athlete Tarek Taher.
Many immature riders are included inwards the 2014 line-up together with they pose a formidable threat to the senior opposition. Oriana Ricca (URU), winner of the 2013 Pan-Am Games, volition partner Talita Kumi, the Castilian Equus caballus she rode to quaternary identify inwards the Junior/Young Rider World Championships inwards Tarbes (FRA) in conclusion year. Kelsey Russell (USA), who finished 5th inwards the same Championships aboard Valerie Kanavy’s My Wild Irish Gaelic Gold, volition 1 time once to a greater extent than partner this talented bay Anglo-Arab, competing inwards their starting fourth dimension senior Games.
With such high levels of teamwork required, endurance is oftentimes idea of every bit a family, all-inclusive plain of report together with this yr is no exception. Nearly sixty years comprehend the ages of the athletes, with the youngest entrant existence 14-year-old Constanza Laliscia (ITA), with the oldest – 72 yr one-time Rouslan Gekiev from Russian Federation – turning 73 simply iii weeks afterwards the event.
Six teams include household unit of measurement connections. Both FRG together with Grand Duchy of Luxembourg plain sisters, Melanie together with Sabrina Arnold competing for Germany, together with Mickels together with Valy Schmartz flight the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg flag. The well-known faces of Heather together with Jeremy Reynolds volition both live on business office of Team USA, whilst Espana volition live on represented past times well-known husband-and-wife team, Jaume Punti Dachs together with Maria Alvarez Ponton. The Castilian household unit of measurement links at the Games don’t halt there, every bit swain squad fellow member Javier Cervera has a cousin competing inwards the Jumping at D’Ornano Stadium inwards Caen.
New Zealand has selected woman raise together with missy Andrea together with Georgia Smith, who volition both live on competing on home-bred horses. And finally, it actually is a household unit of measurement matter for Australia, with woman raise together with missy Penny together with Alexandra Toft competing together with manlike soul raise Peter Toft acting every bit chef d’equipe.
With such widespread talent the endurance termination at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 inwards Normandy is sure to live on 1 of the closest contests inwards a long fourth dimension together with is nearly sure as shooting non 1 to live on missed.
For the non-Olympic athletes competing inwards Endurance, the FEI World Equestrian Games is the absolute pinnacle of their sporting career, with many years of preparation together with dedication going into simply 1 solar daytime of performance. With Equus caballus welfare together with fair play hap of the agenda, the chance to scout the talents together with abilities of these hap score combinations competing across the dramatic French countryside is eagerly anticipated.
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