Just a quick note to wish everyone going Red Dragon this year GOOD LUCK from your group .
Apparently it will be typical welsh weather RAIN RAIN and more RAIN. Equalling a very muddy venue ( comparable to a weekend at Glastonbury) ... Just to add to it apparently the showers are not working at the venue .
I went last year and rode over 2 days , just to advise anyone carrying a mobile phone get one of those waterproof bags as, my phone never worked again after the first days soaking.
Another tip get your map laminated and take spare copies as mine washed away to nothing even inside my map case.... plus lots and lots of spare clothes .
Good Luck its one of my favourite rides enjoy and cant wait for the ride report when you get back
Wednesday 26 September 2007
Thursday 20 September 2007
WEG 2006 Aachen
For those of you who did not get to go last year, here are the photos I took when Chris Maria & Sue & I went on our truly inspirational trip to Germany last year to WEG in Aachen . It gives you a good idea of the event . I was intrigued how this event would work for spectators . Can you make Endurance a spectator & TV friendly and if so how many would turn up ?
The organising committee got it so right with their clever planning of the route of the 160km course which started in central Aachen at the main area of the games with several butterfly wing loops from Vaarls vet gate throughout the day. This enabled spectators to remain static enjoying numerous trade stands . Transportation was available to the main stadium to and from Vaarls keeping the traffic down to a minimum for the numerous crew vehicles.
After several loops the riders & horses returned to the main stadium weaving through the outskirts of the games cross country course for the final two loops using the smaller stadium as the hold and trot up area.
The final route took you along narrow sand tracks sectioned off by crowd control barriers just like other great sporting events like marathon runners experience or cyclists in the Tour De France .Crowds lined the final sections of the route applauding every horse & rider in the pouring rain . Until finally entering the huge stadium with capacity of over 50,000 people for a final emotional circuit to cross the finish line . A huge thunder of applause ricochet around the stadium. A certainly a truly appreciative & educated audience who understood fully the outstanding world class performance task both horse and rider had accomplished that day .
Large TV screens captured every heart beat and thudding hoof and linked you through to the 1st horse back with a countdown as he entered the arena. Then the nail biting moment also shown as the same horse was vetted in the smaller arena next door to confirm the final results.
Here you can see the first horses arriving at the 1st vetgate into the crew area in Vaarls which is on the border of Germany , Netherlands and Belgium . This site had a huge tower you could climb and get a terrific view of the terrain in all directions . This would be where we would spend most of the day . An excellent set up fro the spectators with plenty of catering and trade stands and a bus from the stadium to the vet gate for spectators .The one here at Vaarls and the second the smaller arena at the main WEG site.
The vet gate and trot up lanes just after the crew area. There is a one way entry system into the hold area for rechecks etc. I'm sat in the seating stands they had for this event which gave a clear view of all the lanes . The vet writers / stewards had a red and green card which was shown to indicate if a horse had passed or failed the vet . This was great for spectators . Also from this point there was digital timing board so you knew the arrival and departure times etc from the vet gate .
The trot up lanes were constantly in use
The busy Hold area at Vaarls
The main arena and the awaiting crowd for the first horses home . You can just make out the spanish horse & rider who has just crossed the finish line on the far side of the arena
The Trot up lanes in the smaller arena
The final overall results
1st Miguel Vila Ubach (ESP) Hungares (1998 Arab G) 9hrs 12.27
2nd Virginie Atger (FRA) Kangoo d'AuraBelle (1998 Arab G) 9hrs 16.13
3rd Elodie Le Labourier (FRA) Sangho'Limousian (1990 Arab G) 9hrs .16.14
1st GBR rider home was in 17th place was Chris Yeoman on Lm Taquillero (1996 Arab G) in 10hrs.07.35
If you get chance go to the event website download the map to truly appreciate the course
and also look at the results . Particularly the speeds of the top 10 horses on the final two loops versus there positionand speed on the first 3-4 loops its exceedingly impressive !
http://www.aachen2006.de/default_e.htm
The organising committee got it so right with their clever planning of the route of the 160km course which started in central Aachen at the main area of the games with several butterfly wing loops from Vaarls vet gate throughout the day. This enabled spectators to remain static enjoying numerous trade stands . Transportation was available to the main stadium to and from Vaarls keeping the traffic down to a minimum for the numerous crew vehicles.
After several loops the riders & horses returned to the main stadium weaving through the outskirts of the games cross country course for the final two loops using the smaller stadium as the hold and trot up area.
The final route took you along narrow sand tracks sectioned off by crowd control barriers just like other great sporting events like marathon runners experience or cyclists in the Tour De France .Crowds lined the final sections of the route applauding every horse & rider in the pouring rain . Until finally entering the huge stadium with capacity of over 50,000 people for a final emotional circuit to cross the finish line . A huge thunder of applause ricochet around the stadium. A certainly a truly appreciative & educated audience who understood fully the outstanding world class performance task both horse and rider had accomplished that day .
Large TV screens captured every heart beat and thudding hoof and linked you through to the 1st horse back with a countdown as he entered the arena. Then the nail biting moment also shown as the same horse was vetted in the smaller arena next door to confirm the final results.
Here you can see the first horses arriving at the 1st vetgate into the crew area in Vaarls which is on the border of Germany , Netherlands and Belgium . This site had a huge tower you could climb and get a terrific view of the terrain in all directions . This would be where we would spend most of the day . An excellent set up fro the spectators with plenty of catering and trade stands and a bus from the stadium to the vet gate for spectators .The one here at Vaarls and the second the smaller arena at the main WEG site.
The vet gate and trot up lanes just after the crew area. There is a one way entry system into the hold area for rechecks etc. I'm sat in the seating stands they had for this event which gave a clear view of all the lanes . The vet writers / stewards had a red and green card which was shown to indicate if a horse had passed or failed the vet . This was great for spectators . Also from this point there was digital timing board so you knew the arrival and departure times etc from the vet gate .
The trot up lanes were constantly in use
The busy Hold area at Vaarls
The main arena and the awaiting crowd for the first horses home . You can just make out the spanish horse & rider who has just crossed the finish line on the far side of the arena
The Trot up lanes in the smaller arenaThe final overall results
1st Miguel Vila Ubach (ESP) Hungares (1998 Arab G) 9hrs 12.27
2nd Virginie Atger (FRA) Kangoo d'AuraBelle (1998 Arab G) 9hrs 16.13
3rd Elodie Le Labourier (FRA) Sangho'Limousian (1990 Arab G) 9hrs .16.14
1st GBR rider home was in 17th place was Chris Yeoman on Lm Taquillero (1996 Arab G) in 10hrs.07.35
If you get chance go to the event website download the map to truly appreciate the course
and also look at the results . Particularly the speeds of the top 10 horses on the final two loops versus there positionand speed on the first 3-4 loops its exceedingly impressive !
http://www.aachen2006.de/default_e.htm
Tendon & Joint Disease in the 21st Century
Chine House Veterinary Hospital have an invitational clients evening on 2nd October 2007, at Brooksby College 6.30pm - 7pm start .
- A talk from Potts Redmond BVetMed MRCVS on 'Equine Joint Disease'
- Discussion time after talk
- Talk by Professor Roger Smith MA VetMB PhD DEO DipECVS MRCVS on 'Tackling Tendons Present and Future'
- Refreshments on arrival and afterwards
- Everyone attending to recieve a voucher entitling £10 off their first purchase of Synequin - a high purity oral joint supplement.
- Numbers will be limited to 100 : please ring Chine House on 01509 812445
- Entry £2.00 in aid of S.P.A.N.A ( Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad)
TROT Toll Rides in your area
TROT is the Toll Rides (off-road) Trust it is a non commercial charity organised by riders and carriage drivers. All funds raised go towards paying the farmers / landowners ,establishing the routes and administering the scheme.
To find out more information about TROT see their website www.tollrides.org.uk
TROT has brought off road riding and carriage driving to the Welland area
Harborough
Melton
East Northamptonshire
South Kesteven
Ride Welland is a publicly funded project developed to integrate equestrianism with leisure and tourism oppotunities. By opening off road toll ride networks. Ride Welland is managed by Elizabeth England of the Country Land & Business Association , and is funded by the East Midlands Development Agency via the Welland sub -regional strategic partnership . To find out more about Ride Welland visit www.ridewelland.co.uk
To find out more information about TROT see their website www.tollrides.org.uk
TROT has brought off road riding and carriage driving to the Welland area
Harborough
Melton
East Northamptonshire
South Kesteven
Ride Welland is a publicly funded project developed to integrate equestrianism with leisure and tourism oppotunities. By opening off road toll ride networks. Ride Welland is managed by Elizabeth England of the Country Land & Business Association , and is funded by the East Midlands Development Agency via the Welland sub -regional strategic partnership . To find out more about Ride Welland visit www.ridewelland.co.uk
Wednesday 19 September 2007
BHS Bridleway Access Petition
Please see attatched link and sign up to this petition and pass on to as many of your horsey friends to sign up too.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Equestrianaccess/
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Equestrianaccess/
Tevis Cup Cougar Rock 2007
Just to inspire you take a look at this clip from this years Tevis Cup at The ascent of Cougar Rock . Maria & Chris Lamin told me about this clip on You Tube . There are many other Endurance ride video clips on You Tube from rides overseas as well as in the UK.
Live at last!
Leics & Rutland finally have a website or Blog . Please send articles etc to the email address
Thanks Fiona
Thanks Fiona
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
