2012 World Endurance Championship

Saturday August 25 2012

It was epic. Not just the race, but the weather, the horses, seeing dear friends from around the world that I haven't seen for a while.

Here are a few pictures from the day.

Before the start: USA's Valerie Kanavy (previous 2-time World Endurance Champion) and Reach for the Gold. They finished 20th.

Watch out for photojournalist extraordinaire, and crazy driver, Brazilian Cidinha.

Spain's Nobby getting doused at one of the vet checks.

Water crossing on trail.

A friend Miguel from Argentina. He rode a beautiful horse! But he didn't finish.

Maria Alvarez dousing Nobby while cantering through a crew point. Riders don't slow down a bit, they grab water bottles from their crews, pour it on their horses and toss the water bottles down, never missing a hoofbeat. Nobby and Maria are the previous double World and European Endurance Champions. No matter what team you supported, you probably also rooted for Maria and Nobby. They finished 4th this ride, but I am quite sure they got the biggest cheers of everybody, all day.

I believe these are Omani riders. Oman got the team bronze medal.

Mine and the Raven's friend, Alexandra Toft. Somewhere I have a picture of the two of them when we had breakfast Friday morning. Alexandra finished 51st - she was caught out in the big storm that stopped the ride.

Another friend Yvonne Ekelund from Sweden. She finished 44th.

Three of the three Portuguese riders finished. This is 14-year-old (yes! 14!!) Joao Maria Moura. He finished 47th. 

I don't know where these 2 gentlemen are from, but they seemed to be having fun every time I saw them during the day!

One of those quick British heavy rain storms that dump for 2 minutes and move on.

Steph's friend, the King of Malaysia. He finished 38th - his first World Endurance Championship completion!

Valerie Kanavy and a Malaysian rider going out on the 5th loop.

This is Japan's Kyoko Fukumori - that's her up top also. This gal had the biggest smile on her face all day! Her horse looked great all day but was pulled at vet gate 4, at the re-check. She STILL had the biggest smile on her face. She was so happy just to be there participating.

USA's John Crandell and Heraldic. It was a big surprise and blow when he was eliminated at the 5th vet gate.

USA's Riverwatch, being trotted out by Heather Reynolds' sister. Heather and Riverwatch finished 36th.

This is the storm that ended the ride about 6 PM. Huge deluge, big wind, and wicked lightning. Riders got whatever placing they were in at the time - those unfortunate enough to be caught out on course had to carefully make their way back; those fortunate enough to be in a vet gate when it hit did not go out again. As long as the horses passed their last vet check, it was a finish for them. Luckily nobody got hurt in the storm! 

Tragic news not regarding the weather: on the first loop, Netherlands' Donna Oudshoorn's Karrihm fell and broke a shoulder and had to be put down. That's Donna and Karrimh on the left before the start. RIP, Karrimh.

Waaaaay many more photos are at
http://www.endurance.net/international/GreatBritain/2012WEC/

There will be more to come, stories and videos! Now we're on our way home!

World Endurance Championship Vet In

Friday August 24 2012

A few photos from vet in day at the World Endurance Championship at Euston Park in Great Britain.

A future Uruguayan endurance rider!

Trotting out for the vets.

A friend Miguel, riding for Argentina

The incomparable Nobby! of Spain. That's Jaume with him, Maria Alvarez' husband. Jaume will be riding also (on another horse). That's Nobby up top, too, trotting out for the Spanish coach and vet.

USA's Heather Reynolds (right) and her sister. Heather will be riding Riverwatch.

Sad news for the US team: early on Friday, it was decided that Becky Hart and No Repeat would not participate, and instead, alternate Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille would in her place. At the afternoon vet in, Nicki Meuten's Not Tonight did not pass the vet check because of lameness. Due to FEI rules, it was too late for Becky and Pete to try and vet in. So the US goes with 5 riders instead of six.

It looks to rain at times tomorrow and rain hard... should make the course tough. Will be an interesting ride, with over 150 horses starting, to say the least!

Lots more pictures, and you can follow the race more or less live by tweets here:

http://www.endurance.net/international/GreatBritain/2012WEC/

Thursday at the WEC

Thursday August 23 2012

We're on the grounds of the World Endurance Championship in England: Euston Park, near Newmarket, homeland of English Thoroughbred racing. The USA Team is staying on the grounds of Shadwell stud owned by Shaikh Hamdan. Spectacular place. The team looks happy and relaxed and the horses look great!

Tonight was the Opening Ceremonies - dancers, fire, fireworks, and dancing horses! The best part about this whole thing is reuniting with friends from around the world that I've gotten to spend time with over the years and whom I love dearly.

Here are a few shots from the day. Vetting in is tomorrow, and the race is Saturday so… more to come!

Up top is USA's Becky Hart and No Repeat.

This is USA's John Crandell's Heraldic.

The horses and riders will pass by this castle/abbey on two of the loops.

The Opening Ceremonies!

Out-bound

Monday August 20 2012

Tomorrow we are off to England for the World Endurance Championship (you'll be able to follow tweets, live updates, photos and stories at the link at the bottom if you are so inclined, and Steph made a cool video of a preview of the course!)

It should be a fascinating race, with returning double World and European champions Maria Alvarez and Nobby of Spain returning, and facing 153 other riders from 38 countries (at last check), including the Prime Minister of the UAE Shaikh Mohammed and his 3 sons (who seem to win every ride they enter, unless a horse is pulled at a vet gate), and Steph's friend, the King of Malaysia. (Actually, he's back to being a Sultan now, but he is Steph's friend : ).

The USA is excited about their chances, with an astonishing cumulative endurance record, including Valerie Kanavy (World Endurance Champion in 1994 and 1998), Becky Hart (World Endurance Champion 1988, 1990, 1992), plus 8 Tevis Cup wins among Becky, Jeremy and Heather Reynolds, and John Crandell and his amazing Heraldic.

We get back from England next week at midnight drive straight to Arizona meet John climb on our horses for the 5-day Grand Canyon ride then I head to Durango to shoot possibly the most beautiful endurance ride in the world the inaugural Purgatory 60 then come back here and help Steph get ready for the 5-day Canyonlands ride which is 2 weeks later then I can breathe. (Or… perhaps we'll just collapse after England?)

This evening, before we leave, a few words come to mind:

frantic

last minute packing

Everything but the kitchen sink

what have I forgotten

Good thing The Raven is around to supervise everything!

http://www.endurance.net/international/GreatBritain/2012WEC/ is the link to the ride, which is on Saturday, August 25, England time.

(and - top picture is only a fraction of the packed gear…)