Merri Travels on Endurance.net

Sunday, June 22, 2008

2008 Dackeritten: Pre-Ride

VET-IN DAY

Friday June 13 2008

My first afternoon in Växjö, I immediately got a taste of the "typical Swedish summer": clouds, showers, sun, changing every 15 minutes. It gets cool enough for a jacket, then warm enough to take it off, every 15 minutes. Then, there were the GNOTS. Or, gnats, as we call them, and nasty buggers they were. Persistent, vicious, and lots of them, biting anything they could get their snouts on. "They just came out!" Michael swore. "We haven't had any all summer until just now. They will be gone in a few days." Magnus was prepared with bug juice and we all took turns running to him in desperation and borrowing it.

The gnots would stick around for ride day, though it was only in the forest at a few of the crew points, that they really attacked us. Mercifully, they were absent at Bergunda where all the Vet Gates and Finish would be.

There would be two stables and starting lines, one for the 160 km and 120 km horses in Ingelstad, and one for the 80 km and 50 km horses 20 km away in Bergunda.

The Ingelstad stables are on the grounds of an agricultural school at which Yvonne teaches classes on endurance riding. Vet inspections began in a field by the stabling barns at 5 PM for the 160 km and 120 km horses, followed by a ride meeting with the veterinarians and ride organizers.

One of the horses that stood out at the inspections - and how could she not - was Norwegian Olaug Carstensen's Nelly av Espeli. It's a Norwegian fjord, one of only two I saw at the ride, and the only one in the 160 km. Maybe not exactly the breed of horse you expect to see doing 160's, but, "You wait," said Alam. "That horse will still be going at the end." Olaug won the Nordic-Baltic Championships in Finland 3 weeks ago, and she will be putting on the Sør-Vest Rittet (South West Ride) in Gyland, Norway in September, which will be the pre-ride for next year's Nordic-Baltic Championships.

Jessica Homberg would be riding Princess Millenia in the 160 km; she was second by a nose in the Nordic-Baltic Championships, coming on at the very last seconds and just missing the win.

Third in the same Nordic-Baltic Championships was Norwegian Ellen Suhr on her gelding Elcapero. Endurance riders in Europe tend to drive long distances for rides, and perhaps the Driving Prize for this Dackeritten ride goes to the Suhrs, for coming 2300 miles. While they do have stables now near Oslo, Andalouisa and Sven live in the north of Norway, about as close to the Arctic Circle as you can get. And they go to a lot of rides to crew for their daughter - apparently they just get used to all the driving.

The vets and organizers moved to the stables at Bergunda, where the vetting in of the 80 km and 50 km rides began. Riders and crews set up crewing spaces in the vetting arena, and rest areas in the yellow field behind the vet ring, getting everything ready for the morning.

And it would be an early morning: at Ingelstad the 160 km ride would begin at 5 AM, and the 120 km Young Riders at 5:30 AM, and the 120 km riders at 6:30 AM. At Bergunda, the 80 km riders wouldn't start till 9 AM (!) and the 50 km riders at 11:30 AM. I'd be coming in with Yvonne in the morning, which meant leaving the house at 4 AM. (ACK!) Which meant getting up at 3:50 AM. (ACK!).

Back home, the chores don't stop; horses still had to be put in stables and fed, kids put to bed, and another meal cooked for a house full of guests again. Yvonne never seems to stop, or get tired.

It wasn't completely dark yet when I crawled in bed by 11 PM, so at least it felt like I'd be getting a good, long, night's sleep.

Monday, June 16, 2008

2008 Dackeritten: Pre-Ride

Friday June 13 2008

The Dackeritten ride takes place near Växjö, Sweden, and don't even ask me to try to spell that out phonetically. I asked how to pronounce it, many times, and I worked on it all weekend. I got lots of giggles and lots of help... but I don't think I ever got it right. Suffice it to say, only the "V" makes a "V" sound. The rest - you're on your own.

There's a lot of history here - from the vikings who left an old grave marker in a field near Yvonne's house, to Dackeritten - a rebel back in the 1500's who wanted this part of Sweden to remain Danish, and who got chopped to pieces for it, to the farming Swedish who fell on hard times in the early 1900's and moved in droves to Minnesota.

Yvonne and Michael live on such an old homestead, with fields full of 2 dozen horses, a new house built by Michael (still in progress), a couple of older houses that they rent out - the dark red color I came to see as typical of Sweden - and a barn. Yvonne's father raced trotters - a popular sport here in Sweden - and there's a week-old trotter foal in the front pasture, with the longest spider legs I've ever seen on a baby. And you couldn't miss the very pregnant gray Arabian mare in the same pasture that was due to pop any day.

Yvonne and Michael's Stall Peak Enterprise on their Rävagård Farm breeds and trains Arabians for international endurance racing. Stall Peak was established in 1995, and has won 11 medals over the years in the Swedish, Nordic-Baltic, and World championships. Yvonne rode her first endurance race in 1993, after beginning riding as a child, and competing in show jumping and trotting races for ponies.

Hanging from a doorway in the house is a cluster of 14 of Yvonne's endurance medals. "When I reach 20, I will quit." "Quit? No more riding!?" "Yes!" "Why?" She shrugged. I wasn't sure she was serious. Once you start endurance riding, can you ever really quit? She's most proud of the bronze Swedish team medal from Compiegne in 2000. She'll be riding her mare Karmenzita on the 160 km ride Saturday. They were 2nd in last year's Swedish championship.

One person Yvonne will be trying to beat is Ingrid Boström. Ingrid's been Swedish champion a number of times, and she sometimes serves as coach for the senior Swedish riders. From near Stockholm (a 6 hour drive with a trailer), she has 7 horses; she prefers younger ones around 4-5 that she can start. Her mount, the 7 year old gelding Kurir, is doing his first 160 km. He's certainly impressive looking - tall (16.2 hands at least) and strong. He should be fit; he's done 3 120's. Her husband Matts is along to crew.

Ingrid started riding endurance in 1986. She has no interest in going to the Malaysia World Endurance Championship in November, for a number of reasons. "It's too hard on a horse, and takes too much time - I have 6 other horses at home - and maybe you can't even bring your horse back, with the quarantine restrictions." Plus it's too expensive, and the Swedish federation doesn't pay their riders' expenses. Instead, she's looking ahead to Assisi next year (where rumors are the 2009 European Championships might be held).

I asked Ingrid what she thought about the world record time for the 160 km in Dubai this winter. "It's different there. In Dubai you have a flat, perfect track, not a stone. Everything is perfect, from the vet gate, to the distance you have to walk anywhere, to the card swipe system - it's all made to go fast. You can't compare it to a ride in Sweden, or to most places." The ride here may average 15 km/h, but not over 20 - it's not that kind of course.

Sweden has 200-300 endurance riders, and zero to three 160 km rides a year. If Swedish riders want to do more 160 km rides, they have to travel to Denmark, Finland, Norway, or Poland... and there aren't that many there either. Nothing is a short distance from Scandinavia.

This is the 6th time the Dackeritten ride has been put on, but the first time for a 160 km, and the Swedish Championships. In addition, there would be a 120 km for seniors and a 120 km for Juniors and Young Riders (young rider team coach Eva Borg would be watching this ride closely, seeing which riders qualify to be selected for the Junior Endurance Championship in Spain in September), a 120 km for seniors, and 80 km, and a 50 km. There are riders from Sweden, Norway, 2 from Finland, and 1 from Denmark.

Team Thomsen came from Denmark to crew for their sister Maja on the YR 120 km, and to help Yvonne. Maja would be riding Yvonne's Polish Arabian stallion, Wierusz.

When you see Team Thomsen - a family affair with father, brother, and sisters - you immediately see people who enjoy what they are doing. Joining them is Alam Dar Dastani, who matches their enthusiasm, and brings boundless optimism with him. Alam's background is in show jumping, in which he won a gold medal in India. His uncle is master farrier Mustafa, and through him, he not only learned much of his shoeing skills, but he got a job in Dubai working for Shaikh Mohammed's stables for several years. The Thomsens train and ride endurance horses, and, pooling their experiences in international competition and training and shoeing, they give endurance seminars in the Scandinavian countries. The brother and sisters and Alam may be young, but with endurance as their passion and with their inexhaustible drive and attitude, you just feel any goal is attainable that they put their minds to.

Welcome to Sweden

Thursday June 12 2008

How I got to Växjö Sweden is this. I noticed that on the weekend after the Dutch Championship ride there was a ride in Assissi, Italy, and Växjö, Sweden. Assissi - been there done that (ha) last year (oh, and it was so warm there); why not go to Sweden for endurance riding (where it should be cooler!)? But where to go? How to get there? Who to stay with?

I just met Bev Gray 2 weeks ago in Idaho. Steph remembered that Bev knew two Swedish riders, so I emailed Bev. Yes, Bev knew Gun and Gunilla Carlson ("super folks"), who came to ride with her on the Grand Canyon XP last year. I just happened to meet Gun at Assissi last year! That right there showed I was on the right track. I emailed Gun, who answered: she would not be at Växjö, but here was the name of a rider who lived near there: Yvonne Ekelund.

Yvonne emailed me and invited me to stay with them... I was in! Off to the Amsterdam airport at night, where I'd fly to Copenhagen in the morning, and take a train to Alvesta, Sweden.

Now, Amsterdam is a great airport to hang out in overnight, work on the internet, and snooze... IF you are on the Other Side of security. You can't check in the night before your flight to get to the Other Side, so you are stuck on this side: single seats, hard seats, and mean policemen who come around and poke you into a sitting position when you doze off draped over two chairs or a table and two chairs.

Hrmph.

Then when you think you can check in two hours ahead of your morning flight, finally get into the Other Side and get 1 1/2 hours of dozing in on comfortable chairs that you can legally recline in or over, your plane is delayed an hour. So you can't check in for another hour.

When you finally check in, security for your gates is not yet open, so you still can't get into those chairs. You waste another half hour. Your security gate finally opens, and you go through, and find one of those soft chairs to doze in only a half hour, and get up and walk to your gate to find... the flight has been delayed another hour.

I'll have to rethink the overnight stays in the Amsterdam airport.

But anyway, in another half a day, the Raven and I stepped off the train in Alvesta, Sweden, into a cool little rain shower. I was picked up by a friend of Yvonne's, Magnus - who'd be crewing for his wife Lena at the ride - and taken to Yvonne and Michael's house, and immediately swept up into the pre-ride social festivities. Yvonne and Michael were in the middle of making dinner for a big table full of riders and crew who were either visiting, sleeping there, or leaving their horses there overnight for the ride: Danish sisters Maria and Maja and brother Matthias and crew Beatta, and Indian (now Danish) Alam (all whom I saw at the Ermelo last weekend), Swedes Magnus and Lena, Ingrid (a former multiple Dutch champion) and Matts, and Norwegian Ellen and her parents Sven and Andalouisa Suhr. I did ask them if they knew our Julie Suhr, and they said, "Of course!" They are not related, but they have emailed. And you couldn't leave out Yvonne and Michael's towheaded boys ("vikings!") Mons and Emil.

I'd just gotten well-used to the sound of Dutch (and could pick out a few words) - and here were 3 totally new languages: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish. Everybody talked and answered in their own languages, which I found fascinating! They spoke English for Alam and me on occasion - while Alam speaks 7 languages, these three were not among them!

It was one of those dinners where everybody felt like family, and, of course we were - one big endurance family coming from around the world to get together to talk and ride horses.

That's all the same language.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Sweden and Gospel Bound

Wednesday June 11 2008

There's just never enough time to get everything done. Sunday and Monday after the Ermelo ride I stayed busy helping the Lamsmas clean the grounds at the venue, packing and unpacking things from the ride, shuttling vehicles, dropping off and picking Anita and Imke up, and, on Monday and Tuesday, trying to catch up on writing about the weekend, contacting Swedish endurance riders and ride organizers Yvonne and Michael, working out how to get to Växjö, Sweden this weekend - train schedules, flights, hotel - and man it's sure nice to get a little bit of sleep in there too. And that's just for endurance.

Then, meanwhile, there's the Gospel. Before I could confirm my trip to Sweden, I had to make sure I could get to Athens on Monday - trains, planes, hotels - for the other main reason, besides endurance, that I am back in Europe.

The black gospel play/musical, Gospel at Colonus - the story of Oedipus, a classical Greek tragedy, as told in a black church - has a one-night performance in Athens on June 21 - at an amphitheatre right under the Acropolis! - and I am the lucky sound engineer.

I should have been studying the old version of the show this last week - but there's been no time. In Sweden there will be no time. In Athens, it will be too late.

So I'm stealing spare moments when I can to keep working - like overnight tonight in Amsterdam's Schipol airport waiting to catch my early morning flight to Copenhagen, trying to wring 30 hours out of a day to squeeze it all in - more writing, reading up on Sweden, studying the score for my show. Sleep can come later - maybe an hour and a half on the flight to Copenhagen. Certainly not on the train from Copenhagen to Alvesta, Sweden, because there will be too much new scenery to see out the train window!

Ermelo Aftermath

Sunday June 8 2008

You don't just pack up and leave a CEI endurance ride in Holland when you cross the finish line; your horse has to stay overnight and get permission from the veterinarians to leave. And you still don't just pack up and leave: if you are a finisher, you are strongly encouraged to be present for the Awards Ceremony, which comes after the Best Conditioned judging. One to four horses in 6 of the 7 races showed for BC (the 60 km Junior ride had no finishers of two starters), getting examined by the veterinarians, and trotting out, up and down in a straight line, and then in a circular pattern. (The same patterns varied widely among the handlers!)

Then every finisher who was still here - only a few snuck away - dressed in their nice white riding tights and team colors, and mounted their horses and filled up one of the indoor arenas, while the stands filled with people and the officials took their chairs at the front of the arena behind the table filled with awards.

First, time was taken to honor Joan Eikelboom with a moment of silence - Dutch endurance rider, organization helper, and good friend to many - who died suddenly earlier this year. We all fell silent; a dog barked, a horse neighed, and then it was quiet again; and I'm sure that somewhere Joan heard us all.

One by one, the finishers of each of the rides was called forward to receive a ribbon or a prize - pinned on or handed out by the different officials - from one of the many sponsors, who, without their help, rides like this cannot be put on. Havens, one of the main sponsors, gave, among other things, a free bag of grain to every competitor. Massimo was giving a saddle to the winner of the 160 km ride... and we already knew who that was. : )

Getting sponsors for endurance rides the world over is not an easy task. Endurance rides are expensive to put on, and expensive for the riders. Entry fees for Ermelo 2008 were Є210 for the 160-km, Є160 for the 25 km, Є125 for the 100 km, and Є100 for the 60 km, with (obligatory) stabling extra. Grass fields were available to put up paddocks (ropes or tape) for the horses during the day. Due to the expense, it's not a ride to enter lightly. Eric is working on getting more sponsors next year so the fees will be less.

Fortunately, getting volunteers for this ride is not difficult (so far). Of course it helps when you can recruit the in-laws! But there were plenty of other hard working volunteers, such as Lidwien and Kim, two girls who ride horses (but not endurance), who just called Eric up two weeks before the ride and offered to help. Eric put them to work right then, and they were constantly on the go the whole weekend, finally sitting down and heaving a big breath near 6 PM on Sunday.

Then came the announcements we didn't know: Best Condition winners. On the 60 km ride, BC went to the winner Leshiek, ridden by Helene Baayen; on the 100 km Juniors it was winner Stein Lina with Elisabeth Loresch; on the 100 km it was winner Antares and Stefan Zoeller; the 125 km Junior BC horse was winner Gitano Sumaya and Yara De Boer; the 125 km was the winner Paradise Ox and Blanca von Hardenberg; and for the 160 km ride, Best Condition went to the 4th place horse, Priceless Gold and Gabriele Förster.

Overall, an average of 51% of the horses finished the races, with the highest percent (2 starters, 2 finishers) in the 100 km Junior race, and the lowest percent (6 finishers of 17 starters) in the 125 km. 56% finished the 160 km. Of the eliminations, 30 were due to lameness, 6 to metabolic, 3 to the rider retiring the horse, and 1 error on course.

Why so many lamenesses on such a flat, kind course, on a day that was not so hot and humidly punishing to the horses? Some of it is bad luck, some of it is just a horse not having a good day. Part of it probably was the fact that there was so much good footing - you can easily be tricked into travelling faster than you should, and, though the sand was not deep, if your horse was used to rocky ground and harder surfaces, sand could add up to be a problem. And, one official observed later, some of it was "maybe lameness going on metabolic." With the qualifications for the WEC in Malaysia requiring NO metabolic pulls in the last 24 months, you can only have an "L" instead of a "MET" pull by your horse's name, if you have any designs on getting to Malaysia.

In general, though, the veterinarians were pleased with the riders and horses. Dr Juliette Mallison said, "I was impressed with some of these horses trotting out - all day! That Akhal-teke of Janet Lam's, Jannet Van Wijk's horse, many of them! And there were a few metabolic issues, but no major crashes... it's been a good day!" At the Closing Ceremonies, head veterinarian Dr Frans Arts also announced his satisfaction with the ride, and the good care the riders took of their horses, having no major metabolic issues to deal with.

As the finale, Jannet Van Wijk collected her prizes, and posed with her horse underneath the flag of The Netherlands, and the 2008 Ermelo ride came to a close.

During the day, the competitors gathered up their gear and tents, and loaded up and pulled out, and gradually the grounds emptied of horses and people and trucks and trotting lanes and officials' booths. We spent a fair amount of time and effort really cleaning up the sand arena (Eric may have cleaned it too well - the KNHS commended him later, "Nobody has ever cleaned up this well!") and the hay piles left in the grass paddock area. It's the same everywhere - endurance riders don't quite get around to cleaning everything up all the time. Eric said, "Maybe we can take a deposit next year - if you leave your area clean, you get your deposit back when you leave." I suggested, "Maybe we can take their van keys! They clean up and they can leave with their horses!" But it was a painless cleanup during a relaxed day, with breaks taken during little rain showers (and thunderstorms!). One thunderstorm stuck - or should I say, struck around a while, and dumped heavy rain for a good hour, during which time the Sturrus family gathered in the ride office for coffee, tea, conversation, and a sausage and cheese snack left by the Lithuanian riders.

As the evening wound to a close, we went out to dinner at the same restaurant Eric had taken a group of us to on Thursday night, when the waitress had enjoyed our table of Dutch, South African, German, and American subjects. The same waitress asked Eric tonight if he'd brought the same mixed crowd along. "No, it's just family tonight." He'd forgotten about me, still the foreigner... or maybe he didn't. They feel like my extra family in Holland.

A successful ride it was on the Fasna Trail again, by all accounts, from the view of the organizers. The few glitches that always come up during a ride were handled efficiently, the officials made a good team, the riders appeared pleased with the ride and trail and venue (if the numerous thank you gifts to Eric were any indication).

Eric is always thinking of ways to improve things, and is already thinking ahead to the Fasna Trail and Dutch Championships for 2009, and, another far-reaching goal: hosting the European or World Championships.

Eric laughs: "Like maybe in the year 2040. Or maybe 2050!"

Or maybe sooner than that. The Fasna Trail will be ready.

2008 Ermelo - Dutch National Championships

Saturday June 7 2008

2008 Ermelo: the Dutch Championships

81 riders left the starting line today in a cool damp fog, beginning with 23 riders on the 160 km ride at 5:30 AM. It began as an uneventful, orderly walk out onto the road in front of the KMSH offices, and a trot out on the trail into the forest. The sun was not yet up, but there was plenty of light to see by, even in the cover of the forest.

32 riders started on the 125 km (15 of them in the Junior 125 km) at 6:30 AM; 19 riders started the 100 km (2 in the Junior 100 km) at 7 AM; and 7 riders (2 of them juniors) started the 60 km at 7:30 AM.

Officials marked down riders that went out, and checked them for their regulation FEI wear: collared shirts, vest turned the proper way, shoes with heels (this measurement will increase in 2009 - requiring a larger heel), stirrups with cages or safety releases. No riders in tank tops at this ride. Three of the riders in the 100 km ride were sent back to change their stirrups, and they almost missed the 15-minute time limit to start on course.

Forest and heide (heath) - that was the scenery for the ride, almost all on soft tracks, and, "not a stone anywhere," said one of the riders afterward. Despite the entire 6-loop course weaving around half a dozen large towns, there was a minimum of main road crossings (all of which were manned by ample volunteers, who stopped traffic), and negligible asphalt to traverse. The fog hung around till well after noon, which kept things muggy, but helped keep the temperatures down. When the sun did come out, it remained hazy and humid - at least 26* C; but big clouds passed over with a breeze, cooling things off, with a few of them threatening sprinkles. The shade of the forest was the coolest part of the ride; it was noticeably warmer in the white sand crewing and vetting area which reflected the heat. Some crews put up a tarp so their horses had shade to stand under during their holds.

All the distances did the 35-km yellow loop as their first. I went out on the trail just across the road from the venue, where the riders came across the heide. Arriving in first of all, clocking 16.7 km/h, was Dutch rider Roxanne Brouwer on her lovely 15-year-old bay thoroughbred gelding Chiruy. I have a thing for Thoroughbreds, and even though they are at a disadvantage to the Arabians, who were made for endurance, it's nice to see them competing. I like to watch the underdogs, the unusual and unexpected. For me in endurance that's the Thoroughbred and the Akhal-teke.

Following two minutes later were a strong group of Dutch riders: Anita Lamsma (a former Dutch Champion) on Layla Ara Francina, her sister Marjolein Voss on Black Magic, Jannet Van Wijk on Latino, and Marly Van Ditzhuyzen on Czarownica LB. Marly just celebrated her birthday two weeks ago: she turned 61. There aren't too many endurance riders around the world in their 60's regularly competing in 160-km rides, so you couldn't help but root for her also.

The riders from all distances came rolling steadily in... several horses and riders caught my eye. Looking particularly good was the gray gelding Paradise Ox, 9, with Blanca von Hardenberg of Germany, in 4th place on the 125 km. The four Akhal-tekes passed me, all with the same long-striding floating trots and rolling canters.

Leading on the 125-km distance was German Harald Braun on another Thoroughbred, 10-year-old Tango Lady XX; wearing a western saddle and curb bit, she cantered effortlessly on a loose rein with her head down like a western pleasure horse, while cruising along at an average of 17.5 km/h.

Riding in a group were five Danish juniors and seniors on the 125 km rides. Just like the orange Netherlands riders stood out, you couldn't miss the Danish on the trail or at the venue, with their Danish-flagged tent, red shirts, red tack, and their teamwork - as the day went on, as their riders fell from the competition, their cheering only got louder for those that were left, including the two riders in the 160 km.

At the first vet gate, while there was serious competition and crewing going on, there was a lack of franticness and tension that you see at many other rides in Europe and the UAE. It helps if you have plenty of space for crewing and vetting, and there always appeared to be enough veterinarians and lanes available for the inspections, with a minimum of waiting.

But there were no smiles, and maybe a few tears, for 12% of the field here - already 10 riders were eliminated from the competition for lameness (one retiring). One of them was the Akhal-teke Danagul. Owner Michele Van Kasteren said later that the mare had almost pulled a shoe off. Another to fall was Junior Lithuanian rider Samanta Loginovaite on her bay Karbardiner, Sport, in the 125 km; but she would still have 3 other teammates to cheer on in the 125 km races.

Loop 2 for all distances was the blue 35 km loop, the one that markings kept mysteriously disappearing from over the last few days. Nissan provided several vehicles for the Ermelo ride, and Zulu Liebenberg was out on the trail ahead of the horses in one of the trucks making sure the ribbons and signs were up. Other volunteers drove the course in front of or in the middle of the riders on other loops checking on markings, and later in the afternoon and evening, escorted some of the riders to the finish.

Coming into Vet Gates 2 and 3 in the 160 km, Roxanne Brouwer and her Thoroughbred Shiruy were still in first place. Following in nearly the same positions on both loops (Loop 3 at 30 km) were the same strong-looking Dutch horses, joined by three Germans, Michaela Kosel on Black Shetan, Veronika Grell on Piove, and Alexandra Lange on Erb, with the pace fastest of all on loop 2.

Leading on the 125 km at Vet Gate 2 was again Harald Braun and Tango Lady XX, but at Vet Gate 3, after 100 km, they'd fallen 5 minutes behind Blanca von Hardenberg on Paradise Ox. Dutch rider Yara de Boer led the Juniors.

Eight more horses were out of the competition at Vet Gate 2 - where some metabolic eliminations were starting to show, now that it was getting warmer with the fog burning thinner - including Genghis Khan, the Akhal-teke ridden by Hendriena Ritsema. Dutch rider Marjolein Vos retired Black Magic after she passed the vet check, but just didn't feel right. Nine more were finished at Vet Gate 3 including Carmen Römer and Eddie R - oh no! That left one Akhal-teke in the ride to cheer for, Janet Lam's Bugainvillia.

Meanwhile, the 100 km ride came to a conclusion with Germany's Stefan Zoeller winning on Antares, with Italian Marina Ceshchina (one of 2 Italians riding today) second on Koussaia.

The one distance that had a 100% completion rate was the Junior 100 km ride. Okay, so there were only two riders, but Elisabeth Loresch of Germany, finishing first on Stein Lina, and Jarmila Lakeman and Sattarov finishing second, took good care of their horses. After the second vet gate, Jarmila had said of Sattarov, "His back is not as strong today, so we aren't going too fast." Jarmila knows Sattarov well, having finished a 125 km and 120 km on him previously (besides numerous training rides). After the finish: "His last loop was his best one. He felt good and he wanted to go! So I am happy with him." They are qualified to be selected for the European Junior Championships in Olviedo, Spain, in September.

Loop 4: 25 km. On the 160 km ride, the Germans and Dutch traded off the lead. Brouwer and her Thoroughbred Chiruy were eliminated for lameness at the fourth Vet Check. Anita Lamsma's Layla was good at the preliminary check, and at the re-examination ten minutes before she was due to leave - until she trotted back toward the vet, and she got the hiccups, or thumps - and was eliminated.

Vet Gate 4 was also the finish of the 125 km rides... but not for three Germans and a Belgian rider, all eliminated at the very end for lameness. Dutch Yara de Boer easily won the Junior 125 km on Gitano Sumaya. Coming to the finish 2 hours behind Yara were two Lithuanian girls, in 6th and 7th places; their horses presented to the vets and trotted out soundly, to cheers from their home team. The Lithuanian team almost didn't make it to Ermelo, when the ferry they'd arranged was cancelled the day before they left, so they had to scurry to make alternate arrangements for the two-day trip. Half the team finished, and they all enjoyed Ermelo... they presented Eric with a thank you bottle of vodka upon leaving.

Blanca von Hardenberg and Paradise Ox won the 125 km ride. Underneath the helmet, Blanca is not just another endurance rider, and she is not just another endurance rider that worked for and learned from two-time World Champion Valerie Kanavy. At 45, she is an enterprising young woman about to embark on a challenging, visionary culture-project: in September she will begin a 10,000 km horseback ride from Dubai to Berlin, to raise awareness and understanding of other cultures and people. An ambitious project, to say the least, in the face of the wars that politicians and leaders are waging around the world, but perhaps something everybody can learn something from. She is encouraging endurance riders from around the world to join her on any part of her trip. But more on Blanca and her fascinating story later.

On Loop 5, what was a strong group of Dutch in the lead has become a strong group of Germans in front. Gabriele Forster and Michaela Kosel are first out, followed by Dutch Jannet Van Wijk, and German Veronika Grell. The pace has picked back up over this 19 km loop, and Van Wijk and Latino arrive first into Vet Gate 5. All day Latino has looked terrific on the trail and at the vet inspections. When this pair trots out, it's sometimes one of those cases of the rider detracting attention from her horse, though this is not because Van Wijk is clumsy or out of step with Latino. It's because Latino is barrelling along, his legs spinning fast and his ears pinned back, making Van Wijk run as fast as she can (with a surprised look on her face) trying to keep up with him. Kosel's Black Shetan looks tired at his trot out, and he needs a little convincing to go back out on the trail, but once he gets going, he moves right along; he looks stronger now than he did on earlier loops.

Two more are eliminated here at this next-to-last Vet Gate with lame horses - German Alexandra Lange, and last year's defending Dutch Champion, Yvonne Van Der Velde.

Thunder rumbles nearby, and a dark blue cloud is forming in the west as Van Wijk and Latino leave on the last 16 km loop at a canter. The smile has not left Van Wijk's face: she has a good chance of winning the race... though anything can happen on the last loop, or at the final vet inspection. How fast will the other riders come on? How much horse does she have left? How much do the others have left? Kosel, wearing a mask of concentration on Black Shetan, follows two minutes later in hot pursuit, and three minutes behind her, Veronika Grell and Piove. Don't count out Forster and Priceless Gold, who are another 7 minutes back. There's a gap of 20 minutes back to Russian Nikolay Melbard, which is too much to make up in 19 km. So it's down to the top four.

A crowd grows at the finish line, dominated by orange Dutch shirts. We get little reports as we wait: Van Wijk is in the lead by 500 meters; she is in the lead by 200 meters; Kosel has taken the lead; they are riding together changing positions; another rider is not too far behind. Finally we see two helmets bobbing over the hedge, and when the round the corner, it's Van Wijk and Kosel, side by side. It's not till they make the final turn for home they begin their last sprint for the finish line now crowded with cheering spectators.

Latino is in the lead, but blows the turn, taking Black Shetan wide with him. Latino continues going wide, and Black Shetan cuts to the inside. They straighten up together, nearly even, but it's Latino who has the jump, who has more gas. Van Wijk's enjoying every moment, a huge grin on her face as she bends low over her little gelding, who appears to be enjoying all the ruckus also, with his ears pricked forward and eyes wide as they race for the line. Kosel is still concentrating, and Black Shetan's ears are back as they grasp for the line... but it's all Dutch today, Latino and Van Wijk, leaping over the scary white finish line a length ahead of the Germans Kosel and Black Shetan, a rousing conclusion for a first class race.

A light rain has begun to fall in the evening sunshine, helping to cool down the heated horses and spectators. Veronika Grell and Piove cross the finish line 3 minutes later. All the riders weigh in, and then move with their crews and horses to the crewing area. Latino and Black Shetan both take ten minutes to present to the vet. Black Shetan goes first, and breaths are held as he trots away from and back to the vets. He looks tired, but he is sound - cheers for the little black stallion and Kosel!

And now Latino: it is so hushed you can hear the sprinkles falling on the sand as Latino and Van Wijk trot out... and Van Wijk's "Whoooaaa!" as Latino, ears pinned again, makes Van Wijk sprint beside him to keep up, back to the vet... and a chuckle from the crowd eases some of the tension. Then comes the intake and holding of breaths for the final poking and prodding of Latino...

And then the words, "Congratulations." Jannet Van Wijk and Latino are the new 2008 Dutch National Champions!

There were 10 more riders still in the 160 km, with 6 as yet to go out on their final loop. A steady crowd hung around the finish line all evening, which looked like a big family picnic in the grass with a big group of orange (the Dutch) and a big group of red (the Danish) and other guests. Getting a big hand for 5th place was the always-serious Russian Nikolay Melbard (though I am sure he was enjoying the Dutch ride), in 6th place 61-years-young Marly Van Ditzhuyzen, Tanja Van Willigen cantering home 8th bearing the Danish flag, Dutch rider Janet Lam on her Akhal-teke Bugainvillia in 11th, and 13th and last across the line, escorted by a Nissan truck, an ecstatic member of the Sturrus family, Karin Obink-Sturrus. It was Jahdamour's 6th attempt at a 160 km, and today it all finally came together, and they completed, at 8:50 PM.

It took another hour before the sun fell on another Championship ride in Ermelo, The Netherlands - but the stars still shined brightly over the new 2008 Dutch Champions, Jannet Van Wijk and Latino.

Monday, June 9, 2008

2008 Ermelo - Vet In Day

Friday June 6 2008

Ermelo - Vet In Day

Come to Holland to ride endurance and you get it all: good competition, a broad medley of rivals, an efficiently conducted ride, a congenial and homey atmosphere, and fun. While you may be in it to win, there's nothing wrong with having fun with endurance, too. For some there will be disappointment, but if that's in store for you, maybe this is one of the best places to have it.

Held on the grounds of the Dutch National horse federation near Ermelo, The Netherlands, the 2008 Dutch National Championships attracted riders and crews from all over: Austria, Denmark, Germany, France, Lithuania, Russia, Luxemburg, Italy, Belgium, and of course Holland; and officials from Holland, Germany, Austria, Lithuania, Great Britain, South Africa, and Botswana.

The grounds (stalls, paddocks, indoor and outdoor arenas, a cross-country course) are used for many horse disciplines - this week a driving clinic took place, and even as the endurance horses began moving in, the carriage horses were pulling their last rounds. There's plenty of space for parking and camping - in this part of Europe, many people bring caravans and tents to stay in - and stalls for 90 horses. Since 96 horses were pre-entered, organizer Eric Lamsma had to arrange for temporary stalls to be added.

The grounds began steadily filling up from Thursday evening on; by Friday noon everything fell seamlessly, and seemingly effortlessly, into place: the office, registration, timing system, vet and crewing areas in the new blinding-white sand arena. The veterinary inspections began in the stables at 4:30 PM, moved along quickly, and then the horses moved to the arena for the trot outs down the lanes.

Lots of familiar faces greeted me, riders and veterinarians and team coaches, and all of the Dutch riders I spent a training weekend with last summer. A couple of old equine friends were there too: Anita Lamsma's mare Layla Ara Francina, and Carmen Römer's half Akhal-teke gelding Eddie R - both of whom I rode last year - would be carrying Anita and Carmen on the 160-km ride; and Danagul, an Akhal-teke mare owned by the Van Kasterens - whose farm I visited last year - would be carrying Peter Van Kasteren on the 125 km.

There were in fact 4 part or full eye-catching Akhal-tekes entered in the rides: Eddie R, Danagul, Janet Lam's black mare Bugainvillia, and the gray Genghis Khan, ridden by Dutch rider Hendriena Ritsema (and sold to her by Janet Lam). Janet and Bugainvillia finished the Dutch Championship last year; they then went to the European Championship in Portugal where they pulled after loop 4. Bugainvillia was looking exceptionally well here, strong, fleshed out and with that bright metallic sheen the Akhal-teke has.

Dutch rider Jeanne Lineweever arrived; I also stayed with Jeanne and Charles last year. She wouldn't be riding her horse Riki's Macho Man, because he is temporarily out with an injury. Instead, they'd be crewing for the lone Austrian rider, Marguerita Fuller and her young Arabian gelding Komet.

While waiting on their number to be called for the trot-outs, I visited with Jannet Van Wijk, and her boyfriend Mark, while her little gelding Latino attempted to chew on my foot.

Jannet has had Latino - now 12 years old - since he was 5. "When we got him, he knew absolutely nothing," Jannet said. He was running around in a field, owned by a man who didn't ride but liked to look at his horses. "He really knew nothing," Mark added, "he even spooked at a parked car at when he first came to our house because he'd never seen one. The only thing he did know was a hand in a pocket, because the man fed his horses treats." Now Latino is familiar with everything - he's been to rides in France, Germany, and Portugal, but he still does spook once in a while, in play. And guess what he does spook at: purple flowers! At least one horse does it here in Europe, too, not just in America! Jannet thinks it's the smell; when the heather blooms purple here it gives off a strong aroma.

However Latino performs tomorrow, at this point Jannet is not interested in going to Malaysia for the World Endurance Championship in November. She knows something about physiology, and says, "it takes too much out of a horse, and maybe they never completely recover." She picks her races carefully, and she is intrigued by a longer-term goal: Kentucky 2010. "We are definitely interested in Kentucky," said Mark. And I would certainly love to see them there!

It was tough luck trotting out for the vets today for Sammy Seigers of Belgium with Selma, who trotted out lame and would not start tomorrow. It was painful luck for Carmen Römer's father Lei, who trotted out Eddie R for the vets. Back home, Lei and Eddie worked on trotting/running in step for the vets. I'd never heard of this, and even though this might seem a trivial or silly thing, or too much work, it immediately made sense when you watched the other trot outs, some of which were all over the place. There are those grooms or riders who run out smoothly, and then there are those lumber, or sprint and try to drag their horses along by a bit, or swing back and forth like a metronome, or bounce up and down like a bunny rabbit, or chop along like a pogo stick, all of which are distracting (I wonder which one I am?) against the horse (which can be good or bad, depending on how your horse is travelling). Even with the people who run smoothly, there can be 6 legs flying around all at once. Running in step with your horse, now - there are no distractions, nothing for the vet to look at but your horse. Lei and Eddie had rehearsed this and had it down... but trotting back in step, Eddie got irritated at something, and without missing a beat, whipped out a hind leg and kicked Lei in the thigh. And there was no more in-synch trotting... there was one sound trotting horse and one badly limping man with a white face and bugged eyes. "I thought I was going to have a heart attack!" Lei said. He would use a fair supply of drugs and liniment on himself that evening to get through the night.

Jarmila switched from her organization shoes to her riding shoes, and vetted in 14-year-old gelding Sattarov for the 100 km ride, then went back to organizing work. Jarmila, at 19, is a smart, careful rider - one you could be confident of putting on your horse, and knowing your horse would be well taken care of. She's learning everywhere she goes, from riding in races in Holland, Germany, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Bahrain, Hungary, and Australia. She spent 6 months of last year with Brooke Sample in Australia, getting an insider's view of how a top Australian endurance rider does things. She's smart enough to see what's good and bad, to know the difference, and to be able to incorporate some of what she learns into her own methods. She's more on the conservative side, not needing to go for a win every time she sets foot in a stirrup; she's always concerned about the welfare of the horse she's riding. "When I finish I'm happy. Next day, if the horse is not fine, I'm not happy anymore."

At 8:00 PM, Technical Delegate Zulu Liebenberg conducted the ride meeting in English. Main point of the evening was that the 160 km ride would start a half hour earlier, at 5:30 AM, not the 6 AM as planned. There were groans all around. It seems that a couple of other events were taking place on the 35-km Loop 1 of the course: a sheep shearing event, a walkathon, and a motorcycle race (the last of which Eric was informed of on Wednesday evening). By starting earlier, the endurance ride would be sure to miss the other events. And anyway, I heard there's plenty of light that early, and the sun doesn't go down until after 10 PM - and it stays light enough to see the trail till near midnight, though so far I'd had no intention of getting up that early (or staying up that late).

Many times throughout the day, I joined the Family Sturrus and their circled wagons (campers), for tea and coffee and snacks, when Mom Sturrus and daughter-in-law Angela weren't out in the field plying the family/volunteers with goodies. Every time I walked by, Mom Sturrus yelled, "Hello Merri! Tea? Coffee?" To which one can only reply "Ja!" - to the drinks and the company. Their camp became more festive as the day went on, with carpeting and chairs (and relatives and friends) multiplying around an expanding table, and orange balloons and orange flags (the color of Holland!) rising from tent poles, and orange Tshirts - which are bright enough to see from space - adorning more bodies.

Tomorrow, we'd see which orange Tshirt would be on the new 2008 Dutch Champion.