WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE UAE

The 1998 World Endurance Championships held on 10 December in the United Arab Emirates proved to be the first truly global FEI Championship. For the first time competitors from all the continents competed on their own horses at an FEI Championship. One hundred and sixty three (163) riders from 36 nations started.

Despite technical problems with the computer scoring system, the course - and especially the vet gates - organisation was excellent. The results also showed the universality of Endurance Riding with the USA winning the Gold Individual with Valerie Kanavy, followed by Italy's Fausto Fiorucci and the Bronze going to Japan's Daisuke Yasunaga. In the Team event Gold went to New Zealand, followed by the USA and Australia, this was made all the more remarkable as this was the first time a New Zealand team had taken part in the Championships.

The world wide turn out included many National Federations who had never taken part in Endurance at this level, and proved that Endurance is the FEI's fastest growing discipline.

Complete results

FEI/BCM JUMPING RANKINGS: ONLY SMALL CHANGES IN THE TOP 10

Since the last publication in the FEI Press News on 22 October 1998 there have been only small changes in the Top Ten. Rodrigo Pessoa and Willi Melliger exchanged places, as did Nieberg, Sloothaak and Pomel. Alison Firestone, as 15th, remains the leading lady rider, as well as the top North American rider. But Lesley McNaught, in 23rd place, is now the leading European lady rider, replacing was Helena Weinberg.

Dressage and Jumping rankings

NEW 1999 GENERAL ASSEMBLY DATES: 14-18 APRIL

The General Assembly has been slightly brought forward and will take place from 14 to 18 April 1999 in Doha (QAT). The Bureau Meeting will take place on 14 and 15 April and the General Assembly itself on 17 and 18 April. A Forum will again be organised the day before the Assembly. The main theme of the Forum will be the revision of the Statutes and General Regulations.

1999 FEI CALENDAR IS ON THE INTERNETsection "Consult"

FEI SECRETARIAT NEW TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS

As from 15 January 1999: Tel. (41 21) 310 47 47 Fax (41 21) 310 47 60

1998 FEI HUSKY - PERA World Event Rider Rankings FINAL

Global Rankings / Classement Gènèral

1. Blyth Tait-NZL-539
2. Mark Todd-NZL *-522
3. Andrew Nicholson-NZL-522
4. Phillip Dutton-AUS-405
5. Bruce Davidson Sr-USA-403
6. David O'Connor-USA-318
7. Stuart Tinney-AUS-306
8. Kristina Gifford-GBR-281
9. Heath Ryan-AUS-275
10. Heelan Tompkins-NZL-268

*The best placing at the highest level event decides the outcome of a tie at the end of the season. As Mark Todd finished ahead of Andrew Nicholson in the World Equestrian Games in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), he is placed second in the Global rankings. Complete rankings section CONSULT