The official Endurance event in Sartilly:
an equestrian marathon hosted in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel
for the first time.
On Thursday 28 August 2014 at 7am, over 170 riders under the flags of 48 nations will compete in the official Endurance event (35 teams and 13 riders competing individually, with the latest entry figures likely to evolve).
For this veritable equestrian marathon, the Organising Committee has marked out a 160km-track composed of 5 looped circuits stretching from the Lucerne forest to the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.
This event is able to take place thanks to the local expertise of industry professionals, the mobilising of the Mayors of the towns crossed by the circuit, and of course the farmers.
1,200 people have joined forces to organise the World Championship of the discipline: FEI officials (International Equestrian Federation), Organising Committee employees and service providers, the State services and of course 700 volunteers, including 250 genuine organisation supports along the course.
At the heart of the race, the Sartilly venue will be open from 6am to 9:30pm on 28 August to accommodate the 5,500 spectators with tickets. The tickets have all been sold in advance so there will be none for sale on site.
The course’s 5 looped circuits set out from Sartilly and return to Sartilly. It’s there that the horses undergo the compulsory veterinary checks and rest in a holding before heading off on the following loop (vet gate).
The passage schedule to enable the public without tickets to come and watch the race at a series of stunning viewpoints are: La Ferrière district in Jullouville, Dragey, the Avranches racetrack, the beaches of Jullouville and Carolles, the beach and the Centre Equestre (Equestrian Centre) in Kairon.
Extra info for the spectators:
Access and parking
On race day, the Organising Committee provides 3,000 free parking spaces from 6am to 9pm exclusively for spectators with tickets.
The utmost vigilance is required by car-drivers on the day of the Endurance event in the sectors of Granville, Avranches, Sartilly and La Haye-Pesnel, since the race crosses a number of roads from 7am to 8pm.
The various crossings will be made secure by signallers from the Organising Committee and the French Gendarmerie.
Village map for spectators with tickets:
Click on the map to download it.
Extra info for the media:
- Thursday 28 August 7am: Endurance race start. Opening to the Public at 6am.
- Thursday 28 August at around 6pm: podium photo.
- Thursday 28 August at 9pm: Endurance press conference.
- Friday 29 August at 2:30pm: Awarding of medals at the d’Ornano Stadium in Caen.
What does the Endurance event entail?
A genuine equestrian marathon
The majestic site that encompasses the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel will serve as the backdrop for the 160km Endurance event.
The Endurance event is a ‘marathon’, that is run over a single day, by a single horse and a single rider. It is a timed circuit comprising a marked-out itinerary spanning 160km with vet checks at the end of each of the 5 looped circuits during the event. The rider must know how to manage the effort exerted by their horse so that the distance is completed in as fast a time as possible while keeping the horse in perfect physical condition.
One nation can enter up to five rider/horse pairings. The best three riders from each nation will be selected for the team ranking. If a nation doesn’t enter at least three riders, it doesn’t participate in the team ranking.
A venue spanning 12 hectares is specially laid out for the event with 80 temporary accommodation cabins for 320 grooms, 240 boxes, 1,800m2 of temporary structures for the horses to rest, a 1,000m² exhibitors’ village and a hospitality village spanning 6,000m2.
All the latest info can be found on the Games website:
http://www.normandy2014.com/the-disciplines/5/endurance |
