Though they may not be starting off among the favourites like their neighbouring riders from the US, the Canadians have taken their championship bid seriously. They last won silver in the team championship in 1988 while their best individual finish has been by Julie Phair in the same championship which was held in Front Royal, USA.

However, like the US team riders, Canada chose Florida as their training base. "We trained in Florida about 40 kms away from where the US did their preparation. The terrain there is similar to that here and hence we chose Florida," said Yvette Vinton, one of the six-member Canadian team here for the January 27 World Endurance Championship.

Vinton from Simcoe, Ontario is no newcomer to the UAE and apart from riding in the 1998 World Championship here, she has also ridden here in 2000 and 2002. "We have had some good training in Florida and the horses have come off well after the cold weather back home and the long travel," said Vinton.

"In the last world championship we leased out horses from European owners but here I will be riding JS Sedona Sun," said Vinton, who has had some good success on EH Malachi also

The Canadian, who made an exit after the first stage in Jerez, however had finished 27th in the 2000 world championship in Compiegne, France. "I finished second with Sedona in the 160-km Flesherton ride in Canada in 2003 and also the 160-km Pan American Championship later that year, again with Sedona. We hope to complete the distance again on January 27," said the Canadian rider before she went out on a morning training ride here at the Dubai International Endurance City quarantine stables.Teammate Myna Cryderman, who finished seventh in the Pan American in 2003 on TA Tango, is also looking forward to just complete the ride. "The speed levels are quite high here but we are just looking to represent our country and complete in a high position," said Myna.

"I will be riding a 10-year-old grey mare Night Skye and she has also adjusted well to the desert conditions here. One of the most important aspects is the climate and being almost similar to what we experienced in Florida, the horses took very little time in adapting to these conditions. With such excellent facilities here, we sure will be going all out for a good result," said Myna.Other members of the Canadian team are Karen Badger (Bree), Lana Halisheff (XE Dream Catcher) and Daphne Richard on Cuchulain.