Sigurður under interrogation

Sigurður Sigurðarson was the winner in the aggregated point competition in the Masters League this year. He participated in all the events of the league and was fighting for the top seats in each event and therefore he was the one having the highest scores from the time he won the first tournament in the league.

Eiðfaxi decided to interrogate Sigurður about the Masters League, the victory, preparation and also what is on the agenda in the near future in the life of Sigurður who is a rider with great achievements.

How important is the Masters League for you?
”The Masters League is a very good addition to the competition season. It keeps me on my toes as well as to keep my horses in great shape. It is demanding in many aspects, for example to ride agility exercises and pace. I think the Masters League is extremely important for us horse people because with the television programs and discussions about the Masters League it has been a great introduction for equitation in general. Lots of people who are not horse people are watching the league.”

What is the secret behind the great success?
”This is a combination of many things. One has to be well prepared for each event, with a horse that fits into the project. The horses need to be in good training condition, both mentally and physically and they have to be in the correct training when it comes to the competition itself. Therefore one needs to know the horse well in order to have it peak at the right time.”

It must be a major matter to have all the different horses ready for all the events during winter?
”Yes, and this is precisely what makes the Masters League both complicated and difficult. It is also very important to know how to unwind the horses, so to speak, so that it it possible to keep them vivacious throughout the competition period. For example, I was in the position not to have horses for all the events, but I know people who were ready to lend me horses and I think that most of the riders in the league are not only using their own horses. And of course, I think that if it was obligatory for the riders to bring their own horses, it would be difficult to maintain the Masters League.

What is the most memorable moment in the Masters League?
”It was when I won the Masters League the time it was held for the first time and I managed to wing by one point when I won Sigurbjörn Bárðason in the last event which was 150 m pace.”

Are you pleased with the structure and format of the Masters League?
”Yes for the most part. The Masters League has developed and changed a great deal from the time it first started and I think that it will develop yet some more. Örn Karlsson at Ingólfshvoll was the originator and founder of the Masters League and he deserves great praise for all he has put into this project in order to launch the league.”

How do you see the league evolve in the future? Can you mention any predictable changes, as an example?
”Yes, the time frame for each event needs to be monitored more accurately, so that each event does not exceed a total of 3 hour program. People become exhausted and start leaving if the competition events delay too much.”

What lays ahead for you?
”At this time I am preparing horses for the breeding shows and preliminary for Landsmót. We have a sizeable group of horses ranging from young horses and inexperienced horses to experienced competition horses and we have yet to see how things develop until the last weeks before the preliminary for Landsmót start.”

Are you also aiming for WC?
”Yes, I have about 2-3 cards on my hands for that, so to speak but I have yet to make a final decision as far as this is concerned.”
 
The achievements of Sigurður in the Masters League of 2011
Four gaits
Horse: Loki frá Selfossi
Preliminary: 1st place with a score of 7.57
A-finals: 1st place with a score of 7.63
Interview: Loki er alltaf tilbúinn til að vinna

Gæðinga agility
Horse: Hljómur frá Höfðabakka
Preliminary: 3rd place with a score of 7.06
Finals: Fourth place with a score of 7.29

Tölt
Horse: Jódís frá Ferjubakka 3
Preliminary: 7th place with a score of 7.17
B-finals: 6th place with a score of 7.78
A-finals: 2.-3rd place with a score of 7.83

Five gaits
Horse: Svalur frá Blönduhlíð
Preliminary: 5th place with a score of 6.53
B-finals: 2.-3rd place with a score of 7.00

150 m pace
Horse: Vera frá Þóroddsstöðum
5th place

Gæðinga pace
Horse: Freyðir frá Hafsteinsstöðum
2nd place with a score of 7.92
Loose rein tölt
Horse: Gulltoppur frá Þjóðólfshaga 1
Preliminary: 11th place with a score of 6.93

Flying pace
Horse: Freyðir frá Hafsteinsstöðum
6th place.
Final position in the individual competition:
Winner with a total of 58 points.