The Ingenio Magdalena Challenge 1st Edition.
Exclusive coverage by The Guatemala Times. 
The Maya Adventure Ride 2008 will take place at the Ingenio (Sugar Mill) Magdalena, in La Gomera Escuintla. 19 of July. Start of the event 4:00 pm. It is an equestrian qualification event in Guatemala for several Endurance World Championships, one for Malaysia in November 2008 and for Juniors & Young Riders in 2009. This is the most important equestrian event for Guatemala in 2008. The participating countries are Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras.
The event has several sponsors, but the Platinum sponsor of the event is the Sugar Mill Magdalena S.A. where the event will take place.
A little information about this mill:
This sugar mill provides sugar for 13% of the internal market in Guatemala. This represents 39% of its production. 61% of the production is exported. 81% of the Molasses production is converted to alcohol in a nearby alcohol plant. This provides 43 MW of electricity for the national market of electric energy.
The Sugar Mill Magdalena is supporting the national sports and especially this important equestrian event of endurance, Maya Adventure Ride 2008. They have provided roads in the sugarcane fields, the plantation and other areas. 
The roads have been improved especially for this important event. The Sugar Mill has build physical infrastructure like temporary stables and resting places for the horses and riders, veterinarians, places for compulsory halt for veterinary inspection, vetgates, spectators and international and national judges. They are also providing vital logistical support for the complete realization of the event in the field to reach optimal conditions for the participants of Guatemala and Costa Rica and Honduras. The sugar Mill Magdalena is providing all radio communication facilities for this event that is covering 160 kilometers. Different activities have to be coordinated simultaneously in this huge 160 kilometer area. The logistical challenges are enormous in the severe tropical climate and geographical conditions. Water, feeding and cooling stations have to be provided for the horses. The competing riders also need some comfort too to overcome the extreme weather conditions and physical challenges of this race, so do the judges.
The Guatemalan Coordinating Committee Jinetes de Aventura Endurance and ANEG, Asociación Nacional Equestres de Guatemala (the National Federation), have set the highest standards of excellence for is event.
Photos Ignacio de Wit and Ingenio Magdalena S.A.
