Edaran Endurance Classic 2006

Tuesday, April 18th, 2006



The Edaran Endurance Classic 2006 was launched today at the Corus Hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Two Arab horses were brought in especially for this launch. Desert Queen and Desert Princess, recently imported from Australia, were ridden by Tuan Hj. Mohd Shu?aib?s ?princesses? Nabilah and Nabihah.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the Edaran Endurance Classic is being held. It takes place at ar-Raudhah Equine Centre, Jalan Kampung Bunga Raya, Kuang Selangor, from 5th to 7th May.

Earlier, Yang Berbahagia Dato? Abdul Hamid Mustapha, chairman of Edaran Endurance Classic welcomed the media and guests to the press conference. This year the Edaran Endurance Classic?s main ride is a CEI*** 120 km event. It is one of 5 qualifying events for the Doha Asian Games this year. There are three other rides, an 80 km, a 40 km and a 15 km Young Riders Guided Ride.

With RM45,000 in prize-money they have still managed to attract international interest. American Stephanie Teeter, most famous as the person behind Endurance.Net makes her second visit to Malaysia. Begian Leonard Liesens is a veteran endurance rider who competed in the World Equestrian Games in 1998. He is Belgian national champion and recently won the WEG Trial at Aachen.

Both Teeter and Liesens are expected to ride in the 80 km ride. They will ride on Sabah horses that are being brought in and specially conditioned for the Edaran Endurance Classic.

Sixty-three entries have been received so far for this year?s event. For more information about how you can enter the Edaran Edurance Classic, please visit their website at www.edaranendurance.com.

Dato? Abdul Hamid said that the Edaran Endurance Classic had a role to play in the run-up to the World Equestrian Championships that will be held in Terengganu in 2008. ?We believe that endurance riders, both local and international, aiming to participate in the prestigious WEC 2008 will seek out opportunities in Malaysia to train and build up their endurance skills for the 2008 event.?

EAM Executive Secretary Major Yap, who is on the Ground Jury of this event, answered a few questions from Equestrian.Com.My about the significance of the event. He confirmed that it is one of five qualifiers for December?s Doha Asian Games. Two of the events have previously been held. Edaran Endurance Classic is the third. After Edaran there will be two more qualifiers left, in Kelantan in June and in Terengganu in August. He said the qualifier that was held in Mardi will not be taken into account as the distance had been shortened. He said that the best five riders and horses would be short-listed for the Doha Asian Games. Overseas results would also be taken into account, providing it was at 120 km or longer.

When asked about current standings after two events, Maj. Yap said that the EAM had the results of the first two events and would publish qualification standings ?soon.?