Australia: Malaysia King qualifies for World Championship

The Star Online

MELBOURNE: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin qualified for next year's world endurance championship to be held in Terengganu when he completed the gruelling Nanango three-Star 160km International Endurance ride near Kingaroy in Queensland, yesterday.

The King, 45, was one of five Malaysians to join an international field of about 50 riders from New Zealand, Japan, Poland, Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Australia in the ride. They started their ride at 5am.

Tuanku Mizan completed the course in under 13 hours 20 minutes to qualify for the world event which requires a rider to finish the 160km ride twice on the same horse.

The King, who was astride Pharoh, rode the same horse in Queensland last year in the first leg.

Tuanku Mizan had already qualified for the world championships when he rode Ibrahim in Dubai in January and again in Abu Dhabi in February within the qualifying time.

This has given the King the choice to decide which horse, Ibrahim or Pharoh, to ride in Terengganu in the November world meet.

Royal Terengganu Endurance Stables general manager Che Mat Din said the 160km ride was tough and tested the competitors' strength, determination and riding skills.

The King loves horses and loves riding. He is a world-class endurance rider and he has competed in many parts of the world. – Bernama