Thailand Wins Endurance Horse Race

Tannetwork.tv

28 March 2011
Thai horse riders have won both the individual and team events at the Second Malaysia-Thailand Open Endurance Challenge Trophy 2011, an endurance horse race with a top prize of more than 300,000 baht, held from March 25 to 27.

Chon Buri Governor Wichit Chartpaisit presided over the opening ceremony of the Second Malaysia-Thailand Open Endurance Challenge Trophy 2011 at the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club in Pattaya.

The race, certified by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, was a competition for total price money of more than 300,000 baht and was held from March 25 to 27, with a total race distance of 80 kilometers.

A total of 26 horses, four from the Malaysian Military, four from Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, two from Terengganu State, two from Singapore, six from various equestrian clubs, and eight from Thailand, participated in the three-stage race.

Among those who represented Thailand at the race were Vice President of the Thai Equestrian Federation Pruttirat Rattanakul-Serireongrit; Wipawan Pawitayalarp, winner in an individual event; and Varis Khuntaraporn, runner-up in an individual event at last year's race.

The Thai riders won both the individual and team events in the race.

Thailand finished the team event with a time of 14 hours and 30 minutes, followed by Malaysia which recorded 20 hours and 10 minutes.

After the race, Pruttirat said all the riders were dedicated to the race.

However, he pointed out some mistakes which must be corrected before subsequent races to be held in Malaysia and Singapore.

He said the race was successful, as it was praised by all its participants.

The ASEAN Equestrian Clubs will try to push the sport as an event at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar.