Bahrain: Participants set for opening ride

Posted on » Friday, November 04, 2011

THE equestrian and endurance season is all set to commence today with an 80km qualifying endurance horse ride.

Riders representing different stables from across the kingdom will line up for today's inaugural event, to be held at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir from 4pm.

It will be patronised by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Among the favourite stables taking part is the Royal Endurance Team, captained by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Nasser, the President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and chairman of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, said his team is fully prepared for the new season.

Both Shaikh Nasser and Breef first vice-president Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa said that they are looking forward to another successful season of endurance horseracing here in Bahrain.

Shaikh Khalid, the organising committee chairman, was present at the endurance village to inspect the facilities and follow-up on the latest preparations for the opening event of the season.

Today's ride consists of three stages, the first two legs will be held over 30kms each while the concluding stage will be over 20kms.

The organisers have finalised their preparations for today's qualifier, which acts as a warm-up event to help new and young riders gear up for major events to be held in the future.

Riders

Abdulghani Al Boosta is the president of the Ground Jury, which also includes members Ghalib Al Alawi, Ali Ghuloom, Mahdi Al Kalaiti and Fahad Al Romaihi.

Al Boosta said all riders and horses participating in today's event must be registered with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and therefore have an FEI rider ID.

He said all horses and riders must have successfully completed in similar Novice qualifying rides in order to be eligible for CEI star qualifying ride.

"Successfully complete two rides of distances between 40-79kms and two rides between 80-90kms at speeds of 16km per hour or under with in a 24-month period to qualify to take part in FEI competitions," he said.

"At the first inspection please ensure that your horse is sufficiently warmed up before you bring it inside the veterinary gate.

"Any horse which will not permit examination or which is dangerous to the examiners shall be eliminated," added Al Boosta.

Horses aged six years and above and riders with a minimum age of 14 years are allowed to take part in today's ride.

The Foreign Technical Delegate is Mohammed Dadulla, Haider Al Zubi is the chief steward and Abdulla Al Rumeihi the steward for the stewards.

Dr Abbas Al Haiki is the Veterinary Commission president, Dr Mohammed Al Hammad the foreign veterinary, and members Dr Fareeda Abdulrazak, Dr Ebrahim Yousif, Dr Sabah Al Kabie, Dr Abu Obaidah Yaqoob and Dr Abdulrahman Abu Shook. Dr Caonabo Melo of the Dominican Republic will be the treating veterinarian while Sudip Sankar is the showground secretary.

Gulf Daily News