Suspension for Endurance Chef at the Centre of WEG 'Riot'

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

February 28, 2019
by: Pippa Cuckson

Leading endurance figure Ignasi Casas Vaque has been suspended for 12 months by the FEI Tribunal for his part in the angry scenes that erupted when the World Equestrian Games endurance race was cancelled.

However, in an interesting twist, Tribunal rejected assertions that it was Casas Vaque who brought equestrianism into disrepute. Tribunal noted the FEI “stained” itself by running the badly-organised event at Tryon.

A charge that Dr Casas Vaque [“the Respondent”] made “death threats” to ground jury president J-P Allegret was also not upheld. Tribunal also rejected the FEI’s claim Casas Vaque committed the criminal offence under North Carolina law of “inciting riot.” However, Tribunal did rule that he displayed incorrect behaviours “multiple times...”

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/suspension-endurance-chef-weg-riot/

Radical changes may be needed to protect Endurance horses, committee told

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

February 24, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

Radical changes may be needed in some areas of Endurance to ensure the welfare of horses, the head of a major equine charity says.

The comment came from World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers, who this week met with the Endurance Temporary Committee appointed by the FEI to review the discipline in a bid to return the sport to its roots of Endurance riding rather than Endurance racing.

The committee met with a total of 26 stakeholders representing each of the FEI Regional Groups, World Horse Welfare and the Alliance of Endurance Organisers.

The following day, the committee held its third in-person meeting to progress its agenda.

“We are heartened,” Owers told the committee, “that the FEI is taking the strong initiative to ‘take back’, in the FEI president’s words, the sport of endurance, placing far greater emphasis on equine welfare in what has been a rapidly growing, but all too often, controversial discipline...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/02/24/radical-changes-endurance-committee/

Italy Shows Its Hand in Bid to Host WEG 2022 ‘Alternative’

Horse-canada.com - Full Story

February 22, 2019
by: Pippa Cuckson

Italy has become the first and only country to publicly declare a “non-binding expression of interest” in staging the majority of the FEI World Championships 2022, with the FEI’s bid deadline (February 28th) just days away.

FISE, the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation, has outlined plans to host everything except driving and endurance. Main hub would be the Tenuta Santa Barbara di Bracciano venue, north-west of Rome, which has been vastly expanded since it hosted the reining and vaulting for the 1998 World Equestrian Games...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/italy-shows-hand-bid-to-host-weg-2022-alternative/

Endurance Temporary Committee holds third in-person meeting

FEI.org

22 Feb 2019

The Endurance Temporary Committee held its third in-person meeting at FEI Headquarters today following yesterday’s meetings with stakeholders. Stéphane Chazel (FRA), member of the elected FEI Endurance Technical Committee, currently unable to function as a full committee, and Dr Martha Misheff (USA), member of the FEI Veterinary Committee were invited to attend today’s meeting in an advisory role and share their expertise and insights on the future and sustainability of the sport.

The Committee summarised the conclusions of yesterday’s meetings, which touched on a wide range of topics, with the aim of bringing the discipline back to its roots while maintaining its competitive status.

“The input from the Groups and the ability to dialogue with our stakeholders has been an invaluable contribution to the Committee’s deliberations”, said FEI Vice President Mark Samuel (CAN), who attends each of the Temporary Committee meetings to facilitate direct communications with the FEI Board. “We noted a great deal of alignment in thinking on most subjects and a notable spirit of engagement and optimism. The priority now is to distill our work into proposals and topics of interest for consideration at the FEI Sports Forum in April.”

The Committee also discussed rule changes still to be addressed, such as mandatory rest periods, CEI1* distances, tack and equipment, and optimising the performance of FEI Officials, including education, appointments, rotation and evaluation.

The FEI Sports Forum 2019 (15-16 April) will have a prominent focus on the sport of Endurance, with Day Two sessions dedicated to the ongoing discussions of the “Future of Endurance”. Delegates will be provided with an update by the Temporary Committee as part of the full consultation process prior to voting on proposed Rules amendments at the FEI General Assembly in November.

Information on the FEI Sports Forum and the timetable can be found here.

About the Endurance Temporary Committee

Information on the Endurance Temporary Committee first in-person meeting is available here and on the second here.
Information on the stakeholders’ meeting can be found here.

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org

The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.

Endurance Temporary Committee meets with stakeholders at FEI HQ

Inside.FEI.org

21 Feb 2019

The Endurance Temporary Committee, set up by the FEI Board in October 2018 to review the discipline with the remit of bringing the sport back to its original roots of Endurance riding rather than Endurance racing, has met with a total of 26 stakeholders representing each of the FEI Regional Groups, World Horse Welfare and the Alliance of Endurance Organisers.

The purpose of the meetings was to allow stakeholders to provide the Temporary Committee with feedback on a series of topics, including the qualification system, mandatory rest periods, track design covering natural features, number of loops, access to water and proximity of cars, elimination codes, heart rates and presentation times, weight of athletes, officials, increased sanctions for anti-doping violations, limits on number of starters and continuous crewing.

The European Equestrian Federation (former FEI Groups I and II), together with FEI Group III, was represented in the first of five sessions which took place today.

“It was a very positive meeting and it was very important for those who participated, that they were being asked for their contributions”, said Quentin Simonet (FRA), Chair of the EEF Endurance Working Group. “Our position is that we have to tackle the real problems which concern a fairly limited number of people. There are plenty of places where the sport of endurance is going very well.”

Also at FEI HQ today for meetings with the Temporary Committee were representatives from Groups IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX.

World Horse Welfare also met the Committee, together with representatives of the Alliance of Endurance Organisers, an affiliate of the International Equestrian Organisers Alliance.

“We are heartened that the FEI is taking the strong initiative to “take back”, in the FEI President’s words, the sport of endurance, placing far greater emphasis on equine welfare in what has been a rapidly growing, but all too often, controversial discipline”, said Roly Owers, Chief Executive Officer of World Horse Welfare. “We hope the committee will come up with substantive, and in places radical, changes to better protect equine welfare and so secure the future of endurance.”

The Endurance Temporary Committee will hold its third in-person meeting at FEI HQ tomorrow to further discuss the input from today’s stakeholder group meetings and prepare for the FEI Sports Forum 2019 (15-16 April) as the second day will be dedicated to Endurance.

The European Equestrian Community Focuses on Endurance

EuroEquestrian.eu

20 February 2019

EEF Working Group has been established to define principles, proposals and a vision for the future

The first meeting of the EEF (European Equestrian Federation) Endurance Working Group provided plenty of positive momentum when representatives from a wide range of active stakeholders in the continental Endurance landscape gathered in Paris, France on 19 December 2018.

They have come together in a “think tank” that reported to the EEF Board, EEF member NFs and FEI stakeholders. As newly-appointed EEF President Theo Ploegmakers explained in his opening address that their brief is to provide guiding principles with rational solutions that will strengthen the sport across Europe and ensure its credibility worldwide.

The EEF Endurance Working Group, chaired by Quentin Simonet, International Relations Coordinator for the French NF, believes that Endurance has a positive future, provided the unacceptable behaviours of a few in the community are addressed and rectified. It is true sport when practiced in a fair way, giving access to all, from beginners to the most experienced and talented athletes, and with the emphasis on the partnership between an educated rider and a well-trained horse.

On almost all of the most important topics the participants shared the same vision to counter current drifts (doping, corruption and any other kind of cheating) and provide a sustainable future for this discipline.

The core statement was to underline that when the current regulations are applied, as it is the case in most of the European events, there is nearly no room for drifts.

By consequence they first agree on the strict application of these regulations and on the reinforcement of the points which will help to do so: consistent application of sanctions, reinforcement of anti-doping program, limitation of crew members, imposition of strict weight control, certification of timing and heart-rate providers, upgrade of a strong FEI officials monitoring program.

Working Group members also addressed veterinarian suggestions, such as: the decrease of intermediate presentation times to 15 minutes, conservation of current heart rate principles and the extension of the rules to avoid horses being transported immediately after competition from 2 Star events. Moreover they agreed upon being against the eventual reintroduction of the 2 hours invasive treatment rule.

This is a progress report and the EEF Endurance Working Group will come up with more details and new recommendations in due time. The Group is looking forward to cooperating with many other stakeholders who have a similar vision.

The participants list and minutes of the first meeting of the EEF Endurance Working Group are available on: http://www.euroequestrian.eu/documents/wg-endurance

Mongolia: 2019 Gobi Desert Cup Scheduled for 27 August to 6 September

GobiDesertCup.com

Please join us for a 480-kilometer ride across the Gobi Desert on Mongolian horses over six days. We are an endurance race that prioritizes horse welfare and the sustainability of the nomadic Mongol culture through our event. Challenge your horsemanship will embarking on the cultural experience of a lifetime. We are now accepting a limited number of applications at www.gobidesertcup.com.

The Mongolian Horse

Mongolian horses are semi-wild and handled differently then the horses you are used to riding. Sturdy and strong with a lot of heart, they will teach you and test you. The horses selected for the cup qualify based on age, health, quietness, experience and ability to cover long distances. Once qualified, the horses go to our training center to be trained and conditioned for the race. Our herdsmen will be on hand every day to help you and support you as you navigate the course.

Race Details

Following a marked course, starting every morning at 7AM, riders must complete the course before 7 PM. Two vet checks are held a day; one at 40 km and one at the end of the 80km. When entering the vetting area, riders will have maximum 30 minutes to get their horse's heart rate to 64bpm or below. At each vet check, the horses will be trotted out under saddle and checked for lameness. After passing the vet check, a compulsory vet hold of 40min will allow both riders and horses to rest, eat and drink.

Away from the modern world, GET BACK TO BASICS.

Riders will be camping in tents each night in a traditional Mongolian camp. You will wake up each morning to the herders bringing in the horses to the horse line as the sun rises over the horizon. Leave your modern amenities behind because without electricity you will learn to live as the herders have since the time of Ghenghis Khan.

But no open fires here, you will be immersed in the nomadic lifestyle while enjoying catered food prepared by our chef and his team.

Itinerary

The itinerary includes a half day briefing with officials in Ulaanbaatar at the hotel. You will then be picked up the following morning at the hotel to travel to base camp where you will receive two days of training before the race; discovering the horses, the rules, and try your gear. Then the race begins after a Starting Ceremony! Each night awards will be present for Best Managed Horse and Best Sportsmanship. At the end of six days and 480 kilometers, the Individual Winner, Overall Best Managed, and Team winners will be announced, following by a Closing Ceremony.

For more information and to apply, see
https://www.gobidesertcup.com/

Canadian Rider on the storm: Jasper woman plans Mongolia charity ride

Fitzhugh.ca - Full Article

Craig Gilbert | publisher@fitzhugh.ca
February 19 2019

Sandra Coombe plans to spend some of her spring standing tall in the saddle.

The longtime local was the 12th and final rider selected for the seventh annual Gobi Gallop, a 10-day, 700-kilometre traditional ride on herd-minded Mongolian stallions from the steppe into the mountains and back down again at the end of May.

She plans to get all four of the innoculations recommended for travel to the region, including typhoid and rabies, but she seemed more concerned about altitude sickness.

She reached the race’s organizer, Julie Veloo, through a video chat Tuesday afternoon.

“We’re technically skirting around the limits of it,” she said, with the riders starting at 7,200 metres in the western Gobi Desert, ascending to 8,600 metres then descending to about 5,000 metres. “Many people could have other issues.”

Coombe was selected after a three-hour interview process...

Read more here:
https://www.fitzhugh.ca/rider-on-the-storm-jasper-woman-plans-mongolia-charity-ride/

Will there be a WEG 2022? FEI to keep close eye on world champs bids

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

February 19, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

Horse sport’s world governing body has acknowledged that because of the globalisation of equestrian sport there are few countries with the ability to host a World Equestrian Games championships in all disciplines.

Following last year’s WEG in the USA which was beset with issues, the FEI will work closely with those bidding to host championships in 2022 in order to create “a unified vision and establish an achievable set of goals” to work towards.

When it opened the bidding process late last year for individual world championships for 2022, the FEI said preference would be given to multi-discipline bids. FEI President Ingmar De Vos stressed at the time that it did not necessarily mean the end of the FEI World Equestrian Games concept.

“The new bid process allows for the sustainable and cost-effective use of existing equestrian sports facilities and for the FEI to partner with National Federations that may have hesitated in putting forward multi-discipline bids in the past...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/02/19/weg-2022-fei-world-champs-bids/?utm_medium=40digest.7days3.20190219.home&utm_source=email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=campaign

New Zealand’s North Island Championships a victory for the ‘Pip’s’

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

15 February 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Jane Ferguson

Whareama Domain, half an hour out of Masterton on New Zealand’s scenic east coast was the location for the running of the Toft Endurance ESNZ Endurance North Island Championships from 1 to 3 February 2019.

With the track crossing over 16 privately owned farms, it was a logistical triumph for the organising committee, who had been working extremely hard for many months in the lead-up to ensure a world-class event. Farmers were incredibly supportive, shifting thousands of head of stock, resulting in only two gates on course and a flowing track.

The ride base was picture perfect; sponsors signage was prominently displayed, and with fairy lights running up the vet lanes for the night loops it was a magical experience for all involved. Overseas officials hailed from Botswana, the United States, Costa Rica and Malaysia, and China and Australia were represented among the competitors...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/new-zealands-north-island-championships-a-victory-for-the-pips/

The UK Horse World Prepares for Brexit

HorseReporter.com - Full Article

24/01/2019
by Pamela Burton


The UK Horse World Prepares for Brexit
24/01/2019

Leaders in equestrian sport, vets and government have been working closely to prepare plans for the UK leaving the EU
Although the outcomes of Parliamentary negotiations surrounding Brexit remain uncertain, the horse world has been working closely together to understand the implications for horse owners when the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019.

Leaders from a number of organisations from horse sport, racing, vets, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have been developing plans for what needs to be done in case the UK leaves with no deal.

The chief concern for horse owners will be transportation. Our focus has been on the following areas:...

Read more here:
https://www.horsereporter.com/the-uk-horse-world-prepares-for-brexit/

Opportunity knocks with FEI World Championships 2022 bid process

FEI.org

13 Feb 2019

While 2019 is set to be another busy year for international horse sport, potential bidders are already vying for the possibility of hosting FEI World Championships in 2022. The FEI has already received some exciting expressions of interest for 2022, with more submissions expected before the 28 February deadline.

“I am delighted to say that the level of interest and the quality of submissions to host FEI World Championships in 2022 has been very high so far, and we are confident that we will have an interesting pool of candidates to choose from when the allocations are made later this year,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

The FEI initiated a bid process for individual FEI World Championships in all disciplines for 2022 at the FEI General Assembly in Manama (BRN) in November last year.

The FEI President stressed at the time that this does not necessarily mean the end of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ concept, and bids to host the full seven disciplines together for 2022 will be considered.

The FEI Board unanimously approved the opening of a bidding process for individual world championships in all disciplines for 2022, with preference being given to multi-discipline bids. The Board also agreed that ideally the FEI World Championships for Dressage and Para Dressage should be combined. The world championships for 2022 in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines will serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Games.

“Equestrian sport has become increasingly globalised, but there are relatively few countries that have the capacity to host world championships in all disciplines simultaneously,” the FEI President said.

“The new bid process allows for the sustainable and cost-effective use of existing equestrian sports facilities and for the FEI to partner with National Federations that may have hesitated putting forward multi-discipline bids in the past. The door is now open for these Federations to consider submitting an expression of interest for an individual world championship in the discipline of their choice.”

In a key change to the bid process, the FEI will host an interactive workshop at the end of March in Lausanne for all National Federations/Organising Committees that submit an expression of interest in the 2022 World Championships.

“This interactive workshop is a key factor in ensuring that we adequately convey the structure, opportunities and minimum requirements of hosting the FEI World Championships 2022. By working more closely with the National Federations and Organising Committees from the very start of the process, we can ensure a unified vision and establish an achievable set of goals to work towards,” Ingmar De Vos said.

There are over 4,000 FEI events organised world-wide annually across the seven disciplines of Jumping, Dressage & Para-Dressage, Eventing, Endurance, Driving & Para-Driving, Vaulting and Reining, with world championships in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines held every four years and every second year for non-Olympic disciplines.

Timeline

• 28 February 2019 – Deadline for receipt of non-binding expressions of interest to host one or multiple FEI World Championship(s) 2022. All information can be accessed here.
• 26 March 2019 – Workshop to be held in Lausanne after which interested bidders will be invited to submit a formal bid, outlining their plans and visions for hosting FEI World Championships in 2022.
• November 2019 – Allocation of FEI World Championships at the in-person Board meeting at the FEI General Assembly in Moscow (RUS). All bids will be fully evaluated over the Spring/Summer of 2019.

Questions concerning the bid process can be sent to bidding@fei.org.

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org

The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.

Frst Trainers Automatically Suspended Under New Anti-Doping Rule

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

February 12, 2019
by: Pippa Cuckson

Two UAE endurance trainers are the first to be automatically suspended for horses in their care testing positive to banned substances.

The new rule came into effect on January 1st, as the FEI beefs up its battle with ongoing doping issues. Endurance still returns a substantially higher percentage of positives from horses sampled than any other equestrian sport; 37 of the 57 cases currently waiting a Tribunal decision are in endurance, mostly from riders in the Group 7 (Middle East) region.

Trainers Ibrahim Joynal Abedin (Si Quilombo) and Rashed Suhail Al Darbi (Kekmadar) have been provisionally suspended, pending a final Tribunal decision, after both horses tested positive to arsenic. Both horses had the same rider, Said Al Balushi, who is also provisionally suspended. Saudi rider Ahmad Althmaly is also listed as the suspended trainer of Sarem who has tested positive to steroids Stanozolol and 16-betahydroxystanozolol.

This is the first time a new FEI anti-doping rule has been discipline-specific. In all other equestrian sports, because the rider is usually the horse’s trainer and stable manager he is regarded as the prime “person responsible” (PR) and thereby liable for doping offences. However, endurance in the Middle East mostly revolves around large barns of many hundreds of horses and prepared by professional trainers but competed by staff riders or overseas visitors with little prior contact...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/first-trainers-suspended-new-anti-doping-rule/

Dubai: Final push gives victory to F3 Stables in HH The President of UAE Endurance Cup

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

Info@endurance-world.com
13th February 2019

Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, United Arab Emirates. Saturday 9 February 2019. HH The President of UAE Endurance Cup in Al Wathba is being considered as one of the UAE season highlights, along with the HH Sh. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup in Dubai.

Joined with invited riders from around the globe this event was the most important race of the season held in Al Wathba totalling 313 entries (from 28 countries), an increase compared to last year’s entries of 270 entries.

With the exception of the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Italy Endurance Festival in Pisa – ITA and the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival in Euston Park – GBR, the Middle East stands out regarding prize money for the endurance races.

Most recently, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in Al Ula – KSA still fresh in our mind, together with the earlier mentioned Sheikh Mohammed Cup held last January in Dubai and furthermore last weekend’s HH The President of UAE Endurance Cup where the organisers, the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, announced AED 100,000 for each finisher, good for over US$ 27,000.- The 160km distance was split into six loops of 40, 33, 24, 23, 20 and 20km which included, in the second loop, the much dreaded and at the same time most liked Tora Bora section. It looked like most combinations survived it well although the riders were surprised by the deep sand.

The hot weather was an added challenge the international riders coped rather well with considering the fact that temperatures are much less in their home base...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/final-push-gives-victory-to-f3-stables-in-hh-the-president-of-uae-endurance-cup/

Australia: Bush ride to test endurance

Latrobvalleyexpress.com.au - Full Story

Michelle Slater
11 Feb 2019]

Local horse owners who love riding in the bush are being encouraged to have a go at endurance riding at a training weekend in Glengarry in March.

Ride organiser Trish Van Donk said anyone on any breed of horse could tackle the introductory 20-kilometre loop through the Bool Bool State Forest so long as their horse has had regular work.

She said the social ride would be ideal for budding pony clubbers, adult riding club members or trail riders wanting to step up the pace and learn more about the sport.

"I definitely encourage people who haven't done this before to try the 20 kilometres. It's not difficult, it won't be hilly and won't put the horse under stress if they haven't done it before," Ms Van Donk said.

"It's pretty friendly. Most people will help you out and guide you. It's not competitive and a good way to start..."

Read more here:
http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/5897874/bush-ride-to-test-endurance/

A new chapter for Italia Endurance Stables & Academy

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

8th February 2019
Feature made with the assistance of Italia Endurance Asd
Photo Credit: Italia Endurance Asd

One should consider Italia Endurance Stables & Academy as a whole entity, with the stables being the headquarters for Fuxiateam as well as location for events, an endurance academy and breeding activities.

Italia Endurance Stables & Academy is a centre par excellence for endurance riding and one of the most important in Europe. Located in Italy, between Perugia and Lake Trasimeno, it is surrounded by the gentle green hills of Agello village. Italia Endurance Stables & Academy is a sport and breeding project whose headquarters are in Agello, Magione near Perugia, on Via Emirati Arabi Uniti, 3.

Inspired by the vision of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the future of these facilities is all about endurance riding and to create opportunities for young people involved in this sport. World Team Champion Gianluca Laliscia has turned his dream, dedicated to endurance and Pure Arab horses, into reality. A new special place where wellness, comfort, and quality come together, creating a harmonious relationship among people, horses and nature which is immediately perceptible...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/a-new-chapter-for-italia-endurance-stables-academy/

Petaluma woman to compete in “the longest and toughest horse race in the world”

Petaluma360.com - Full Article

JOHN JACKSONARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR | February 5, 2019

Petaluman Erin Nagle is adventuresome, athletic, impetuous, determined and, by her own admission, — crazy.

How else would you describe a 26-year-old who is planning to ride 25 half-broken horses 600 miles across the Mongolian steppe.

Competing in the Mongol Derby, described as “The longest and toughest horse race in the world, is the latest in Nagle’s continuing self challenges. It is by far the most demanding of her adventures.

In the past, she has competed in a body-building competition, learned to play polo, tried her hand at horse archery and run a half marathon. Those seem tame compared to what stretches like a barren dessert in her future...

Read more here:
https://www.petaluma360.com/sports/9233099-181/petaluma-woman-to-compete-in

Saudi Arabia: Endurance race winners crowned at Al-Ula

ArabNews.com - Full Article

DEEMA AL-KHUDAIR
February 02, 2019

• The total prize value for the race was SR15 million ($4 million)
• The race was organized by the Saudi Equestrian Federation and the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation

JEDDAH: Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman on Saturday crowned the winners of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup.

The ​120km race took eight hours to complete and brought together 100 riders from a dozen countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.

It was part of the Winter at Tantora festival held in Al-Ula, which is 300 km north of Madinah.

The Royal Commission for Al-Ula hailed the race as the biggest in the world in terms of endurance, and said it wanted to promote the city as a tourist destination for art, culture, heritage, nature and sport.

The race was organized by the Saudi Equestrian Federation and the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation. It was recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.

The total prize value for the race was SR15 million ($4 million).

In first place was Salem Hamad Al-Kitbi from the M7 team of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum.

In second place was Abdullah Ghanim Al-Marri from the F3 team of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum and, in third place, was Saif Ahmed Al-Mazrouei from the MRM team of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum.

Reward

The winner received a cash prize of SR900,000 and a Range Rover.

The runners-up received a cash prize of SR650,000 and a Jaguar F-Pace each.

Those placing fourth to 10th were rewarded with SR400,000 each, while 11th to 100th place holders received SR100,000 each...

Read more here:
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1446056/saudi-arabia