UAE and Spain Take Endurance Golds

FEI.org

22 May 2021
Words by Stacey Stearns
Images by Chris Taniere

Salem Hamad Saeed Al Kitbi is the new World champion...

United Arab Emirates riders showed a strong performance in the FEI Endurance World Championship™ at the San Rossore Estate in Pisa, Italy, winning the Individual gold and silver medals.

Salem Hamad Saeed Al Kitbi riding Haleh is the Endurance World champion and Individual gold medal winner. Mansour Saeed Mohd Al Faresi riding Birmann Aya won silver.

Al Kitbi and Al Faresi worked together and applied pressure to Omar Blanco Rodrigo and For Ferro of Spain, who led for most of the day, on the final loop. The UAE riders established a gap between themselves and the remaining pack, as the battle for the final standings in the top 10 and the team medals evolved in the final loop.

Boni Viada de Vivero of Chile on AS Embrujo rode a strategic race to capture the bronze in an emotional and fantastic finish.

AS Embrujo and de Vivero moved up progressively throughout the day, in a textbook performance earning the first medal for Chile in an FEI Endurance World Championship™. They moved from 19th place early in the day to the bronze position using clever riding and tactics.

Spain led the team standings throughout the day, with steady pressure from Brazil. Angel Soy Coll on Warrens Hill Chayze came from behind to finish fourth. Omar Blanco Rodrigo on For Ferro finished sixth. Maria Ponton Alvaraz guided Mandany into 15th. Brazil rode consistently all day as a team, finishing in 8th, 9th, and 10th to earn the silver medal. France finished in the bronze position...

Read more at: https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/uae-and-spain-take-endurance-golds