Bahrian: Endurance race is set for flag off

21 December 2006

A TOTAL prize money of BD23,000 is up for the grabs in the Kingdom Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakir.

The event, comprising 80-km for women and 120-km for juniors, is being organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) and is part of Bahrain's National Day Celebrations and His Majesty King Hamad's accession to the throne.

The prize includes BD12,700 for junior and BD10,800 for women. The top 10 in each event will be honoured at an awarding ceremony after the event.

The women's race, sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding Company, will of three stages with 30 kms for the first two stages and 20 for the third.

A 60-km qualifier will also be held on the sidelines of the main event which is also open to women.

The first two stages of the 120-km junior race consists of 30 kms each while the third stage will be over 25 kms and the fourth 20kms. The fifth and final stage will be of 15 kms.

The 60 kms event, which will be organised for new riders, is divided into two stages of 30 kms each.

Meanwhile, Kingdom Stables director Najeeb Al Burjus of Saudi Arabia arrived in Bahrain to inspect the facilities and the preparations being made to host this prestigious event.

Al Burjus said the stable, owned by Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, is always keen to take part in tBahrain races to gain more experience.

Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa welcomed the participating stable from Saudi Arabia.

Shaikh Khalid also thanked Prince Al Waleed, president of the Kingdom Holding Company, for his personal support to the Kingdom Stable.

The race is being organised following directives from Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The prize money beak-up:

Juniors: Winner - BD3,000. Runner-up: BD 2,500. Third place: BD1,500. Fourth place: BD1,200. Fifth place: BD1,000. Sixth place: BD900. Seventh place: BD800. Eighth place: BD700. Ninth place: BD600 and 10th place: BD500.

Women section: Winner - BD2,000. Runner-up: BD1,700. Third place: BD1,400. Fourth place: BD1,200. Fifth place: BD1,000. Sixth place: BD900. Seventh place: BD800. Eighth place: BD700. Ninth place: BD600 and 10th place: BD500.
Daily News

Rylan puts hand up for National selection

Wednesday, 13 December 2006

Kimberley Ryan's win in the Marlborough endurance ride at Chestnut Valley, near Renwick, on Saturday should give the New Zealand selectors something to think about for the up coming Trans-Tasman Endurance Challenge against Australia.

Ryan, riding for the Glendaar Endurance Stables on the grey Arabian gelding Dell Gamal, won the junior 124km NRM sponsored premier points event in a ride time of 10 hours 49.13 minutes. She now has a stranglehold on the South Island's sponsored series with one ride remaining.

On the long list for selection into the New Zealand junior team, to be announced today, Ryan along with Helen Graham and open rider Linda Harmon make up a strong Marlborough line-up for the challenge to be hosted by Nelson Lakes on January 1 and 2.

Graham and her Arabian gelding, Ra'oul Abu Rakheen, produced a stunning finish to win the junior 82km event in a ride time of 6.16.37 hours. Harmon's horse, Landon V'erah, sustained a puncture wound to her leg but the rider managed to stop the blood flow to finish third in the open 82km in 6.06.19 hours.

Sarah Hamer and Rosewood Tahir from Timaru won the open 124km NRM ride in 10.30.52 hours, they also took home the best conditioned horse (BC) award. Hamer is also on the long list for trans-Tasman selection.

Marlborough under 21 Sportsperson of the Year winner Kylie Avery returned to the podium with a close gallop finish in the open 82km class. Riding her mother's stallion, West Coast Zahav, Avery managed to pip Nelson rider Chris Bonniface by a short whisker to win in 5.55.01 hours. West Coast Zahav picked up the BC award. In the open 40km Canterbury's Jenny Worsfold and Sunnybrae Serene were judged first past the post in 2.31.17 hours. Rai Valley rider Kim Swan and Alamode Armani were second. Charlie Davis and Cheeko from the Waihopai took third with Cheeko receiving the BC.

Endurance results, December 9:

Open 124km NRM Premier Points (four starters, one vetted out lame): S Hamer and Rosewood Tahir 1; K James and Glendaar Arakis 2; B Priddle and JA GAI Kascade 3. Best conditioned horse: Hamer and Rosewood Tahir.

Junior 124km NRM Premier Points (two starters, one withdrawn lame): K Ryan and Dell Gamal 1.

Open 82km (five starters): K Avery and West Coast Zahav 1; C Bonniface and Radi 2; L Harmon and Landon V'erah 3; L Kenny and PL Mississippi 4; O Schreurs and Delights Antar 5. BC horse: Avery and West Coast Zahav.

Junior 82km (two starters, one v/o sore back): H Graham and Ra'oul Abu Rakheen 1.

82km Novice (one starter): Qualified: Tampa de Oro.

Open 42km (five starters): J Worsfold and Sunnybrae Serene 1; K Swan and Alamode Armani 2; C Davis and Cheeko 3; L Ryan and Naibara Gold Treasure 4; T Blunt and Hundalee Caly X 5. BC horse: Davis and Cheeko.

42km Novice (five starters): Qualified : Silands TricTrac, Silands Rhaffety, Stonelea Maverick, Sherdon Rakada, SH Wind Song.

25km Training (two starters, two eliminated o/time).

Marlexpress.co.nz

HM KING HAMAD RETURNS HOME AFTER ATTENDING ENDURANCE RACE

MANAMA DEC. 14 (BNA)-- HIS MAJESTY KING HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA ARRIVED AT THE SILEEN AREA ON A VISIT DURING WHICH HE ATTENDED PART OF THE ENDURANCE RACE HELD TODAY AS PART OF THE 15TH ASIAN GAMES IN DOHA.

HIS MAJESTY WAS RECEIVED BY AMIR OF QATAR SHAIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI AND CROWN PRINCE SHAIKH TAMEEM BIN HAMAD AL THANI. HIS MAJESTY THEN ATTENDED A LUNCHEON HELD BY THE AMIR OF QATAR IN HIS HONOR. IT WAS ATTENDED BY UAE VICE PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER, RULER OF DUBAI SHAIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOOM, QATARI CROWN PRINCE, SHAIKH TAMEEM, OLYMPIC COUNCIL OF ASIA (OCA) PRESIDENT SHAIKH AHMED AL FAHAD AL AHMED AL SABAH, MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION ACCOMPANYING HIS MAJESTY KING HAMAD AND A NUMBER OF QATARI OFFICIALS. FOLLOWING THAT, HIS MAJESTY THE KING, THE QATARI CROWN PRINCE AND THE UAE VICE PRESIDENT HEADED TO THE ENDURANCE VILLAGE NEAR SILEEN WHERE BAHRAIN ROYAL EQUESTRIAN AND ENDURANCE FEDERATION (BREEF) PRESIDENT SHAIKH NASSER BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA AND FIRST DEPUTY PRESIDENT SHAIKH KHALID BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA WERE HONORED TO GREET HIS MAJESTY. HIS MAJESTY KING HAMAD CONGRATULATED KING NASSER ON WINNING THE SILVER MEDAL OF THE FIRST ASIAN GAMES EQUESTRIAN ENDURANCE RACE AND PRAISED HIS EFFORTS AND THOSE OF THE BAHRAINI TEAM, WISHING THEM FURTHER SUCCESS. HIS MAJESTY, THEN, PRESENTED FIRST PLACE WINNER SHAIKH RASHID BIN MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOOM FROM THE UAE WITH HIS GOLD MEDAL, SHAIKH NASSER WITH HIS SILVER MEDAL AND UAE JOCKEY SULTAN BIN SULAYEM WITH HIS BRONZE MEDAL. THE UAE WON A GOLD, BAHRAIN A SILVER AND QATAR A BRONZE AT THE LEVEL OF ENDURANCE TEAMS WHICH WERE PRESENTED BY UAE DEPUTY PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND RULER OF DUBAI, SHAIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM. THEN, HM THE KING RECEIVED BAHRAINI CHAMPIONS WHO CLINCHED GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE MEDALS AT THE 15TH ASIAN GAMES AND CONGRATULATED THEM ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS, TIPPING THEIR VICTORIES A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR BAHRAIN AND HAILING THEIR BEST REPRESENTATION OF THE KINGDOM AT REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTING GATHERINGS. HM ALSO THANKED IN PARTICULAR THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS (GOYS) FOR ITS TREMENDOUS EFFORTS WHICH WERE BEHIND BAHRAINS EXCELLENCE AT THE ASIAN GAMES 2006 , WISHING THEM EVERY FUTURE SUCCESS. HM THE KING ALSO EXTENDED THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO THE STATE OF QATAR FOR THE GREAT POTENTIALS IT PUT AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE PARTICIPANTS, EXPRESSING ADMIRATION OF THE SOUND ORGANIZATION IT DEMONSTRATED WHICH, HE SAID, REFLECTED THE STATES PROGRESS ALONG WITH THE OTHER GCC COUNTRIES IN THE FIELD OF SPORT. THE CURRENT SUCCESS OF QATAR ENTITLES IT TO HOST THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES, HM NOTED, WISHING QATAR EVERY GOOD LUCK TO HOST THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES WHICH, HE SAID, WILL REINFORCE THE GULF POSITION ON THE WORLD MAP. HM THE KING ALSO PRAISED THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE GCC STATES IN THE CURRENT ASIAN GAMES 2006, SAYING THAT THESE VICTORIES WERE REGARDED AS BAHRAINS FOR THE COMMON GOALS AND DESTINY AS WELL AS THE EXCELLENT TIES BONDING THEM. BAHRAINS PARTICIPATION IN DOHA ASIAN GAMES WAS MADE DELIBERATELY TO SUCCEED THE EVENT WHICH WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AN ARAB COUNTRY, EXPRESSING DELIGHT OVER THE IMPACT THE SIZE OF PARTICIPATION HAD ON THE NUMBER OF MEDALS WON BY THE KINGDOM THAT OUTNUMBERED THE MEDALS CLINCHED IN ALL PREVIOUS CONTESTS TOGETHER. HM THE KING THANKED THE BAHRAINI DELEGATION FOR ITS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND QATAR FOR THE SOUND ORGANIZATION, WISHING BOTH SIDES FURTHER PROGRESS. ON THE OCCASION, SHAIKH NASSER EXTENDED SINCERE THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO HM THE KING FOR THE SUPPORT HE HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY OFFERING TO BAHRAINI EQUESTRIANS AT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SPORTING GATHERINGS AND PUSHING THEM FORWARD TOWARDS FURTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO PROMOTE BAHRAIN WORLDWIDE. MTQ 14-DEC-2006 23:33

Bahrain News Agency

Asia Games: UAE wins endurance gold

www.horsetalk.co.nz

The flag of the United Arab Emirates was flying high when HH Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum won gold by crossing the finish line of the first Asian Games equestrian endurance ride to claim the individual gold medal after a gruelling 120km race through the Qatar desert.

It was a dream finish for the UAE's Al Maktoum family, concluded the first ever Asian Games equestrian endurance competition. The team of four brothers finished with the gold medal and the eldest, HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, claimed individual gold on Magic Glenn, also known as Nashmi or 'The Brave' in Arabic.
"WHOOO!!!! I'm just over the moon," HH Sheikh Rashid whooped with joy as he finished. "The horse is very good. It was fresh till the end. Our team is still in the lead and now I am waiting for my brothers and hopefully we will make gold.�

The three Al Maktoum brothers, HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed, HH Sheikh Ahmad Bin Mohammed and HH Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed, came in with a riding time of 18:55:23 for the 120 kilometres.

Fourth member of the team, HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum counted as the team's dropped score, after his horse was eliminated at the third vetiniary gate.

The Bahraini team, with two of its riders finishing, clinched silver. Bahrain's best rider, HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, riding Shar Rushkin, took individual silver, after crossing the finish line just over three minutes after the winner.

HH Sheikh Nasser had opted to ride the last lap alongside HH Sheikh Rashid. On the final 10km of the race HH Sheikh Nasser told reporters: "I need a massage."

The third rider to cross the finish line was Dubai businessman Sultan Bin Sulayem, starting as an individual rider for the UAE.

Time-keeping proved to be a problem at this first Asian Games endurance ride and, after the first two laps, the ground jury and their team of stewards resolved to register the times manually by stopwatch.

What was planned to be a first for a modern timing system that works through an electronic chip to be read by a base unit, did not work satisfactorily and was abandoned during the competition.

The final results took some time to compute, when Qatar�s Fahad Mohammed Adhajri was confirmed as fourth place in the individual event.

In the team event, Qatar performed better, receiving the bronze medal, behind winners UAE and second-placed Bahrain.

Asian Games: Malaysia's Lone Entry

Rahman Drops Out Of Race After Injury To Horse

By Lena Liew

DOHA, Dec 15 (Bernama) - Malaysia's lone rider in the 120km day-long equestrian endurance race that made its Asian Games debut Thursday, dropped out of the race prematurely when his horse suffered a strained fetlock (just above the hoof of a horse's leg).

Rahman Azman Muhammad, riding the Raja Muda of Kelantan's nine-year-old gelding named Colorado, had arrived at the first vet gate (checkpoint) 30km into the route in 29th position behind a host of riders from the gulf nations.

"The track was wet due to overnight rain that had washed away the soil and they had covered potholes with loose sand. Unaware of the condition, my horse stumbled and strained a fetlock," Rahman said at the Mesaieed race course situated an hour's drive outside Doha.

Rahman who completed the first 30km in 1 hour 40 minutes and 50 seconds reached the second checkpoint an hour and 40 minutes later before dropping out.

Prince Sheikh Rashid bin Mohamed Al-Maktoum of United Arab Emirates (UAE) completed the gruelling race in 5'45:49s to win the gold and added the Team gold when three out of four riders in his team finished the race with a total time of 18'55:23s.

Sheik Nasser Hamad Al Khalifa from Bahrain took the silver while Sultan Bin Sulayem from UAE finished with a bronze. The team gold, silver and bronze went to UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.

Among the 51 competitors who headed out into the desert after a mass start at 6am were four members of the UAE royalty, three from the Bahraini princes, two Saudi princes and the 18-year-old Qatari prince, son of the Emir who was given the honour of lighting the Doha Asian Games torch during the Opening Ceremony.

Rahman would have had five other team-mates including the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, but they skipped Doha after competing in the Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge late last month.

Members of Gulf states royal families compete in Equestrian Endurance

The Associated Press
Published: December 14, 2006

MESAIEED, Qatar: The blue bloods and Bedouins returned to the desert outside Doha for the one event the Arab states considered a formality for a gold medal at the Asian Games.

The 51 jockeys who took off at sunrise in the 120-kilometer (74.5-mile) equestrian endurance ride included 15 members of Gulf royal families in an event designed to define the first Asian Games held in the Arab states.

Hundreds of Qataris drove in their 4x4 vehicles in the desert, including 17-year-old Rashid al-Marri, who camped overnight Wednesday despite heavy rain along with five relatives waiting for the race in which his elder brother, Saoud, was taking part with the Qatari team.

"We are coming to cheer for my brother Saoud," said Al-Marri, a white-and-maroon Qatari flag draped around his neck. "We want him to win the gold medal."

Instead it was the United Arab Emirates team led by Sheik Rashid Al Maktoum, son of Dubai's ruler, that won both individual and team races, followed by Bahrain.

"I did not win this race alone. It is also a win for the coach and the people of the Emirates," said Sheik Rashid, who was riding his father's favorite horse, the chestnut Magic Glenn, or Nashmi.

Bahrain's Sheik Nasser Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, the son of the king of Bahrain, was second onboard the white horse Shar Rushkin, just in front of another Emarati, Sultan Bin Sulayem, on another white horse named Iknour De La Bire.

"We are a real team, no doubt," said Sulayem. "The Sheik trains us, I feel equal to his sons. You might even see him advising riders from other countries, because he wants everyone to improve."

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid followed the progress of the leading group in a convoy of three 4x4 vehicles. As Sheik Rashid finished the race, his father was waiting for him and gave him a big hug.

The Al-Marri family was just as supportive, at the other end of the field.

As the Qatari rider moved slowly in the last loop of the race, men in 4x4 drove behind honking their horns to encourage the horse to move faster — until al-Marri waved for them to stop.

The king of Bahrain presented the medals to the jockeys, while Qatar's Crown Prince Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani greeted the three medalists at the finish.

Other members of the Al Maktoum and Al Khalifa families participated in the competition as well as three members of Saudi Arabia's Al Saoud family and three from Qatar's Al Thani ruling family.

The Qatari team included Sheik Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, the son of Qatar's emir. Sheik Mohammed had a bigger role on the opening night, when he rode his steed up a ramp the full height of the Khalifa Stadium to light a giant gyroscope-like cauldron to mark the opening of the games.

The 20-year-old Sheik Mohammed was part of the team that won the bronze medal Tuesday.

Thursday's course included five loops, each between 15 kilometers and 30 kilometers (9 miles and 18.5 miles) in length. The first two loops were the longest and the last was the shortest.

The competitors returned to the start point at the end of each loop for a medical examination.

Horses were regularly vetted on the ride, where they were checked for soundness and dehydration.

One of the sons of Dubai's ruler, Sheik Hamdan, did not continue the race after the third loop when his horse failed the test.

Although most people enjoyed the race, several cars were seen near the route stuck in the mud — the drivers clearly were unhappy.

Internatinal Herald Tribune Sports

Asian Games: Royalty abounds in equestrian; China racks up medals

Horse Riders: Qataris lead desert challenge

Two individual Qatari riders arrived ahead of the field in the desert, as the convoy went past its first check point in the equestrian endurance event – a 120km race over sand.
The first arrival clocked in at just under 84 minutes, 30km after the start. Saoud Al Marri, riding Nu Piece, and Mohammad Atta on Proavodo held a slight lead ahead of a group of 10 riders representing Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates in what has been a Middle Eastern-dominated race so far.
Fifty one horses headed out into the desert after a mass start at 06:00 in the dawn light. Heavy overnight rainfall has made the track difficult and heavy. Team coaches and veterinarians say they expect problems in the later stages of the gruelling race on Thursday 14 December.
Bahrain are the next best placed team. Their first rider making the first mark was Ahmed Hamad Saleh Al Rowaiei on Lormar Lorraine. Second for Bahrain was Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on the grey gelding Shar Rushkin.
The race was always expected to be dominated by countries and regions from from the Middle East. Korea and Malaysia are the only teams outside the Middle East with competitors in the event.
Korea are competing on Qatari horses. The only true non-Arabic combination is Malaysia's Bin Muhammad Rahman Azman riding Colorado, a horse brought over especially from Malaysia for this marathon through the desert. But they have found the going tough and were more than 20 minutes behind the leaders at the fist checkpoint.
Bahrain comes full force with three members from the ruling family. Sheikh Duaij Salman Mubarak Al Khalifa finished ninth at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa from Bahrain came 14th. The third is Sheikh Nasser Bin Al Khalifa on Shar Rushkin.
United Arab Emirates are represented by four members of the ruling Al Maktoum family, with HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum being the oldest at 25. The youngest, HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, aged 19, won the title at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, where endurance racing was introduced over a distance of 160km.
15th Asian Games, Doha 2006

HULIQ.com

UAE team aim for gold in today's 120-km ride

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter
Doha: The UAE endurance team is confident of a good showing in today's 120-km ride which has on offer medals in both the team and individual categories.
The UAE team will, however, now have only five riders as only five horses were available. Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi will sit out the ride, which is making its debut at the Asian Games.
But Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, who leads the team, was talking up their chances.
"We have won major competitions before and this is a prestigious event for us. We are representing the UAE and it is a matter of pride," he told Gulf News at the weighing in.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who is a multiple gold medal winner in international championships, is expected to be present to guide the UAE team.
"We will be following the instructions of our father and we will go all out to see the UAE flag fluttering high," Rashid added. "Hosts Qatar and Bahrain are also very strong but we hope to do well."
Shaikh Rashid and his brothers Shaikh Hamdan, Shaikh Ahmad and Shaikh Majid will be bidding to create history at the Games.
It is the first time that four brothers will be representing a team and attempting to win a medal. Sultan Bin Sulayem will be the other rider in the individual event. "The UAE squad is a team with the highest record of wins. It does not matter that we are one rider short as this could have happened soon after the start of the ride as well. We will go for gold," said Saeed Al Tayer, Vice-President, Dubai Equestrian Club. Kamel Armor, Jazyk, Muneef, Iknour De La Bire and Nashmi are the horses that the UAE riders will be aboard.
Best timings
The three best timings of the team will count towards the team medal classification while all five riders will compete for the gold, silver and bronze.
Around 45 riders are expected to start in the 120-km event run over five loops.
"We hope it does not rain in the night as it will make it difficult for the horses," said endurance trainer Esmail Mohammad.
Hosts Qatar start with a big advantage as they have 12 riders in the fray while Bahrain is expected to pose a strong threat to the UAE's medal chances.

EnduranceGB novice champions achieve highest score possible

Equestrian Today

It's the best yet for Jeni and Flurrie

An endurance rider from Equestrian Post country has topped off a great season with a wealth of wins at the Endurance Great Britain awards night.

In 2002, this column recorded the success of Jeni Gilbert and her Connemara gelding Flurrie when they became Endurance Great Britain novice champions with the highest score possible.

In the following years, Jeni, a member of the Endurance Great Britain West Riding Group, has enjoyed nurturing her horse through the Endurance GB system, gaining experience and knowledge along the way.

Flurrie is not an easy horse in many ways and finding the right path for him has been a learning curve for Jeni and her crew.

In 2006, Jeni targeted the rides and distances which she knew Flurrie enjoyed and her efforts were rewarded when, at the Endurance GB awards dinner, Jeni was presented with The Regent Trophy for highpoint unregistered horse.

She also collected The Jasper Trophy for the highest points in their best three competitive rides, third place in the National Senior Championship and a prestigious third place in The Manar Trophy, which is the ultimate goal of the serious rider – The National Highpoint Championship.

Val Swan, chair of the EGB West Riding Group said : "Members of our group who attended the awards ceremony went a little wild when Jeni was awarded her rosettes as they have watched her many successes with a knowing eye. This year has been their best yet with even more to come we think.

"Flurrie has wonderful potential as a top endurance horse and is living proof that you don't need an Arab to shine at endurance."

If you would like information on endurance riding in the West Riding, contact Val Swann, chair EGB West Riding Group, 24, Ascot Avenue, Horton Bank Top, Bradford, BD7 4PA.


[More ...]

UAE: Seventh edition of National Day Cup

Gulf Daily News
By M. Satya Narayan

Abu Dhabi: Over 100 riders are expected to battle it out for a slice of the Dh400,000 on offer in the Nakheel-sponsored National Day Cup 120-km endurance ride on Saturday.

Announcing details of the ride, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club said most of the top riders in the UAE will be lining up for the prestigious event.

"It is a FEI CEI Three-star event and will be run in five stages of 32kms, 30kms, 24kms, 18kms and 16kms," said Adnan.

The ride will get off to a mass start at 6.00 am on Saturday, December 16, at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Walid Al Jaziri, General Manager of Sales at Nakheel, the sponsors of the ride said they were very keen to lend their name to the National Day Cup. "We recently supported the race meeting here in Abu Dhabi and supporting endurance ride is part of our responsibility towards society," said Al Jaziri.

Happy links

"Endurance is a sport of our forefathers and with the number of UAE riders taking to the sport we are very happy to be part of this event," he said

[More ...]

Sultan Mizan, Among Youngest Ruler To Be King

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama)

Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who became the youngest Malay ruler when he ascended the Terengganu throne at the age of 36 in 1998, will also be among the youngest to be proclaimed Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Wednesday.

Under the five-year rotation system, Sultan Mizan will be proclaimed the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, succeeding Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, who ascended the throne on Dec 13, 2001.

Sultan Mizan 44, will be the second youngest Yang di-Pertuan Agong after Tuanku Syed Putra Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail of Perlis who took office as King on Jan 4, 1961 at the age of 41.

A ruler concerned about the welfare of his subjects, Sultan Mizan makes efforts to go to all mosques in Terengganu for Friday prayers to be with the people and also continues with the practice of giving alms to orphans and the poor every Friday as done by his late father, Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah.

During his younger days, Sultan Mizan was like any other boys his age and liked to play football.

Sultan Mizan's concern for the well-being of his Terengganu subjects prompted him to set up the Sultan Mizan Royal Foundation, launched on July 19, 2005, in conjunction with his 43rd birthday, to organise and finance various programmes, including in research, forestry, science, technology and innovation, agriculture, fishery and community projects.

Sultan Mizan is also active in sports like football, golf, taekwondo and scuba-diving but due to his busy schedule, is only able to concentrate on equestrian sports.

The Sultan likes horse riding and has formed the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (RTES) to prepare the state for participation in equestrian sports locally and abroad.

His skills in horse riding is reflected in him winning the Wilga 80km Endurance Ride, Wilga Australia, and in a competition at Harris River Ride, Perth, Australia in 2004.

He was also selected to represent Malaysia at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, but had to withdraw his participation as the event coincides with the proclamation ceremony.

It is also through Sultan Mizan's dedication and initiative that Malaysia is selected to host the World Endurance Championship at Lembah Bidong, Terengganu, next year.


[More ...]

Rider hot on the trail of success for Aussie team

2.12.2006
RIDING long distances and racing the clock is all in a day’s work for Finch Hatton endurance rider Melissa Longhurst. She has been chosen in a four-member Australian senior team to compete at the Trans Tasman Series Endurance Ride, to be held at Nelson, New Zealand, on January 2.

Australia will also send a four-person junior team to contest the same race.

The race is over 120km, to be completed in one day, traversing mountainous country and flat sections before coming back to base, when the horses must pass stringent veterinary checks before being allowed to continue on.

She heads off on Boxing Day with strapper and fellow Sarina endurance enthusiast Juanita Lamb, but will not compete until January 2.
[More ...]

Horse in dramatic stunt at Asian Games opening ceremony

December 4, 2006

A horse took centre stage at the Opening Ceremony of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006. For the first time in the history of the Games, a horse was involved in the act of lighting the cauldron. Final torchbearer Sheik Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani cantered up a steep ramp the height of the stadium to light the flame.

The horse, with specially adapted shoes for extra grip, slowed momentarily halfway up the ramp, but continued on to complete the stunt.

The horse may have been temporarily blinded by the hundreds of camera flashes from the spellbound spectators.

Al Thani is the coach of the Qatar Endurance team. The purebred brown Arabian horse he chose for his well documented ride was trained in Australia by Steven Jeffery, who starred as the Lone Rider at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Three horses were trained in Australia for the stunt over an eight-month period, and the sheik chose his mount only a day before the opening ceremony.

Horses play a vital part in Arabian traditions and that was beautifully demonstrated in front of 50,000 spectators and millions of TV viewers all around the globe in a choreography called "Tribute to the Desert Horsemen". Riders in white traditional vestments and 64 horses did their freestyle.

Growing Asian interest in equestrian is evident in Doha where the number of participating teams in Dressage and Jumping has nearly doubled from previous events. With Endurance included for the first time, medals will now be decided in four disciplines. Eventing, the oldest discipline at the Asian Games, started in 1982, but Doha is the first Arabian location to host a cross country competition.
Horsetalk Website

Qatar stages magnificent opening ceremony for the Games

DOHA: Arabian horses galloped against a shimmering backdrop of thousands of neon-lit pearls as the 15th and biggest Asian Games opened with a multi-million dollar sensory feast on Friday.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani declared open Asia's biggest ever celebration of sport during a spectacular display of fireworks, twinkling lights and traditional Asian dancing, played to the sound of 40,000 beating drums.

The climax of a lavish ceremony came when the Emir's son Mohammad, the Qatari endurance team captain, charged up the steps of the Khalifa Stadium on a pure-bred Arab gelding to light the 50m cauldron that will burn throughout the Games.
[More ...]

Kiwis successful in Endurance World Champs Trial

The 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship Trial run was held last weekend at Terengganu, on the East coast of Malaysia. The Championship had been provisionally granted to the Malaysian Equestrian Federation subject to there being a number of successful trial runs held in 2006 and 2007.

HRH Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin invited several of the world's top riders to participate in the event to demonstrate the quality of the venue for the pending 2008 World Endurance Championship. The International riders were to ride horses of the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable, and were to draw on their skill and experience to test the suitability of a tropical venue for a World Championship event.

New Zealand riders Kevin James and Paul Jeffrey were among the International competitors. James successfully completed the 160km CEI*** event on a horse from the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable. He was among the 13 competitors who completed the 160km course, resulting in a 57% completion rate for the event, and finish times far faster than had been anticipated.

Jeffrey navigated the 7 yr old gelding Jakim Zane to a 1st place finish and Best Condition award, setting a Malaysian record for fastest finish time on an 80km course. Australian rider Brook Sample also tested the 160km course but his horse, also from the Royal Stable, was eliminated for back soreness at the 120km point.

Three senior FEI Endurance Officials attended the event: Dr Hallvard Sommerseth (NOR), Chairman of the FEI Endurance Technical Committee; Dr Jim Bryant (CAN) and Mr John Robertson (GBR).

The Malaysian Equestrian Federation, together with the Organising Committee (OC) - the State Government of Terengganu and Yayasan Kebajikan Perkasa Alam Terengganu, invited a number of leading Malaysian riders as well as riders from America, Europe and Australsia.

A detailed report is being produced; it will be submitted to the FEI Endurance Techncial Committee for further consideration but Dr Hallvard Sommerseth expressed his appreciation for the commitment made by the organizers in producing a very successful trial run.

The FEI Endurance Committee had required the trial run to be held at the proposed venue on a date to match the date of the 2008 Championship and for there to be a minimum completion rate of 40% and a maximum riding time of 16 hours for the 160km distance.

A total of 23 horses were presented at the start of the event and 60% completed the full distance well within the maximum ride time allowed. All of the horses performed well with no heat and humidity related problems.

Dr Jim Bryant confirmed that the horses had competed well under the conditions which had been relatively cool because of the timing of the event within the monsoon period. He commented that all of the riders had taken great care to compete using all of their horsemanship skills. Dr Bryant linked the performances of the riders and horses to a time within Endurance when events were less about speed and more about the combination of rider and horse working in close harmony together to overcome the challenges presented.

Mr John Robertson felt that there were certain areas which needed to be reviewed in relation to the overall management of the event. He confirmed that the OC was aware of these issues but he was confident that the OC would be able to solve them ahead of the Championship.

Dr Sommerseth confirmed that the next trial event, scheduled to take place in the first half of 2007, would involve the use of overseas based horses who would travel to Malaysia to test out the facilities and also to fully evaluate the timing required to allow overseas horse to acclimatise properly ahead of competition.

A team from FEI Television attended the event and will produce a short documentary to be shown at the planned FEI World Endurance Forum planned for March 2007.

160km Top Four Finishers
Nik Sabarudin Bin Daud AS Shiffa Kassan (stallion) - BC 12:38:43 12.65 km/hr
Faizal Ismail Azreal 12:53:26 12.41
Y. Bhg. Dato' Abdulla Bin Taib Blue Moon 12:49:45 12.47 km/hr
Norlaily Buniyamain Bremervale Jessie James 13:36:04 11.76 km/hr

80km Top Four Finishers
Paul Jeffrey Jakim Zane - BC 5:32:35 14.03 km/hr
Amal Nadiah Bt. Tajudin Rayyan 6:02:50 13.23 km/hr
Stephanie Teeter Jakim Murphy 6:20:48 12.60 km/hr
Nazalisamri Bin Nasaah Nagawangsa 6:29:55 12.31 km/hr

Bahraini riders set for challenge

BAHRAIN's top riders Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa will be looking forward to impress in endurance horseride competition at the Asian Games.

They qualified after taking 14th and ninth positions respectively at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany on August 21.

Despite driving rain and poor visibility, Shaikh Daij managed ninth place and provided a bright note for Asian equestrian fans on a day in which a fancied team from the UAE was eliminated.

The 159 starters from 42 nations had faced a gruelling 160km race through hilly terrain which included six veterinary checks.

For many of the riders, the competition came to an early end, with less than half completing the ride. Some were withdrawn from the competition by the vets, while others retired voluntarily.

It was left to Shaikh Daij, riding the 11 year-old Shar Rushkin, to lead home the Asian riders although he dropped from fifth place to ninth on the final leg. Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president, was riding the 10 year-old Ganda Goy.

For Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdullah bin Fahad Al Saud finished 18th, riding the 12 year-old Keroch.
Gulf News Article

FEI News: World Endurance Forum, 2008 WEC Malaysia

From: m.gueorguiev@horsesport.org
Sent: Sunday, December
03, 2006 11:57 AM
To: fei_prnews@horsesport.org
Subject: FEI
Press News 39/2006

01/12/2006 - World Endurance Forum 02/12/2006 - 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship 01/12/2006 - World Endurance Forum As has been reported elsewhere, a World Endurance Forum is planned for the spring of 2007. Originally scheduled to take place this year in Kuala Lumpur, the forum will now take place in Paris over the weekend 24th/25th March 2007 followed immediately by the annual FEI Endurance Technical Committee meeting. The Forum will be structured along the same lines of the successful 2003 Endurance Forum and will allow delegates, from amongst the 76 FEI National Federations who organize FEI Endurance events, to debate the overall status of the discipline as it exists today. There will also be opportunity to discuss the future of Equestrian Endurance following its rapid growth and the ever increasing public scrutiny of the sport which has occurred in recent years. With the approval of the President of the FEI, HRH Princess Haya, an FEI Endurance working group will be established, following on from the forum, to evaluate and develop those ideas and proposals raised by the delegates and to formulate a 5 year plan for the sport for consideration by the FEI. Members of this working group will be drawn from both within and outside of Endurance itself. As part of a fact finding exercise, a questionnaire has been produced and can be downloaded from the FEI web site accessed through the Endurance pages/documents. All FEI registered Endurance riders are asked to complete the form and to return it by email to the FEI ahead of the Forum next March. The findings of the working group will be considered by the FEI Endurance Technical Committee as part of its ongoing review of Endurance. Further details of the Forum; timings, venue, accreditation and programme will be published in due course and invitations issued to those NFs concerned as soon as possible. 02/12/2006 - 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship Senior FEI Endurance Experts Give a Conditional Green Light The 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship Trial run was held last weekend at Terengganu, on the East coast of Malaysia. The Championship had been provisionally granted to the Malaysian Equestrian Federation subject to there being a number of successful trial runs held in 2006 and 2007. Three senior FEI Endurance Officials attended the event: Dr Hallvard Sommerseth (NOR), Chairman of the FEI Endurance Technical Committee; Dr Jim Bryant (CAN) and Mr John Robertson (GBR). The Malaysian Equestrian Federation, together with the Organising Committee (OC) Â? the State Government of Terengganu & Yayasan Kebajikan Perkasa Alam Terengganu, invited a number of leading Malaysian riders as well as riders from America, Europe and Australsia. A detailed report is being produced; it will be submitted to the FEI Endurance Techncial Committee for further consideration but Dr Hallvard Sommerseth expressed his appreciation for the commitment made by the organizers in producing a very successful trial run. The FEI Endurance Committee had required the trial run to be held at the proposed venue on a date to match the date of the 2008 Championship and for there to be a minimum completion rate of 40% and a maximum riding time of 16 hours for the 160 kms distance. A total of 23 horses were presented at the start of the event and 60% completed the full distance well within the maximum ride time allowed. All of the horses performed well with no heat and humidity related problems. Dr Jim Bryant confirmed that the horses had competed well under the conditions which had been relatively cool because of the timing of the event within the monsoon period. He commented that all of the riders had taken great care to compete using all of their horsemanship skills. Dr Bryant linked the performances of the riders and horses to a time within Endurance when events were less about speed and more about the combination of rider and horse working in close harmony together to overcome the challenges presented. Mr John Robertson felt that there were certain areas which needed to be reviewed in relation to the overall management of the event. He confirmed that the OC was aware of these issues but he was confident that the OC would be able to solve them ahead of the Championship. Dr Sommerseth confirmed that the next trial event, scheduled to take place in the first half of 2007, would involve the use of overseas based horses who would travel to Malaysia to test out the facilities and also to fully evaluate the timing required to allow overseas horse to acclimatise properly ahead of competition. A team from FEI Television attended the event and will produce a short documentary to be shown at the planned FEI World Endurance Forum planned for March 2007.

NZ: Endurance Added to Horse of the Year Event

Showtime for endurance ride

02.12.2006
REBECCA HARPER
Growing popularity in the sport of endurance riding has seen a full-length endurance race added to the Kelt Capital Horse of the Year show (HOY) for 2007.

Show director Kevin Hansen said endurance had been run once before at the 2005 show over a shortened 50km course, but only as a promotional event.

The 2007 race would take place on Friday, March 16 and be run over 110km.

The race would start at 6am in the premier arena of the showgrounds, cross mainly private lands out to Ocean Beach and finish at 3pm in Napier Road, Havelock North.

The leading horses would then proceed up Te Mata Road and into the Havelock Domain.

A full team from South Africa, traditionally a strong endurance nation, would add an international flavour to the competition.

[More ...]

Doha: The 15th Asian Games

THE 15th Asian Games was officially opened yesterday by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at Doha?s Khalifa Stadium in a breathtaking ceremony that merged a film shown on the world?s biggest LED screen with a spectacular show performed by several thousand artists.

HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, the captain of Qatar's equestrian endurance team carries the torch to light the 50m cauldron. The opening ceremony was attended by HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Misnad, HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani, the personal representative of HH the Emir besides the sheikhs, ministers, speaker of the advisory council and senior sports officials

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