Belgium: World Cup for Veterans/Coupe du Monde des Vétérans

POUR DIFFUSION IMMEDIATE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coupe du Monde des Vétérans – Mons/Ghlin – Belgium – Date d’envoi : 19 Octobre
La Coupe du Monde des cavaliers d’endurance vétérans se déroulera le samedi 25 octobre à l’Hippodrome de Wallonie à Mons/Ghlin.

Au départ, plus de cinquante cavaliers représentant neufs nations (Allemagne, Argentine, Belgique, Danemark, Finlande, France, Italie, Norvège, Russie). Les concurrents partiront de l’Hippodrome de Wallonie pour se diriger vers la réserve naturelle de la Mer de Sable où se dérouleront les contrôles vétérinaire et la deuxième boucle, avant de revenir vers l’Hippodrome pour l’explication finale sur la 4ème boucle.

Quelques vétérans de renom seront au rendez-vous, notamment Jack Begaud(Fra), Vincent Dupont(Fra), Miguel Pavlovsky(Arg) et Fausto Fiorucci(Ita), Freddy Meurrens (Bel) pour se disputer ce premier titre.

Une selle sera offerte par Gaston Mercier (deux fois Champion d’Europe) au vainqueur. Les selles Gaston Mercier, d’une qualité et d’un fini exceptionnels, équipent un nombre considérable de cavaliers belges et étrangers.

Plus d’informations ainsi que les résultats et les photos sur www.endurance-belgium.com

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WorldCup for Veterans – Mons/Ghlin – Belgium – Release date : 19th October

The WorldCup for Veterans riders will take place on Saturday 25th October at the Racetrack of Wallonia, located in Mons, Belgium.

At the start, more than fifty riders representing nine nations (Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Italy, Russia). The flag-off will be done from the Racetrack of Wallonia. Horses will head toward the natural reservation of the “Mer de Sable”, near the superb castle of Beloeil. The first and second vetgates will take place there, then horses will come back to the racetrack, before the 4th and final loop.

Several well-known veterans will be competing, including Jack Begaud and Vincent Dupont from France, Miguel Pavlovsky from Argentina, Fausto Fiorucci from Italy and Freddy Meurrens from Belgium.

But there will only be one winner. The winner will be presented a saddle from Gaston Mercier, the double European Champion. The Gaston Mercier saddles equip many Belgian and international riders and have gained an international reputation thanks to their ultimate design and comfort.

More information, including photos and results on www.endurance-belgium.com

Malaysia WEC: US team arrives in Malaysia for 2008 World Endurance Championship

USEF News
October 21, 2008

Six US Horse/Rider combinations arrived in Malaysia this past week with the hope of a stellar performance on Nov 7-8 when 141 entries from 33 countries compete for the honor of being named World Endurance Champion. Over the past year, those hoping for a position on the US Team have attended competitions and training sessions under the guidance of Becky Hart, three time World Champion and Chef d'Equipe for the US Endurance Team.

The Endurance Selectors named the following horse/rider combos to the Team:

Kathrine Brunjes/ Theatric
John Crandell III/ HH Saba Shams
Cheryl Dell/ Reason to Believe
Valerie Kanavy/ Flash Flame
Margaret Sleeper/ Syrocco Reveille
Janice Worthington/ Gold Lightening

While in Malaysia, the team has access to the added expertise of Team Veterinarian Jim Bryant DVM, assistant Team Veterinarian Todd Holbrook DVM, Team Farrier Jeff Pauley and Equine Massage Therapist Jim Masterson. Due to the warm, humid conditions in Malaysia, the competition will begin at 5:00pm local time on Friday November 7th so that the majority of the competition will be run in the dark on a lighted course. The latest news will be available on the official website www.malaysia-wec.com and also on www.Endurance.Net.

Malaysia WEC: UAE riders saddle up for title mount

The National
Amith Passela
October 20. 2008

ABU DHABI // Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed will lead a six-member UAE team in the FEI World Endurance Championship in Terengganu, one of the three east coast states of the Malaysian Peninsular, on Nov 7.

The others in the team include his younger brother Sheikh Majid, Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Mohammed Ahmed Ali Subose and Abdulla Thani bin Huzaim.

The UAE are one of the favourites in the 160km race that has drawn 142 entries from 34 countries.

The race will be held at night for the first time. This is because the country experiences afternoon rains, particularly from November to January. And the days are warm with humidity more than 80 per cent.

The course takes the riders along a stunning coastline, through palm plantations, along canal banks and through natural vegetation forests. The start is a long and wide grassy stretch of track and the finish line is the entry back into the Endurance Park.

Sheikh Hamdan, who has won a number of endurance trophies, including the Asian Games Gold and, more recently, a fourth place in the European Open in Portugal last year, is set to ride Jazyk.

The 11-year-old Arabian chestnut gelding finished 15th under Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed in that race after recovering from time wasted in replacing a shoe he lost in the opening loop.

Sheikh Majid rides another European Open campaigner Spenda Crest Kamouflage, another 11-year-old chestnut gelding who is joint seventh in the FEI Endurance horses’ world ranking list.

Shafya is to reunite with Zakah Zahara, who was first past the post in the 160km race before being disqualified when failing to pass the post-race veterinary test. Sulayem is booked on Tazoul El Parry while Subose and Huzaim, who are ranked fourth and fifth respectively in the FEI rankings, are set to partner Koum Des Jamets and Castlebar Kadeem.

The UAE have a proud record since the sport was first introduced officially in the country in 1993. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, on Bowman, became the youngest and first male rider to win the world championship in Jerez, Spain, in 2002.

They have hosted two world championships, the first in 1998 and then in 2004 in which Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed shared the podium with the winner Barbara Lissarague of France.

The UAE will be aiming to regain the world championship and also claim the team title they have come close to winning on numerous occasions only to fail on the final loop of the race.

The UAE season, meanwhile, gets under way with a 100km race for young riders and juniors at the Bouthdib Endurance Village on Nov 1.

The week after is free because of the World Equestrian Championship in Malaysia, and Nov 15 sees the first of the open rides of the season at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Original Article

Abu Dhabi: Hamdan and Majid to take part in Malaysia Endurance event

www.gulfnews.com

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: October 20, 2008, 00:12

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority will be part of a six-strong UAE team at the 2008 World Endurance Championship to be held in Terengganu, Malaysia from November 6 to 9.

According to the list of entries announced by the organisers, Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikh Majid along with Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya, Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim and Mohammad Ahmad Ali Subose complete the UAE line-up.

Jazyk, Spenda Crest Kamouflage, Koum Des Jamets, Castlebar Kadeen, Zakah Zahara and Tazoul Al Parry are the six horses that will partner the UAE riders.

While four of the UAE riders will take part as a team all six will get a chance to go for gold in the individual event.

The 160-km ride will be held at the Terengganu International Endurance Park and is the first world event to be run in the evening with a 3.30pm start.

Apart from the UAE and hosts Malaysia, 32 other countries have entered their riders with 142 horses and riders being confirmed as definite entries. All countries can enter a six-member team while the hosts Malaysia can enter a 12-member team of riders.

Domestic season

The UAE team is a formidable line-up with Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikh Majid having been winning members of the UAE team which won the Asian Games gold and the Pan Arab Games gold in the team championship. Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem won the bronze in the individual event at the Doha Asiad.

The UAE's best result in the world championships was in 2002 in Jerez, Spain when Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum won the individual gold.

While the UAE will be starting off as one of the strong favourites, joining them in the race for honours will be the French, Spanish, Australian and the US teams. Two-time world champion and silver-medallist once, Valery Kanavy of the US and the French team riders who have achieved the most success in the world championships will be taking part in the November 7 ride.

The UAE's domestic endurance competitions for the 2008-09 season is set to start with a junior ride at the Boudtheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem on November 1. Al Wathba will kick off the open competition with a 120-km ride on November 15, a week after the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia.

According to the tentative endurance calendar for the 2008-09 season, rides will be held at Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, the Dubai Endurance City in Seih Assalam, Boudtheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem and ;ladies rides at the Al Asayl Endurance Village in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi.

Malaysia WEC: British Riders Leave for Malaysia WEC

Endurancegb.co.uk

15th October 2008

Chris Yeoman's horse Midday has set off on the journey to Malaysia today, the flight goes tomorrow from Amsterdam while Chris and groom Laura fly out from Heathrow to join her in Malaysia....

Midday will have plenty of time to recover from the long trip as the competition is not until November.

There was last minute excitement when the Calais ferryport closed because of a strike, fortunately the problem was resolved speedily and they are on their way.

Dom Freeman's horse Roger has to wait a few days before he travels as there has been an equine health scare in Brazil which has meant considerable negotiations to ensure that it was safe to ship both Dom's horse and the Brazilian Team. Hopefully that crisis is also resolved but it will mean that Roger doesn't have such a good recovery period.
The rest of the back-up team travel out on 29th October. We wish them all the very best of luck and hope to hear how things are going once they arrive. It will be a real achivement to get a good result in the very testing tropical conditions

Malaysia WEC: First WEC horses land safely in Malaysia

Equestrian.com.my

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

Fifteen horses became the first batch of horses to arrive in Malaysia for the FEI World Endurance Championship to be held on 5th to 9th November at Lembah Bidong, Terengganu.

Four horses from Oman, six from Australia, one from New Zealand¸ and four horses for Malaysian riders arrived at the Sultan Mahmud Kuala Terengganu airport from Sydney and Dubai via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on a MASKargo Airbus A300. It was the maiden landing for an Airbus at the recently upgraded airport.

The attention was focused on Taljari Moon Pharoah, the Arabian horse which will carry His Majesty, Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, in the 160km championship ride. It arrived on the flight from Sydney along with another of Tuanku Mizan’s second horse, Ibrahim Pascha Larzac. Tuanku Mizan is one of twelve Malaysian riders who qualified on merit and was selected to represent Malaysia in the 12th edition of the FEI World Endurance Championship.

The horses were unloaded from air-cargo horse pallets that are used to stable the horses in the aircraft and transferred on to a horse float where they were transported safely to stables at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP).

The welcoming party at the airport was headed by Terengganu Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said, Datuk Abdul Rahin Mohd Said, chairman of Terengganu State Committee for Youth and Sports and Malaysia Airport Berhad and MasKargo officials.

The horses will be separated by continent of origin into isolated stable wings, for health protocol reasons, at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) at Lembah Bidong, situated along the scenic coastline, 30km north of Kuala Terengganu

The FEI has rated the TIEP one of the top three endurance parks in the world. The venue has been tried and tested through several events, including the FEI WEC 2008 trial event, the CEI**** Sultan’s Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge 2007.

Another batch followed the inaugural batch of horses later in the afternoon. Two more planeloads of horses are scheduled for Saturday with 30 horses on a Boeing 747 in the afternoon, the anticipated big event of the day.

141 horses and riders from 33 countries have been entered by their countries for the FEI WEC 2008. One rider from Denmark, Inger Elisabeth Pitter Bertelsen, has pulled out from the much anticipated event after she was involved in an accident while riding her own Raouel Ox back home.

The World Endurance fraternity has been abuzz with anticipation that Terengganu could stage the best ever World Endurance Championship since its inauguration in Italy in 1986.

The event will be flagged off by Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Nur Zahira at 5:30 pm on Friday 7th November.



Source: Sultan Mizan Royal Foundation

FEI European Endurance Championships for Juniors and Young Riders

Full Coverage of the Event on www.enduranceEurope.net

FEI Press Release

The 2008 FEI European Endurance Championships for Juniors and Young Riders took place on 26-28 September 2008 in Oviedo, Spain.

Riders and horses benefited from the wonderful facilities offered by the Equestrian Center “El Asturcón”.

The difficulty of the trail was worthy of a Championship with its many hills, but with the sun shining and a light breeze accompanying the riders throughout the day, they were able to enjoy the fantastic view of the mountainous surroundings of the trail.

With a 58% completion rate, the young participants showed they were up to the challenge and managed to combine both “smart” and efficient riding.

The French riders dominated the competition by finishing first and second of the Individual competition and winning the Team competition. Belgian riders also had a very successful weekend winning the bronze in the Individual and the Silver in the Team. With three out of 4 riders finishing the ride, Switzerland still managed to win the Bronze for the Team competition followed by Great Britain in fourth place.


During the Closing Ceremony the Organisers of Oviedo passed on the FEI flag to the Organisers of the 2009 FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders to be held in Bábolna, Hungary.

Full Coverage of the Event on www.enduranceEurope.net

Malaysia WEC: Raja Permaisuri boost for Team Malaysia

photo: A horse bound for the FEI World Endurance Championships is led from a MAS Airbus A300 at the Sultan Mahmud International Airport in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.

The New Straits Times Online: Raja Permaisuri boost for Team Malaysia
By : Ajitpal Singh

THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin will be hoping for a perfect start at the World Endurance Championships as his consort, the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah has been given the honour to flag off the race on Nov 7.

The event will be held at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, Setiu.

WEC event manager Azrin Zuhdi said Tuanku Nur is all excited about flagging off the race and watching Tuanku Mizan in action.

"Her role in the race will definitely inspire Tuanku Mizan and the other local riders to make an impression at the event," said Azrin at the TIEP yesterday.

Twelve Malaysian riders will be competing, both in the individual and team events at the world meet.
Malaysia's best hope is in the team-of-four event.

"Malaysian riders stand almost no chance in the individual category but there's a chance of making a grade in the team event, which will have 22 countries competing," said Azrin.

The favourites for the team event are Spain, France, Brazil and Australia.

Meanwhile, Denmark's only qualifier Inger Elisabeth Pitter Bertelsen has pulled out, which means 33 countries, comprising 141 riders, will be competing.

Azrin said Bertelsen and his ride Raouel Ox suffered an accident during training last week.

"Bertelsen decided to withdraw as his horse is suffering from lameness."

Meanwhile, the MAS Airbus A300 successfully transported 15 horses, including Tuanku Mizan's horse Taljari Moonlight Pharoah from Australia, yesterday.

It was the Airbus A300's maiden flight to the Sultan Mahmud International Airport.

The C130, carrying nine horses from Argentina and Uruguay, also landed at the airport.

The Boeing 747, a direct flight from Amsterdam, will be arriving with 30 horses today.

New Straits Times Online - full article

USA: AERC National Championships

Valerie Kanavy and King Ali Gold win the 100-miler in 9:53
Farzad Faryadi and Hot Desert Knight win BC

Full Endurance.net coverage

Malaysia WEC: 142 Riders To Participate In WEC 2008

Bernama.com

October 17, 2008

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The World Endurance Championships (WEC) 2008 which will be held at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) starting Nov 6 will see a participation of 142 riders from 33 countries.

Apart from Malaysia, among the other countries represented are South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Germany, Holland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, France, Portugal, Qatar, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States, Britain, Uruguay.

Terengganu Youth and Sports Committee Chairman, Datuk Abdul Rahin Mohd Said said 64 of the foreign participants had arrived in the state so far.

He said Malaysia would be represented by 12 riders, led by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin himself.

Tuanku Mizan is also scheduled to officiate the championship at the Sultan Mizan Stadium, State Sports Complex, in Gong Badak on Nov 5.

-- BERNAMA

Malasia-WEC: TIEP set to stage best-ever championships

The New Straits Times Online
by Ajitpal Singh

THE Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) is set to host the best-ever World Endurance Championships on Nov 6-9 with its world class facilities.

According to WEC technical advisor Derek Liebenberg, the TIEP has the best facilities if taken as a package.

"It has the best stables, complex and track. TIEP comes with a complete package, unlike in previous editions where something was always lacking," said Liebenberg at TIEP in Lembah Bidong, Setiu yesterday.

"The venue has been certified 100 per cent ready by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to stage the event.

"I guarantee that people will be talking about the event for many years to come."
Meanwhile, Liebenberg said certain sections of the 160-km course have been modified to overcome the expected wet conditions during the race.

"We have lifted the soil by 30 centimetres and also installed a proper drainage system at a few sections to avoid flooding."

A total of 34 countries, comprising 142 riders will be competing in the WEC.

Liebenberg believes the race will be slower, unlike previous editions, and the winning time would be around nine hours.

"It will be a slow race because of the tough track and weather conditions. Less horses will fail the veterinarian's checks and I predict a completion rate of 45 per cent.
"Previous editions recorded an average completion rate of 33 per cent. Then the race was much faster and it led to many horses failing the checks."

Meanwhile, the Airbus A300 and C130 Hercules bringing the first batch of horses, will arrive today.

The Airbus A300 will be transporting 16 horse including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's horse Taljari Moonlight Pharoah from Australia.

The C130 will carry 12 horses from Argentina and Uruguay.

[More ...]

Malaysia-Wec: Canadian Endurance Team En Route to Malaysia

Hunter Jumper News article

October 16, 2008

Ottawa, ON—Malaysia brings thoughts of shining beaches at exotic resorts, tropical drinks under equatorial skies and bargains at crowded bazaars, but this November, it will also mean eager horses, determined riders, organized grooms and crews, veterinarians, officials and 100 miles of track which will wind among the beautiful countryside, the shore of the South China Sea, tropical rainforests and farms. The World Endurance Championship will be held in this exciting land on November 7, 2008.

The venue will be the Terengganu International Endurance Park, Lembah Bidong, Merang Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia. The Organizing Committee has set up two excellent websites: www.malaysia-wec.com and www.eventuz.com, which will include ride information the day of the event. This will be the first time that a world championship will be held in a tropical location. The track will be fully lit, as the ride is planned to start at 5:00 p.m. and run into the night.

Horses and riders will represent some 36 countries, with 24 sending teams, and the others fielding individual riders.

Endurance Canada is pleased to be sending a full complement of six riders and horses. Four of the riders, still to be chosen, will comprise the team, and two will ride as individuals.

The Canadian Endurance Team Members

Julius Bloomfield (Naramata, BC) and Avtar, 1999 Arabian gelding
Wendy Benns (Pontypool, ON) and Supreme Justice, 1999 Arabian gelding
Wendy MacCoubrey (Ste. Justine, QC) and Mariah, 1999 Arabian gelding
Ruth Sturley (Owen Sound, ON) and RBF Super Sport, 1993 Arabian gelding
Yvette Vinton DVM (Simcoe, ON and Morriston, FL) and Teese, 2000 Arabian gelding
Bob Gielen (Norton, NB) and FC Galaxy, 1997 Arabian gelding


Canadian Officials

Kay Melvin (Ontario) – Chef d’ équipe
Maura Leahy (Manitoba) – assistant Chef d’ équipe
Roxy Bell DVM (Alberta) – team veterinarian
Glenn Sinclair DVM (Manitoba) – assistant team veterinarian


Canadian Support Crew

Nancy Beacon
Robert Benns
Ruth Benns
Toni Bloomfield
Mike Bostic
Angela Gielen
Barb Gielen
Julie Green
Alycin Hayes
Scott Hie
Murray MacKenzie
Bianca MacKenzie
Laurie Whaley Pearson
Rocky Rehel
Ken Sturley

"With its emphasis on bringing the horse across the finish line in best health rather than merely in the shortest time, Endurance is the ultimate test of sympathetic horsemanship," noted Equine Canada CEO, Akaash Maharaj. "The 160km course will be the culmination of years of training and perseverance for our horses and riders, and we are very proud that they will represent our country and our sport at the World Championships.

Just getting to the ride has been an organizational, technical maze. The horses will be leaving from Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Riders, officials and crew will travel from Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles and Miami—all converging at Terengganu—where the real adventure begins.

"Enough of the paperwork and red tape—let’s just do it," says Kay Melvin, Chef d’ équipe.

Endurance Canada wishes the entire team congratulations, and good luck.
About Endurance Canada

Endurance Canada is a committee of Equine Canada, and the National governing body of the sport of Endurance Riding in Canada, from the grassroots to the international level. Endurance Canada is responsible for the growth and pursuit of excellence at all levels of the sport, providing support and guidance through various programs and committees: veterinary; rules and sanctioning; athlete and sport development; education and coaching; communication and awards.

Written by Julie Cull

Australia: Endurance rider in Tom Quilty Cup

The Wagin Argus
16/10/2008 2:41:00 PM

photo: TROTTING TIME: Corey Lunt trotting out “Cameo Stormboy” during the pre-ride vet check at the 2008 Tom Quilty Cup National championship in Queensland.

WAGIN endurance rider Corey Lunt has just returned home from Nanango in Queensland, where he competed in the 2008 Tom Quilty Cup National Championship 160km ride, obtaining his second Quilty buckle.

The championship event travels from State to State each year, with Corey winning the junior division and his horse Assiff, receiving the best conditioned horse junior award last year when it was in Western Australia.

This year Corey and his mother Anita were offered horses to ride by former WA riders Roman and Tanya Stoffel who have relocated to Queensland.

More than 200 competitors from Australia, Malaysia, Canada, Japan, America and the United Arab Emirates started the event at 4am on Saturday with only 99 riders successfully completing the course in the allowed 24 hour period.

The course was split into six legs of distances ranging from 32km to 15km with the horses having to pass strict veterinary checks at the end of each leg before being allowed to proceed.

No longer eligible to ride in the junior division, Corey placed 38th in the middleweight division, completing in a time of 18 hours 42 minutes.

WA riders Harry O’Brien and Simon Slemint, both of Burekup, also completed the course successfully.

“The course was really hard, we were either going up or down with not much flat going at all,” Corey said.

“A lot of the course was over the same ground as the Trans Tasman last year so I had an idea of how hard it was going to be.

“The weather made it more difficult though, as it got to about 32 degrees and high humidity during the day, followed by a really big thunderstorm during the night.”

Corey was halfway up the highest peak with 15km left to go when the storm hit.

“Mum’s horse vetted out for lameness at the 120km mark so I was riding by myself at that stage, and there was that much lightning around it was like daylight and the thunder sounded like it was right on top of us,” he said.

“When it started to hail and rain I didn’t think about the cold too much, I was more worried about missing the directional markers and getting lost.

“My horse just put his head down and got on with the job, only spooking a couple of times when the thunder got really loud. He was brilliant.”

At the peak of the storm, organisers took the unprecedented steps to suspend the ride due to safety reasons.

Competitors due to go on track were held in until the storm had passed, with their ride times being adjusted accordingly.

However, riders already on the track had to keep moving and weather the conditions as best they could.

Corey said he would like thank Healthways Smarter than Smoking and Milne Feeds Team Pegasus for their continued support along with Roman and Tanya Stoffel and Wade Burgess for allowing him to ride their horse, aptly named Stormy.

[full article]

Malaysia WEC: National Horse Show in Kuala Terengganu

Nst.com.my

2008/10/16

The National Horse Show, a lead-up event to the FEI World Endurance Championships, will be organised for the first time in 14 years in Terengganu on Oct 31-Nov 2.
Among the events at the horse show, to be held at the Terengganu Equestrian Resort, will be the FEI World Jumping Challenge, World Dressage Challenge, Pint Club Mounted Games and an Endurance Riding competition.

The endurance event, which has attracted competitors from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, will be held over courses of 40km and 80km at the Marang Endurance track on Nov 1-2.

The Pony event will showcase the skills and bravado of pony riders.

Another attraction is the horse breeds display, where enthusiasts will see 20 different breeds found in Malaysia.

The National Horse Show, which made its debut in 1994, is one of the most popular equestrian events in the country.

Malaysia WEC: Arab royalty to grace competition

Nst.com.my

2008/10/15

By : Ajitpal Singh

THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin will not be the only blue blood competing in the World Endurance Championships (WEC) at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Setiu on Nov 6-9.
Hot favourites, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) named its Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan Mohammed Rashid Al-Maktoum and his brother, Shaikh Majed, to lead the team in the 160km event.

UAE are the favourites together with Brazil and Spain to win the individual and team titles.

Shaikh Hamdan is currently ranked 17th in the world while Shaikh Majed is at 33rd.

Among the other members of the UAE team are Mohammed Ahmed Ali Al Subose and Abdulla Thani Huzaim, who are ranked fourth and sixth, respectively.
Meanwhile, Bahrain will be led by Crown Prince Shaikh Nasser Hamad Al Khalifa, who is ranked No 9 in the world.

The 21-year-old Shaikh Nasser is best remembered for winning two silver medals (individual and team) at the 2006 Doha Asian Games. He will be riding Kheopsy Du Pilat at the WEC.

Also in the team is his cousin Shaikh Khalid who won the 160km endurance race in England, two months ago.

WEC operations manager, Salim Fazlay said security will be tight to ensure safety of the competitors, especially members of the royal families.

"We are also expecting UAE's ruler Mohammed Rashid Al-Maktoum at the event. He and the team will arrive in Terengganu on Nov 5 in their private jet," said Salim.

"Around 300 army personnel will be concentrated at all points of the venue (TIEP), including the 160km course".

Salim added the soldiers have been drilled months ahead for the event.

Brazil: Endurance Team Chages Route to Avoid Glanders Hotspot

Thehorse.com - Full Article

by: Irene Stamatelakys
October 14 2008, Article # 12893

The road to the FEI World Endurance Championship (WEC) will be a little longer for Brazil's six horses because of a recent case of glanders in a horse in Sao Paulo. The European Union (EU) originally refused to allow horses from Brazil to transit through Europe en route to Malaysia for the event. That decision has been modified, according to Derek Liebenberg, WEC technical advisor.

"(EU authorities) divided Brazil into different zones," Liebenberg explained on Oct. 11. "This meant that all the competition horses from Brazil are based in the so-called 'free zones,' and the EU ruled that the horses from these free zones may transit through Europe."

The EU declared Sao Paulo, where the glanders case occurred, a high-risk zone...

More...

Malaysia WEC: First B747-400 to land in Terengganu

New Straights Times Online
2008/10/12
By : Sean Augustin

KUALA TERENGGANU: For the first time, a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 747-400 landed at the Kuala Terengganu Sultan Mahmud Airport, bringing a load of excited passengers and good news for the state. The debut flight yesterday signalled the beginning of direct flights to Mecca for Muslims on the east coast to perform the haj, bringing to fruit a four-year-old ambition.

This year will see 18 return flights to Jeddah beginning Nov 13 and the ferrying of about 3,000 pilgrims from Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang.

In the past, pilgrims from the east coast would head for Kuala Lumpur before boarding a flight to Mecca.

The landing also signified state preparations to fly in horses beginning on Oct 17 for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in early November.
The state government also signed an agreement to finance a sum of RM4.6 million with MAS, being the excess cost for the haj this year and the WEC, including transportation cost for ground service equipment, logistics and petrol.

The cost was supposed to be borne by MAS due to the change in flight schedules from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the Sultan Mahmud Airport.

"With the new facilities, the airport has reached international standard and we are working hard to get the title from the Transport Ministry," said Terengganu Men-teri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said after greeting 224 passengers, including 40 orphans and journalists, on the flight.

"It will be a gateway to the east coast," Ahmad said, adding that negotiations were also ongoing with the Department of Civil Aviation to bring in more flights from China because of the airport's convenient location.

"The airport is a long-term investment for the state and we hope to get more international flights and develop the tourism industry.

"Right now, we are looking at incentives, including an airport tax subsidy to attract more international landings."

MAS external relations senior general manager Datuk Mohd Nawawi Awang captained a fly-past over the airport and the city before landing about 3pm, when it received a water salute from two fire trucks.

Full article, NST Online

Brazil: Glanders Case in Brazil Affects International Horse Transport

Thehorse.com - Full Article

by: Irene Stamatelakys
October 11 2008, Article # 12861

A case of glanders in a horse in a Sao Paulo, Brazil, has impacted international transport and competition in Brazil and abroad. Event organizers, equine transport companies, and governmental authorities are working closely together to keep horses moving while minimizing risks.

A horse in a university veterinary hospital was diagnosed with glanders on Sept. 3. While glanders is considered endemic in some northern and north-eastern areas of the country, this case occurred in the southeastern portion of Brazil. The contagious disease has been eradicated from many countries, including the United States, Canada and Western Europe.

As a result, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) moved to delay the Global Champions Tour CSI-5* Final show jumping competition in Sao Paulo to Oct. 15-19. The event was postponed to give competing European horses time to travel to Brazil following a meeting of European Union (EU) authorities on Oct. 2 to determine the re-import procedure for those horses due to the glanders case. Authorization has been granted for the event to be held and European horses will compete.

The Sao Paulo glanders case almost kept Brazilian competitors out of the World Endurance Championships (WEC) to be held in Malaysia on Nov. 6-9...

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Australia: Lachlan members few but spirited in endurance ride

Full article - Cowra Guardian

10/10/2008 9:04:00 AM
There were only a few of the Lachlan Club members attend this year’s state championships at Manilla as it was very close to both the Shahzada 400kms in August and the Tom Quilty which this year took the unusual date in September in Queensland at Nanango.

This was necessary due to the timing of the comeback out of EI restrictions and the Victorian committee not quite being ready to take interstate horses at the time.

The event attracted a good number of riders with a total of 86 combinations to tackle the Manilla course which was generally considered to be an “easy” course if there is such a thing in 100 mile rides.

What did make it difficult was the concussive nature of the hard roads and tracks in the district together with lack of natural water on track.

The ride organisers did put some troughs about on the later legs of the ride during the more difficult sections of the track.

Outright winner and state champion was Stuart Hitchcock of Kurrajong riding his gelding Farras coming across the line with lightweight rider from Blayney Dianne Luker riding Peter Cooper’s gelding Anabriar Khaboul.

Robin Gossip of Woodstock made the trip with her gelding Wesswood Willow and strapper Dianne Cameron. Robin unfortunately went out after the fourth leg with Willow pulling up lame.

John Symons of Canowindra also competed on his mare Forestdale Xasperation, however this duo also suffered lameness after the third leg.

Alan Lindsay took his mare Kintamani Charisma and junior rider Emma Smith rode Alan’s gelding Kintamani Mistral in the Manilla event in order to qualify for the Tom Quilty as riders have to have completed a 160km event before they are permitted to take on the Quilty.

Both Alan and Emma were successful with Emma coming in third junior, an excellent effort considering both her and the horse were making their first 160kms event.

Malaysia WEC: Definite Entry List is submitted

After months of non-stop hoping and waiting, the FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 Organising Committee has finally confirmed the definite entries for the most awaited championship of the Endurance Sport!

142 horses and their riders from 34 countries are set to battle to become World Champion for the FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 that will be held from 5 - 9 November 2008 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park.

View Definite Entry List