Intercontintal Newsletter 01_05

?GOLDEN? Decisions ?. (?)

January 2005

On Thursday, January 27, HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nayan (UAE) won the FEI Endurance World Championship 2005, 160 km in Dubai. He was riding Hachim, FEI Passport No ESP 02734.

The MCP (Medication Control Programme) Team selected Hachim for sampling as well as 9 other horses participating in the championship.

Friday, January 28: Gulfnews praised Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nayan?s ?golden decision? to switch horses shortly before the championship. He was supposed to ride Shahdon, formerly ridden by two-time world champion Valerie Kanavy. Instead he opted for Hachim, the horse he rode to victory in Bahrain. The championship was ? according to Gulfnews and Khaleej Times ? the first-ever 160 km ride for Hachim.

Saturday, January 29: About 15 minutes before the official prize giving ceremony, held at Lisaili Fort off the Dubai-Al Ain highway, the French Team was informed that 2nd placed Barbara Lissarague/ Georgat will be declared the individual winner of the FEI World Endurance Championship instead of Sheik Hazza, because traces of performance enhancing drugs seem to have been found in the sampling of his horse Hachim.

Sheik Hazza, who was present for the closing ceremony, left midway after being informed about this decision (according to gulfnews).

Barbara Lissarague/ Georgat (FRA) was then awarded the gold medal and declared world champion.

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INTERNATIONAL LINE UP AT EDARAN ENDURANCE CLASSIC 2005

Reigning World Endurance Champion, Shaikh Hazza of UAE To Compete at ar-Rauhdah Equine Centre

They will come from as far as the United Arabs Emirates, the USA, Australia and Brunei to ar-Raudhah Equine Centre in Kuang, Selangor to pit their skills and strategies in the grueling CEIO 3* 16o km Ride of the Edaran Endurance Classic 2005, come Saturday, 21 May.

The UAE team with the largest representation of 7 riders will include the World Endurance Championship reigning champion, Sheikh Hazza Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brother Sheikh Khaled Bin Sultan Al Nahyan

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Edaran Endurance Classic 2005

Kuala Lumpur, 3 May 2005

Edaran Endurance Classic 2005

Edaran Digital Systems Berhad To Hold Third Endurance Classic Event at
ar-Raudhah Equine Centre, Kuang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Following two successful endurance events held in 2003 and 2004, Edaran Digital Systems Berhad (EDARAN), a Company involved in Systems Integration and Smart Technology Solutions in Malaysia, has scheduled the third endurance competition, Edaran Endurance Classic 2005 in May this year. Last year?s Edaran Endurance Classic had edged up a notch when it achieved FEI-CEI** certification for its 120Km Ride, a commendable achievement after just one competition event at ar-Raudhah in 2003. This year, the Edaran Endurance Classic 2005 will further step up the challenge for participants with a full 160KM ride as the main competition event. A second competition event is set at the 85Km distance and a third at a 40Km distance. A non-competitive event for Young Riders is set at a 15Km distance.

Edaran Endurance Classic 2005, as with the first two Endurance Classic events, will be held at the tranquil and picturesque setting of ar-Raudhah Equine Centre in Kuang, Selangor, just 40 minutes north of Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.

ar-Raudhah Equine Centre and its surrounding region offer challenging but interesting trails through secondary jungles, lush wooded areas, gently undulating to hilly terrain, oil palm plantations, rubber estates and village settlements as well as pockets of water crossings. Malaysia?s endurance landscape which generally reflects Malaysia?s out-of-city topography, contrasts well with the desert landscape of the Middle East countries or rugged outbacks of Australia where endurance riding, in the two countries have become a sophisticated and well developed sport.

For the first time, Edaran Endurance Classic has opened the competition to international participants with the aim of creating greater international awareness of Malaysia as an endurance riding venue as well as to further elevate the status of the sport in Malaysia. The Edaran Endurance Classic 2005 anticipates Riders from United States of America, United Arab Emirates, Australia and Germany. From within the country, at least 100 participants including the HRH (Duli Yang Maha Mulia) Al-Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, an avid and keen endurance rider, are expected to take part in this year?s competition.

The Edaran Endurance Classic 2005 will stretch over three days from 20 May till 22 May, starting with veterinary checks of the horses and technical briefing to participants on Friday, 20 May.

Organising Chairman, Dato? Hj Abdul Hamid Mustapha:

?Endurance riding is a relatively under-exposed equestrian sport in Malaysia. Compared to the more visible and popularly promoted equine sports of Polo, Dressage and Show Jumping, endurance riding has yet to gain awareness among our younger Malaysians. Edaran Endurance Classic was initiated with the aim of promoting and developing the sport to a level where it can bring tangible benefits to the country and to our potential endurance sportsmen and women,? said Dato? Haji Abdul Hamid Mustapha, a Director of Edaran Digital Systems Berhad (EDARAN) and Organising Chairman of the Event.

Recognising the sport?s potential we have, with the support and help of Equestrian Association of Malaysia, introduced for the first time, an event for Young Riders. The Young Riders? 15Km Ride will serve to encourage endurance enthusiasts to pick up the sport early and grow with it. Endurance riding is one equestrian sport that holds tremendous potential for Malaysia. We believe it is one sport in which Malaysians can excel in, given that we have ideal sites and venues for training in the sport. Apart from that, we also believe that endurance riding can contribute significantly to sports tourism,? added Dato? Hamid Mustapha.

The Edaran Endurance Classic 2005 is organized with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia. Other supporting organizations include Equestrian Association of Malaysia, Malaysian Endurance Riding Society, Majlis Ekuin Malaysia, TV3 as official broadcaster, Skuadron Istiadat Berkuda, ATM, Unit Berkuda Polis Diraja Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia Fakulti Veterinar, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat , Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and Carisbrook as Official Apparel.

EDARAN ENDURANCE CLASSIC FEI-CEI ***160KM

A More Challenging Distance For Participants

The Edaran Endurance Classic 2005 will be held from 20-22 this May at ar-Raudhah Equine Centre, Kuang, Selangor. The Event marks the third Endurance Competition organized by Edaran Digital Systems Berhad. The inaugural competition event was held in 2003 with distances of 80Km and 60Km. At the second Edaran Endurance Classic in 2004, the event achieved CEI-FEI** recognition for its 120Km event , a commendable achievement after just one competition event at ar-Raudhah Equine Centre.

FEI -CEI*** 160 Km Elevated Ride

This year?s competition pushes up the challenge for participants with a full FEI-CEI*** 160Km Ride. The 160 Km Ride will be made up of six phases of 35 Km, 35 Km, 25 Km, 25 Km, 25 Km and a final loop of 15 Km. This competition category will however be qualified as an ?elevated ride? which in principal allows contestants of this event to opt to continue and finish the race at a distance of 160Km or choose to complete at a distance of 120Km. This decision has to be determined by contestants upon reaching the 95th Km distance of the race.

85Km and 40Km Events

A second event is set at the 80Km distance and a third event for new endurance enthusiasts is set at the 40 Km distance.

The 85Km Ride will in turn be broken into three phases of 35 Km, 25Km and a final phase of 25Km. The 40Km Ride will comprise two phases which will be a first 25Km followed by a second phase of 15Km.

Compulsory Halts

The end of each phase marks a compulsory halt for veterinary inspection of their horses. The horses will be checked to determine their heart rate, gut sound, hydration level, lameness and overall physical condition. Horses that do not pass the stringent vet checks within the stipulated time are eliminated from the race as being ?Not Fit To Continue?.

For the first time, Edaran Endurance Classic has opened the event to international participation and riders are anticipated from United States of America, Germany, Australia and United Emirates of Arabia. A total of 100 local riders including HRH, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Al-Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Trengganu, are expected to participate in this year?s event.

The Competition Trails

Competitors of the Edaran Endurance Classic 2005 will be riding through a combination of six different trails ranging from distances of 15 Km to 35 Km trails. Trails will include those within and around ar-Raudhah Equine Centre. Trails outside of ar-Raudhah will take riders through surrounding village settlements, oil palm plantations and rubber estates as well as onto flat tarmac roads.

Encik Mohamed Din bin Mat, the competition?s lead course designer said, ?The competition this year will pose more challenging for riders as the distance is not only longer but involves night riding as well. We nonetheless believe that the trails will proof to be exciting, challenging and enjoyable for the riders.?

Endurance Net Event Coverage

End of the road for Endurance Europeans

Carla Passino



May 10, 2005

Funding problems has forced the organising committee of the FEI Emirates International Endurance Open European Championships to pull the plug on the event

Britain will not host the FEI Emirates International Endurance Open European Championships, which were planned to take place at Alfred's Tower on the Stourhead Estate in early August. The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is now looking at rescheduling the championships somewhere else.

The organising committee decided to cancel the event yesterday (Monday 9 May), after consulting with the FEI, the British Equestrian Federation and title sponsor Emirates International Endurance Racing (EIER). Had the event gone ahead it would have been the second time in the championships' history that it had been held in Britain.


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2005 FEI EUROPEAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN GREAT BRITAIN CANCELLED

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) today announced that the Organising
Committee of the European Endurance Championships, due to take place on 6
August 2005 in Stourhead House, Wiltshire (GBR) had taken the decision to
cancel the event to be held in August.

The OC commented as follows ?The level of total funds available had not
reached initial expectations, requiring the OC to take action now?. John
Hudson, a member of the Organising Committee went on to say, ?The Organising
Committee wishes to express it?s thanks to the BEF and the FEI for their
support during this difficult time for everyone, and especially wish to
thank the many Endurance GB members, friends and other volunteers who have
given up many days of time and effort to help in this venture?.

The FEI has found a potential replacement to ensure the Championship will
still take place and is in contact with the OC and the NF concerned to
finalise arrangements at this time.

Details of the rescheduled Championship will be announced shortly and all
National Federations advised accordingly.

Abdulla grabs seniors crown

QATARI rider Abdulla Al Mirri clinched the seniors race and Shaikh Saqer bin Khalid Al Khalifa the juniors title in the season-ending Endurance Horseride Championship at the Endurance Village premises in Sakhir.

His Majesty Shaikh Hamad witnessed a section of the race and hailed Bahrain efforts in hosting such top-level endurance races.

Abdulla clocked four hours, 37 minutes and 14 seconds in the four-stage event over 100 competitors. More than 45 riders from Bahrain and other GCC countries took part in this race.

Saleh Al Katheer (4:43:36) of Saudi Arabia was second and Qatar's Ahmed Al Malki (3:33:59) third.

Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation's (Breef) first vice-president and Al Khaldiya team leader Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa finished sixth.

Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa pulled out of the race after the second stage when his horse Free Lance failed to pass the veterinary examination.

A total of 28 riders took part in the five-stage 120-km juniors race which was won by Shaikh Saqer of Ahmed Al Fateh Stable. He finished the race in six hours, 23 minutes and 35 seconds. Shaikh Saqer was followed by Mohammed Al Thawadi (6:44:50) of Al Asayel Stable in second place and Khalid Al Attiya (7:04:31) of Qatar was third.