HM the King Attends Endurance Races in Paris

date: 26 08, 2005


Paris, Aug. 26, (BNA) HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, has attended part of the European Endurance Races Open Championship which has been held in France, with the participation of Bahrain's team, led by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Chairman of Bahrain Royal Equestrian And Endurance Federation, and more than 27 European and foreign teams.
HM the King met with Bahraini team's leader, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and also with Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Faisal bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the other equestrians, haling the individual and team results they had achieved. HM the King also met with Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and discussed with him the Arab teams' achievements in European and international contests. " Sports and notably Equestrian contests which are accorded high interest by the GCC states have become one of the means of rapprochement for the world's countries", HM the King said, hailing the noticeable distinction of Arab teams and the efforts exerted by the Bahraini team which participates in the contest for the first time. HM the King also toured the pavilion held on the occasion, to highlight the equestrian activities in Bahrain which will organize the World Endurance championship for young equestrians on September 17, 2005.

Royal Team Fourth in French Challenge

ROYAL Endurance Team captain and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa finished 14th among world class riders in the Open European Endurance Championship yesterday at the Campiegne Racecourse, near Paris.

The Bahraini team finished fourth overall behind Belgium, the UAE and France who took the first three positions respectively.

Riding Herrero Dela Motte, Shaikh Nasser was among 113 riders from 31 countries in this one-day event which was over 160 kms and divided into six stages.

The first stage was over 32.8 kms, 21 kms for the second stage, 32.6 kms for the third, 20.6 kms for the fourth and 32 kms for the fifth and 21 kms for the sixth.

Shaikh Nasser completed the race in nine hours, 59 minutes and 55 seconds with an average speed of 16.54 kms per hour.

Shaikh Nasser was also the third Arab rider to finish the event after Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum who won the race in 9:11:11 while Shaikh Majed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum was third. Kristel van den Abeele of Belgium claimed runners-up position.

The Royal Team was led by Shaikh Nasser and included Breef first vice-president and Al Khaldiya Group captain Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Snowy River Phantom, Al Fateh Stable's Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa on Alandell Thor and Yousef Taher of the Royal Endurance Team on Izaba Du Caussanel.

The event was the first preparational phase for the Bahraini team in Europe for next year's World Championship to be held in Germany in August.

The championship, which was part of the Horse Festival of Compiegne, will conclude today with the prize-giving ceremony at the Compiegne Equestrian Stadium.

EC: European Championship in Compi?gne

Bonjour,

Vous trouverez ci-joint les dernières informations relatives au Festival Mondial d'Endurance qui se déroule à Compiègne du 24 au 28 août 2005.

Hello,

You will find enclosed the last news about the festival Mondial d'Endurance hold in Compiegne, 24-28 août.

Cordialement,
Best regards,
Le service de presse / The press office

--
FESTIVAL MONDIAL D'ENDURANCE
COMPIEGNE (France)
24, 25, 26, 27 et 28 août 2005
Championnat d'Europe Open d'Endurance FEI – EIER / CH EU**** - 160 Km
Mondial d’Endurance des chevaux de 7 et 8 ans Banat Al Reeh / CEI** - 119 Km

http://www.endurance.net/2005EuropeanChampionship/CP7_News.pdf

http://www.endurance.net/2005EuropeanChampionship/ PR7_News_gb.pdf

Qutar: Riders set for French challenge

Riders set for French challenge
Gulf Daily News - Manama,Bahrain
... Al Meraisi, Yousef Taher and Khalid Al Ruwaie of the Royal Endurance Team ... Holland, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia ...

Australia: Trans Tasman CEI***

Trans Tasman CEI*** - Aussie Teams
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:42:31 +1000
Mal Caldwell AES Media

The AERA International Committee ,and the Australian Endurance Squad Board of management , are pleased
to announce the Australian teams for the Trans Tasman CEI*** to be held at Glen Innes on Saturday 8th October.

This ?friendly ? International competition with our New Zealand friends , reciprocates the inaugural event held in New Zealand.
The Kiwi?s worked very hard to care for the Australian team last year ,, and to provide us with very good horses.
We hope to repay this hospitality , and to establish the event as a permanent fixture on the Endurance Calendar

The Red Range track is considered by many to be Australia? s best 160k course.
With a strong organizing team in place , we look forward to a great event.

Team Chef D?Equipe Robin van der Wegen

CEI*** 160km

Joyce Corbett / Reeflex
Claudia Reid / Ningadoo Taban
Robert Sutton / Zenith Park Quigley
Britnee D?Hont / Syeda Simba

CEI** 110Km

Danielle O?Loughlin / Pravado
Tracey-Lee Whitehead / Kelkette Park Durack
Dean Stephens / Tarong Kelly
Luke Annetts / Tallawarra Quality

Reserves : Charmaine Smith / Meltharina Magic
Jenny Annetts / Churinga Witezan?s Dream

Australian Endurance Squad Youth Team CEI** 110k

Kristie McGaffin / Wybalena Lodge Shushka
Amily Daw / Castlebar Kadeen
Brooke Warner / Bramall Jazzmin
Sasha Laws-King / Tubbarubba Cheval

Australia: NSW State Championship 160km

Local endurance rider takes out the State Championship
Monday, 8 August 2005




Woodstock endurance rider, Annette Bailey, won the prestigious NSW State Championship 160km (100 miles) endurance ride, held at Manilla, near Tamworth on 24th July.

The ride was staged over four legs. The first two legs each covered 46kms through undulating to flat country north of Manilla. The 3rd leg crossed the Tamworth Highway and headed into undulating to steep country with the last leg travelling out towards Gunnedah and back into Manilla.
[More ...]

Jordanian princess vies for equestrian presidency

AFP
August 8, 2005

AMMAN -- Princess Haya, half sister of Jordan's King Abdullah II and wife of Dubai Crown Prince Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will run for the presidency of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), she told AFP on Sunday.

A keen athlete with a passion for riding, the 31-year-old princess represented Jordan at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - the first Arab woman to do so -- competing in show jumping.

In a phone interview from London where she is currently, Princess Haya said she "will run in April for the presidency" of the FEI in the hope of promoting and revitalizing the sport across the globe "through a modern and efficient world-class body".

"Ensuring that the Federation is fully transparent and works in accordance with sound and modern financial systems is of utmost importance to me, and imperative for the development and growth of the equestrian sport internationally," she said.

Princess Haya has taken part in several international competitions, representing Jordan at Sydney 2000 and at the World Championships in Jerez 2002. She recently took part in the Dubai 2005 World Endurance Championship and is a member of the honorary committee of the Spanish Riding School.

The princess has represented Jordan in the FEI General Assembly and was chairperson of the Middle East and Western Asian sub-group from 1992-1996.

"I see equestrianism as a traditional sport with a modern future," the princess - who is daughter of the late King Hussein - said.

Princess Haya is also a member of the International Board of Directors of Right to Play, an athlete-driven organization dedicated to bringing sports and recreation to children affected by war, poverty disease and illness.