Bahrain Endurance site opened on Net

AN ENGLISH interface of an endurance website for Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa was officially launched on Sunday.

The website 'www.alfurrsan.com', sponsored by MTC-Vodafone, was launched at a reception ceremony held at the Royal Endurance Team Stables premises in Sakhir.

"The Media Office and Information Centre is honoured to welcome our endurance fans to the Al Furrsan website and conveys appreciation of Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa," said centre director Tawfeeq Salehi.

"This website will serve the fans with all information they need about comprehensive activities of Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid," added Salehi.

Salehi extended his appreciation on behalf of the federation and the Bahraini riders to MTC Vodafone for sponsoring this website which will become beneficial for the sport fans.

"Endurance riding is a traditional sport, known as the supreme test of horsemanship for the knowledgeable rider," said Salehi.

The rider's efficiency and capability to bring his horse through a hard day of riding over a long distance and variable types of terrain without being detrimental to the horse's health, and providing it with qualities of hardness and endurance, are tested.

"Endurance rides not only test the stamina of the horse but also the skills of the riders and the support crew," he added.

Salehi said endurance riding is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Bahrain saw the real birth of this sport in its soil on April 7, 2000.

"Endurance activities in the kingdom enjoys the whole-hearted support of His Majesty King Hamad. By visiting the championships regularly and extending full support to the riders, His Majesty the King inspired them to achieve higher goals," he said.

"Without the extensive support and the encouragement of His Majesty the King, this sport in Bahrain would never have reached to this level of professionalism and worldwide recognition. The riders and the people of Bahrain are proud of their ruler, His Majesty the King who extends his unlimited support to this sport," said Salehi.

Races

His Majesty King Hamad instructed to organise the Bahrain International Endurance Horse Riding Championship, the first-ever event held in the kingdom, as two separate races for the riders from UAE and Bahrain.

The distance was 120km and the aim was to create a pool of knowledge for the participants and help them to realise their pitfalls as well as potential.

UAE's veteran rider Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was the winner from the UAE riders and Shaikh Salman bin Sager Al Khalifa reached first place among the Bahraini riders.

Inspired by the success of the First International Championship, the Kingdom began to organise various types of championship from October to May every year. To gain more confidence and experience, the Royal Endurance Team is regularly participating in endurance championships and training camps in Europe. During the last three years, the Royal Team achieved remarkable results in championships held in France and Ireland. According to the leader of the Royal Team, Shaikh Nasser, endurance riding is a test of discipline, stamina, fitness, strength and patience.

Abdullah and Faisal make UAE proud

Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed from the Al Reef stables rode Tora Blar-Zay to victory in the Seniors' section of the historic Tom Quilty 160km endurance ride in Australia.

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By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter


Abu Dhabi: Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed and Shaikh Faisal Bin Abdullah Al Qasimi did the UAE proud by winning the Senior and Junior rides at the historic Tom Quilty 160km endurance ride in Australia on Saturday.

Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed from the Al Reef stables rode Tora Blar-Zay to victory completing the 160km distance in a timing of 9hrs 15 mins.

Shaikh Faisal, who won the silver medal at the World Junior Championship held in Bahrain, finished on top in the junior section, riding Kaysand Farrah to victory.

Shaikh Faisal took 10 hours 39 minutes to win the junior title. The Tom Quilty endurance event is the national endurance riding championship of Australia and is held annually in a different state.

Yesterday's ride was held in Boonah in south east Queensland.

Speaking to Gulf News from Boonah, Abdullah Khamis said he was very happy with the win. "It was wet and cold and we had a mid-night start. There were over 150 riders in the fray," he said.

"This is one of the most prestigious rides in the world and I am yet to get over the win," said Abdullah, who pushed Australian Howard Harris on Harmere Turfan to second place with Brook Sample on Brookleigh Mozart in third.

Abdullah Khamis has won quite a few rides here in the tough domestic circuit including the prestigious President's Cup.

"It was a very challenging ride and the rain had made the track very treacherous," said David Marshal, a former endurance trainer here in the UAE.

"Both Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed and Shaikh Faisal displayed a lot of maturity to emerge the winner from a quality field," said Marshal, a New Zealander.

"With over 300 riders in total taking part in this ride, this is without doubt the biggest event and the two UAE riders winning here once again go to demonstrate the strength of UAE in the endurance sport," he said.

Results

Seniors:

1. Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed (Tora Blar-Zay) 9hrs 15 mins.
2. Howard Harris (Harmere Turfan) 9:25.
3. Brook Sample (Brookleigh Mozart) 9:48.

Juniors:

1. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Faisal Al Qassimi (Kaysand Farrah) 10 hrs 39 mins.
2. Sasha Laws-King (Tubbarubba Cheval) 11.02.
3. Helen Toft (Don) 11.11.

Horses are stars in Humboldt

Casey Allen

Did you know that Humboldt County is home to some of the biggest sports stars in the world? It's true and those stars are horses. The sport in this case is called endurance riding. It is a timed, long distance event where horse and rider travel anywhere from 25 to 100 miles in one day. It is not really called a race although riders do sometimes race each other the last few miles to the finish. There is also no 'winner'. The first place rider got just that, first place. This is because the sports motto is ?to finish is to win.? The most coveted prize in endurance riding is the ?best condition? award. This is decided by the ride veterinarians who evaluate the horses before, during and after the ride. The combination of the vet score, finish position, and weight of the rider and tack contribute to who will be awarded ?best condition.? Only the top 10 finishers can qualify for best condition judging. Most riders are only concerned with finishing the ride without mishap or injury to horse or rider. Awards for accumulated distance over a ride season are given and recognition for outstanding careers are rewarded.

Humboldt County's local endurance riding club, Redwood Empire Endurance Riders (REER) is sanctioned by the national American Endurance Riders Conference (AERC). AERC records ride statistics and make the rules. REER hosts 4 local rides each year. One on the Chalk Rock Ranch in Bridgeville. Two in Redwood National Park staging at Orick and one at Cuneo Creek in the Redwoods State Park, west of Weott. There are also scores of rides through out the western region and across the nation. You can see the whole ride schedule and more at http://www.aerc.org/.

The stars of this sport are the Arabian horses who dominate over all other breeds. Although all equine breeds and mules compete in endurance, the Arabians ability to work hard and recover quickly keys their dominance. All endurance horses are well cared for and well conditioned where training miles easily exceed competition miles.

A typical ride begins with participants camping with their horses the night before the ride. Horses take their pre ride vet check, receive their vet score card, and get a number painted on their butt. Riders attend the ride meeting and receive their course map and instructions. Then everyone tries to get some sleep amid all the ride camp sounds of horses snorting, stomping, and whinnying. The rhythmic munching of grass hay can be hypnotic and put you to sleep.

Before light the next morning, as the first riders stir, you can hear the whole camp awaken. The horses are talking, usually in response to a fresh flake of hay. Riders greet each other in nervous whispers as they prepare their gear. They try to eat but not too much drink. They don't want to stop on the trail.

The start of the ride is a pre-determined time and those who are competitive start on time but take it slow, it will be a long day. Most of the riders start at their leisure and it may take 20 minutes for everyone to leave.

In a typical 50 mile ride the first vet check could be around the 12 mile mark with the lunch stop and vet check at 25 miles. Another vet check after lunch and on to the finish back at camp. After a final vet evaluation is passed, horse and rider win a completion certificate. The top ten riders show their horses for ?best condition? and awards are given out after a hearty dinner.

Horse and rider are required to start their timed break after the horse meets pulse criteria of, usually, 60 beats per minute at each vet check. Horses that go too fast can actually lose time trying to calm down. Good riders guide their mounts at a pace that eats trail at a relaxed rate, arriving at the vet check meeting the pulse criteria.

Vets evaluate each horse and their ability to continue. They look for injuries, lameness, and metabolic problems like dehydration and colic. If the veterinarian deems a horse unfit to continue, for the safety and well being of the horse, it is pulled from the ride and gets a trailer ride back to camp.

Riders must be able to take care of themselves and their horses out on the trail. Some loops can be 25 miles long and a long way from help. Riders always help each other on the trail but lot can go wrong besides throwing a shoe or taking a stumble or fall. There are snakes, bears, and even mountain lions. Bees are good for spicing up a ride.

When everything is right, horse and rider become one, both wanting the same goal. It is a wonderful, almost powerful feeling and the bond developed between horse and rider during all those training miles is full of emotion.

Humboldt County is home to some big stars in endurance riding, like Joyce and Dennis Sousa. Joyce has over 16,500 career miles and seventy 100 mile starts completing 60. Her horse, Jim Bob, was recently inducted into the AERC Hall of Fame. Dennis has over 11,000 miles and thirty 100 mile starts completing 25. Both were invited to compete in the United Arab Emirates and the ancestral home of the Arab horse.

Karen Fredrickson and her world class crew, husband Duane, like multi-day rides ( five 50 mile rides in five days). She completed two XP rides. One follows the pony express path, cross country, from Kansas City, Missouri to Sacramento.

Ted and Joan Ruprecht have over 27,000 endurance miles between them. Joan at 75 years old riding a 25 year old Arabian mare placed 5th at last years Redwood Ride II 50 mile ride. I was working the finish line when Joan and her horse crossed. She dismounted, handed me the reins, and said she was dizzy. ?Weeeeee? she cried as if enjoying a roller coaster. She was just fine and I can only wish to be that tough.

Many local riders have completed the toughest endurance ride in the world called the Tevis Cup, a one day, 100 mile ride across the Sierra Range from Truckee to Auburn, Calif. Wow!

Look for more in the coming months on endurance riding, the riders and of course, the horses.

For more information and how to join REER go to the web site www.redwoodendurance.org or contact Elaine Kerrigan at 707-443-0215 orfahim@humboldt1.com. See you down the trail.

Riders pass French test

BAHRAINI riders Yousef Taher, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa and Khalid Al Ruwaihi made a successful appearance at the Plesidy Endurance Race in France.

Being among 35 top class riders from France and the UK, the Bahraini trio managed to complete the race which was over 130 kms with Taher finishing ninth overall, Shaikh Daij 10th and Al Ruwaihi 11th.

Raed Mahmood and world junior champion Fahad Ismail, were unable to complete the race with both riders forced to withdraw with one stage remaining.

Team manager Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan said the race was part of their preparations for the upcoming World Championship which takes place in Germany on August 24.

The event comprised four stages with the first stage covering 32 kms, 33 kms for the second, 40 kms for the third and 25 kms for the fourth.

Hassan confirmed that the Bahraini riders were not aiming to win a place on the podium and their strategy was to keep a limited speed in each stage to maintain the health condition of their horses and pass the veterinary examination.

"The team produced good performance at the race and their French coach Ivon was concentrating on the physical and psychological preparation of his riders," said Hassan.

Standard

Commenting on the standard of the race, Hassan said it featured gruelling competition specially in the third stage during which many riders, including Mahmood and Ismail, were unable to continue due to the rough turf conditions.

"This race was the first for our riders since the season was over two months ago. So we are quite satisfied with the individual results, taking into consideration the level of the other riders who were in the fray," added Hassan.

"We decided to participate in this event as the race course here is very much similar to the course in Aachen in Germany which will host the world championship." Hassan confirmed that the team will continue their preparations for the Germany event by taking part in other races in the next two months under the captaincy of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

US: WEG Nominees Give Strong Performances

First US CEI*** Observation Trial At Owyhee 100
By Jennifer Nice
Jennifer Niehaus of Cloverdale, CA, edged out a field of 36 riders to win the CEI*** 100-mile endurance event held in Oreana, Idaho, on Saturday, May 20. Riding her nominated horse Cheyenne XII, Niehaus finished in a ride time of 9:49:39, averaging 16.31 kph (10.14 mph) over the course.

Crossing the finish line with Niehaus was Suzanne Hedgecock aboard AA Montego, who posted a ride time one second slower than Niehaus?s. Hedgecock also hopes to earn a place on the U.S. Endurance Team to compete at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany this August.

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CEO Named to Lead 2010 FEI GamesTM in Kentucky

World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Pkwy Lexington, KY 40511,
www.feigames2010.org

Long-time International Sports Event Executive Chosen

(Lexington, KY) ? John P. (Jack) Kelly has been hired as the Chief Executive Officer of the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., the entity in charge of putting on the 2010 FEI GamesTM in Kentucky, the world equestrian championships.

Kelly, 60, currently is both the secretary-general of USA Baseball and the CEO of the Space City Sports Commission in Houston.

?I?m very enthusiastic about again having the opportunity to lead a major international sporting event, particularly one like the 2010 FEI GamesTM in Kentucky where so much infrastructure, excitement and support for the event already exists,? said Jack Kelly. ?When the FEI awarded the Games to the Kentucky bid team, they did so with high expectations. I?m confident that we can meet and exceed these expectations and bring great credit to Kentucky.?



Kelly is also the founder and CEO of Event Partners, Inc., a broad-based sports consulting and event management and advisory company. Since 1995, the company has worked with more than 100 clients on all aspects of major event bidding, site selection, planning, operations, marketing, funding and management.



?I think Jack is the perfect fit for what the 2010 FEI GamesTM need,? said World Games 2010 Foundation Chairman Jim Host. ?With the equine expertise that we have in the United States Equestrian Federation and the Kentucky Horse Park, the political backing of both the city of Lexington and the state of Kentucky and the talents of all of our foundation members, Jack?s talents will help make these games a complete success.?



In addition, Kelly served from 1990 ? 1996 as both the president of Turner Broadcasting?s Goodwill Games, Inc., and the director of all Turner international sports efforts, overseeing all aspects of the $100 million-plus enterprise, including managing all national and city relationships, conducting television negotiations, maximizing television syndication as well as creating a worldwide merchandising and licensing program.



Through Event Partners, Kelly also has served such clients as the Olympic bid and major event efforts of multiple U.S. and international cities and countries, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the 1996 Paralympic Games, 14 U.S. national sports governing bodies, Disney?s Wide World of Sports, five U.S. states and more than 100 municipal clients.



From 2000 ? 2002, Jack also served as the CEO of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), the national trade group for the business of bowling ? a period of time which saw the BPAA reach record levels of membership, sponsorship/fundraising and trade show participation.



Prior to his sports management roles, Kelly spent 16 years as a successful corporate executive serving as an officer of two Top 50 U.S. corporations (Tenneco Inc. and the American General Corporation). He has also served as a president of two separate U.S. Olympic Festivals in Houston (1986) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (1990). In addition, he was the co-chair of the U.S. Olympic Committee?s International Games Review Committee, a member of the 1994 World Cup Site Selection Committee and several USOC site selection committees.



?It is very exciting to think about not only representing the State of Kentucky with this event but also the United States,? said Kelly. ?It is important for our national standing in the international sports and sports business community for the U.S. to successfully host major events like the 2010 FEI GamesTM and we will be up to the challenge.?



Kelly?s complete resume is available upon request. A photo is attached.



The FEI Games, known as the World Equestrian Games through 2006, are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The FEI Games have never been held outside of Europe nor have they ever all been held together at a single site; both firsts that the Kentucky Horse Park will achieve. The 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games will be held in Aachen, Germany and run from August 20 to September 3. Approximately 800 athletes and 875 horses are expected to compete there. The 2010 FEI GamesTM in Kentucky is expected to sell more than 500,000 tickets and have an economic impact of more than $150 million.

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The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to oversee the production of the 2010 FEI Games? in Kentucky, The World Equestrian Championships. The 2010 FEI Games? in Kentucky will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington from September 20 ? October 3, and will consist of the eight equine disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body of all equestrian sport: show jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting, endurance, and para-equestrian.



Chris Gilligan
Executive Director for Communications
Kentucky Commerce Cabinet
500 Mero Street (24th floor)
Frankfort, KY. 40601
(O) 502-564-4270 ext. 168
(C) 502-330-4967
(E) Chris.Gilligan@ky.gov

WEG Endurance Team Hopefuls Prepare to Demonstrate their Abilities

By Jennifer Nice

With the 2006 World Equestrian Games just three months away, the top endurance riders in the U.S. are preparing to demonstrate their abilities in the hopes of earning a place on the U.S. Endurance Team. In order to be considered, each rider must compete at one of three FEI***/AERC dual-sanctioned 100-mile rides scheduled for May 20 in Oreana, ID; May 27 in Grand Island, MI; and June 11 in Ashland, MT. Members of the National Selection Committee will be present at each event to evaluate the competitors? performances.

According to United States Equestrian Federation®?s Director of Endurance Programs, Mary Lutz, there are approximately 49 riders scheduled to compete at one of the three observation trials, including members of the current National Training Squad and former World Endurance Champion Valerie Kanavy and former Pan American Endurance Champion Heather Reynolds. Riders who have been nominated on more than one horse must compete at one observation ride with each horse.

Chef d? Equipe Tom Johnson of Loomis, CA, said the he doesn?t expect the nominated horses to be ?peaked? for the observation trials, but should still be building up toward the World Equestrian Games. ?I expect the successful riders to ride strong and smart, and to finish within a reasonable distance of the winning horse but not necessarily win,? Johnson said. ?The top horses will make it look easy by finishing strong and looking good while doing it.?

Following the final observation trial, the National Team of 12 horse/rider combinations plus six ranked alternates will be selected by the National Selection Committee. ?Those riders will then attend one of two training events,? said Johnson. ?Locations of the events will be selected based on their location in order to minimize how far they have to haul. Riders will complete a test ride of 30 to 50 miles.?

The final team will be selected based on several factors, which include but are not limited to the horse?s fitness and soundness and the rider?s ability to ride to instructions. Johnson added, ?The goal of the selection process is to finish strong in Aachen. The observation trials are a step in that direction.?

The team of riders selected to represent the United States in the endurance competition at the World Equestrian Games will be named by mid-July and will depart for Aachen, Germany, the first week of August. The 100-mile world endurance championship will be held August 21.

The United States Equestrian Federation® is the Governing Body of U.S. endurance competition at the international level. The American Endurance Ride Conference is the National Affiliate of endurance in the U.S. and governs the sport at the national level. For more information about the U.S. Endurance Team and the 2006 selection process, contact USEF Director of Endurance Programs Mary Lutz at mlutz@usef.org, or by phone at (908) 326-1155.