WEC: Gold at Aachen

the 2006 World Endurance Individual Champions:

Gold: Miguuel Vila Uback and Hungares (Spain)
Silver: Verginie Atger and Kangoo d'Aurabelle (France)
Bronze: Elodi Le Labourier and Sangho'Limousian (France)

WEC: 2006 World Equestrian Games Opening Ceremonies

By Nancy Jaffer
equisearch.com

achen, Germany, August 20, 2006 -- Horsepower in all its glory was on parade as the World Equestrian Games officially opened this afternoon, celebrating the beauty, grace and diversity of the animals we so admire -- as well as the people who ride and drive them.

There were 37,500 enthusiastic fans packing the stands, clapping in time to the music and doing the wave, so happy (like me) to be at the world's biggest horse show.

The WEG's breadth was epitomized by the moment when reining horses were spinning, a vaulter was leaping off the back of her mount, four-in-hand drivers toured the ring, show jumper Christian Ahlmann cleared a fence, endurance riders trotted around, world champion dressage rider Nadine Capellmann put her horse through its paces and eventers tore around the turf. Now I've mentioned all of the seven disciplines that will be showcased here for the next two weeks, and if today's kick-off was any indication, it will be a time of excitement and drama that goes by far too fast.

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WEC: Endurance race set for off

Gulf Daily News
BAHRAIN's national endurance team is set to compete with world class riders in the 160-km race of the World Equestrian Games today at 7am (Bahrain time) in Aachen, Germany.

The one-day race will be held through the city and the District of Aachen, The Netherlands and Belgium, with 162 riders representing 42 countries in the fray.

Captained by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the five-member team had their last training session yesterday under rainy conditions.

The remaining Bahraini team members are Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Yousef Taher, Hamad Al Muraisi and Khalid Al Ruwaihi who each completed three 160-km races to qualify for this prestigious event.

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Endurance.Net Event Coverage

WEC: Tough conditions to test favourites UAE

By M. Satya Narayan Staff Reporter
Gulf News

Aachen: The UAE team will have to cope with difficult underfoot conditions when they compete in today's endurance ride on the opening day of the World Endurance Games (WEG).

The 160-km ride, sponsored by the Dubai Equestrian Club, will run through some treacherous forest terrain in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium that will severely test the riders.

A strong field of over 150 riders from 40 countries will be seen in action in the event, which gets off to a 6am start.

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Endurance.Net Event Coverage

Canada: Local flavour at World Equestrian Games

Written by Jackie Shows

It's the largest equine competition in the world -- and Ruth Sturley of Owen Sound will be there, representing Canada.

The World Equestrian Games 2006 kick off August 20th in Aachen, Germany.

The event is held every 4 years and draws an international crowd of 500-thousand people.

It's a 5-star event including the 7 diciplines of -- show jumping, eventing, carriage driving, dressage, endurance, vaulting and reining.

Sturley will be participating in the disipline of endurance.

And there is something very unique about her case.

Sturley has been told she is the most senior member on the Canadian team -- at 60 years old.

The well-known Ian Miller is next in line.

This is Sturley's first time competing at the World level and she says she's been leading up to this event for the past two years -- and doing intense training for about 6 months.

Sturley says she is both nervous and excited -- but knows she must stay focused.

She has been working with her horse for the past 6 years -- and says the endurance competition seems to be a perfect fit.

Endurance racing takes place over 160 kilometres of dirt terrain -- Sturley says both the speed and stamina of the horse is tested.

During the ride -- the horses are stopped at intervals and must pass a veterinarian inspection in order to continue.

She says Canadians are held in good regard on the international scene in endurance.

The games wrap up September 4th -- and there are over 800 horse/rider combinations participating from around the world.
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Bahrain: Riders ready for endurance challenge

Riders ready for endurance challenge

BAHRAIN's national endurance team continued their preparations for the World Equestrian Games scheduled for Monday in Aachen, Germany.

The Bahraini team, which is presently training at the race venue, comprise six riders, including captain and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The remaining team members are Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Yousef Taher, Hamad Al Muraisi and Khalid Al Ruwaihi, who each completed three 120-km races to qualify for this prestigious event.

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Malaysia: Proposal for equestrian centre in every State

6 Aug 2006
S. Selvam

IN a move to erase any perception that equestrian is a sport for the rich, the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) has proposed to the Education Ministry and Sports Ministry to identify one boarding school in every State as a training centre.


Its president, Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, who is the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, emphasised that equestrian is a sport that Malaysians can excel in, especially endurance riding.

"We have the potential to excel in equine sports, especially endurance riding," said Jamaluddin at the flag and national jersey hand-over ceremony to the endurance team competing in the World Equestrian Games which begins in Aachen, Germany on Sunday.

"Datuk Awang (Kamaruddin) was the No 1 ranked endurance rider in 2001. As such, we have done it (excelled in the sport) and we can do it again."

The endurance riding competition will be held the following day and the Games ends on Sept 3.

Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said handed the flag to team manager Datuk Balakrishna Polanaidoo.

Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, an avid rider himself, witnessed the ceremony.

Malaysia will be represented by Corporal Zulkelfi Saari, Mohd Izry Razali, Shamsudin Abdul Roni and Norlaily Buniyamin.

With the exception of Shamsudin, all the riders are from the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable based in Terengganu.

"We are aware of the perception that the sport caters only to the rich. But we also firmly believe that no sport should be the exclusive right of any group of people," added Jamaluddin.

"What we have, at the moment, are individuals and families who have been very supportive of the sport.

"But we need to take it to the grassroots, and we have submitted a proposal to the Education Ministry and Sports Ministry to have at least one boarding school in each State to have a training centre."

The distance and categories for endurance riding range from 80, 100, 120 and 160 kilometres with the last being categorised as a three-star event. The race is completed within a day.