Doha: The 15th Asian Games

THE 15th Asian Games was officially opened yesterday by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at Doha?s Khalifa Stadium in a breathtaking ceremony that merged a film shown on the world?s biggest LED screen with a spectacular show performed by several thousand artists.

HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, the captain of Qatar's equestrian endurance team carries the torch to light the 50m cauldron. The opening ceremony was attended by HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Misnad, HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani, the personal representative of HH the Emir besides the sheikhs, ministers, speaker of the advisory council and senior sports officials

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Alison and K-Zar Emmanuel ride in memory of Mike

November 25 Carolina 100 Endurance Ride

Alison Bailey riding K-Zar Emmanuel at the Carolina 100. Alison's late husband Mike rode K-Zar to the AERC National 50-Mile Heavyweight Championship before he passed away from a sudden heart attack 11 days later. Alison went to the Carolina Ride to win the 50 in memory of her husband. She not only won, but K-Zar earned the Best Condition Award!

(photo by Genie Stewart-Spears)











Lois McAfee and Tonka Toi won the 100 mile division of the November 25 Carolina 100 Endurance ride.

(photo by Genie Stewart-Spears)

Sultan's Cup Endurance Challege: Sabaruddin nicks it

28 Nov 2006
ZAINUDDIN MUHAMMAD

IT was first time lucky for Nik Sabaruddin and his mount As Shiffa Kassan who won the the 160km Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge 2006 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu, on Sunday.


The 53-year-old former Navy officer and his 14-year-old Arabian pure-bred, who were representing Kelantan's D'Bali Stable, won with a time of 12:38:43s to beat 22 rivals and pocket the RM10,000 winner?s cheque.

As Shiffa Kassan was also voted as the best conditioned horse in the category which came with a RM2,000 bonus.

Second place went to Datuk Abdullah Taib and his horse Blue Moon who clocked 12:49:45s, while Faizal Ismail, astride Azreal, finished third in 12:53:26.

The second and third place finishers took home RM8,000 and RM6,000 respectively. Fourth was Norlaily Buniyamin who took home RM4,000.

Other riders in the category included the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.

In the 80km event, Paul Jeffrey and his mount Jakim Zane won in a time of 05:32:35s from Amal Nadiah Tajuddin astride Rayyan who clocked 29:45s.

Third place went to Stephanie Teeter (Jakim Murphy) while Nazalisamri Nasaah (Nagawangsa) finished fourth. A total of 120 riders competed in the two-day event.

Equestrian Endurance at Asian Games

Equestrian endurance at Asian Games (Reuters)

29 November 2006

Factbox on the equestrian endurance event, which will feature for the first time at the Asian Games in Doha between Dec. 1 and 15:

WHAT IS THE ENDURANCE EVENT?

· Endurance riding is an extremely strenuous form of horse racing which tests the speed and endurance of a horse. It involves racing at controlled speeds over distances of many tens of kilometres. During the 15th Asian Games, the endurance course will cover 120 km.

· A good endurance horse is characterised by balanced body structure, relatively light weight and a strong back. Any breed can compete but Arabians, endowed with natural stamina, generally dominate at the top levels. Most importantly, the horse?s temperament must suit the rider.
HISTORY

· Wendell Robie, an American breeder of Arabian horses, is credited as the pioneer of the modern sport of endurance riding. In 1955, he founded the founded the Western States Trail Ride, a 160-km, one-day ride from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, California, via an old Pony Express route.

· Endurance was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was recognised as an official discipline by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) in 1983. The sport makes it Asian Games debut in Doha.
RULES

· An endurance ride is a competition against the clock. The horse that finishes the course in the shortest time wins. The winning team is the one with the best time after adding the classifications of the three highest placed competitors.

· Horses must be at least six years old to qualify. Competitions are held in phases, with no phase longer than 40 km. When the condition of a horse is assessed at the end of each phase, its heart rate must be no higher than 64 beats per minute.

· FEI guidelines state that the course should not contain more than 10 percent of hard surface roads intended for vehicular traffic. Also, the most demanding part of the course should not be near the finish.

Sources: Reuters; Doha Asian Games Web site (www.doha-2006.com); FEI (www.horsesport.org)
[Khaleej Times]

UAE: Al Bloushi completes hat-trick of wins

Dubai: Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi from the Al Reef Stables registered a hat-trick of wins for the all-conquering stables here yesterday.

Yousuf, the UAE's top trainer and third-best rider on points, and Al Reef Stables, last season's top stables which belongs to Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, scored their third straight win of the current UAE season.

Yousuf, who trained the winning horses in the Boudthib Junior Ride and the First Gulf Bank Challenge ride in Al Wathba last week, emerged as winner with a superb display of riding in the Dubai Equestrian Club's 120-km ride yesterday.

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Successful Completion of 2006 Sultan's Cup in Malaysia

UAE: Endurance season gets under

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

Dubai: The Dubai Equestrian Club's endurance season, which kicks off today at the Dubai International Endurance City, will also feature an innovative addition - Dubai Endurance Challenge for whole the season.

Announcing details at a press conference, Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, Vice President of the Dubai Equestrian Club, said today's inaugural ride sponsored by Dubai World will carry a total prize money of Dh700,000.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Endurance Challenge unveiled yesterday, is also worth Dh700,000 and will take into account all FEI rides staged at the Dubai International Endurance City for the 2006-2007 season.

During the season Riders, Trainers, Horses and Stables will earn points depending on their finishing position in the selected rides.

At the end of the season the highest point scorers will be crowned the Dubai Endurance Challenge Champion Rider, Trainer, Horse and Stable respectively.

Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Chairman, Dubai World, who is also a top rider, said, "Support for any equestrian sport comes naturally to us in the UAE. This is particularly so when it comes to events featuring Arab Purebred horses. These noble animals are a part of our cultural identity. Dubai World is especially proud to be sponsoring the opening race in this year's Endurance calendar and we look forward to enjoying the show."

Saeed Humaid Al Tayer said, "We value the support of each of our sponsors who help to make each of the races a reality. The sport is closely linked to the culture and heritage of the people of the United Arab Emirates and we invite everyone to attend the races at the Dubai International Endurance City to enjoy the spectacle that is Endurance racing."

Meanwhile, Al Reef Stables will be looking to complete a hat-trick in today's 120-km CEI Three Star ride.

They won the first two rides of the season held in Abu Dhabi and will be strongly represented in today's 100-plus line-up of starters.
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