Harmon to ride for NZ against Aussies

by DAVID DAWKINS - The Marlborough Express | Friday, 29 December 2006

Trans-Tasman rivalry will be at its fiercest in the new year when New Zealand's top endurance riders, including Marlborough's Linda Harmon, take on their Australian counterparts at Twynham Farm near St Arnaud.

Harmon, riding Landon V-erah, is a member of the four strong senior team that will face the Aussies in the CEI three star 120km ride on Tuesday.

Fellow Marlburian Helen Graham will compete in the junior team that races over the same distance while Kimberly Ryan is a reserve for the team.

For Harmon it will be her first chance to compete in the New Zealand team. She was named as a reserve last year against the Australians and rode as an individual then had to pull out of the team's trip to Spain after her horse pulled up lame.

While she describes the Australians as a bit of an unknown quantity she is determined to retain the title New Zealand won in Australia last year.

"We really have to thrash those Aussies," she said.

The Australians will be at the disadvantage of riding borrowed horses for the race, something Harmon hopes will give the Kiwis an edge.

""When you've got your own horse you know its little ways," she said.

"You know when to push them and when not to."

Landon V-erah, or Abbey for short, is a young horse at seven years old and the 120km ride will be the longest she's ever tackled.

"I'll guess we'll see what she's got under the bonnet," Harmon said.

The riders will be faced with a variety of conditions from open flats, to rolling hills, steep forestry blocks and clay tracks through native bush. However, it is nothing new to Harmon who has tackled the course on numerous occasions before.

With the Marlborough summer finally heating up Harmon is hoping temperatures and the humidity stay on the low side.

On hot days strappers become especially important, as Harmon explained.

"If you don't have a strapper you are too busy looking after your horse and not yourself."

Harmon's husband Malcolm is set to take on the strapper's duty this weekend something Harmon is pleased about.

"Its great, it means I can yell at him," she laughed.

The meeting will also double as the South Island Endurance champs with Marlborough's Kylie Avery riding in the CEI two star 100km on Monday.

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Abdulla, Layla race to victory

AL KHALDIYA Stable's Layla Al Ridha of the UAE notched the women's 80-km race while Abdulla Al Khatri of Al Asayel Stable took the 120-km junior competition of the Kingdom Endurance Horseride Championship at the Bahrain International Enudrance Village in Sakhir.

The women's race, which was divided into three stages, featured stiff competition among 15 riders, specially in the last stage as Layla crossed the finish line first in three hours 10 minutes 40 seconds.

Layla was ahead of her main opponents Maryam of Al Fateh Stable (3:15:57) who finished second and Royal Endurance Team rider Manal Fakhrawi (3:20:24) who came third.

Thirty riders were in the fray for the five-stage junior race which was won by Abdulla who completed the race in five hours, three minutes and 21 seconds after a tough battle with Royal Endurance Team members Mohammed Abdulaziz (5:03:30) and Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Khalifa (5:23:36) who were second and third respectively.

A 60-km qualifying race for new and young riders, was also included in the event with 15 riders in the fray.

The championship was held under the patronage of Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, chairman of event sponsors Kingdom Holding Company and attended by Kingdom Stable director Najeeb Al Burjus who flagged off the race and honoured the top three riders in each category at the presentation ceremony.

Al Burjus congratulated the winners and praised the efforts of the organisers and the impressive number of riders in all three races, specially in the women's event which was organised for the first time.

Al Burjus thanked Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who gave his directives to host this race.
Gulf Daily News Article

Al Muhairi comes up with a brilliant ride

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

(photo: Winners Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi, Omair Husain Al Bloushi, Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton and other officials.)

Abu Dhabi: Last Thursday Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi shrugged off the misfortune of having to sit out of the UAE team and chipped in crewing for the UAE team which registered a golden double triumph in the Doha Asian Games endurance event in Qatar.

Yesterday at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Seih Assalam, Al Muhairi compensated himself with a superb display to win the Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge 120-km ride.

Al Muhairi, who is the Racing Manager for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, was back on the consistent performer Karabil Narmar, and the reunited pair won the same event after a two-year gap from a strong field of riders.

In fact Al Muhairi's win in yesterday's 120-km Open event halted the winning streak of the Al Reef Stables who have won all four rides of the season so far.

Al Muhairi and Karabil Narmar won the 120-km ride in four hours 46 minutes and 59 seconds at an average speed of 25.09 with Al Reef's young star Omair Hussain Al Bloushi finishing second on Cameo Zinniaa, about three minutes later.

Skilful rider

Both rider and horse drew praise from Shaikh Hamdan, who attended the ride organised by the Dubai Equestrian Club.

"Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi is a skilled rider and he did well to regain the initiative after the third loop.

"The climate was very good and Al Muhairi brought the best out of Karabil Narmar, which was coming out of an injury," Shaikh Hamdan said.

"He was running after a long gap but soon looked like the top quality horse that he his. Al Muhairi paced his effort very well and they fully deserved to win," Shaikh Hamdan said.

The winner said he was pleased with his effort.

"It was a good ride and after leading in the first two loops I slowed down the pace to check out how my horse was faring. Once he looked good after that loop we regained our pace," said Al Muhairi.

"We started out to go out and win this ride and I knew I could do it on Karabil Narmar," he said.

Commenting on his Asiad misfortune, Al Muhairi said: "I really enjoyed being part of the team. We all chipped in with crewing for the UAE team and we are proud of the UAE's achievement." Al Muhairi has been a regular in the UAE national team.

Extending the good run by foreign riders here this season, Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton finished third.

Malta's Maria, who has won a ride here a couple of seasons ago, rode Nobby, a horse trained and owned by her rider-trainer husband Jaume Punti Dachs of Spain.

"This is the first time I am riding this horse which has just come to the UAE. Nobby has some good results under his belt in Europe but this is his first outing here and I had to keep this in mind while riding today," said Maria.

Results

1. Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi (Karabil Narmar) 4hrs 46 mins 59 secs;
2. Omair Hussain Al Bloushi (Cameo Zinniaa) 4:50.21;
3. Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton (Nobby) 4:51.19;
4. Mattar Ganim Al Mansoori (Hanadi) 4:56.10;
5. Ahmad Mohammad Al Merri (Dell Hama) 4:56.24;
6. Abdullah Thani Al Felaisi (Spendacrest Kamouflague)4:59.42;
7. Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (Sha-Ali) 5:03.30;
8. Yousef Ahmad Al Bloushi (Al Galahn) 5:08.54;
9. Mohammad Ahmad Ali Al Sabousi (Antares Sauveterre) 5:12.50;
10. Jesus Manuel Berna (Out of the Blue) 5:15.16.

Gulf News Article

Hamdan foresees Olympic Gold

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, said that if endurance became an Olympic sport the UAE had a very good chance of winning the gold medal.

Speaking to reporters at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Seih Assalam during the Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge ride yesterday, Shaikh Hamdan praised the display by the UAE endurance riders who won two gold medals and a bronze medal in endurance which made its debut in the Doha Asian Games.

Efforts on

The FEI, the governing body of equestrian sport has been making efforts to try and get endurance included as an Olympic discipline.

"If Endurance Riding becomes an Olympic sport the UAE, which is a dominant force in the discipline, have a 90 per cent chance of winning it," he said.

Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum won the individual gold in the 120-km endurance ride at the Doha Asiad and along with Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum won the team gold.

Sultan Bin Sulayem won the bronze medal in the individual category.
Gulf News Article

Bahrain: 60 riders set for endurance test

Vol XXIX NO. 277 Friday 22nd December 2006

SIXTY riders are set for the Kingdom Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for tomorrow at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakir.

The event, comprising a 80-km race for women and 120-km race for juniors, is being organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) and is part of Bahrain's National Day and His Majesty King Hamad's accession to the throne celebrations.

The women's race, sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding Company, is divided into three stages with 15 riders in the fray.

The race consists of two stages of 30 kms and a final stage of 20 kms.

Among the participants in the 80-km race will be Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team members Manal Fakhrawi and Sumaya Jassim, Layal Abdulaziz of Al Khaldiya Stable, Shaikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa of Ahmed Al Fateh Stable, Huda Aryan of Saar Equestrian School and a team from Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Stable.

Thirty riders are in the fray for the 120-km juniors race, split into 30 kms for the first two stages, 25 kms for the third, 20 kms for the fourth and 15 kms for the fifth.

Sidelines

Top Bahraini riders in this event are Mohammed Abdulaziz, Jaffer Abdulnabi and Mohammed Abdlsamad of Royal Endurance Team, Tawfeeq Al Qattan of Hawar Stable, Ali Abduljalil of Azadi Stable and Abdulla Al Khatry of Al Asayel Stable.

A 60-km qualifier will also be held on the sidelines of the main event which is also open for women. Fifteen riders from Bahrain, the UAE and Kazakhstan are taking part in this event.

This qualifying race will be organised for the new riders and is divided into two stages of 30 kms each.

Meanwhile, Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa met Kingdom Stables director Najeeb Al Burjus who arrived in Bahrain to meet the member of his team and inspect the facilities as well as the preparations being made for the championship.

Al Burjus said the stable, owned by Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, is always keen to take part in Bahrain races to gain more experience.

Shaikh Nasser thanked Prince Al Waleed, who is the Kingdom Holding Company chairman, for his personal support to the federation and the Kingdom Stable for taking part in Bahrain races.


Gulf News

Shaikh Rashid Challenge to take place tomorrow

Published: 22/12/2006 12:00 AM (UAE)

Dubai: The Dubai International Endurance City plays host tomorrow to the Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge.

The FEI 120 kilometre ride starts at 6am tomorrow morning from the Dubai International Endurance City, there will also be a 40 kilometre and an 80 kilometre qualifier.

Before a horse or rider can ride in a 120km race they must first complete a 40km and an 80km race.

Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been competing in Endurance Racing for five years, both internationally and locally, and in 2004 won the Triple Crown series run at Dubai International Endurance City.

The Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge is part of the Dubai Endurance Challenge.

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

During the season riders, trainers, horses and stables will earn points depending on their finishing position in the selected races.

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

Entries for the endurance rides continue to stay at record levels showing the increasing popularity of the sport and the number of new riders beginning to compete.

The Dubai International Endurance City is easy to get to, from the Dubai Autodrome roundabout on the Emirates Road, follow the signs to the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa and the venue is located beside the hotel.

Gulf News

Bahrian: Endurance race is set for flag off

21 December 2006

A TOTAL prize money of BD23,000 is up for the grabs in the Kingdom Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakir.

The event, comprising 80-km for women and 120-km for juniors, is being organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) and is part of Bahrain's National Day Celebrations and His Majesty King Hamad's accession to the throne.

The prize includes BD12,700 for junior and BD10,800 for women. The top 10 in each event will be honoured at an awarding ceremony after the event.

The women's race, sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding Company, will of three stages with 30 kms for the first two stages and 20 for the third.

A 60-km qualifier will also be held on the sidelines of the main event which is also open to women.

The first two stages of the 120-km junior race consists of 30 kms each while the third stage will be over 25 kms and the fourth 20kms. The fifth and final stage will be of 15 kms.

The 60 kms event, which will be organised for new riders, is divided into two stages of 30 kms each.

Meanwhile, Kingdom Stables director Najeeb Al Burjus of Saudi Arabia arrived in Bahrain to inspect the facilities and the preparations being made to host this prestigious event.

Al Burjus said the stable, owned by Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, is always keen to take part in tBahrain races to gain more experience.

Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa welcomed the participating stable from Saudi Arabia.

Shaikh Khalid also thanked Prince Al Waleed, president of the Kingdom Holding Company, for his personal support to the Kingdom Stable.

The race is being organised following directives from Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The prize money beak-up:

Juniors: Winner - BD3,000. Runner-up: BD 2,500. Third place: BD1,500. Fourth place: BD1,200. Fifth place: BD1,000. Sixth place: BD900. Seventh place: BD800. Eighth place: BD700. Ninth place: BD600 and 10th place: BD500.

Women section: Winner - BD2,000. Runner-up: BD1,700. Third place: BD1,400. Fourth place: BD1,200. Fifth place: BD1,000. Sixth place: BD900. Seventh place: BD800. Eighth place: BD700. Ninth place: BD600 and 10th place: BD500.
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