Bahrain: Two Endurance Races are Schedule

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation is organising two endurance races on Saturday starting at 6am at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

It is the third event of the season and will be over 120kms and 160kms. The 160 kms event is the longest race in the Breef calendar and will be held under the patronage of federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Breef second vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa said the 160-km race will be over six stages with 30 kms for the first three stages, 25 kms for the fourth and fifth stages while the last stage will be over 20 kms.

In the 120-km event, the riders will compete over five stages with 30 kms for the first two stages, 25 kms for the third, 20 kms for the fourth and 15 kms for the fifth.

Shaikh Khalid said the federation has already started receiving entries from Bahrain and other GCC countries for both the races and an organising committee as well as other committees are being set up.

Appointed

Breef general secretary Ghalib Al Alawi has been appointed head of the judges committee which also includes members Abdulsamad Al Busta, Haider Al Zo'bi and Ali Ghuloom.

The official commissioners of the race are Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Mahmood Abdulsaheb who will be assisted by Mohammed Dadulla and Fahad Al Rumaihi.

The veterinary committee comprises 16 members, including Saudi Arabia's Veterinary Committee chairman Dr Mohammed Al Hammad, Dr Mohammed Saifuddin of Saudi Arabia, Iran's Dr Ahmed Jaraghi, Dr Ebrahim Al Hassan of Jordan, Dr Hussain Abbara of Qatar, Mohammed Shafi of India and eight doctors from Bahrain.
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Malaysia's King presents trophy in Abu Dhabi

Three-day Endurance Cup a success: Sultan

Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Shaikh Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the 240km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup in Boud Thib endurance village yesterday.

Staff Report


Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Emirates Heritage Club, hailed the success of the three-day International Endurance Festival which concluded yesterday at the Boud Thib Endurance Village and said it would be an annual affair.

"The three days of endurance rides held here have been highly successful. There is no doubt that such festivals will give rise to a new generation of endurance riders," said Shaikh Sultan, who attended the event on all three days.

Speaking to the media after his son Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Al Nahyan won the 240-km three-day ride, Shaikh Sultan said, "I am satisfied with the display of the riders here.

"This three-day event is very good for both riders and horses. It will bring out the relationship between rider and horse and for us this is what horse riding is all about. It has been the sport of our forefathers and I am happy to see so many young riders taking to the sport," he added.

The Boud Thib Endurance Village was created in 2004 under the Emirates Heritage Club and has since organised many rides with a special focus on junior rides.

"Such rides held regularly will be a great support and boost for youngsters and juniors," said Shaikh Sultan, who also initiated a special ride for novices and riders from smaller stables during the festival.

Apart from two Qualifier Rides, the three-day festival staged a 100-km ride for juniors, the three-day 240-km ride and a 120-km ride for novice riders.

Riders from many countries took part in the festival. "Such rides will give a chance to those riders who come from smaller stables. It will encourage them to graduate to rides in the open competitions.

This festival will be an annual affair," added Shaikh Sultan.

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UAE: Al Bloushi emerges winner in 100km ride

Abdul Rahman, Gulf News Maktoum Nawab Nouh Al Bloushi won the 100km endurance ride of the Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for juniors.

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: A gleaming new car awaits 17-year-old Maktoum Nawab Nouh Al Bloushi, who won the Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup for juniors yesterday at the Boud Thib Endurance Village.
Nawab and his 9-year-old grey gelding Chupacabra outclassed their rivals to win the 100km ride which was held alongside the three-day 240km event as part of the endurance festival being organised by the Emirates Heritage Club.
Though Nawab may not be able to drive his car, the Abu Dhabi schoolboy will receive the prize at a grand awards function scheduled for tonight to reward winners of all the events.
Nawab, who had previously had only a 10th place finish to boast of did very well to keep Chupacabra in front in the final two loops under conditions favourable to both rider and horse.
"It was good out there today. My horse just wanted to keep going and my trainer Abdulla Saeed Bin Huzaim kept advising me to watch the pace," said the youngster.
Munthar Ahmad Al Baloushi, on Z Califa, finished second to stake claim for the Dh30,000 prize after Ahmad Salem Ali Sultan Al Subosi on Woodlaus Sparkle was eliminated. The latter finished ahead of Munthar but his horse failed the final vet check.
The Boudthib Endurance Village is set for an explosive finish today as the final leg of the 240-km ride will see two cars being won while in the added attraction a 120km ride will also bring together riders from smaller stables to win another two cars on offer.
However, it is the three-day, 240km, event which has brought out the best from a handful of top highly skilled riders. National Day Cup winner Jesus Manuel Berna of Spain and Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi, both from the Al Reef Stables, are leading the pack, but the remaining four riders in the leaders' pack are so close that today's 80km final leg is expected to see a fascinating tussle.
Berna and Al Bloushi are followed by Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Majid Mohammad Salman Al Sabri, Shaikh Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdulla Thani Bin Huzaim, with a little under two minutes separating the top six.

Gulf News Article

UAE: Al Sabousi surges into lead

Published: 06/01/2007 12:00 AM (UAE), Abdul Rahman/Gulf News Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2nd left) and Shaikh Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Zayed (left), in action along with other participants at the three-day 240-km endurance ride.

Al Sabousi surges into lead

Staff Report


Abu Dhabi: Mohammad Rashid Al Sabousi riding 7-year-old Kishon Meleisha led after the first day's 80-km distance in the three-day 240-km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup Endurance ride here yesterday.

Al Sabousi topped the first leg of this Three-star ride which is part of an action-packed three-day endurance festival being held under the patronage Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Emirates Heritage Club.

While Al Sabousi was part of a closely-bunched group which will resume this morning for the second 80-km distance on the same horses, two Qualifier rides were also held yesterday.

The Endurance Festival, which has cars and large cash awards as prizes for winners, will also stage a 100-km two-star junior ride today while a 120-km ride will also be held tomorrow for Novice riders from smaller stables.

A total of 38 riders started off early yesterday morning in the 240-km event and Al Sabousi took a little over 3 hours 35 minutes to finish just ahead of the two sons of Shaikh Sultan.

Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on ZT Faraventure and his younger brother Shaikh Khalid on Roxborough Zepher were in second and third place.

However, bunched behind the leading trio are some of the top contenders from the in-form Al Reef Stables.

Trainer-rider Yousuf Ahmad Al Baloushi (Charlendre Al Sharif), Majid Mohammad Al Sabri (Zalyella Winder), Jesus Manuel Berna (Risco Moreno) and Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim (Mobasher) finished in that order.

Yousuf Ahmad, who is one of the top riders and Spain's Berna are from Al Reef and will be making a determined effort on day two. Berna, who recently won the National Day Cup to register back-to-back wins, said he would decide on his tactics today.

"It is too early and we have two days to go. So far my horse has been doing well but tomorrow is another day," said the Spaniard, who is a trainer-rider with Al Reef.

Yousuf, who is one of the most consistent riders in the UAE said he will be going all out for a good result.

"This is a prestigious event and to keep the horse if fit condition for three days is a challenge. It is a small field but there are some good riders," said the Al Reef star.

"The key to the ride will depend on how the leader board is after the 160-km mark," he added.

The rides are being held at the Boudthib Endurance Village in Al Khatem in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Gulf News Article

Malaysian king arrives in Abu Dhabi

Malaysian king arrives in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Malaysia's king Tuanku Mizan Zain Al Abidin arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday on a visit to the UAE. He was received by Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and President of Emirates Heritage Club (HCT), Ambassador of Malaysia Dato' Abdul Mubin Razali and other officials. The visit is at an invitation from Shaikh Sultan to attend the three-day international endurance races from tomorrow under Shaikh Sultan's patronage.


Gulf News

Graham, Harmon help NZ team overcome Australian challenge

by DAVID DAWKINS - The Marlborough Express | Thursday, 4 January 2007

Marlborough riders led the charge as New Zealand continued their dominance of Australia in the Trans-Tasman Endurance Riding Challenge held at Twynham near St Arnaud on Tuesday.

Helen Graham and her mount, affectionately known as Ricky, were a class above the competition winning the 120km junior ride which doubled as the South Island junior title ride. Fellow Marlburian Linda Harmon, riding Landon V-erah, completed the 120km senior event in Landon V-erah's first attempt at the distance.

The win saw New Zealand retain the title they defended in Australia in 2005. New Zealand also won the inaugural Trans-Tasman Challenge in 2004.

A 100 percent completion rate by the New Zealand team highlighted the Kiwi performance as the Aussies struggled to adapt to their borrowed mounts and the hard, stoney conditions. Only one senior and two junior Australian riders completed the event. Most were vetted out after the 100km mark with stone bruises and what New Zealand endurance team manager Del Bissell described as "minor lameness".

"They pushed a bit harder than we would have, but then we know the country a bit better," Bissell said. "We certainly rode more conservatively than they did."

Bissell put the Kiwis' success and remarkable completion rate down to good team management and good coaching.

"Everybody listened to what they had to do, especially the juniors, they were brilliant," she said.

The event doubled as the South Island championship where Kylie Avery continued her impressive run, riding Silands Jasark to victory in the senior 100km event on Monday.

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