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UAE: Endurance for ladies

18 January 2007
The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, in cooperation with the Al Asayl Endurance Centre, is organising Al Asayl Ladies Championship Endurance Series, for the first time in the country.
The FEI, CEI Two-star series will comprise three 80-km rides, the first of which will be held tomorrow. Round Two and Three are scheduled to be held on February 9 and March 9. The venue for all the rides will be Al Asayl Endurance Centre which is situated in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi. Round One will be run in three phases of 30km, 30 km, and 20 km respectively and will be flagged off at 6.30 am. The ride is being sponsored by Al Masaood Jewellers. The same day will also feature a 40-km Federation Qualifier which will be run in two loops of 30 km and 10 km and will start at 7 am. The UAE Equestrian Federation organises federation Qualifiers at regular intervals to enable some riders to participate in rides of higher category.

Khaleej Times article

UAE: Damas Championship on Saturday

Mohammad Tamjid Abdullah (centre) with Lara Sawaya and Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi display the riders' vest at the press conference in Abu Dhabi

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter



Abu Dhabi: Around 100 riders are expected to take part in the FEI CEI three-star 120km Damas Championship endurance ride, to be held here on Saturday.

Announcing details of the ride, Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi, the general manager of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, said the ride would be held at Al Wathba's Emirates International Endurance Village.

"Most of the top riders will be taking part in the ride which will be run in five stages of 32km, 30kms, 24km, 18km and 16km," he said. "The total prize money for top riders will be Dh400,000 along with special trophies," he added.

Mohammad Tamjid Abdullah, the deputy managing director of Damas, thanked Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, for making the ride the Damas Championship.

"In the past we were support sponsors for endurance but we are glad that this is a Damas Championship," said Abdullah.

"Apart from this event we are connected with the ADEC in many other areas and we are proud of our partnership," he said.

Abdullah also said the Damas Group had been steadily increasing its budget for sponsorship of sports. "In 2005 we had a sizeable budget which was increased by 25 per cent in 2006. This year, we have further increased our support for sports by another 10 per cent," he said.

"We have also decided to promote and support individual sport. To start with we will be sponsoring a junior chess player. Like this we have identified many such disciplines which we hope will ultimately help in boosting the sport and the image of the UAE," Abdullah said.

Lara Sawaya, marketing and sponsors' liaison at ADEC, said more and more companies were coming forward to support horse sports.

"Damas have also agreed to give away 10 prizes for the spectators in a free raffle. Every event now sees a new sponsor and some of the traditional sponsors increasing their sponsorships. All this augurs well for sport in the UAE," she said.

Gulf news article

Bahrain: Abdulaziz and Al Mahlasi win

MOHAMMED Abdulaziz of Royal Endurance Team raced to victory in the 160-km event and Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Stable Mohammed Al Mahlasi finished first in the 120-km race of the Endurance Horseride Championship organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.The race was witnessed by His Majesty King Hamad who welcomed the Saudi team in Bahrain and thanked team sponsor Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, for his support.

There were 25 riders in the fray in each of the two events.

In the 160-km race, which was divided into six stages, Abdulaziz crossed the finish line first after a tough challenge from Al Fateh Stable rider Shaikh Salman bin Fares Al Khalifa who came second.

Shaikh Salman was followed by Breef first vice-president and Al Khaldiya Stable captain Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa in third position in this race which consisted of 30 kms for the first three stages, 25 kms for the fourth and fifth stages and 20 kms for the sixth and final stage.

Al Mahlasi proved too good in the 120-km event which was split into five stages, starting with 30 kms for the first two stages, 25 kms for the third, 20 kms for the fourth and 15 kms for the fifth.

The Saudi rider was followed by Abdulla Al Thawadi of Al Asayel Stable in second place while Noor Al Yousef, one of three women Saudi riders representing the Kingdom Stable, was third.

Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who attended the event, presented the trophies to the winners at an awarding ceremony.

The race was also attended by UK Ambassador to Bahrain Jamie Bowden, Interior Minister Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and other officials.

Earlier, His Majesty was welcomed on arrival by National Guard commander Major General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid.

Gulf News Article

UAE: Al Hammadi shines for Al Reef Stables

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter


Abu Dhabi: Al Reef Stables continued their winning spree with another triumph, this time Yousuf Abdullah Al Hammadi registering his first career win on Whyneemah Jaspar in the Omega Cup 120km endurance ride yesterday.

Al Hammadi was involved in a close tussle with Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim, riding Spendacrest Kamouflage, on the final loop before prevailing by about 30 seconds in the FEI CEI three-star event at the Dubai International Endurance City (DEC) at Seih Assalam.

A total of 99 riders started off in this ride organised by Dubai Equestrian Club and with the top riders average speeds of over 24 kmph throughout the event, it was a well contested ride.

Jesus Manuel Berna was the early leader before he made an exit, half way through. Abdullah Thani took over and going out on to the final loop, he led with Al Hammadi in a close second.

However, the two were involved in a close contest and the Al Reef rider managed to pip the Dubai rider to make up for Berna's loss. Al Hammadi and Whyneemah Jaspar completed the 120km ride in 4 hours 43 mins and 57 seconds at an average speed of 25.36kmph.

"I am very excited as this is my first ever win. It is so difficult to win as most of the UAE riders are of a high calibre," said Al Hammadi. "The final loop was difficult and I had to also watch out not to overrun my horse. I thank Shaikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support."

Al Wathba Stables' Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri finished third on Cupid, while Spain's Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton came up with another top-five finish.

Two other riders who finished in the top 10 were Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi and Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi. Al Bloushi, the Al Reef star, finished fifth, while Al Muhairi finished eighth. Both garnered crucial points in the riders' championship for the DEC riders.

Yesterday's ride was attended by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry. "It was a great gesture by Shaikh Hamdan whose presence, along with his sons, gave encouragement to the riders. With a large field of quality riders, it was another successful event at the Dubai International Endurance City," said Ali Mousa, the DEC endurance chief.


Gulf News article

New Zealand: Canterbury Premier and South Island CTR Ch.

Equestrian Sports NZ

Please find attached information about the Canterbury Premier Endurance ride and the South Island CTR Championships to be held at Mt Torlesse on 10 - 11 February 2007.

An entry form for the Endurance is also attached, as are the nominated and definite entry forms for the CTR Championships.

A map of the ride base is available on the website.

Mt Torlesse Entry Form http://www.endurance.net/international/newzealand/NZ Mt Torlesse Entry Form Endurance1.pdf

Mt Torlesse Info Sheet http://www.endurance.net/international/newzealand/NZ Mt Torlesse Info sheet11.pdf

South Island CTR Championship definite entry http://www.endurance.net/international/newzealand/NZ Sth Island Trail Champs 2007 definite Entry Form1.pdf

South Island CTR Championsihp Nomination form http://www.endurance.net/international/newzealand/NZ Sth Island Trail Champs 2007 Nomination Entry Form1.pdf

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Nicole Munro-Johnson I High Performance Administrator & Endurance Sport Manager I Equestrian Sports NZ I Phone +64 4 499 8994 I Fax +64 4 499 2899

Equestrian Sports NZ is the trading name of the New Zealand Equestrian Federation Inc.

Omega support for tomorrow's ride in Dubai

Published: 12/01/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)

Omega support for tomorrow's ride in Dubai
Staff Report

Dubai: Omega, the official timekeeper, is supporting the first endurance ride in the new year to be staged in Dubai tomorrow, an FEI CEI 120km ride at the Dubai International Endurance City. Endurance racing is the ultimate test of strength and stamina of both horse and rider and is a thrilling spectator sport.

The race begins at 6.15am from the purpose built state of the art Dubai International Endurance City and is held over five stages. Both horse and rider return to the Endurance City after each stage for stringent checks by the official veterinary surgeons.

The winner of the race is the horse and rider combination who not only cross the line first; but also pass the final vet check. The horse must be presented to the vets within the 30 minutes time limit, this time limit also applies to each stage.

"Omega and Endurance share the same values: precision, perseverance, and a lot of determination. Our involvement as timekeeper of the FEI Endurance Ride is a natural outcome of our global involvement in key high profile sporting events," said Nayla Hayek, Member of the Swatch Group Board of Directors.

Saeed Al Tayer, Vice President of the Dubai Equestrian Club, said, "Omega has been a long standing partner of Dubai Endurance and we are pleased to have their support once again for the 2006-2007 season. The Omega Cup will see 110 riders competing over five stages of 32 km, 32km, 27 km, 18km and 11km."

Endurance races form part of Omega's strong focus on the world's most prestigious sports.

Gulf News article