19/01/2007 - FEI World Endurance Forum Update

The FEI confirms the final details of the FEI World Endurance Forum to be held in Paris on 31 March and 1 April 2007.

FEI Endurance National Federations will be invited to send a delegation of up to three representatives to take part in the Forum which is organized at the start of a full review of the discipline of Endurance.

The Forum is part of a process, supported by the FEI President, H.R.H. Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, to plan the development of the sport over the next five years following its dramatic growth in recent times.

The Forum will have three main phases:

· 31 AM - An initial presentation by each of the nine FEI Regional Groups on their own visions of the future

· 31 PM - A working session for Delegates from the National Federations separated into Judges, Technical Delegates and Veterinarians

· 1 AM - A final session for all delegates who will receive presentations from each of the above three groups on matters raised during their individual sessions

The FEI Regional Groups will also be requested to submit names as candidates for an FEI working group to be established post forum that will, in consultation with National Federations, produce a 5 year plan for Endurance.

Detailed information on Hotels, timings, bookings and reservations can be found on the FEI web site – Endurance. Enquiries can be directed to Ms Emilie Leyvraz at the FEI Endurance Department – e.leyvraz@horsesport.org

UAE: Al Beloushi creates new record for 120-km three star ride

Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi with the trophy after winning the 120 KM Endurance ride at the Emirate International Endurance Village, at Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter



Abu Dhabi: Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi and his horse Jibbah Enog created a new record for a FEI CEI three-star ride here while winning the Damas Championship ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Al Beloushi, while rewriting the record books, also notched up his second win of the current season while for his all-conquering Al Reef Stables it was their 6th in eight rides.

Al Beloushi and Enog bettered another Al Reef star, Jesus Manuel Berna's effort of 4 hrs 40 mins and 34 seconds in the recent National Day Cup ride.

They clocked 4hrs 39 mins 10 secs as they recorded an average speed of 25.79 kmph yesterday.

"I was very confident as my horse has a good record.

"In fact after the first two loops I knew I was going to win," said Al Beloushi, who is a rider-trainer with the Al Reef Stables at their Al Ain yard.

"However I was determined to break the record once I knew Jibbah Enog was in good condition.

"I am glad I could do it," said the ace rider, who finished third in last year's overall ranking after the 2005-06 season.

In fact Al Beloushi and Berna were locked in a battle for supremacy until the third stage, with Berna leading after the second.

But Al Beloushi moved up after that to take the lead and then break away from Spain's Maria Alvarez Ponton, who finished second on Gelinote 11. Maria has also been having a very good season and has emerged as the top lady rider so far with some superb finishes in the top five.

Salem Rashed Bin Ghadayer on Dalton Du Capimont finished third in the ride in which over 100 riders took part.

The ride, with Dh400,000 on offer was sponsored by Damas Group.

Mohammad Tamjid of Damas Group, Hussain Mohammad Hussain of UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation and Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club gave away the trophies.





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UAE: Maryam rides to convincing victory

Abu Dhabi: Shaikha Maryam Bint Omer Al Qasimi rode to a thumping victory in the 80-km FEI CEI Two-star Al Masaood Jewellery Endurance Cup at the Al Asayel Endurance Centre, Sweihan, Abu Dhabi.

She finished the race in a timing of 3 hours 28 minutes and 45 seconds riding on an average speed of 22.99 kmph. The ride was part of the three-round Asayl Ladies Championship.

Shaikha Maryam partnered 10-year-old Anglo Arab Grey Gelding Kalkadoon Kampala, owned by Shaikh Faisal Bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

Though Shaikha Madiya Hasher Manan Al Maktoum crossed the finish line first, her horse Huzie D Ax was eliminated after the final vet check.

As many as 31 ladies had a mass start at 6.30am and 13 of them completed the ride. Second place went to Spanish rider Maria Alvarez Ponton who rode 11-year-old Grey Gelding Agecroft Jos on an average speed of 22.90 kmph to complete the distance in three hours, 29 minutes and 35 seconds.

Third place went to Layla Abdul Aziz Al Radha who rode Darling Du Couderc and took a time of 3 hours, 56 minutes and 31 seconds and rode on an average speed of 20.29 kmph.

The ride was attended by Shaikha Hessa Bint Mohammad Al Nahyan, mother of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Shaikha Bint Saif Al Nahyan, wife of Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, who gave away the prizes and the trophies to the winning ladies said: "I am very pleased to see all the young girls coming together and participating in the endurance ride in one arena."

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France: CEI** in Camargue

INTERNATIONALE 2 ETOILES EN CAMARGUE
119 Km le 31 mars 2007
Website

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