Al Shaqab to sponsor Endurance European Championship Open

Web posted at: 1/31/2007 2:15:18

(photo: Paulo Branco (left), organiser of the Qatar Challenge European Endurance Open Championship 2007 receiving the sponsorship agreement from Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, Shaqab Endurance Manager, at the Shaqab Endurance premises in Doha, yesterday.)

DOHA • The Qatar Foundation (Al Shaqab) will be the main sponsor of the Qatar Challenge Endurance European Championship Open 2007 to be held in Portugal on September 8 this year.

The sponsorship agreement was signed at the Shaqab Endurance premises, Rayyan, yesterday.

This is the first time Qatar is sponsoring an international endurance championship which will be participated by more than 60 countries.

Paulo Branco, European Championship President and Portugal Equestrian Federation President received the sponsorship agreement from Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, Shaqab Endurance Manager.

Khalid Sulaitin, Head of Material and Contract Directorate of Qatar Foundation was also present during the signing ceremony.

Qatar Endurance Team will participate with 6 riders and horses.

The Endurance, also known as Raid, are competitions of endurance for horses.

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Bahrain: Prime Ministers Cup Endurance race set

PREPARATIONS are underway for the first Endurance Race for the Prime Minister's Cup scheduled for Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village premises in Sakhir.

Top riders from Bahrain and overseas are expecting to take part in this event to be organised with the support of the Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

This race, which covers a total distance of 120km, will be held for the first time following directives from Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Nasser said he is honoured to have got the green light from the Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to organise this event, which underlines his support for equestrian sports.

The Breef chief said the race will be open to senior and junior riders from Bahrain and overseas. The federation has already started receiving entries from Bahrain and other GCC countries for this prestigious event.

This race will be the fourth of the season, which kicked off with the Season Opening Championship, the Kingdom Holding Championship and Bahrain International Open Championship.

"After the Prime Minister's Cup, we will host a series of events over the course of five months, including His Majesty the King's Cup on March 7, a 120-km race on April 7 and a 100km Open Endurance Championship on May 5," said Shaikh Nasser.

The Breef chief extended his gratitude and appreciation to Euro Motors, the exclusive importers for Land Rover in Bahrain, who are sponsoring the federation championships this season.

"As the sole authority for organising all equestrian activities, games and events in the kingdom, the federation works to actively promote professional show jumping and endurance racing in Bahrain," added Shaikh Nasser.

"We are expecting a large number of entries for the championship," said Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

"The Prime Minister is one of the top figures in Bahrain who has shown his love to equestrian sports and especially endurance races. Hosting this event was to show the Bahraini riders' appreciation to the Prime Minister who has been always supportive to this sport," he said.

"The Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation is always keen to provide all facilities to ensure the success of these events and create a competitiveness environment throughout the season," said Shaikh Khalid.

Gulf Daily News article

Great Britain to field four riders at USA 20MT CEI***

Four British riders will meet in Ridgecrest CA USA to represent Great Britain at the Twenty Mule Team AERC/FEI sanctioned endurance race February 3rd 2007 in Ridgecrest CA, USA. The course has been the site for several USA team selection endeavors in the past and is one of the demonstration rides for the US team. Stiff competition is expected over scenic desert terrain.

Three riders (Pauline Beech, Emily Matthews and Dom Freeman) will represent GB in the FEI*** 160 km event. EGB member Suzanne Malden will participate in the 104 Km (65 mile) event.

Riders and team vet Paulo Fasano will be arriving from afar – Pauline will be traveling from the UK to be paired up with Dom Freeman’s seasoned 100 mile horse ‘Paris’.

Emily Matthews, who is flying in from Princeton New Jersey will be paired again with ‘Marquis de Fad’, and Dom Freeman will be traveling from California with the three horses and riding Proud Legacy+. Suzanne Malden will be arriving from San Diego with her mare Oleandra to make up the British Team.

Paulo Fasano has shepherded the UK off-continent team efforts as head vet since 1999 and will be making the trip from Sao Paulo, Brasil. The British contingent will be further complemented with FEI technical delegates Stevie Martin and Rosemary Attfield, and foreign veterinary delegate Dr Len Beech who will officiate at the FEI*** 160 and YR** classes.

The team is fortunate to have experienced sports photographer Daniel Murphy attending the event to photograph the British riders, vet and officials in action.

Ride details can be found on AERC Website

International FEI Medication Control Forum

19/01/2007

The FEI is pleased to announce details of an International Forum on Medication Control, hosted by the UAE Equestrian Federation.

The Forum will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Wednesday 14th February 2007. Location of the Forum is at the Police Headquarters on the outskirts of the City.

It will commence at 12.00 noon and finish at 18.30pm. FEI National Federations are invited to send representatives to the Forum which is open to Riders, Trainers, Owners, Veterinarians and FEI Officials.

Presentations will be given by senior personnel from the FEI Headquarters in Switzerland and the FEI Medication Advisory Group together with a representative from the FEI Central Laboratory in Paris, France.

All expenses/costs in respect of travel, accommodation etc is to the charge of the delegate and is not covered by the organizer. There is no charge for the Forum itself.

Applications must be made by the National Federation of the Delegate direct to:
The UAE Equestrian and Racing FederationP.O.Box 3234Khalidya StreetAbu Dhabi, UAE

Email: uaefed@emirates.net.ae

UAE: Al Bloushi keeps good work going for Al Reef

(photo:
Megan Hirons/Gulf News
Winner Omair Hussain Al Bloushi rejoices as he starts the last lap of the Nakheel-sponsored 120km endurance race. )

Abu Dhabi: Young rider Omeir Hussain Al Bloushi won his second ride of the season and kept the Al Reef Stable's flag flying high at the Dubai International Endurance City here yesterday.

Omeir partnered Al Barak to win the Nakheel-sponsored 120km Endurance Ride here yesterday from a field of 72 who started at 6.15am yesterday.

Completing the 5-stage ride in 4 hours 43 minutes and 14 seconds, at an average speed of 25.22kmph, the pair gave the all-conquering Al Reef Stables their seventh win in nine rides of the current UAE endurance season.

"It is great to win as all the top riders were in the running for a win today. Al Barak is a great endurance horse and I was always confident.

"I thank Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and all those at Al Reef Stables who have been supporting me ever since I took up this sport," said Omeir, who has also notched up quite a few wins as a junior rider.

"After the very first stage, when we were placed fourth, I knew we had a good chance. Al Barak just kept going throughout the ride," said the winner.

It was Dubai's Mansour Ahmad Al Sabousi who prevented a clean sweep of the top three places by Al Reef riders when he finished second on Dunwingeri Maakhal, around 11 minutes behind the winner.

Al Reef's Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi and Spaniard Jesus Manuel Al Berna finished third and fourth, respectively, as the Abu Dhabi stable extended their total domination.


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UAE: Al Reef Champs

By Amith Passela

28 January 2007

DUBAI — The Al Reef Stables won their seventh endurance silverware from nine races when Omair Husain Al Baloushi claimed yesterday’s 120-kilometre Nakheel Challenge here at the Dubai International Endurance City.

Omair won with more than 10 minutes to spare on 15-year-old Crossbred gelding Al Barak for his second endurance silverware of the season for the Abu Dhabi Stables of Shaikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Mansoor Ahmed Al Sabousi onboard 14-year-old grey gelding Dunwingeri Maakhal crossed the finish line in second ahead of the Al Reef pair Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi on Algalahn and Jesus Manuel Berna astride Estaban.

“It has already been a remarkable season and today’s win was another wonderful result for the stable,” said Omair, who was claiming his second endurance silverware of the season. “The race was tough as usual and my horse gave me a great ride. He was travelling well throughout the race and when it came to a push he found an extra gear to pick up again,” added Omair, who also won a junior ride at the start of the season to follow up his two victories in open class.

His more experienced stable companions, cousin Yousef and Spaniard Berna, occupied third and fourth spots. Both Yousef and Berna have won two races each and with Omair’s success yesterday, have won six of the seven rides between them for the Al Reef.

“It really don’t matter who crosses the finish line first as long as Al Reef is winning,” said Yousef, who broke the course record last week at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

“It’s a fantastic result for the stables. The horses are in great shape thanks to the excellent team we have spread between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. I think everyone has contributed in the stables success,” added Yousef, an assistant trainer in the stables Al Ain wing.

Results of the top 5 finishers: 1. Omair Husain Al Baloushi in 4hrs 43min 14 sec on Al Barak for the Al Reef Stables. 2. Mansoor Ahmed Al Sabousi, 4.54-12, Dunwingeri Maarkhal (His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai). 3. Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi, 4.56.23, Algalahn (Al Reef). 4. Jesus Manuel Berna (Esp), 4.58.11, Estaban (Al Reef). 5. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, 5.18.36, Iknour de la Biro (Al Asafa Limited).

Khaleej Times Article

Qatar: Bahraini rider in third place

SHAIKH Mohammed bin Khalid bin Saqer Al Khalifa of Al Fateh Stable made a superb international debut by taking third place overall in the junior category of the 12-km GCC Endurance Horseride Championship held in Doha yesterday.
Riding Valentino, the young Bahraini crossed the finish line in six hours, 16 minutes 39 seconds among 30 riders from across the Gulf region who took part in the event which was won by Qatar's Mohammed Al Mirri of Al Shaqab Stable riding Bentley.
Second was Abdulrahman Mohammed, another Qatari rider who steered Jawab who is owned by Shaikh Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Thani.
The race was divided into five stages, starting with 30km for the first two stages, 25km for the third, 20km for the fourth and 15km for the fifth.
Shaikh Mohammed was one of three Bahrainis who participated in the junior race. The remaining two were Shaikh Saqer bin Khalid Al Khalifa and Mohammed Abdulsamad.
In the senior section, five Bahraini riders were in the fray. They were Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Shaikh Ahmed bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Abdulrahman Al Saad, Jaffer Mirza and Ali Bosafar.
Shaikh Mohammed said he was delighted over this result on his maiden international appearance.
Shaikh Mohammed dedicated the victory to Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who supported him at the race.
Shaikh Mohammed confirmed that the level of competition at the race was high and he did not expect to take a podium finish. But he was proud to make up for the disappointing results of the other Bahraini riders in this category.
In the senior race, all five Bahraini entrants were unable to complete the race which was also over 120km and split into five stages of similar distances.
Meanwhile, Shaikh Nasser congratulated Shaikh Mohammed on taking third place in the race, saying that it was a well-earned result for Shaikh Mohammed who performed well throughout the race.
Gulf Daily News article