UK: £5000 grant for Golden Horseshoe

Horse and Hound.co.uk

Anna Tyzack
7 February, 2007

The prestigious Golden Horseshoe ride across Exmoor is to be supported by a £5000 grant from the Exmoor Sustainable Development TrustEndurance riding's esteemed Golden Horseshoe ride (13 – 15 May) has been honoured by the Exmoor National Park Authority. A 12-strong panel from the Authority have decided to administer a £5000 grant from the Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund to the event which attracts competitors, supports and visitors from across Britain.

The sustainable development fund is designed to help groups and businesses living and working on Exmoor. "This grant is the best news we could have hoped for," she organiser Barbara Wigley. "It is a mark of confidence from the National Park, which has given permission for us to ride over its land, and a signal to the equestrian world that our sport is gaining even more official recognition."

This year the Golden Horseshoe ride will start and finish at a new venue and follow a different route. The two day, 100 mile (160km) Golden Horseshoe Ride is the centrepiece of the event, and widely acknowledged as one of the most demanding challenges in the endurance calendar. This is supported by the 75 mile (120km) Exmoor Stag, the Exmoor Experience, a new class designed to give Open riders and horses experience of a two day ride on Exmoor, but of 25 miles (40km) each day and the Exmoor 80, one day of 50 miles (80km.)

There will also be a 15 mile (25km) sponsored pleasure ride on Sunday, May 13, in aid of the Moorland Mousie Trust - a local charity to promote and support Exmoor ponies.

For more information visit
www.goldenhorseshoe-ride.co.uk

UAE: Endurance.Net travels to 3 big rides

Trip to UAE

Endurance.Net is on the road, headed to United Arab Emirates.

First stop is the second race in the Al Asayl Ladies Championship Endurance Series, organized for the first time in the country by the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, in cooperation with the Al Asayl Endurance Centre. The first running of the 3 part series was January 19.

(First running - "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")

February 9 will be the second event in the 3 part series. Endurance.Net will be there (Steph is hoping to ride!) to cover the event and renew contact with Sheikha Madiya, who is now UAE's leading woman trainer!

Some history on Sheikha Madiya, who has come a long way in a short time:

Story from the 2004 World Endurance Championship in Dubai, UAE

On February 10th, we'll travel to the Presidents Cup for Young Riders, held at Bou Thib Endurance Village. USA riders Heather and Jennifer Stevens, Ashlee Van Raalte and Brittany Dial will be challenging the course under the supervision of Chef d'Equipe Mark Dial.

February 17 will be the long running Presidents Cup, at Emirates International Endurance Village (Al Wathba). Meg Sleeper and Sue Summers will be riding for the USA with the guidance of Chef d'Equipe Grace Ramsey.

We'll be there to take pictures and tell the story!

Steph Teeter
www.endurance.net

Brasil: Efficiency Tropy Award Winners

Brasil: EFFICIENCY TROPHY

This trophy is awarded to the first ranked riders in all equestrian disciplines by Federação Paulista de Hipismo (Federation of the State of São Paulo)

View all Winners: Endurance Brasil

Bahrain: Shaikh Saqer and Dossary lift titles

JABUR Al Dossary was crowned champion in the seniors race while Shaikh Saqer bin Khalid Al Khalifa won the juniors section of the Prime Minister Endurance Horseride Championship yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

A total of 75 riders from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia took part in this prestigious event which was organised for the first time with the support of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

In the seniors race, which was over 120 kms, Al Talia Stable's Al Dossary completed the five-stage race in five hours, 39 minutes and 50 seconds with an average speed of 21.19 kmph.

Al Dossary was followed by another Al Talia Stable rider Ahmed Al Ruwaiei (5:57:01) in second place with Ghazi Al Dossary (6:02:57) of Royal Endurance Team third.

The juniors race, which was also over 120 kms divided into five stages, featured a stiff battle between riders of the Royal Endurance Team and Al Asayel Stable.

Eventually, it was Royal Endurance Team rider Shaikh Saqer who completed the race on top in 6:07:28 and ahead of Al Asayel Stable duo Abdulaziz Adam (6:36:48) and Hamad Ibrahim who were second and third respectively.

Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa took part in the seniors race but bowed out during the fourth stage after his horse suffered an injury.

Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa was also in the fray in the 60-km qualifying race which was a warm-up event and open to young riders.

Shaikh Nasser thanked the Prime Minister for his support to this championship, adding that such initiative will boost the sport in the Kingdom.

The race was attended by Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Shaikh Khalifa bin Rashid Al Khalifa and Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa who deputised for the Prime Minister.

General Organisation for Youth and Sports president Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Breef endurance committee head Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa and Breef general secretary Ghalib Al Alawi were also present at the event

Results (name of horse and time in brackets):

Senior: 1 Jabur Al Dossary (Omsura Nasrohin, 5:39:50), 2 Ahmed Al Ruwaiei (Hurst Star, 5:57:01), 3 Ghazi Al Dossary (Freelance Al Danatti, 6:02:57), 4 Ahmed Abdulla (Maraka, 6:14:26).

Junior: 1 Saqer bin Khalid Al Khalifa (Lilanna, 6:07:28), 2 Abdulaziz Adam (Muniki, 6:37:48), 3 Hamad Ibrahim (Hard).

UAE: Hamdan ushers in two new endurance rides

Published: 04/02/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)
Hamdan ushers in two new endurance rides

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, announced the creation of two new endurance rides - open only to small stables and individual owners and riders.

Shaikh Hamdan attended yesterday's Shaikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup endurance event at the Dubai International Endurance City. The event was won by Mansour Ahmad Al Sabousi.

Shaikh Hamdan said the two rides will open up opportunities for many such riders from smaller stables and individual owners who can never compete against the big stables.

he winner of the first of these two new rides next week will receive a Nissan Patrol and the second-placed rider will be richer by Dh50,000.

Commenting on the high speeds being the average in UAE rides, Shaikh Hamdan said this was mainly due to the conducive climate prevailing here and also because of the quality of horses competing here.

Congratulating the UAE football team on winning the Gulf Cup, he said: "Initially everyone thought the favourites were Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but the UAE players showed vast improvement after losing their first game."

Meanwhile, two of Shaikh Hamdan's best Purebred Arabian horses will not be running in today's President's Cup race in Abu Dhabi and Shaikh Hamdan said: "Both Madjani and Al Soudi are nursing minor injuries and we don't want to risk them."

Shaikh Hamdan also felt the need for separate trainers for Purebred Arabians and Thoroughbreds.

Earlier yesterday, Mansour Ahmad Al Sabousi, riding Musical Gully Tamdourine, won the 120km FEI CEI three-star Shaikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup. The pair completed the ride in 4 hrs 46mins and 36 seconds at an average speed of 25.12kmph.

UAE: 2007 Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge

(photos by Caroll Gatelier, see more)


Leonard Liesens from the Dubai Endurance City Seih Assalem where he competed in the 120km CEI*** event. "I finished 22nd out of 80 starters. Dubai has changed in just one year. Now there is grass everywhere in the vet and grooming area and horses are trotted on the grass as well.

Speed has increased as well. If you don't navigate 23Km/H or more, you are nowhere and no question to loose even a handful of seconds at the vetgate or on the track. What amazes me is the recovering time at the vetgate with horse galoping at 25..28 Km/H on the track.

I had a sweet french mare who was here since only 3 month. Hafiza du Mas, a mare with proven bloodlines by Dormane, ex Jamila du Mas, trained by Antonio Moreno and owned by Shaikh Mohammad. We finished 22nd at 19Km/H, maintaining a constant pace the whole race.

The mare is here only since 3 month and I think will progress a lot. She had already 2 160Km races in France at her credit. I had great fun, never any sign of tireness from her."

Full Photos and ride recap

Shaikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup 12okm winner: Mansour Ahmad Al Sabousi

Results 120km

Results 82km Qualifier

Results 43km Qualifier

Brasil: 2007 WEC for Young Riders: Team Brasil