Qatar: Tuanku Mizan Finishes Second

Bernama.Com - Malaysian News Agency
March 04, 2007 01:13 AM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- The Qatar International Endurance Race had a royal glitter with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin riding his mare to a podium finish at the Qatar Endurance Village in Doha.

According to a statement, His Majesty completed the gruelling 160km course in second place behind Qatari rider, Isa Al-Manai, who was riding for the Al Shaqab stable owned by the Emir of Qatar.

It was a double delight for Malaysia with Faizal Ismail of the Selangor based Ar-Raudah Equine Centre finishing third.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said, who accompanied the King to Doha, expressed her delight over the King's achievement. She said it was more satisfying since the weather was rather chilly and windy.

All the 39 riders that took part in the race were flagged off at 9pm, Friday and the top three riders finished the race in approximately 13 hours.

Azalina said Tuanku Mizan's second placing placed him on track to qualify for the World Endurance Race to be held in Terengganu next year.

The King is expected to participate in the Royal Kedah International Ride in Bandar Darul Aman, Jitra from March 8-10. The event has attracted more than 80 riders including several royalties from West Asia.

Two more international endurance events are scheduled to be held in Selangor and Johor this year as part of the build up to next year's world championship.

Malaysia: Kedah Host Royal International Invitational Ride 2007

Bernama, Malaysian National News Agency

March 01, 2007 23:56 PM

ALOR STAR, March 1 (Bernama) -- Kedah will once again draw world attention when it hosts the Royal Kedah International Invitational Ride 2007 at the Darul Aman Equine Centre in Jitra on March 9 and 10.

The endurance race will be participated by 80 riders, including 15 world-class foreign riders as well as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and royalty from the Gulf states.

This grand event in the northern region, after the Langkawi Ironman Triathlon 2007 which ended on Feb 24, is set to draw greater public interest in equine sports.

The Darul Aman Equine Centre, run by the state government's investment arm, Darulaman Realty Sdn Bhd, since two years ago, is the only such centre in this part of the country.

When visiting the centre recently, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said said equine sport, although regarded as a sport of the rich, could still result in the development of the equine industry and emerge as a new tourism product for Kedah.

According to her, the competition had attained recognition from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM).

"Kedah's success as the host and the ministry as the joint organiser will have a bearing on the holding of the World Endurance Championship in Terengganu next year."

She said the organisers of the Kedah event should ensure that the competition turns out to be the best as "the fans all over the world will be watching us".

The participation of Sultan Mizan with five others in his team is expected to draw much public attention, especially among equine sport fans in this country.

Among the participating royalty are Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Rashid from Qatar and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Sultan Al-Nahyan.

Riders from Australia, the United States, Belgium and the Netherlands will also compete against those from Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand.

The endurance race, will be divided into three categories -- 120km, 80km and 40km from 5.30 pm on March 9 to about 10 am the next day.

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid is confident that the competition would run smoothly and urged the people to warmly welcome the participants.

"As the races are not only held at night but will pass through housing estates, villages, padi fields and rubber plantations, the people must give their full support," he said.

Mahdzir hoped the sport would not only evoke interest among the people but also result in the emergence of top riders to represent Kedah at international events.

He also called on the people to give their cooperation to the authorities in ensuring the safety of the participants.

The participants are expected to arrive in Alor Star tomorrow while some of the horses are already here, including six from Brisbane, Australia, and they are placed at the Darul Aman Equine Centre.

To make it a more interesting event, the organisers will hold some side activities which are open to the public.

The Sultan of Kedah will flag off the races and present the prizes to the winners.

-- BERNAMA

WEC-JYR: Ride Map On-Line - Campo deMayo

The map for the upcoming 2007 World Endurance Championship at Campo de Mayo Argentina is online at

EnduranceBrasil

Al Beloushi retains superb form

photo: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News

Winner Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi finishes the white loop during the Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum 120km endurance ride.


By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter


Dubai: Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi ended the Dubai Equestrian Club's endurance season the way he had started it - with a superb victory - and laid claim to being the top rider of the current season.


The Al Reef rider-cum-trainer came up with a scintillating final-stage (12km) riding performance on Cameo Zinniaa to push Spain's consistent Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton to second place in the Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum CEI three-star 120km endurance ride.


Yousuf, who had emerged as last season's third best rider, had started the season here at the Dubai International Endurance City with a win and yesterday won the last Open ride here to register his third triumph of the UAE season.


Terrific display


It was a terrific display by Yousuf as he trailed Maria by over 5 minutes, going into the final 12km. But Cameo Zinniaa, the 11-year-old chestnut mare which is trained by the rider himself, was in devastating form and nearly reached an average speed of 27kmph on the final loop to leave the Spanish rider well and truly beaten.


Omair Hussain Al Beloushi, riding Al Galahn, also a three-time winner of the season, and Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim, riding Chupacbra, finished third and fourth, respectively.


"I was always confident of winning, though Maria was leading in the third and fourth stages," said Yousuf, who was third after 108km. "But Cameo Zinniaa proved she was a champion," said Yousuf.


Maria, the 30-year-old Spanish rider who is married to top endurance horse trainer Jaume Dachs, said she just could not do much against the winning pair. "They had too much power and I knew he would come strongly. But I am very happy with my display," said Maria.


Commenting on her success she said initially she was just riding the horses to prepare them, but now she was going all out and the results were showing.


Earlier, of the 86 riders who started, the top riders to make early exits were Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (Musical Gully Tambourine) after the second stage, Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in the second stage, Shaikh Saeed Bin Dalmook Bin Juma Al Maktoum in the third stage and Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi in the second stage.


Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, attended the ride while Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, along with DEC's Saeed Al Tayer, and Ali Mousa and UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation's Hussain Mohammad distributed the trophies.

Bahrain senior riders best

BAHRAIN took the seniors category team title while Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa of Al Fateh Stable came second in the seniors individual race of the Qatar International Endurance Horseride Championship which was held yesterday at Al Sileen area.


More than 100 riders from Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Syria took part in the event which consisted of senior and a junior races both over 120 kms.


The Bahraini team of Shaikh Salman, Ahmed Al Ruwaiei, Mohammed Al Moawda and Hussain Al Daylami crossed the finish line first after close competition with riders from Qatar, Syria and Saudi Arabia.


The remaining four Bahrainis - Ahmed Al Ruwaiei, Jaffer Mirza, Abdulaziz Adam and Abdulla Al Khatry - were unable to complete the race after their horses suffered injuries.


The seniors race was divided into 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 Salman finish the race in five hours, 48 minutes and 29 seconds, behind winner Ali Al Malki of Qatar who clocked 5:47:22 with Syria's Ahmed Saber (5:50:21) taking third place.


Qatar dominated the juniors race which was won by Khalid Al Malki (6:25:23) with Hamad Al Mirri (6:30:00) and Saeed Al Qadi (7:05:14) in second and third places respectively.


Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa congratulated the Bahraini team and Shaikh Salman on this achievement.

Riders off to Doha race

EIGHT Bahraini riders headed for Doha to compete in the senior race of the 120-km Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for today at 5.30am near Al Sileen coast.

The team include Shaikh Salman bin Saqer, Mohammed Al Moawda, Ahmed Al Ruwaiei, Jaffer Mirza, Hussain Al Daylami, Abdulaziz Khalifa, Misha'al Hassan and Abdulla Hilal.
The Bahrainis will go into this championship without Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Both Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid said they preferred not to take part in this event so that other Bahraini riders will get a chance to participate in such events and gain experience and confidence.

More than 60 riders from Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries are taking part in both the senior and junior sections.

The total prize money at stake is BD70,000.
The winner of the senior race will be presented with BD8,000. The runner-up will get BD7,000 and the third-placed rider will bag BD6,000.
In the junior section, the winner gets BD2,700, the runner-up BD2,300 while the third-placed rider will bag BD2,100.

Gulf News article

UK: Stables complex gets go-ahead

21 February 2007

A "world class" racing stud owned by a Middle East magnate was given the go-ahead to house a second endurance team at its Norfolk base on Monday despite fears about the impact on the countryside.

The Shadwell Estate, near Thetford, owned by Dubai-based Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, was given permission for 25 stables, an isolation unit, gallop paddocks, two cottages and the conversion and extension of an existing building for grooms and riders at Home Farm.

It will be the summertime base for a second Dubai endurance team.
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