FEI General Assembly adopts new statutes

Gulf News, Dubai
By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) adopted some new statutes at the General Assembly held in Estoril, Portugal, under the presidency of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The Statutes adopted at Sunday's FEI Extraordinary General Assembly highlight the FEI's purposes and objectives and reflect its core values and fundamental principles, according to an FEI press release.
These statutes comprise the FEI's constitution and put forward the organisation's attribution of powers, rights and responsibilities among its bodies and stakeholders - including the national federations, athletes, organising committees and the International Olympic Committee.
"Through the passing of the new Statutes and Internal Regulations, you have a framework for transparency and a road on which to move forward. You have approved the shedding of some of the archaic phraseology that limited our ability to be proactive ... and you have heralded a new era of better working practices that will make us more cost effective and more efficient," Princess Haya told the General Assembly on Monday.
More than 350 participants took part in the 2007 FEI General Assembly, hosted by the Portuguese Equestrian Federation with representation from 97 National Federations (NF). Three new NFs were affiliated - Albania (Group I), Cambodia (Group VIII) and Yemen (Group VII).
The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation delegation was headed by Hussain Mohammad Hussain, Secretary General. The UAE belongs to Group VII in the FEI. Bahrain's Shaikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa was named the Group VII representative.
Agrentine rider Mercedes Tapia was named representative for Endurance in the newly-formed FEI Athletes Committee.
Swelling numbers
"Over the last nine years, the number of our member NF's has swelled to an impressive 140, compared to the number of National Olympic Committee's under the IOC - 203. Our events have grown from 446 in 1994 to 2,000 in 2006," Princess Haya said.
"We have begun addressing and answering the IOC's call for universality in all our disciplines. But more importantly, we are now able to respond to the National Federations who wish to become more active through the initiation of our Development Department. Our commercial department came to life in 2003 and has taken great strides towards making the FEI a self sufficient body in its own right," she said.

FEI Athletes Committee Formed

The 2007 FEI General Assembly marked a new era for athletes and their representation at the FEI. The first FEI Athletes Committee, nominated by the FEI President and elected at the General Assembly, is composed of eight members, all active athletes, each representing one of the FEI disciplines. The Athletes Committee will act as a consultative body and as a link between the active Athletes and the FEI. It ensures that the Athletes’ points of view are taken into account in FEI decisions and furthermore that the rights of the athletes are respected.

The first FEI Athletes is composed of:

PARA EQUESTRIAN – LEE PEARSON (GBR) – CHAIRMAN
Six-times Paralympic Games Equestrian gold medallist Lee Pearson was also the first Paralympian to be inducted to the British Horse Society’s Hall of Fame. Pearson won three gold medals at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and repeated the achievement with another hat-trick of golds in Athens in 2006. Lee Pearson was also the first ever recipient of the FEI Fair Play Certificate. Lee Pearson was elected the first chairman of the FEI Athletes Committee.

DRESSAGE – ISABEL WERTH (GER)
Isabel Werth is a well known figure in the world of Dressage and, as most international athletes, has experienced the glory and the hardships which characterise a sporting career. 2006 was a remarkable year for Isabel Werth having been crowned Dressage Grand Prix World Champion at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, she is also currently placed at the top of the leader board for the FEI World Cup™ Western European League and is more than ready for the final to be held in Las Vegas in April.

JUMPING – CAYETANO MARTINEZ DE IRUJO (ESP)
President of the International Jumping Riders Club, Cayetano Martinez de Irujo is no stranger to representing his fellow athletes and their interests. He has been riding since he was 16 and competing internationally for at least 25 years with an appearance at the 1992 Olympic Games and a fourth place for Spain. His interests in the political and administrative aspects of the sport have always been forthcoming and his motivation to represent his fellow athletes always very prominent.

EVENTING – ANDREW HOY (AUS)
A six-time Olympic veteran having competed at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games, Andrew Hoy won his first Olympic gold in 1992 in Barcelona. In Atlanta in 1996, after carrying the Australian flag in the Opening Ceremony, Hoy was a member of the team that won the back-to-back gold followed by another victory on home turf at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The more recent past has also been rather glorious as far as sporting achievements, ranked first in the 2006 FEI World Eventing Riders Ranking List and a member of the bronze medal Australian Team at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen. A natural choice for the athletes committee, Andrew Hoy is also married to fellow Eventing athlete, Bettina Hoy from Germany.

DRIVING – BARRY CAPSTICK (IRL)
Born in Great Britain, Barry Capstick changed his nationality to Irish in 2003. He began Driving in 1989, and started competing in Horse Pairs in 1990. He was National Champion Horse Pairs in 1993 and 1994 and reserve in 1995. He switched to Four-in-Hand Driving in 1996. More recently, he was part of the Irish team at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen.

VAULTING: MEGAN BENJAMIN (USA)
At the height of her 18 years, Megan Benjamin took the world by storm in 2006 at the FEI World Equestrian Games, becoming the first female American vaulter ever to take a world championship. She is the United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF)/American Vaulting Association (AVA) three-time Women's Gold National Champion, three times a member of the USEF/AVA National Championship "A" Team, and the AVA National Gold High Point Women's Champion for the last three years. An incoming freshman at Santa Clara University (SCU) in Santa Clara, California, Benjamin says she will continue to vault throughout college in preparation for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010.

ENDURANCE – MERCEDES TAPIA (ARG)
Mercedes Tapia is one of Argentina's top Endurance Riders, having represented Argentina in two World Championships and recently earning the silver medal in the 2005 Pan American Championship. Mercedes Tapia is closely tied to many of the top breeders and competitors in Argentina as she is also an equine veterinarian.

REINING – JEANNATTE KRÄHENBÜHL (SUI)
Placed first in the FEI World Reining Riders Rankings for 2006, Jeanette Krähenbühl is one of the big profiles in the world of Reining and one of very few European riders that in the early days earned her respect in the US, where Reining finds its roots. She lives in Switzerland and has made a name for herself after her big wins the FEI World Reining Masters, a contest considered as one of the biggest around the globe in Reining. She was present at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, helping Switzerland place fifth.

Bahrain: Royal squad duo lift titles

Bahrain Gulf Daily News
ROYAL Endurance Team riders Mohammed Abdulaziz and Shaikh Saqer bin Khalid Al Khalifa took the senior and junior titles respectively in the 120-km Endurance Horseride Championship at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.
The championaship was the sixth event of the season and the first to be held at night with more than 60 riders representing various Bahraini stables in the fray.
The races were divided into five stages with 30 kms for the first two, 25 kms for the third, 20 kms for the fourth and 15 kms for the fifth and final stage.
The event was dominated by the Royal Endurance Team, captained by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid did not take part in the event to give other riders a chance to test their skills.
In the senior race, the Royal Endurance Team clinched the first three positions with Abdulaziz steering Hirouste Outlaw to victory in five hours and 46.19 minutes with an average speed of 21.19 kmph.
Riding
Abdulaziz was followed by teammate Ghazi Al Dossary (5:54.51) in second place and Yousif Taher (6:02.15) in third.
Shaikh Saqer won the junior race in 6:10.53 riding Torry Burn Rashid with an average speed of 21.16 kmph.
Behind him was Al Asayel Stable rider Abdulziz Khalifa (6:31.55) in second place and Abdulla Al Zo'bi (6:57:22) was third.
Shaikh Nasser congratulated the members of the Royal Endurance Team and praised their performance in the championship.
The End of Season Championship, the final event of the season, will be held on May 4 at the same venue under the patronage of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Results:
Seniors: 1 Mohammed Abdulaziz (Hirouste Outlaw, 5:46:19), 2 Ghazi Al Dossary (Mexico, 5:54:51), 3 Yousif Taher (Moolanshoe K Pula, 6:02:15), 4 Jabur Al Dossary (Shalum, 6:02:29), 5 Abdulla Al Moudhe (Samurai, 6:1:06), 6 Abdulla Al Dossary (Tabriz El Marrakesj, 6:12:40), 7 Ahmed Al Ruwaiei (Presco, 6:24:14), 8 Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa (Sumara, 6:30:42), 9 Ahmed Abdulla (Maraka, 6:48:23), 10 Said Saeed (Aaz Al Shaqab, 6:53:53), 11 Ibruahim Bubshait (Jalabi Yasser, 7:23:45).
Juniors: 1 Shaikh Saqer bin Khalid Al Khalifa (Torry Burn Rashid, 6:10:53), 2 Abdulaziz Khalifa (Kayasand Karimore, 6:31:55), 3 Abdulla Al Zoubi (Bahrain, 6:57:22), 4 Tawfiq Jabur (Aqaba St. Nicholas, 7:06:20), 5 Ahmed Al Gaoud (Lilonda Aquda, 7:06:27).

Bahrain: Stage set for night endurance race

Bahrain Gulf Daily News

BAHRAIN Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) completed their preparations for the 120-km Endurance Championship to be held on Friday starting at 5pm at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The championship, which is open to senior and junior riders, will be the sixth event of the season and the first to be held night following directives from Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa due to the rising temperature at this time of the year.

Registration is open until the day of the event while the veterinary tests will start on Friday at 2pm.

Shaikh Nasser approved the working committees of the race with Breef general secretary Ghalib Al Alawi chairing the judges committee.

The stewards committee includes Mahmood Abdulsaheb, Fahad Al Rumaihi and Mohammed Dadulla.

Dr Ibrahim Yousef was named head of the veterinary committee while Surender Babu of India was confirmed as commissioner for this committee.

The final event of the season will follow this race in the first week of May. The season kicked off with the Season Opening Championship in January, followed by the Kingdom Holding Championship in the same month, the Bahrain International Open Championship and the Prime Minister's Campionship, both held last month and His Majesty King Hamad's Cup earlier this month.

FEI World Endurance Forum identifies areas for further action

FEI Website

The proceedings of the FEI World Endurance Forum held in Paris (FRA) continued today in an exemplary spirit of cooperation and constructive work.
The chairmen of the three working groups –

Fred Barrelet (SUI), Veterinary;
Maurizio Stecco (ITA),
Judges; and John Robertson (GBR), Technical Delegates –

presented summaries of the workshops which took place in the afternoon on the first day of the Forum. Thanks to these summaries, the following specific areas, where change and improvement were necessary, were identified:
1. qualification system; 2. equitation training;
3. public perception of the sport in terms of the dress and terminology used;
4. horse log book; rest periods;
5. suspension of riders and horses; 6. protocol for abandonment;
6. ride finish system;
7. hold/presentation times; course design;
8. star system for ride distances;
9. availability of qualified officials;
10. monitoring of the officials’ performances;
11. re-evaluation of the low-level distances and the potential dangers linked to them;
12. number of vetgates and their link to the going; weights;
13. progressive closing of vetgates;
14. establishment of regional championships and CEIOs;
15. development of a comprehensive database;
16. adequate technology;
17. examination of a handicap system;
18. progression through star-rating of rides on national and international level; 19. education of officials;
20. re-examination of the best condition award rules.

Almost half of these areas where reassessment was required were identified in all three presentations.

On the basis of these recommendations and with the further contribution of the National Federations, a task force will be created, the goal of which will be to assist the FEI in producing new Rules of Endurance better suited to the changing circumstances and the massive growth the sport is experiencing.

It is important to emphasise that there is a great sense of unity and agreement in the discipline of Endurance and a strong feeling of belonging to the world equestrian family.

It's Official, Malaysia To Host FEI-WEC 2008

Bernama.com

April 02, 2007 00:10 AM

From Rozaini Ahmad

PARIS, April 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will host the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Endurance Championship (WEC) next year, the first tropical country to do so.

The right to organise the 2008 edition of the championship was awarded to Malaysia here today with the signing of a tripartite agreement between FEI, the Yayasan Diraja Sultan Mizan (YDSM) and the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM).

YDSM was represented by its deputy chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor, FEI by its vice president, Sven Holmberg, and EAM by its secretary-general Lau Choo Seng. The event was witnessed by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, who is also EAM president.

As a symbolic gesture of the award, a flag handing-over ceremony was held soon after the signing.

Speaking to Bernama after the ceremony, Salleh said YDSM was very proud to have been given the responsibility to spearhead Malaysia's effort in organising the championship.

"We are very proud to organise the championship and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin himself, as the patron of this championship, will ensure that the event will be organised successfully," he said.

He said that prior to the championship, which is to be held in November 2008, a trial championship would be held in November this year, at which riders would get the chance to collect points to qualify for the FEI-WEC 2008.

Jamaluddin said the federal government would give its full support to YDSM in its effort to organise the championship.

"The event, which will be treated as a major event, is expected to draw a number of world class endurance riders to the country. The federal government will support this event and we will help the state government of Terengganu and YDSM to organise it," he said.

The FEI-WEC is to be held from Nov 8 to 10 next year at Terengganu's International Equestrian Park in Lembah Bidong, Merang, Setiu. The championship is held once in four years, the last one having been held in Germany.

-- BERNAMA

FEI World Endurance Forum identifies areas for further action