UAE: Sh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup - Day 2 standings

Sh Sultan bin Zayed al Nahyan Cup - 3 Days 240km
International Endurance Festival

                    Day 2 Standings

POS  RIDER                     HORSE           TIME   AV SPEED
1  Mohd Hamad Mohd Saeed    Ramalea Captain Star   7:05:43 22.55
2  Sh Khaled bin Sultan Al Nahyan Nemer            7:10:25 22.30
3  Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed    Risco Moreno       7:10:34 22.30
4  Ali Mohd Al Muhairi          Akasha Sansation   7:10:52 22.28
5  Mohammad Jasem Rahimi        Joda Desert Comet  7:25:35 21.55
6  Khalid Abdul Rahim Al Hammadi  Harmere Hariz    7:38:53 20.92
7  Deep Singh Devi Singh        Abdashar Shahthungra  7:47:44 20.52
8  Mohd Aslam Hidayat Khan      Yaldon Salim          8:08:49 19.64
9  Ispak Ali Yusuf Khan         Bantu De Zamaglia  8:10:58 19.55
10 Kishor Singh Swaroop Singh   Harmere Zeal       8:18:20 19.26
11 Julien Goachet               I m Wired          8:18:35 19.25
12 Brenda Cooke                 Brandy             8:20:20 19.19
13 Abdulla Essa Mohd Al Buziri    Kazkade          8:43:19 18.34
14 Sha Madiya H. Mana Al Maktoum  Solid Asa Rock   9:22:33 17.07
15 Jiwan Ali Salemuddin Khan    CR Goinfor Broke   9:24:10 17.02
16 Mohd Ibrahim KhalilAl Hammadi  Yemen            9:32:24 16.77

India: Madonna's horseback safari goes on

photo: Madonna enjoys a Marwari horse back ride in Jodhpur (TOI Photo)
Times of India article
4 Jan 2008, 0336 hrs IST,Prakash Bhandari,TNN

JODHPUR: Superstar Madonna is enjoying every moment of her desert vacation with riding breeches replacing her designer wear. The famous Marwari horses, known for their endurance, fascinated her so much that after enjoying a 28-km horse ride in the past two days, she returned to Rohetgarh fort from Chanwa Luni, a 20-km stretch, on Thursday, also on horseback.

The singer-actress reached Chanwa fort, a 19th century red sandstone structure converted into a heritage hotel, on a horse on Wednesday evening and enjoyed kite flying with her husband Guy Ritchie, two-year-old son David Banda and friends.

On a week-long holiday in the desert, Madonna spent Wednesday night at Fort Chanwa Luni, situated 25 km from Jodhpur. She also saw a puppet show.

"Madonna spent Thursday night at Rohetgarh fort heritage hotel. She would go to Sardarsamand on Friday, where the former ruler of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh, will host a lunch in her honour. She will spend Friday night at the art deco style Sardarsamand resort," said Siddharth Singh, one of Rohetgarh fort's owners.

Khem Singh, an expert on horse safaris and incharge of Madonna's equestrian exploits, said, "She came with her riding clothes. She was very keen on long rides during this trip. She galloped on the Marwari horse, a local breed with long hair on the head that makes it look very different." The Marwari breed, which gallops 80-100 km a day, is now being exported to the US, thanks to the efforts of horse lover, Franseca Kelly, and her Indian partner, Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod.

Khem Singh said Madonna sported jeans, a Texas cap and looked a cowboy every inch. Earlier she was spotted wearing Rajasthani bangles and a colourful chunri. The 'Material Girl' is also taking no chances on the security front. She has hired Israeli security guards for the trip. The guards plan her day in consultation with her personal staff.

India: Madonna's 28-km horse ride

Times of India article
3 Jan 2008, 0238 hrs IST,Prakash Bhandari,TNN

JAIPUR: It's difficult to surmise whether pop icon Madonna, 50, had a song on her lips as she cantered and galloped on a horse all of 28 km through the rough countryside of Rajasthan - with perhaps even the occasional sand dune thrown in - but what she did is a tribute to her fitness and an almost boundless sense of adventure.

Madonna, who rode 18 km on Tuesday, fell - while remaining steadfast on the saddle - for the experience in colourful Rajasthan by stretching her endurance for another 10 km on Wednesday. She took off from Kandhi village to Fort Chanwa Luni passing through villages, meeting and talking to villagers who did not recognise that they had an international A-list celebrity in their midst.

Madonna's husband Guy Ritchie, too, was part of the horse safari organised by Rohetgarh heritage hotel on Tuesday but preferred to ride an accompanying car - some would say throwing chivalry to the wind.

On a week-long holiday in Rajasthan, the diva is obviously enjoying her stay in the desert state with her husband and adopted son far from from the intrusive eyes of the paparazzi.

Even as the trip organisers kept their schedule a secret, the celebrity family along with their friends visited Fort Chanwa Luni, which has been developed into a heritage hotel by its owner Dalip Singh, the youngest son of Maharaja Ummaid Singh of Jodhpur.

Madonna, Ritchi, and the kid will spend the night in Fort Chanwa and return to Rohetgarh on Thursday before proceeding to Sardarsamand. They are to return to Jodhpur on Friday and fly to Udaipur on January 4, where they will stay at Hotel Shiv Niwas Palace.

UAE: Hazza takes vital lead over Al Beloushi

GulfNews.com
photo: Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (right) and Shaikh Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in action during the 240km ride in Abu Dhabi.

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter
Published: January 04, 2008, 00:43

Abu Dhabi: Defending champion Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan carved out a seven-second lead over strong contender Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi after the first 80km in the three-day 240km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup which started on Thursday.

Riding 10-year-old Akab, Shaikh Hazza was in fine form as he moved ahead of a strong line-up of riders at the Boudtheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem here yesterday.

Gruelling ride

With 20 of the 59 riders who started the gruelling 240-km ride being eliminated at the end of day one, Shaikh Hazza will start off with Al Reef champion Yousef Ahmad Al Beloushi on Zara Farm Chandali in second place.

Gulf News article

Bahrain: National Guard Endurance Horseride Championship

Top stables eye endurance title
Bahrain Gulf Daily News - full article

RIDERS from leading stables are gearing up for the National Guard Endurance Horseride Championship to be organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) on Saturday at 6am at the Bahrain International Endurance Village premises in Sakhir.

This is the second event of the 2007-08 season and will include the first women's race of the season to be held over 100 kms.

Al Fateh Stable will be one of the leaing teams taking part in the women's race with Shaikha Muneera bint Salman Al Khalifa and her sister Shaikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa top contenders for the individual title.

The sisters had a month-long extensive training programme under their father and coach Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa.

The sisters have thanked Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his support in organising the women's race.

Shaikh Nasser earlier said the Royal Endurance Team will not be allowed to participate in the event. This decision was taken with a view of providing an opportunity for other stables to take part in a high profile event like this.

The federation, meanwhile, have received confirmation from several stables, including the Kingdom's Stable from Saudi Arabia who will be taking part in this event for the second successive year.

The women's team include Alya'a Al Huwaiti, Latifa Al Shaikh, Noora Al Yousif, Sara Baban and team head Najeeb Al Burjus. The Saudi team will be sponsored by the Kingdom Holding Company chairman Prince Al Waleed bin Talal.

The event, to be held under the patronage of National Guard chief Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, will be divided into four stages - the first two stages will consist of 30 kms each, the third will be over 25 kms and the fourth 15 kms.

A men's race over 100 kms will also be held besides two qualifying races over 85-kms and 60-kms open to new riders and horses.

The 85-km race will be divided into three stages, 30 kms for the first two stages and 25 kms for the third while the 60-km event consists of two stages, each over 30 kms.

Among the top riders taking part in the men's race is Isa Ali who will be riding Silver Fox, owned by Zaynab Isa. Ali said he is confident of achieving a good result in the race.

Registration will continue tomorrow till the commencement of veterinary tests at 2.30pm at the Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The organising committee earlier approved the technical and judging teams for the championship.

The judging committee will be headed by Abdulsamad Al Busta and include Ghalib Al Alawi, Haider Al Zo'bi, Ali Ghuloom and assistant judge Haider Rafii.

The official commissioner is Mohammed Dadulla who will be assisted by Mahmood Abdulsaheb and Fahad Al Rumaihi.

Dr Abbas Al Haiki was named head of the veterinary committee which includes Ibrahim Yousef, Abu Obaida Adam, Mohammed Al Hammad, Mohammed Safi, Khalid Ahmed, Adam Sabeel, Abdulrahman Abulshook, Farida Abdulrazzaq, Sabad Al Ka'ab, Mirghani Jelani and Ahmed Dhaif.

UAE: Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup

Photo: Defending champion Shaikh Hazza will miss the three-day 240km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup.

Large field for three-day ride
By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter
Published: January 03, 2008, 01:31
Gulf News, full article

Abu Dhabi: The number of entries for the three-day 240-km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup, the feature event of the three-day endurance festival starting today at the Boudtheib Endurance Village, has doubled from last year.

Around 80 riders are expected to start in the 240-km FEI CEI three-star event, in which the riders will ride over 80-km in each of the three days on the same horse.

The 240-km ride is the highlight of the three-day festival organised by the Emirates Heritage Club under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and sponsored by Sorouh.

Today's opening day will also see about 45 Junior and Young riders battling for honours in the Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for Juniors while a 120-km ride for privately-owned horses and small stables will be part of day two's action. The final day will see the finish of the gruelling 240-km ride accompanied by two Federation Qualifier Rides.

Proud

Masood Al Awar, Special Advisor to Chairman, Sorouh said, "Sorouh is delighted to be back as Endurance ride sponsors, particularly this three-day festival which will see some of the top competitors. In the three big rides almost all categories of endurance riders are covered and we feel this is a major event and are proud to support it."

In the absence of defending champion Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Al Reef Stables' trio Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi, Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed and Omair Hussain Al Beloushi will be leading a strong line-up of UAE riders.

Yousuf, who has been in great form this season, will be looking to make up for last year's unfortunate result, when his horse was eliminated in the final vet check after he had finished the 240-km ride in first position. The champion from Al Reef rides Jibbah Enog while Abdullah Khamis will be on Risco Moreno, the horse that finished second in this ride under Spaniard Jesus Manuel Berna.

Shaikha Madiya Hasher Mana Al Maktoum, who finished 13th last year is back on the same horse Solid Asa Rock.

Shaikh Madiya recently finished second in a ride in Mexico behind two-time world champion Valerie Kanavy.

Riders from Canada, Uruguay, Australia and Great Britain are also part of the line-up in the 240-km ride and each day's 80-km distance will be in three stages of 30kms, 30kms and 20 kms.

Schedule

1. 240-km-FEI.CEI, Three-star, three-day Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup, January 3, 4 & 5, 80 km each day, start: Thursday, 6.00 am, Finish-Saturday.

2. 120-km-UAE.CEN, 120-km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup (for privately owned horses and small stables), Thursday, 6.30 am start.

3. 120-km FEI.CEIJY, Three-star, Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup (For Junior & Young riders), Friday, 6.30 am start.

4. Two Federation Qualifiers on Saturday, 80kms start at 6.30 am and 44 kms start at 6.45 am.

New Mexico CEI*** - Sheikha Madiya and Faberge PJwin Best Condition

photo: Sheikha Madiya Bint Hasher Al Maktoum riding Faberge PJ owned by Tracy Kaden of Flight Leader Farm

January 1, Endurance.Net

Faberge PJ, ridden by Sheikha Madiya of UAE, won the overall Best Condition award in the December 30 CEI*** 100 Endurance ride held in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The duo finished the 100 Mile event in second place with a time of 10:14.

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photo: First place finisher Valerie Kanavy on King Ali Gold