Abu Dhabi: Fahad is first Omani to win endurance race - Jan 4 2008

Khaleejtimes.com - Full story

By Amith Passela

ABU DHABI - Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan stayed on course of his title defence of the three-day 240-kilometre endurance race for Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup sponsored by Sorouh here at the Boudthib Endurance Village yesterday.

Shaikh Hazza held a slender lead on 11-year-old Crossbred Anglo Arab gelding Akab after the opening day's 80-kilometre stage from last season’s leading rider Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi astride Zara Farm Chandalii.

Only 30 minutes separated the top 20 riders at the end of the opening stage of the race run over three loops. Shaikh Hazza clocked three hours 12 minutes and 56 second, just nine seconds ahead of Al Baloushi.

A further half-a-minute in third was Mohammed Saeed Al Junaibi on Ramalea Captain Starlight, followed by Ali Al Muhairi onboard Akasha Sensation, Jassim Ali Al Hammadi (Nadja Lotoise) and Shaikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Nemer).

Shaikh Hazza finished strongly after completing the first 30km loop in 16th. He moved up 10 places in the next 30 kilometres and headed the field on the last 20km loop of the day.

Yousef Ahmed predicted a close race after the first day's standings. "The field is closely grouped and looks like a wide open race at this stage. For me, it's a good position to be in when we start day two, which will be much tougher."

The Al Reef Stable rider has already won two races for the season and finished a creditable second behind Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri in the National Day Cup race three weeks ago.

The three-day ride that has drawn 59 entries is part of the annual endurance festival under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Boudthib Endurance Village.

The opening day also saw a 120-kilometre race for private stables and individuals, and won by Abu Dhabi based Omani rider Fahad Abdulla Al Baloushi on 15-year-old Crossbred mare Nakita owned by Mohammed Ahmed Khalifa Al Hameli.

Fahad incidentally became the first Omani national to win an endurance race in the Emirates. "I'm not aware of any such record but I'll remember this for a long, long time, it being my first win since I began riding two years ago."

Private stable

The 23-year-old who works for a private stable in Abu Dhabi made almost every yard of the running to complete the distance in more than five hours and 46 minutes.

Fahad lost a podium finish in a similar race at Boudthib last month when his horse was vetted out for metabolic after crossing the finish line in second.

"It was a very bitter experience," said Fahad.

"This time I didn’t have to push my horse hard as the second horse was a long way back. I thought I had the race when going into the second last loop."

Fahad lost the lead briefly in the second loop but was in front again from there onwards to go on and win the race by more than 10 minutes from Al Ain Stables Hamad Ibrahim Al Marzouqi on Milqui, who occupied the same spot as he did in a similar race category last week in the Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1.

The second stage of the main ride will start at 6.30am today and will include a 120-kilometre race for Young Riders and Juniors, worked off simultaneously as the second day's programme.

Khaleejtimes.com

Bahrain: Top stables eye endurance title - Jan 4 2008

Bahrainendurance.com - Full story

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.

Bahrainendurance.com

New Zealand Disease Specialists Learn from Australia Equine Flu - Jan 4 2008

Thehorse.com

by: The Horse Staff
January 04 2008, Article # 11111

New Zealand exotic disease specialists drafted into the equine influenza response team battling the outbreak of equine influenza in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, will apply knowledge gained through handling this outbreak to improve their emergency response system.

"From the NSW experience it is apparent that equine influenza could travel from one end of New Zealand to another in a very short time," said Helen Crabb, an epidemiologist from Waikato, center of New Zealand's equine industry. "The best way New Zealand can prepare veterinarians for outbreaks of exotic diseases is to send people to work on outbreaks across the world such as England's foot and mouth and Australia's (equine influenza)."

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Al Beloushi makes dream debut - Jan 4 2008

Gulfnews.com - Full story

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

Abu Dhabi: It was a dream debut for Rashed Ahmad Al Beloushi as the 14-year-old younger brother of Al Reef champion Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi won the Sorouh-sponsored 120-km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for Junior & Young riders here yesterday.

Rashed, whose elder brother was the top UAE rider of the 2006-07 season, unleashed a terrific final stage speed of over 33.96 kmph to move from fifth place to winner on 10-year-old chestnut mare Sekura.

The win was a proud moment for the family as Sekura is trained by Yousuf Ahmad at the Al Reef Stables in Al Ain, and made up for the champion's exit a few hours earlier in the three-day 240-km ride at the same venue.

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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.