Dubai: Upping the Ante -- 4 4x4s 4 Winners!

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has generously given the world’s most valuable endurance race, named in his honour, a wonderful boost after adding four 4x4 vehicles to the AED 1.5million prize-money on offer.

Earlier this week, the Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) announced the world’s richest-ever endurance ride – the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008 – with Omega as the title sponsor.

Twenty six international riders will be joined by competitors from the UAE and the rest of the region in the 160-km event which is an FEI CEI 3* event, to be held at Dubai International Endurance City on Saturday.

General Manager of the DEC, Ali Moosa Al Khamiri, said: “We are indebted to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his extremely kind gesture, which is sure to make competition even more fierce for this fabulous event.”

Entrance is free and enthusiasts can sample the action up close on the course as DEC will operate a fleet of 4x4 cars for desert drives. Alternatively, fans can keep in touch with the action via big screens.

There will be plenty of action off the track too with a variety of family entertainment and a jazz band that will play throughout the day.

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Dubai: Taylor banks on previous experience

With just one day left before the top-class AED1.5million HHSM Endurance Cup 2008 field line up for Friday’s pre-ride veterinary check, the Dubai International Endurance City was a hive of activity.

While the 26 international riders and horses have been training in their allotted areas, many UAE riders were also out having a feel before the world’s richest endurance race on Saturday, organized by Dubai Equestrian Club and sponsored by Omega.

Liz Taylor, who is one of the three British riders in the fray, is hoping to bank on the experience she gained last year in the HH President’s Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Taylor finished 18th last year on Falaina Bint Chatanz and is once again accompanied by the 14-year-old horse.

“That was the first time I was ever riding on sand and it was a good experience. It was a quality field and we finished 18th and we learnt a lot from that,” said the 24-year-old who is employed with the British Farmers Union.

Taylor, who has been riding in competitions for about 12 years, enjoys a good record with her horse.

“Falaina Bint Chatanz has been a consistent performer and we have completed seven 160-km rides together including a win, a second and a third-place finish,” said Taylor.

In the President’s Cup held in February last year, Taylor and Falaina Bint Chatanz completed the 160-km ride in 8 hrs 57 mins 56 seconds with an average speed of 17.85 kmph.

“We have done about 18.5 kmph and I would be glad if we cross the 19kmph speed level and finish well,” said Taylor.

John Robertson, the Technical Delegate for Saturday’s FEI CEI 3* 160-km contest, said the riders and horses were put through strict quarantine controls.

“Everyone has been obeying the rules and since most of them have been here before it is no problem,” said the Briton, who has been based at the Quarantine Stables in the Dubai International Endurance City.

“Our prime focus has been security of the horses and to ensure there is no contamination,” he said.

“We have demarcated separate areas for their training and since all these horses are from Europe we just have one large stable here.”

With the final list of entries being finalized, the horses will go through the pre-ride veterinary check on Friday afternoon before the expected pre-dawn start at 6.00 am on Saturday.

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Oman: HM presides over Royal Horse Race Festival

MUSCAT — His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said presided over the annual Royal Horse Race Festival at Al Adiat horse race track, in the wilayat of Seeb yesterday.

The festival was attended, along with His Majesty the Sultan, by members of the royal family, the chairmen of the State Council and Majlis Al Shura, ministers, advisers, members of the State Council and Majlis Al Shura, undersecretaries and members of the diplomatic corps in the Sultanate.

The festival began with the arrival of His Majesty the Sultan, when the Royal Anthem was played.

The festival included interesting shows for military procession, carriages, girl jockeys’ march and trotters, in addition to speed riding and rodeo sport.

After this, the horse race for His Majesty the Sultan Cup started. The race included six rounds namely, Al Akhdahar Fort for pure Arabian horses for 1,800 metres; Al Bustan Fort for pure Arabian horses for female riders for 1,100 metres; Al Shariq Fort for thoroughbred horses for 1,600 metres; Al Khandaq Fort for pure Arabian horses for 1,100 metres; Jibreen Fort for pure Arabian horses for 1,600 metres and Shamoukh Fort for pure Arabian horses for 2,100 metres.

The six rounds of the race included polo shows for male, female and young riders; beauty display of horse and young camels; foals for horses and other breeds shows; razha and music carriage show and endurance race show.

There were displays for horse-riding skills, fun race, carriage-riding by children, tent-pegging, hurdle race for children in addition to displays for sword, javelin, tent-pegging skills and arrow-shooting from a fast-moving carriage and cavalry display for the Olympic trilateral.

The festival also included a display for carriage race, common horse march, a carriage dragged by 20 horses, young foals programme at the grass field followed by the final plateau for the festival.

After this, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said handed over His Majesty’s Cup for the first winner of the sixth round of the Al Shamoukh Fort for pure Arabian horses and prizes for the first winners of the other rounds.

After this, the Royal Anthem was played signalling the conclusion of the horse race and then His Majesty the Sultan left the horse race track.

Around 2,533 participants took part at the festival, including 967 students and trotters in addition to 837 horses.


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2005 WEC Champion Lissarrague back in Dubai

World champion partners ‘family horse’ in Dh1.5 million HHSM Endurance Cup 2008
Tuesday, January 08, 2008

With Saturday’s Dh1.5 million HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008 fast approaching, most of the international riders were out with their horses doing some light training in the desert tracks in Seih Assalam.

Raid De Bozouls, the horse which 2005 World Endurance Champion Barbara Lissarrague of France will be riding on Saturday, was also out having a workout yesterday morning.

Lissarrague, the winner of the 2005 World Endurance Championship held here at the Dubai International Endurance City, was expected to arrive today, so training the horse in the meantime was her husband-cum-trainer-cum rider Christian Lissarrague.

“Raid De Bozouls has been with us for over six years now and he is more a family horse as me, my wife as well as my daughter Nina have been riding him in competitions," said Christian, as he prepares the horse to compete against some of the best riders and horses in the world.

“Raid De Bozouls has adapted well since arriving here on January 4 but we will have to wait and see how he is on the eve of the ride”, said Christian.

The French horse will be one of the 26 international entries who take on a strong contingent of UAE riders in the six-loop FEI.CEI 3* ride sponsored by Omega.

“My daughter Nina, who is a junior national rider with the French team finished fifth on Raid De Bozouls in October and he is back after a good rest,” added the French trainer.


Christian was however not sure whether the European riders could keep pace with the hosts.

“Races here are very fast and Barbara did very well when she won the world championship in 2005. But it is a different race and a different horse,” he said.

“One thing for sure is that UAE’s progress in endurance has changed the sport. There are more breeders and more horses and overall it has benefited many. The facilities here are the best in the world and with such a strong field for Saturday’s ride it will be a great experience,” added Christian.

“We have 12 French riders and with the World Championship to be held in Malaysia later this year, the French Equestrian Federation will be monitoring the progress of the riders and horses.

“Being an annual affair, this HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008 will help in international riders to come here, participate and prepare for the big championships.

“The UAE riders will be starting off as the favourites and the French have always been at the forefront. An interesting competition is in store on Saturday and the ride will be a fast-paced one,” concluded Christian.

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Dubai to host world's richest ride

posted on 07/01/2008
The Dubai Equestrian Club on Sunday unveiled the world's richest-ever endurance ride - the His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008 - to be held at the Dubai International Endurance City on January 12.
Addressing the press here at the Madinat Jumeirah, Saeed Al Tayer, vice-president of DEC, said 26 riders from all over the world have been invited for the Dh4 million ride with Omega as the title sponsor.
The January 12 ride is a FEI CEI three-star 160km event and will be run in six loops of 32kms, 32kms, 28kms, 28kms, 21kms and 19 kms. The 1.5 million cash prize will be distributed among the top 25 riders with the winner going home richer by Dh250,000.
"Apart from world class action on the tracks, a big screen will beam live the action at the ride venue while www.dubaiendurancecity.com will carry results live online. Entertainment for the family on the sidelines includes bouncy castles, clowns, stilt walkers, clowns, henna faces painters and a jazz band," added Al Tayer. – Gulf News

UAE Interact - full article

New Zealand: Jeffries & Rhan take S. Island Championship Title

By Endurance.Net
January 6, 2008

photo: Paul Jeffries at 2007 HOY

Paul Jeffries & Rhan won the South Island Championship CEI*** at Hawarden, New Zealand on January 5 in a time of 10:23. Rhan also won the Best Conditioned Award, having finished his 12th career 160km event.

Second and third place finishes went to Kylie Avery riding Silans Jasark and
Phillip Graham on Wolfgang Amadeus.

UAE: International Riders to compete in Al Maktoum Cup

World’s best in UAE

The world's leading riders descend upon the UAE this week for the inaugural AED1.5milllion HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008 - the world's most valuable endurance event.

Omega is the title sponsor of the FEI CEI*** 160km event held at Dubai International Endurance City on Saturday, and it has attracted three of the world's top 10 riders, according to the FEI World Wide Rankings, including the second-ranked Frenchman Jack Begaud.

The ride is over six loops and starts at 6am and has enticed 26 overseas-based riders in total, as well as many of the top UAE riders.

The ride is organized by the Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC), whose General Manager Ali Moosa Al Khamiri, said: "The HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup is set to be one of the top sporting events taking place in the UAE, and we are indebted to the vision of His Highness for making it happen.

"Endurance has a huge profile in the UAE, where many of the best riders hail from, and it is fitting that the country hosts such a prestigious event, one which we hope will become the centerpiece of the endurance season worldwide.

"We are indebted also to Omega, our title sponsor, and are delighted that they have been rewarded with such a top-class line-up of riders. We wish everyone an enjoyable day, and wish all those taking part the best of luck."

Entrance is free and spectators can sample the action up close on the course as DEC will operate a fleet of 4x4 cars for desert drives. Alternatively, fans can keep in touch with the action via big screens.

There will be plenty of action off the track too with a variety of family entertainment and a jazz band that will play throughout the afternoon.
A full field of International riders will compete in the 2008 Shk Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum cup.

Riders from France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, Norway and Australia include:

Jack Begaud
Virgine Atger
Jean Philippe Frances
Sophie Arnaud
Philippe Tomas
Jean Michel Grimal
Philippe Benoit
Cecile Miletto
Larent Mosti
Elodie Le Labourier
Julie Lafaure
Barbara Lissarrague
Marianne Hahnel
Sabrina Arnold
Ander Mato Garcia
Yon Zabalua
Karin Boulanger
Anna Williams
Janice Cockley Adams
Liz Taylor
Patrizia Giacchero
Fausto Fiorucci
Gianluca Laliscia
Rui Pereira
Ellen Suhr
Meg Wade