Abu Dhabi: Sidebottom finishes on top in Ladies' Challenge - Feb 9 2008

Gulfnews.com - Full story

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: Sue Sidebottom of Great Britain staved off a stiff challenge in the final loop of 16km to win the second round of the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Challenge 100-km ride for Lady Riders sponsored by Sorouh and held at the Al Asayel Endurance Village in Sweihan on Friday.

Sue, who is a key member of the Dubai Equestrian Club's endurance organising committee, notched up her first ever win on Fenwick Cadenza and the pair, who finished 5th in the First Round, are now in contention for the overall championship award.

Sue led in all the loops but in the final loop she was challenged by First Round winner Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi, fellow Briton Kayleigh Smith and Aliya Ali Mohammad Yousuf Al Marzouqi.

But Sue held on to win the ride with Reem Shaban on Rivendell Sharman finishing just ten seconds behind her and Smith third, a further 29 seconds adrift.

"I'm over the moon. This is my first ever win and I am delighted," said Sue after receiving her trophy and Dh30,000 cash prize for her winning effort.

"On the final loop, I was almost passed by two riders, but Fenwick Cadenza came up with that extra effort," said Sue.

Afra, who won the opening round, also becomes a leading contender with her fourth-place finish yesterday along with Smith, who has a 4th and 3rd place finishes in the two rounds.

Shaikha Hissa Bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan on Sabee also did extremely well to finish sixth while another Al Asayel rider, Shamsah Awad Al Otaiba finished 5th while her horse Yaraandoo Jakara Silver was adjudged the 'Best Conditioned Horse.'

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Shaikha Fatma Bint Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan along with Tasweeq managing director Lara Sawaya and Sorouh's Azadi gave away the trophies.

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Bahrain: Endurance race stages approved - Feb 8 2008

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full article

STAGES have been announced for the Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for tomorrow.

The event gets underway at 6am at the Bahrain International Endurance Village premises in Sakhir. It consists of four races, including 160km and 100km for seniors besides two qualifying race over 85km and 65km.

The 160-km race consists of six stages, including 30 km for the first three stages, 25 km for the fourth and fifth while 20km is set for the six and last stage.

Four stages were approved for the 100-km race which featured 30km for the first two stages, 25km for the third and 15km for the fourth.

In the qualifying races, which will be organised for new riders and horses, the 85-km event will be split into three stage, including 30km each for the first two stages and 25km for the third.

The 60-km race will be divided into two identical stages of 30km each.

The veterinary examination is set for today at the race venue to be attended by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president and event patron Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Meanwhile, the organising committee announced members of its working committees for the championship.

The judging committee is headed by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation general secretary Ghalib Al Alawi and includes Breef second vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Haider Al Zo'bi, Abdulsamad Al Busta, Haider Rafii and Ali Ghuloom. The official steward is Sondra Babo of India who will be assisted by Mohammed Dadulla, Mahmoosd Abdulsaheb and Fahad Al Rumaihi.

Dr Mohammed Al Hammad of Sauid Arabia will head the veterinary committee which consists of members from India, France, Bahrain and the Dominican.

USA: USEF Announces Rider/Horse Combinations to Compete at HH President’s Cup CEI*** Endurance Competition

USEF Release

February 06 2008

By Joanie Morris
Lexington, KY -The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) recently received an invitation to name three of our best Rider/Horse Combinations as candidates for participation in the H. H. The President’s Cup 160km Endurance Competition scheduled for February 16, 2008 in Abu Dhabi. The annual event brings together some of the world’s most competitive Endurance riders and horses. The Rider/Horse combinations recommended by the USEF and invited by the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club are:

Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner

Kathy Brunjes/54/Bethel, ME/Theatric/10/Arabian/G/Rider

John Crandell III/45/Star Tannery, VA/H H Saba Shams/9/Arabian/G/Ann Crandell

Steve Rojek/62/South Woodstock, VT/Seyvilla Triproof/12/Arabian/G/Stephen and Dinah Rojek

The alternate combination is:

Ann Hall/51/Auburn, CA/Bogus Thunder/15/Arabian/G/Rider

For more information about the USEF and/or the sport of Endurance contact Endurance contact Vonita Bowers at vbowers@usef.org.

India: Britain wins gold and silver in endurance first for India - Feb 6 2008

Image by Caroline Moorey

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full story

Sophie Montagne, H&H endurance editor

A British endurance team took gold in Rajasthan's inaugural 50km International Invitational Endurance Championship on 28 January, the first of its kind in India.

Britain's Lesley-Ann Parker took individual gold and Fiona Griffiths silver, with Caroline Moorey and Bryony Dickins making up the rest of the team that fought off competition from France, Sri Lanka and India.

Lesley-Ann and Fiona led from the start...

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Endurance Britain helps Buckinghamshire rescue horses - Feb 5 2008

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full story

Endurance GB, the governing body for the sport of endurance riding in Great Britain, has donated £1000 to Redwings Horse Sanctuary to support the work that the charity is doing treating horses rescued from Spindles Farm in Amersham.

Following the biggest rescue operation ever mounted by combined charities...

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FEI Announces WEC Nominated and Definite Entries

Please Note: Revision on previous post regarding WEC Nominated and Definited Entry dates

FEI Press:

2008 FEI World Endurance Championship: Terengganu (MAS), 6-9 November 2008 05/02/2008

World titles will be up for renewal and grabs this year as the 12th FEI World Endurance Championship edge their way closer. Indeed, from 6 to 9 November 2008, Terengganu in Malaysia will be host to defending, aspiring and future World champions.

The nominated entry date and definite entry dates for the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship to be held from 6-9 November in Terengganu (MAS) are:

Nominated Entry: 21 August

Definite Entry: 1 October

These dates have been chosen in order to acknowledge combinations that have performed at the highest level over these last two years (FEI World Equestrian Games and FEI European Championships) and to also comply with the required time frame for quarantine issues into Malaysia.

And yet it seems it was only yesterday that Miguel Vila Urbach clenched the first Spanish individual World Endurance gold at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen with record attendance – while the French convincingly took team gold amid torrential rains and abundant smiles…

Australia: Clare's top of the class

Invernell Times
05 February 2008 - 9:54AM

Local high school teacher Clare Fleming has reached the top in the Queensland Endurance Riders Association pointscore for 2007.

Clare scored 36 points.

This ranked her as Queensland's most successful Lightweight Endurance Rider.

The next competitor, Karen Hamelink, scored 31.5 points.

Without a grey Arab gelding known as Mangueira Moksha and a dark bay mare known as Birramalee Queen of Hearts, Clare’s success would not have been possible.

Together, these two horses clocked up around 1000 kilometres doing competitive endurance rides last year.

Clare rides competitively, and usually finishes in the top five placegetters of a ride.

In 2007, she won the Lake Manchester Ride, the Spring Mountain Ride, the Bungawalbyn Forest Ride and the Eden Creek Ride.

Endurance riding originated in the United States , where cavalry horses where tested for strength over long distances, and came to Australia in around 1966.

It is the fastest growing equestrian sport in the world. It is hugely prestigious in the Middle East , where sheiks spend up big to enjoy the privilege of racing and riding their own horses.

Recently, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, hosted the world’s most valuable endurance race.

While Australia does not allow prize money, there are special awards for placegetters.

Clare emphasised that while endurance rides are a race, her main goal is to complete the ride with a sound, healthy horse.

In fact the motto of the Australian Endurance Riders Association is: "to complete is to win ".