Australia: Endurance riders back on track - Mar 5 2008

SENews.com.au

VICTORIA'S first endurance ride since the equine influenza outbreak will be held at the Bunyip State Park this weekend.

The Tonimbuk Gold Cup group is conducting an 80-kilometre ride starting at the Yarrabubba Reserve in Nar Nar Goon North and traversing roads and tracks throughout the picturesque countryside of the Bunyip State Park and surrounds.

Event organiser Lissy Verity said it was great that riders would finally be able to get back in the saddle.

"This course has been carefully selected," she said.

"It is both a diverse and somewhat challenging course for those returning to the sport after such a long lay-off and those new to the discipline of endurance riding."

Ms Verity said there would be more activity in the area during the days preceding the ride as preparations for endurance events needed a large number of volunteers and hours.

"All relevant authorities are aware of the event and residents along the course have been advised following a letter-box drop last week," she said.

"Signage will be placed at certain locations advising visitors that a horse event is under way.

"However, given the number of horses and riders that will be passing through, we simply ask that visitors to the area take care as they move through the Bunyip State Park over the long weekend."

The endurance ride begins at 6am on Sunday and will conclude late in the afternoon, but riders and organisers will be on the course the day before.

This follows Yarrabubba Road and goes along Mortimer and Pooley Roads, heading into the Bunyip State Park along Yarrabubba Track.

For more information contact Helen Ward on 0438 594 285.

UAE: Al Subose rides Zephyr to glory

Gulf News article
photo: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News -
Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Marzouki finishes the white loop at the Boutheib endurance village, Al Khatem in Abu Dhabi.

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 02, 2008, 00:09

Abu Dhabi: Mohammad Ahmad Ali Al Subose, one of the most promising riders in the UAE, scored a dramatic win in the 120-km Abu Dhabi International Cup at the Boutheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem.

Al Subose, who won a bronze medal and was a member of the team gold at the Pan Arab Games in Cairo late last year, in fact finished third in Saturday's ride but the top two riders were eliminated after their horses failed the final vet check, leaving the youngster with a 4WD and the winner's position on the podium.

Al Subose on 10-year-old Part Arab gelding Zephyr completed the five-stage ride in 5 hrs 30 mins and 49 seconds with cousin Ahmad Salem Ali Sultan Al Subose on Wyman finishing second to complete a brilliant 1-2 for the Dubai-based Emirates Stables.

The finish was dramatic as the leaderboard at the penultimate stage was completely different from those on the podium. The man in hot form, Yousef Ahmad Al Beloushi on Set Sail led in the third and fourth loops but had to make an exit and that allowed Naser Abdullah Mohammad Al Marzouqi on Magic Glenn Aaron to finish ahead of Khalid Abdul Rahim Al Hammadi from Al Reef Stables. However both the riders were out of the reckoning as their horses failed to pass the final vet check.

Very happy

However, Al Subose's triumph in the end more than made up for Naser's exit as both hail from Emirates Stables. "This is my first win for this season and though it has come late I am very happy," said Al Subose, who was also a member of the UAE junior team which won silver at the World Junior and Young Riders championship held in Argentina last year.

Al Subose, who was 14th after the first 30kms and 13th after the second loop of 30kms, moved into eighth place after the third stage of 24kms. At the end of 104kms (fourth loop) he was placed fifth but his well-paced ride seemed to help when he completed the race with Zephyr to win the Nissan car.

"Midway through the ride my friend predicted I will win though at that stage there were quite a few good riders ahead of me. His prediction came true and I have to give him a big treat," said the winner.

Mohammad Saif Al Neyadi, General Manager of Emirates Heritage Club, gave out the trophies.

Results
1. Mohammad Ahmad Ali Al Subose (Zephyr) 5 hrs 30 mins 49 secs;
2. Ahmad Salem Ali Sultan Al Subose (Wyman) 5:39.37;
3. Matar Ghanem Al Mansoori (Silver Mistral) 5:45.35;
4. Ahmad Salah Abdullah Ameera (Quartzz) 5:48.07;
5. Maktoum Nawab Al Beloushi (Worthalook) 5:48.21

Hamdan leads UAE sweep in Qatar ride

Gulf News article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 02, 2008, 00:09

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, led a 1-2-3 finish for the UAE in the 120-km FEI CEI three-star Qatar International Endurance Cup held in Doha, Qatar yesterday.

Shaikh Hamdan, the recent winner of the 160-km President's Cup in Abu Dhabi, finished first on Kishon Zeal with average speed of 23.41km for the five-stage 120-km event, according to a Dubai Equestrian Club official.

Shaikh Hamdan was followed home by Salem Rashed Bin Ghadayer on Wadhnan while the UAE's Ali Ghanim Al Marri was third on Cutie.

All three riders came in a bunch to complete another dominating display by the UAE.

Jameela steers Allura Park Star Minoan to victory

Gulf News article
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 02, 2008, 00:09

Abu Dhabi: It was a memorable day for Jameela Ahmad as the lady rider from Al Ain Endurance Stables won the 100-km Abu Dhabi Endurance Cup for privately owned horses and small stables yesterday one of the oldest endurance horses currently in competition.

Allura Park Star Minoan, an Arabian chestnut gelding, is a battle-scarred veteran and the 21-year-old carried Jameela to her first win which helped the lady rider wclaim a Nissan car.

Jameela and Allura had together finished fifth in a similar ride held here during the three-day Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival and yesterday the pair pulled it off with an average speed of 21.45kmph for the 100-km distance.

"He is a great horse. During the last ride here I slowed down considerable on the final two loops. But today he showed the willingness to go for it and it is a great day for both of us," said Jameela, who switched to endurance from showjumping a few years back.

While Grand O' Sultan and Pieraz have been legends on the endurance circuits for winning three consecutive and two world championships respectively, Allura Park Star Minoan will also go down as an ageing champion and perhaps has a few more wins up his hooves!

Great result

Jameela and Allura completed the four-stage 100-km ride in 4 hrs 40 min and 20 sec with Abdul Rahman on Fahd and Abdul Aziz Al Redha on Mafalda De Bellevue next home.

Al Ain Endurance Stables chief Mattar Al Yabouni, who just on Thursday scored two goals to star in Al Ain Mineral Water Team's triumph in the HH President's Cup polo, said yesterday's win for the stables was a great result. "With Jameela's triumph, it will be encouragement for more such national riders to come to the fore," Yabhouni said.

Results: 1. Jameela Ahmad (Allura Park Star Minoan) 4 hrs 40 mins 20 secs; 2. Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Marzouqi (Fahd) 4:48.19; 3.Abdul Aziz Al Redha (Mafalda De Bellevue) 4:54.31; 4. Hamad Ebrahim Abdullah Al Marzouqi (El Mudo) 5:09.35; 5. Ahmad Tariq Abdullah Al Mutawa (Quintet) 5:28.15.

Abu Dhabi: Rashid emerges winner in endurance ride for juniors

Gulfnews.com - Full Story

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 01, 2008, 01:05

Abu Dhabi: Rashid Ahmad Al Beloushi won the Abu Dhabi Endurance International Cup for junior and young riders at the Boutheib Endurance village in Al Khatem on Friday to follow in the footsteps of elder brother Yousuf, a champion rider and trainer.

Last week, the elder brother made Al Reef Stables proud when he scored another one of his famous wins in Dubai and yesterday it was the 15-year-old Rashid tasting his second success on 13-year-old Jen A Dale Zamarah in the 100-km event.

Rashid Ahmad and Jen A Dale Zamarah completed the four-loop 100-km ride in 4 hrs 10 mins and 12 seconds nearly six minutes ahead of Hamdan Mousa Mohammad Al Hammadi and Abdullah Rashid Mohammad Saeed Al Naqbi, who took the second and third places respectively.

Rashid Ahmad's horse was trained by Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi and the youngster thanked his elder brother and others.

FEI Endurance Task Force Meets in Final Session

FEI Press News. 2/25/08

The FEI Task Force Chairmen met for four days, from 21 to 24 February, to agree on the final recommendations for the new FEI Endurance Rules for 2009 and onwards.

Far reaching changes are recommended by the Task Force that has consulted widely with all those involved in the discipline over the last year following their creation immediately after the FEI World Endurance Forum held in Paris, February 2007.

FEI Technical Committee members will now have an opportunity to review the Task Force proposals ahead of their annual meeting scheduled for early April in Switzerland. At this meeting the Committee will add their own comments and input to the proposed new format. The detailed proposals from the Task Force, together with the full input of the Technical Committee, will then be circulated to all FEI Federations. Full details will also be published on the FEI Web site at that time.

Feedback from National Federations will then be requested and such feedback, where appropriate, will be incorporated into the final proposed FEI Endurance Rules for 2009. This final proposal will then be circulated to all FEI NFs for last review.

Formal approval of the new rules will be carried out at the FEI General Assembly in Argentina in November and, if so approved, will come into force in January 2009.

The Task Force meeting, to which all Divisional Chairs from around the world attended, was kindly hosted and supported by the Dubai Equestrian Club. Additionally the ongoing work of the Task force over the last twelve months has been supported by The Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation.

One of the Task Force Chairmen commented ‘This truly is the very best and most full playing field attempt to update our rules since this all started……….. I am left feeling very proud of work like this’.

The FEI would like to express it's gratitude to all of those who have contributed to the process so far and have given so much of their time and effort to this review. The review is an opportunity for those directly involved with the discipline to create a sound foundation upon which FEI Endurance can continue to grow in the years to come.

Abu Dhabi: Al Beloushi repeats endurance victory and hails 'great horse' - Feb 24 2008

Gulfnews.com - Full Story

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter

Abu Dhabi: In a rare repeat show, Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi finished ahead of Spain's Maria Alvarez Ponton in the Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge 120-km endurance ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Dubai on Saturday.

The defending champion, who had won this ride last year on Cameo Zinniaa, decided to partner Roherty Bold Impression and the 10-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding did extremely well to overtake Maria on Antares Sauveterre on the final loop and help the Al Reef star to finish the endurance season in Dubai the way he started it - on a winning note.

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