NZ: Horse of Year endurance race a fast contest

Pacifica with the winner's garland.

Horsetalk.co.nz article
The 103km endurance competition at the Horse of the Year show at the weekend was a closely fought event, with the winner Kirstin Deuss, riding Pacifica, finishing in just under five hours.

The riders left the main stadium at the Hastings showgrounds at 6am on Friday morning, heading 32km across the Tukituk River and out to Haupiri Station at Ocean beach to end the first loop. Three more loops were run on the station, taking the riders well down towards Cape Kidnappers.

There were 25 combinations taking part, including riders from South Africa. It was a galloping finish for Deuss and second placed Teresa Birkett, whose horse unfortunately fell on the road during the run in.

Pacifica also won the best conditioned award. The mare was bred in the South Island by Belinda Simons and is half Polish, being by Earth Wind and Fire from Oceania (Ocean Monarch x Dellmount Ishtar by Cairo).

Results
1st Kirstin Deuss
2nd was Teresa Birkett
3rd was Tony Masters
4th Denise Hill
5th Petra Deacon
6th Jenny Chandler

Bahrain: Top riders set for endurance championship

PREPARATIONS are in full swing for His Majesty King Hamad Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for Saturday at the Bahrain international Endurance Village in Sakhir. Top riders from Bahrain and the GCC will take part in the annual event which will be over 120km and will consist of senior and junior races. Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa gave his directives to the organisers to start preparing to host this championship which is open to all ages and nationalities. Shaikh Nasser extended his appreciation to Batelco for sponsoring the association's programmes besides Al Areen and Gulf Holding Companies which will sponsor the event along with the International Bank. Coverage on Endurance.Net

Abu Dhabi: Abdullah secures first career victory

Gulfnews.com

By M. Satya Narayan Senior Reporter
Published: March 09, 2008, 00:03

Abu Dhabi: Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim, on 11-year-old grey gelding Omani Iman, scored his first career win at the open level when he won the Emirates Challenge 120-km endurance ride yesterday.

Abdullah, who dominated for most of the 120-km event held at the Emirates International Endurance Village, did have some fight on the final stage when Mohammad Rashid Saeed Khamis Al Subose, on Deen, put up a brave challenge.

Terrific pace

Abdullah and Omani Iman were second after the first 32kms and later took the lead in the second stage. Maintaining an average speed of around 25km/h, Abdullah was still in the lead after four loops and 104kms.

Abdullah was followed by Dhahi Abdullah Khamis, on Nahsaar, but Mohammad Rashid Saeed Khamis Al Subose on Deen, fifth at that stage, unleashed a terrific pace. Touching a high average speed of 31.32km/h on the final 16kms, Mohammad Rashid made a brave attempt to catch leader Abdullah but the latter did well to reach the finish line first.

Dhahi Abdullah Khamis, on Nahsaar, finished third while another strong contender, Omar Hussain Al Beloushi, was fifth on Cameo Zinnia behind Majid Mohammad Salman Al Sabri.

Abdullah, who won a luxury car and a slice of the Dh400,000 on offer, credited his horse for the win.

"Omani Iman is a great champion and has had some outstanding performances. I found him fresh and he did well to just keep going, even when challenged," said the 22-year-old youngster who is rider at the Al Aasfa Stables.

With the stables sending out the first and third-placed horses, trainer Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya, said it was a good achievement.

"There were some very strong riders and horses in the field. We have had a fair share of success this season," said Bin Shafya.

Results

Hydra-sponsored Emirates Challenge 120-km endurance ride:

1. Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim (Omani Iman) 4 hrs 46 mins 47 secs

2. Mohammad Rashid Saeed Khamis Al Subose (Deen) 4:48.54

3. Dhahi Abdullah Khamis Al Dhahi (Nahsaari) 4:55.06

4. Majid Mohammad Salman Al Sabri (Abyaneh) 5:00.06;

5. Omar Hussain Abdullah Al Beloushi (Cameo Zinnia) 5:02.48.

More...

UAE: Major event for ladies planned

Gulf News Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 08, 2008, 01:09

Abu Dhabi: Encouraged by the success of the Three Round Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Challenge endurance series for lady riders, the Al Asayel Endurance Village Organising Committee is looking to add an international event next season.

Shaikha Shaikha Bint Saif Al Nahyan, wife of Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, who attended the event on Friday, said that 10 per cent of all revenues from the three rounds will be donated to the 'Make My Wish Come True Foundation' for the benefit of terminally ill persons.

Speaking to Gulf News, Shaikha Alyazia Bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan said, the driving force behind the endurance ride for ladies in Al Asayel, said "This year's three rounds was a huge success. We were able to get some very good sponsors and the quality of competitions was high.

"We are looking at having a major event with invited riders from all over the world as well as the GCC countries.

"It will be like a women's World Championship," Shaikha Alyazia said.

UAE: Afra and Shamsah share limelight at Ladies Challenge

Presentation ceremony for the Hydra Properties-sponsored Third Round of the Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Challenge endurance ride, in Abu Dhabi.

Gulf News Article
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 08, 2008, 01:27

Abu Dhabi: Shamsah Awad Al Otaiba won the Hydra Properties-sponsored Third Round of the Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Challenge endurance ride for ladies while Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi finished fourth to win the overall championship.

Shamsah, on Yarandoo Jakara Silver, came up with a fine display of horsemanship when she took three hrs 49 mins and 10 secs to win on Yarandoo Jakara Silver in yesterday's 100-km FEI ride at the Al Asayel Endurance Village in Sweihan.

It was a great result for the Al Asayel Endurance Village as Shaikha Hessa Bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan on former race horse Agrab Al Nas took the sixth place.

Luxury car

Earlier, in the duel for the overall winner after Three Rounds of the Challenge, first round winner Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi finished fourth on Waterlea Tuppence to garner crucial points.

With Second Round winner Sue Sidebottom having to make an unfortunate exit as her horse was found lame just before the final stage of 16 kms to leave the Al Reef Stables' Afra a winner of a Dh 150, 000 luxury car.

Yesterday's winner, Shamsah Awad said she had to keep her horse in check during the initial stages of the 4-stage ride.

"This is the same horse on which I finished fifth in the Second Round and he was also the Best Conditioned horse after that event.

"He looked very fresh and I had to keep him that way," said Shamsah.

Stiff fight between Al Suwaidi and Sidebottom

Gulf News Article
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 07, 2008, 01:24

Abu Dhabi: The UAE's Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi and British rider Sue Sidebottom are involved in a close battle to win the Dh150,000 car on offer for the overall winner of the Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Challenge Endurance Ride series.

Today's Hydra Properties-sponsored third and final round of the 100-km Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Challenge Endurance Ride for Ladies at the Al Asayel Endurance Village will see the top two along with a handful of other riders making a determined bid to win the overall title.

Afra leads with 200 points followed by Sue on 180 with Aliya Ali Al Marzouki (145), Briton Kayleigh Smith (140) and Reem Shaban on 100, all in with a chance to win today's final round and the overall title.

With 130 points for a win, an additional 45 points on offer for winning the best conditioned horse award gives any one of the top bunch of riders to win.

Bonus points

The rider who partners the same horse and completes all three rounds will also get an additional 100 bonus points.

Speaking to Gulf News, Sidebottom said she may not be riding Fenwick Cadenza, the horse with which she was placed fifth in the first round and won the second round.

"A final decision will be made later in the day. However, I would like to first complete the ride which will; give me a bonus of 50 points for completing all three rides," she said.

"There are some very good riders and Afra, Kayleigh and Aliya are all in with a chance. It will be a strong and highly competitive affair tomorrow," said Sue.

The FEI CEI Two-star event starts at 6.30am and will be run in four loops of 30, 30, 24 and 16kms.

FEI Endurance Task Force - Recommendations and Proposed Rule Changes

FEI Press News

The six Endurance Task Force Chairman (pictured above) are now making final checks to the document that contains their proposed rules changes in advance of it being circulated to the FEI Technical Committee members for Endurance. Throughout the period of review the Task Force has operated as an independent body and has been in touch with a wide cross section of people involved within the discipline.

The document, which is in the form of a new Endurance Rule Book contains proposals for change in the following areas:

Phase distances, hold times, rest periods and number of vet gates
Course design
Abandonment of Events
Time and record keeping
Forbidden Assistance
Dress Code
Weights
Retirements
Competition Distances related to *Rating
Horse and Rider eligibility to FEI events
Mandatory Rest Periods for Horses
Horse Log Books
Championship Qualification
Team numbers
Veterinary Examinations

The proposed changes have resulted in amendments being suggested to every page of the existing FEI Rules for Endurance Riding (2005 edition).

Mrs Ruth Carlson, Acting Chair of the FEI Endurance Technical Committee commented, "I am very happy that the work of the Task Force has been a success and I look forward to reading their proposals. On behalf of my Committee I would like to thank the Task Force members for all their hard work and thought put into the project"