Abu Dhabi: Over 100 riders for final event in Al Wathba

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Abu Dhabi: Friday's Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge 120-km endurance ride has attracted over 100 riders and will bring the curtain down on the 2007-08 endurance season here at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Sponsorship

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, said that apart from the 120-km Open ride a Qualifier Ride will also be held.

"There will be a total prize money of...

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South Africa: AMI DE WET CHALLENGE

PO Box 3583, Pinegowrie, 2123
Tel (011) 380-3780
Fax 086 616 8495
E-mail: mprwoods@mweb.co.za


RIDE REPORT: 9 FEBRUARY 2008
AMI DE WET CHALLENGE

It is indeed a pleasure to submit the following as a report on the first of our rides held at Bosparadys Farm, the 6th annual ride presented by our club.

In my view and in the view of everybody that I spoke to the ride was a tremendous success. Johannie Geldenhuys summed it up best when she described the ride as one which 'we almost got fully right".

I do agree that there was certain aspects which require fixing up but these issues have been identified and will be sorted out prior to the next ride.

The ride would never have taken place without the hard work as also donations from various individuals and it is necessary to thank everybody concerned at this point.

I want to first and foremost thank the owner of the farm, Mr William Khoury for the tremendous work he put in to construct the magnificent ride base from which we hosted the ride.

A very big thank you must go out to all the members of the club committee who nearly broke their backs working on the horse kampies, on the ride base and out on the course.

We must also thank the committee of the Bakubung ba RATHEO qua Molete Communial Property Association for allowing us to make use of their beautiful land which borders Bosparadys for purposes of the ride.

A further very big thank you must also go out to our sponsors. In this regard we thank Suzette Ferreira of our Club who is the Creative Director of Annique Beauty Products. Thank you Suzette for once again coming to the party and providing superb gifts.

We then have our members whom I regularly tap for donations. I would like to once again thank Monique Woods, Antony Ball, Oscar Lockwood, Danie Ferreira, Pieter Burger, Hurbey and Johannie Geldenhuys, Nick van Rooyen and Johan Nel and Kobus Lombard as also a number of other donors who are not endurance riders for their very generous contributions to the Club again this year. It is sincerely appreciated and really helps us out every year financially. Tjaart de Wet also obtained a wonderful sponsored gift of imported sunglasses for which we are grateful.

A big thank you must also go out to all our officials who worked very hard on the ride. Leon de Wit as Ride Master once again prepared a very thorough evaluation and delivered sound advice. Alan Spreadborough and Graham Pickett were terrific with regards to the timekeeping. Dr Marc Walton our Club Vet, once again put together a highly professional team of veterinary surgeons in the form of Dr Paul van Dam, Dr Franza Keizer, Dr Hertjie and Dr Leslie van Niekerk, Dr Lisa du Plessis and Dr Clint Austin. A big thank you must go out to all these fabulous vets who over the years have grown into firm friends of the Club (indeed members) and whose treatment of the riders and horses are sincerely appreciated, and was of the highest calibre.

I would also like to mention good friends of ours - the Doywers of Platorand.
We would like them to know how grateful we are in the Club to them in that they have always supported our rides in big numbers and we really appreciate the effort put in by Juanita and van Dyn in this regard. It is always a pleasure to welcome them, their family and friends and club members to our rides.

A wonderful sponsor in the form of Abdullah bin Huzain, a trainer at Nad Alsheba Endurance Stable, one of Shaik Mohommed’s stables in Dubai donated R22 000,00 in prizes for the 80km and 120km Standard Weight Divisions.

I also wish to thank Monique Woods who as we all know is very passionate about Best Condition and she has for many years sponsored the Best Conditioned horse category prize. This year she once again donated R5 000,00 for Best Conditioned Horse of the Ride which was split between the 80 and 120kms rides Natasha Herbst and Johannie Geldenhuys were the individual winners in this regard. Notwithstanding that it was our first ride from this ride base I once again reiterate that I am of the view that it was a great ride.

The following were the results:


CATEGORY 105KMS

First Place: Zuan Pelser of Platurand on Arkab Valjean

2nd CATEGORY: 120KMS – STANDARD WEIGHT

First Place: Johannie Geldenhuys on Phuka Connae-sa of Mogale
Second Place: Zuber Master of Ottersdaal on El Sajyaa
Third Place: Leonie van Niewenhuizen of Platurand on Jaybee Morrat

3rd CATEGORY: 120KMS – LIGHT WEIGHT

First Place: Nelson Mavundla on Rassie of Mogale

4TH CATEGORY: 120KMS – JUNIOR

First Place: Ronel van Niewenhuysen of Platurand on Jauhar Amal
Second Place: Louise Kolbee of Platurand on Arkab Akrab

5th CATEGORY: 81.7 KMS HEAVY WEIGHT

First Place: Antony Ball of Mogale
Second Place: T. Eloff
Third Place: J. Kasselman of Ottersdaal
Fourth Place: Arnie Dietrich of Mogale

Ami de Wet Snr and Honourary Mogale Member and in whose honour we ride this race came 10th

6th CATEGORY: 81.7kms STANDARD WEIGHT

First Place: Natasha Herbst of Mogale
Second Place: Nancy Gombalt of Mogale
Third Place: Susan Wilhelm of Premier
Fourth Place: Bernise Binet of Mogale
Fifth Place: Inika Thirion

7TH CATEGORY: 81.7KMS LIGHT WEIGHT

First Place: Jannie Engelbrecht of Mogale
Second Place: K. Lockwood of Mogale
Third Place: Jana Fick

8TH CATEGORY: 81.7kms JUNIORS

First Place: Annake van Heerden
Second Place: Georgina Lockwood of Mogale
Third Place: Ilinza Benning
Fourth Place: Zuan Rademan
Fifth Place: Stephanie Lockwood of Mogale
Sixth Place: Sarie Scheepers of Mogale

9TH CATEGORY: 81.7kms CHILD RIDERS

First Place: Elisa Venter

There seem to be a lot of trap leer riders and to my surprise not enough Mogale Members. Please take note and support your club at its rides. It is very important that you partake. There were shortcomings in the form of administration, start/finish line etc. but these have been identified and will be worked on and rectified by the time the next ride comes around.

Keep in touch with ride results and interesting titbits during the year and remember to visit our website: www.mogaleclub.co.za for regular updates and info.

The aspect that I receive the most compliments of during the ride was on the course. In this regard a very special thank you must go out to Hurbey and Johannie Geldenhuys. I believe that between the two of them, with a little help from other people, they have designed the finest endurance course in the country. Many days, not hours, were put into this by Hurrbey and Johannie and on behalf of all the Club Members and indeed every other ERASA member who had the honour to ride this course, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to them for this wonderful, imaginative, superb, testing course which I am told by every rider I spoke to was an absolute delight to ride.

I would also like to take this opportunity to state we have a number of new members and their ride numbers are as follows:

Anthony Botes-----------TM5904
Wilma Botes-------------TM5905
Billy Botes-------------TM5906
Zannie du Preez---------TM5505
Wilma Martindale--------TM2522
Stafford Robinson-------TM3831
Janie Engelbrecht-------TM4994
Cindy Nel---------------TM5856
Wendy Smallman----------TM5163
Ryno Verster------------TM3958
Pieter van Heerden------TM3226
Dirk Pretorius----------TM5977
Len Nel-----------------TM5978

I wish all of our members the best of luck for the rest of the season and sincerely hope that all your horses come through unscathed.

Lekker ry,
Tony

Australia's horse industry open for international trade

Horsetalk.co.nz

March 20, 2008

Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Andy Carroll has extended an open invitation to international trading partners following the announcement that the country is provisionally free of equine influenza (EI).

"I invite our trading partners to visit and see first hand our success in eradicating equine influenza and ongoing surveillance," Dr Carroll said.

"I'm pleased to say several international markets have already re-opened their doors to Australian horse exports.

"The open invitation allows international trading representatives to satisfy themselves that Australian horses are in top health and fit for export.

"International trade is crucial to Australia's horse industry and authorities will be working closely with industry representatives and trading partners to re-open important markets.

"We should be proud of the eradication result. Australia has well established arrangements to deal with disease outbreaks and EI presented the largest ever test of these arrangements."

Close to 10,000 properties in Australia were infected and all horses are now recovered.

"Active surveillance has not found any new infected horses since December," Dr Carroll said.

"We are now working towards securing international recognition as being free from equine influenza. To satisfy World Animal Health Organization requirements, Australia will be maintaining our highly effective surveillance system so we can continue to prove that we remain free from equine influenza."

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Australia: Victoria's First Endurance Ride Post-Influenza

Press Release
Tonimbuk Gold Cup Inc

Melbourne, Victoria, 14/3/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Person: Helen Ward
Company Name: Tonimbuk Gold Cup Inc

Telephone: 0438 59 4285

Email: hiward@bigpond.com

Victorian endurance riders give course the thumbs up

Riders and organisers have hailed Victoria's first endurance ride following Australia's crippling equine influenza outbreak a raging success largely due to the fantastic course.

The 80 km ride which forms part of the 2009 Tom Quilty course commenced at Yarrabubba Reserve, Nar Nar Goon (about 1 hour south east of Melbourne) and traversed roads and tracks throughout the picturesque countryside of the Bunyip State Park and surrounds.

Without exception, riders gave the course the thumbs up. Equal first in the middleweight division, Meg Wade from Castlebar Arabian Endurance Horses rated the track as great. "Much of the course passed through bush providing cover and shade for horses and riders. It was well marked, checkpoints well placed and good under foot," she said.

Jennifer Green from Flying Circus Endurance Horses agreed. "The course was horse and rider friendly. It provided a variety of terrain, it was safe with wide trails and all weather surfaces under foot."

Event organiser, Lissy Verity was delighted with the response and turnout. "It was a great start to the 2008 endurance riding season. Over 50 riders competed. They were given the choice to compete in the 80 km or 40 km ride and it worked out at about 50/50," she said. "There were several first timers which was great to see, but the vast majority of entries were from experienced riders just keen to get back into it.

Crossing the line first in the Lightweight Division with line honors was Belinda Kolek riding Colhaven Zaheera (4hrs.26min), second was Amily Daw on China Doll (4hrs.44min) and third was Shandal Bengtsson riding Kedarona Kliche (5hrs.34min). Amily also took out the Best Conditioned award.

Meg Wade on Castlebar Balik and James Sheehan riding Woodbourne Edmund took out the Middleweight Division in equal first place completing the course in 4hrs.28 min. Asher Batty on Tierview Maverick placed third in 4hrs.44min.

The Heavyweight Division saw Ken Bradley on Phoenix Park Epona placed first (5hrs.02), Martin Mizzi riding Sutket Farm Damareef second (5hrs.20min) and Carl Adamson on Bowzatus third (5hrs.40min).

Budding 12 year old endurance rider Nikita VerspannDonk stole the show. "On her first 40 km ride she rode the whole way bareback," said Ms Verity. Not surprisingly Nikita received the Tonimbuk Gold Cup Inc Encouragement award.

The majority or horses vetted through despite the hot, dry conditions on the day; a testament to the courage, ability and stamina of the horses, the majority of which were Arabian, and the skill and strategy of the rider.

"Many used this event as a training ride following the recent layoff," said seasoned endurance rider, Bob Punicki from Brieema Endurance Arabians. "The course was not to hard and not to easy. It provided an opportunity for horses that were not 100 per cent fit to compete on a good course that offered variety, was good under foot with minimum bitumen and plenty of shade."

There was a really good vibe at this ride according to Jennifer Green. "Everyone seemed delighted to be back doing what we love, whether that be riding, strapping, TPRing, vetting or doing one of the other 101 tasks essential for a successful ride," she said. "It was so good to catch up with everyone after such a long lay off, to just stand around talking horse with old friends and new ones too."

It was then time to head home and reflect, not only on the results but also on the entire experience. And in particular on our wonderful horses whose stamina, beauty and character are unequalled.

BRN: HM ATTENDS ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

MA, March 15 (BNA)-- HIS MAJESTY King Hamad Bin Isa al Khalifa today patronised the 120 kilometre endurance horseride Championship in which jockeys from Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia And Jordan compete for His Cup.

On arriving at the endurance village, His Majesty was received by Crown Prince and Deputy of the Supreme Commander of the BDF Shaikh Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa, National Guard Chief Major General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa al Khalifa, Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa, Endurance Committee Chairman Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid al Khalifa and BREEF members.

His Majesty exchanged talks with the guests of The Kingdom Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoom, Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoom, Jordanian Equestrian Federation President Princess Alya bint Al Hussain and a number of participant jockeys.

His Majesty affirmed that the participation of jockeys from countries in the region along with Bahraini jockeys shows the strength of the relations between these countries and Bahrain.

His Majesty then praised the role of BREEF, headed by Shaikh Nasser, in supporting this sport and its promotion through holding various local, regional and international events.

His Majesty The King noted the advanced results achieved by endurance races on all levels, something which calls for taking pride in The Kingdom's jockeys and their keenness on honouring the name of Their Country in such events.

His Majesty also affirmed His support and encouragement for all activities and events of BREEF and expressed His thanks and appreciation for the sponsors of endurance races.

His Majesty then wished BREEF and everybody success for their continuous efforts to organise and participate in various races and events.

Following that, His Majesty attended a part of the race that started at an early hour of the morning today.

The race was sponsored by Global Banking Corporation (GBC), Al Areen Holding Company and Gulf Holding Company.

At the end of the race, His Majesty congratulated winners and presented them with their awards.

First Winner, Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan, received a sword from His Majesty and a car.

Second winner Ameer al Balooshi and third winner Mohammed Rashid al Saboosi, were also from the UAE.

Al Areen Holding Chairman Shaikh Ahmed bin Ali al Khalifa and GBC vice chairman and managing director Abdul Rahman Mohammed al Jasmi both presented mementos to His Majesty.

On the occassion, Shaikh Nasser extended his thanks and appreciation to His Majesty the King for His support for endurance races and His encouragement for jockeys in Bahrain.

This encouragement motivates them to work harder to honour the name of Bahrain and contribute to the development of this sport, he said.
The support of His Majesty King Hamad is a badge of honour that all jockeys are proud to bear, he said, affirming that BREEF works on the implementation of royal directives for upgrading the sport to meet ambitions.

Shaikh Nasser congratulated Shaikh Hamdan on winning the championship and the two runner ups from UAE.
He also valued the participation of the jockeys at the race which added a lot to the success of the event.

Meanwhile, Al Areen Holding manager Waleed Saffy and GBC Representative then presented winners of the junior race.
Rashid Ahmed al Balooshi, from the UAE, came first.
The runner ups were Shaikha Najla bint Salman bin Sager al Khalifa from Ahmed Al Fateh Stable and Abdullah Hilal al Khateri from Al Asayel Stable.

Full Coverate on Endurance.Net

Hamdan leads Dubai charge in Bahrain

Kaleej Times
MANAMA — Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai won the 120km His Majesty King Hamad's Endurance Horseride Championship as the UAE riders swept the first five places of the prestigious competition at the Bahrain International Endurance Village at Sakhir on Saturday.

Omair Hussain Al Beloushi finished second, and Mohammed Rashid Al Sibouse took the third place honours.

Bahraini contender Mohammed Al Hulaifi was fourth and Shaikh Mayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum finished fifth.

The winner covered the distance in four hours 57 minutes and 51 seconds.

The event consisted of races for senior and junior riders, both over 120km.

Each race was divided into five stages with 30km for the first two stages, 25km for the third, 20km for the fourth and 15km for the fifth.

The championship attracted riders from different parts of the world, including the six states of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council.
Among the prominent riders from Saudi Arabia were Prince Abdulla bin Fahad Al Saud, Humood Al Shimirri, Nawaf Al Otibi, Abdulla Al Bahyan, Bader Misfir and Mansoor Al Shimirri.

Endurance.Net Coverage

Zafir Nawaz on top in Dubai endurance

Khaleej Times article
By Hisham Al Gizouli
15 March 2008

DUBAI — Zafir Nawaz won his first endurance silverware after landing the CEN 100km Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge 2 here at Seih Assalam Endurance City on Saturday.

The winner onboard 13-year-old Arabian gelding Lautaro took over the running from loop two to lead a splendid one-two finish for Al Ain Stables.

“My horse was in great nick and had plenty left in his tank to win convincingly at the end. It’s his maiden win and looks a fantastic prospect,” said a delighted Pakistani rider later.

Compatriot Mohammed Asif Abdul Razaq astride 10-year-old Arabian gelding Milqvi six finished six minutes off the pace second place.

“I’m really happy with the result. It’s my first win since I started riding few years ago. It is good to end the season on a high note. It means a lot for me and my stables. Hopefully we can look forward to a few more from this fantastic one-two finish for the stable.

“The race was run at a very fast pace in a relatively hot weather conditions. It was a race that panned out well for us. I had the full backing of my team and a good result to go home at the end.”

The final race of the season started with 69 riders from the small stables hitting in the heart of the desert under the early rays of the sun.

The winner didn’t waste much time and put his horse on the heels of the early speed right from the start as the Sudanese rider Alazz Al Ghaley showed the way astride his six-year-old Arabian Diyar by the end of the first loop.

Zafir hit the front after the second vet gate with compatriot and stable-mate Mohd Asif just behind the lead as the riders completed the second loop at an average speed of 23.57km/hour, before they surge clear and emerge easy winners.