Bahrain: Al Dossary lifts endurance title

Bahrain Gulf News Article
By RAMI HULAYYEL

GHAZI Al Dossary steered Jelham to victory in the 100-km Endurance Horseride Championship, organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef). The final event of the endurance season, sponsored by Zain-Bahrain and co-sponsored by GPIC, started on Thursday evening and concluded early yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

A total of 71 riders from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia lined up for the event which featured four stages, 30 kms each for the first three and 10 for the last stage.

The Royal Endurance Team dominated the race taking the first two positions with Al Dossary, coached by Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, coming on top with a total time of four hours, 15 minutes and 35 seconds.

Behind him in second place was teammate Nezar Hassan (4:26:44). Just five seconds behind in third was Ahmed Al Fateh Stable rider Ibrahim Al Jeboori.

Royal Endurance Team riders Ahmed Abdulla and Raed Mahmood were fourth and fifth respectively. Baqer Ali of Abdulaziz Yousef was sixth and he was followed by Jaffer Mirza and Abdulrahman Al Saad, both of the Royal Team.

Ninth overall was Mohammed Rasheed Al Malhasi of Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Stable while Mohammed Riyadh of Al Hafira Stable wrapped up the top 10.

The championship got underway with Mahmood leading the first stage with the fastest time of 1:10:42, average speed 25.46-km per hour.

Mahmood maintained his lead in the second stage and was followed by Hassan and Manal Fakrawi.

Al Jeboori made a strong comeback in the third stage, moving on top and ahead of Mahmood who went down to third with Hassan making a good leap to second position.

The fourth and final stage was the most exciting in the competition as Al Dossary regained his momentum to take over the lead from Hassan and Al Jeboori.

Among other top riders who took part was Bahrain Athletics Association president Shaikh Talal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa who was forced to quit following an injury to his horse.

Shaikh Talal was also on hand to present the trophies to the top three riders at the prize-giving ceremony which was held right after the race.

Meanwhile, Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa congratulated the winners and wished them success in the near future.

Bahrain: Night Endurance Race

ROYAL Endurance Team will enter tomorrow's 100km Endurance Horseride Championship as top favourites as the final race of the season will get underway at 5pm at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir. The championship, being sponsored by Zain-Bahrain and co-sponsored by GPIC, will be the second successive night race to be held due to the hot weather conditions.

The Royal Team, coached by Abdulhaq Qadoori and Abdulrahman Abdullatif, will be led by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and consist of top local riders.

Among prominent riders for the Royal Team are Ghazi Al Dossary, Raed Mahmood, Ahmed Abdulla and Jaffer Mirza who are all keen to clinch a podium finish.

Taking part in the race are riders from leading stables in Bahrain, including Al Khaldiya Stable captain Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who won the 120km Championship for the Crown Prince Cup held 10 days ago.

Among overseas riders to be in the fray are the Kingdom Stable women's team who arrived in Bahrain last week with team manager Najeeb Burjus heading the delegation.

Meanwhile, the organising committee has approved four stages for the race. The first two stages will be over 30km each, the third stage will be 25km and the fourth and last stage 15km.

Veterinary examination is set for tomorrow at 3pm and will continue for two hours at the veterinary area. Maximum weight allowed for each horse is 80kg.

The technical and judging committee was also confirmed. It is being headed by Abdulsamad Al Busta and consists of Ghalib Al Alawi, Mahdi Hassan, Ali Ghuloom, Mohammed Dadulla and Haider Al Zo'bi.

Official commissioner is Mohammed Abdulsahen while Fahad Al Rumaihi will be his assistant. Haider Rafii was named official technical commissioner.

Junior/Young Rider European Endurance Championships 2008

06Mar2008

The FEI has received a late Calendar Application from the ESP Federation to host a CEIYJ3* 120km event to be held in Oviedo (ESP) on 3 May.

Oviedo (ESP) is the venue for the Junior and Young Rider European Endurance Championships from 12 to 14 September later this year. It is thought this late Calendar Application will be used as a trial run over the same course, using the same facilities as the Championships to take place later in the year.

The FEI Endurance Committee will appoint the Technical Delegate for the Championships at their meeting to be held in Interlaken (SUI) this April. The appointed TD is then expected to travel to Oviedo in May to oversee the event and make any necessary suggestions and/or recommendations to the Organising Committee in preparation for the Championships.

This is the first time a Junior/Young Rider Championship has been held in Spain since the inaugural Junior/Young Rider World Championships on 8 September 2001. This event had 13 Nations competing with over 50 starters. Team Gold was won by the home nation, Spain, with Individual Gold going to the UAE and HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Bahrain eyes first Grand Prix

By RAMI Hulayyel

BAHRAIN is bidding to become the first nation in the world to host the Endurance Horseride Grand Prix. The idea, which was masterminded by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, aims to spread endurance horseride and place Bahrain on the world map.

Following the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team's success by coming second overall in the European Endurance Championship in Portugal, Bahrain is keen to maintain its outstanding reputation as one of the most developed countries in this traditional sport.

Shaikh Nasser will invite senior officials from the World Equestrian Federation (FEI) to visit Bahrain and brief them on the competition, which is similar to motorsports' leading event 'Formula One'.

Shaikh Nasser said the idea of the Grand Prix is to have a series of endurance races in different countries from all around the world, including Bahrain.

The Breef chief confirmed that the federation is preparing for the biggest cash award in this championship which will be sponsored by various companies and establishments in Bahrain.

"If everything goes as planned, this Grand Prix will be held in different locations across the globe and particularly in touristic venues to highlight the history of the countries," said Shaikh Nasser.

"We will discuss all details with the International Equestrian Federation to prepare a complete study about this idea and here at the Bahrain Federation we are very much optimistic about making this dream come true," added the Royal Endurance Team captain.

"Having this event in Bahrain will be a key contributor to the expansion of endurance sport in Bahrain, having been widely practised in Europe, America and Australia. It will also bring many new riders into the competition," he said.

"History of endurance races in Bahrain is very short but with His Majesty King Hamad's support and the efforts of the officials from the national federation have made the Kingdom one of the hot contenders in any regional or international championships," added Shaikh Nasser.

"Endurance activities in Bahrain enjoy the whole-hearted support of His Majesty. By visiting the championships regularly and extending full support to the riders, His Majesty inspired them to achieve higher goals.

"Without the extensive support and encouragement of His Majesty, this sport in Bahrain would never have reached this level of professionalism and worldwide recognition. The riders and the people of Bahrain are proud of His Majesty, who extends his unlimited support to this sport."

One of the fastest growing sports in the world, undoubtedly, is the endurance riding. The kingdom saw the real birth of this sport in its soil on April 7, 2000.

His Majesty instructed to organise the 120km Bahrain International Endurance Horse Riding Championship as two separate races for the riders of UAE and Bahrain with the aim of creating a pool of knowledge for the participants and to help them realise their pitfalls as well as potentials.

UAE Crown Prince and Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was the winner from the UAE riders. Among the Bahraini riders, Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa reached the first place.

Inspired by the success of the first international championship, the Kingdom began to organise various types of championships from October to May every year.

The participation of the Royal team in the World Endurance Championship FEI in Italy in September 2003 has proved highly beneficial.

By participating in the championship, Shaikh Nasser, his younger brother Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and other members, Mohammed Abdul Aziz, Salem Al Otaibi, Saad Al Yami and Manal Fakhrawi, the first Bahraini girl to participate in the world championship, attained valuable experience.

[More ...]

SHAIKH NASSER TO PUSH FOR HOLDING INTERNATIONAL ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

date: 22 04, 2008

MANAMA, APRIL 22 (BNA) PRESIDENT OF THE BAHRAIN ROYAL EQUESTRIAN AND ENDURANCE FEDERATION (BREEF) SHAIKH NASSER BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA ANNOUNCED TODAY HIS INTENTION TO PUSH FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION IN A BID TO GLOBALIZE THIS SPORT AND EXTEND IT TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE GLOBE.
HE ALSO UNVEILED HIS INTENTION TO ALLOCATE GREAT FINANCIAL AWARDS FOR THE WINNERS AS THE CHAMPIONSHIP WOULD BE SPONSORED BY MANY SIDES. SHAIKH NASSER ALSO ASKED THE INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION TO ORGANIZE THIS CHAMPIONSHIP IN MORE THAN ONE PART OF THE WORLD AND TO CREATE THE NECESSARY MECHANISMS TO ENSURE ITS SUCCESS. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF SHAIKH NASSERS IDEA IS TO PROMOTE THIS SPORT WORLDWIDE AND PREPARE FUTURE EQUESTRIANS, ESPECIALLY THAT THE SPORT IS WIDELY PRACTICED IN EUROPE, NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA.

Bahrain: Shaikh Talal to take part in endurance championship

BAHRAIN Athletics Association (BAA) president Shaikh Talal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa confirmed his entry at the 120km Endurance Horseride Championship for the Crown Prince Cup tomorrow at 5pm at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Shaikh Talal had already taken part in several endurance races in the past, the last of which was for the Bahrain Endurance Cup held in the UK last season.

The BAA chief expressed delight in participating in the night race, to be held under the patronage of the Crown Prince and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports president Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Talal said he is pleased to line up with Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who will lead a strong field of riders such as Breef vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The championship will be sponsored by Durrat Al Bahrain for the second time.

Meanwhile, the organisers confirmed five stages for the main race, starting with 30km for the first two stages, 25km for the third, 20km for the fourth and 15km for the fifth.

Two side races over 85km and 60km will be held during the championship which aim to prepare new riders and horses. The 85km race will be split into three stages - 30km for the first two stages and 25km for the third - while the 60km race consists of two stages of 30km each.

Two-hour veterinary examination is set for tomorrow starting at 2pm at the veterinary area inside the village. A maximum of 75kg is allowed for each horse.

The federation also approved the technical and judging committee for the championship.

Breef general secretary Ghalib Al Alawi was named judging committee chairman with Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Haider Al Zubi, Abdulsamad Al Busta and assistants Haider Rafii and Ali Ghuloom as members. Qatari Dhafi Al Mirri was appointed official commissioner.

The veterinary committee is headed by Dar Yasine Al Mo'tamiri of Tunisia.

Gulf News article

Endurance in Southwest Idaho!

Idaho Statesman

Tony Dann gets ready to head off on
Eternel Tax Man at the start of the
Rangelands 50-mile endurance race,
held in Oreana, south of Murphy,
in May 2007.

Frank is famous within his local club for achieving 3,000 miles of competitive endurance racing. He wears metal shoes and carries his partner Tom Noll on long-distance 100-mile trail races, or during multi-day events covering hundreds of miles.

The 18 year-old unregistered Arabian horse often wins "Best Condition" awards at the end of races. An award like that is testament to Frank's talent and Noll's expertise in maintaining a healthy horse through vast distances of remote and rugged terrain.

"Frank's got a personality. He is very polite, very competitive, likes to run and is handsome," said Noll, of Meridian.

Originally, Noll was an endurance runner. He specifically learned horse riding so he could compete in equestrian endurance races. A man in Cambridge taught him riding skills and relating to horses. Members of the Southwest Idaho Trail and Distance Riders (SWIT&DR) club taught him the specifics of endurance riding.

Noll said the sport is somewhat unpredictable and there is a real bond between rider and horse.

[More ...]