Bahrain: Shaikh Khalid makes strong comeback

SHAIKH Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa's horse Kheopsy Du Pilat was awarded 'Best Condition' trophy after Bahrain Dukeries Ride held at Thoresby Park near Nottingham, in the UK.

Having finished third in the main race which was over 160km, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation first vice-president made a strong comeback to international competitions and came close towards taking the title.

Shaikh Khalid was congratulated on this award by Breef president and captain of the team Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who came second overall in this challenging FEI race which was a qualifier for this year's World Championship to be held in Malaysia in November.

Shaikh Khalid expressed delight for taking part in this annual championship which was their first of many races as part of their training camp in Europe to prepare for the World Championship.

The 160km race, sponsored by the Bahrain Royal Stables, consisted of six stages, starting with 40km for the first stage, 30km for the second and third besides 20km for the fourth, fifth and sixth stages.

The event also featured other distances including a 120km race which was won by Bahraini rider Ahmed Abdulla after a fierce battle with top riders from the UAE, UK and Europe.

The other Bahrainis who took part in the race were Shaikh Talal, the Bahrain Athletics Association president, Yousif Taher, Jaffer Mirza and Abdulrahman Al Saad who were either eliminated or had to quit during the race stages.

Gulf Daily News

Owyhee Fandango: Day 1

Images and Results for the first day of the 2008 Owyhee Fandango are available! The first day's events included a 50 mile AERC endurance ride as well as a 25 mile AERC Limited Distance ride.

Day 2 will feature a 100 mile AERC ride, as well as a 100 mile FEI CEI*** race and also include the Region 4 AHA 100 mile championship event.

[More stories and images!]

Britain: Endurance Team set for UK race

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Story

22 May 2008

BAHRAIN's Royal Endurance Team arrived in the UK yesterday prior to their participation in the Endurance Championships for the Kingdom of Bahrain Cup scheduled for Saturday near Nottingham.

The team will be led by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and features the participation of Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, captain of Al Khaldiya Stable which is under the umbrella of the Royal Team.

This prestigious event, featuring 160km and 120km races, will be the second consecutive appearance for the Bahraini team with Shaikh Nasser coming second overall in last year's championship.

Shaikh Nasser said the championships is one of several events in Europe which the team is looking forward to enter as part of their preparations for the upcoming World Cup to be hosted by Malaysia this year in November.

Confidence

"Taking part in these races will give our riders more experience and confidence ahead of the World Cup. The team members have showed performed well during the national championships and now its time to prove themselves on a higher level," said Shaikh Nasser.

"We have been keen to allow all team riders to make this trip and take part in such races which will lift their morale as they prepare to compete with top riders from Europe," he said.

"Our main aim is to take part in 160km races as many as possible as we are hear up for the Malaysian race. Everyone here is determined to put up a good show in this race and continue our serious training ahead of the World Cup."

On his part, team manager Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan said the team decided to start their preparations early this season for the World Cup.

He said the team will be split into two squads with the first taking part in the 160km race while the second will be participating in the 120km event.

Dr Khalid has arranged the shipment of the team horses from France. The horses are expected to reach the UK today.

Australia: First to Sutton

Mudgee Guardian - Full Story

BY DON MAHONEY
22/05/2008 8:26:00 AM
Local rider Mette Sutton took all before her when she had the best overall time at the Cooyal ride on Sunday.

Sutton and “Tuldar The Magician”, who were in the middleweight division, finished the 80 kilometre course in four hours and 15 minutes on a day when 72.7 per cent of competitors were able to complete the main ride.

For Sutton it was her first win on the popular Cooyal course on a day when underfoot conditions were described as excellent. It was also the first time that a local rider is believed to have been the overall ride winner at Cooyal.

More...

Great Britain: Success for coast-to-coast horse rider

By Mark Dowie

Published: 20/05/2008

Angus endurance horse rider John Thomson has successfully completed his 200-mile, east-to-west journey – raising about £2,000 for Ninewells Hospital’s acute stroke unit in Dundee.

Mr Thomson and his mount, pure-bred Arabian Prince Omar, arrived at Ardnamurchan lighthouse, the UK mainland’s most westerly point, at midday on Friday.

Mr Thomson, 57, of Parklea, Park Road, Brechin, left from Scurdie Ness lighthouse, near Montrose, on Thursday, May 8. He plotted a route which had never before been attempted on horseback.

He decided to embark on the journey after suffering a stroke two years ago. He took up horse-riding as part of his rehabilitation at the Dundee unit.

He became so enthusiastic about the sport that he trained in endurance riding. He is now a member of the Scottish Endurance Riding Club.

Mr Thomson’s intention to complete the journey by Thursday last week foundered when Omar cast a shoe while crossing Rannoch Moor.

“It was thanks to Neil Chalmers, the Blairgowrie-based farrier, that we managed to get Omar re-shod,” he said.

“Neil raced up the A9 to meet us in the early morning at the Killiecrankie Visitor Centre car park, after we had backtracked the 45 miles from the middle of Rannoch Moor where we had managed to remove the damaged shoe.”

Mr Thomson’s route, which passed through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, took him via Killin, Tyndrum and back across the moor to the West Highland Way.

One other incident caused a delay, when Omar slipped while crossing a wooden bridge on the West Highland Way. The animal’s injury required attention from a vet at Fort William before he could continue.

After spending the night at Kinlochleven, Mr Thomson crossed on to the Ardnamurchan peninsula on Thursday and made his way to the lighthouse via single-track roads.

Although Mr Thomson trained and planned over 12 months for the trip, the journey proved to be physically demanding for horse and rider over sometimes challenging terrain.

After spending up to eight hours a day in the saddle, Mr Thomson said it is a challenge he does not intend to undertake again soon.

“It was an experience and the weather and scenery were fantastic, but I won’t be repeating it, although I have thought about taking Omar to California next year to compete in the Tevis Cup, which is 100 miles in 24 hours.”

Although the exact amount raised for Ninewells has yet to be finalised, Mr Thomson expected the total to be about £2,000.

The Press and Journal

Italy: Events - Assisi Endurance Lifestyle 2008

Assissi, Italy

Assisi (Pg) This year’s edition of the Assisi Endurance Lifestyle will run from June 11th to 15th.

The rich programme of this unique equestrian event is intended to promote the concepts of environment and our relation to it, as implied by its name. Riders from all over the world will be converging on Assisi to compete in the 160-kilometre long endurance ride around the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of Mount Subasio.

The hub of the Assisi Endurance Lifestyle 2008 will be the Hospitality Village, covering an area of roughly 30,000 square metres between Assisi and Santa Maria degli Angeli. The Village will host athletes and a number of events.

Among the events that have been scheduled for this year’s edition there is an international forum on Tourism and Opportunity, focussing on the business opportunities between Umbria, Dubai and the Gulf States.

Shows and entertainment featuring leading performing artists have also been scheduled.

Info: 075 5288245, Fax 075 5287189, e-mail info@sistemaeventi.it.

First Foal of Pieraz-Cryozootech-Stallion

5 May 2008

Pierazade du Vialaret, the first foal of the cloned stallion Pieraz-Cryozootech-Stallion, has been born in France from the mare Dziupla. The mare and foal are owned by Audrey Genieys of Le Vialaret in Campagnac, France.

"The story begins in April 2007," says Audrey, "when we decided to have a foal of the double world champion. We tried with 3 mares, but only Dziupla worked. Then, it was a normal pregnancy, nothing else to do. The birth was the 5th of May at a quarter past midnight. Everything was OK, the foal was lively and magnificent, filled well."

Pieraz-Cryozootech-Stallion was born in 2005 in Italy, and now stands at stud in France. He was cloned from the gray gelding Pieraz, winner of the World Endurance Championship in 1994 at The Hague with Valerie Kanavy, and the World Endurance Championship in Fort Riley in 1996 Valerie's daughter Danielle Kanavy. In total Pieraz won 12 160-km races.

Dziupla is a granddaughter of Probat, the leading progenitor of the Comet line in Poland, and major sire of champions in Poland, Scandinavia and the USA. Dziupla has produced Djedda du Vialaret and Devine du Vialaret, both qualified endurance horses on a top 10 at 119 km, and both owned by Audrey Genieys.