Bahrain: SHAIKH NASSER BIN HAMAD NOMINATED FOR WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

BAHRAIN ROYAL EQUESTRIAN AND ENDURANCE FEDERATION (BREEF) PRESIDENT SHAIKH NASSER BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA HAS BECOME A NOMINEE FOR THE NEXT ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FEI AFTER HIS BIG WIN YESTERDAY IN THE 160KM BAHRAIN DUKERIES RACE.

SHAIKH NASSER CAME THIRD IN MAY'S RANKING. HE CAME SECOND IN THE BRITISH DUKERIES RIDE FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR. SHAIKH NASSER WAS ALMOST A WINNER AT YESTERDAY'S EVENT BUT WAS HELD BACK WHEN HIS THE HORSESHOE OF HIS HORSE GANDA KOY FELL AT THE FIFTH STAGE. THIS CAUSED HIM A 10 MINUTE DELAY. SHAIKH NASSER, THE ROYAL TEAM CAPTAIN, EXPRESSED DELIGHT TO STAND ON THE PODIUM FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR NEXT TO HIS BROTHER SHAIKH KHALID WHO CAME THIRD.
THE BIGGEST GAIN FROM THIS RACE IS THAT THE BAHRAINI TEAM, NOMINATED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2008 FEI WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MALAYSIA, HAS COMPLETED ALL STAGES OF THE EVENT SUCCESSFULLY, HE SAID. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN PREPARING THE TEAM FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP, HE NOTED. SHAIKH NASSER DESCRIBED THE RACE AS EXCITING AND SAID THAT EACH HORSERIDER HANDLED THE RESPONSIBILITY EFFICIENTLY. BAHRAINI SUCCESS IN EUROPEAN RACES WILL CONTINUE IN COMING STAGES, HE REMARKED.
SHAIKH NASSER AND SHAIKH KHALID SAID THAT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF BAHRAINI ENDURANCE WERE A RESULT OF THE SUPPORT OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING. HIS MAJESTY'S FOLLOW-UP DURING THE RACE PUSH US TOWARDS PUTTING MORE EFFORT TOWARDS CLINCHING MORE ASSETS FOR BAHRAINI SPORT IN GENERAL, AND ENDURANCE ESPECIALLY, THEY SAID. THEY VOWED TO PUT EVEN MORE EFFORT TOWARDS MORE BAHRAINI SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS.
MEANWHILE, SHAIKH KHALID SAW THAT COMING THIRD IN THE RACE WAS AN ENCOURAGING START FOR HIS PARTICIPATION IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. ALTHOUGH HE WAS BUSY WITH HIS STUDIES, HE WAS KEEN ON CONTRIBUTING TO ACHIEVEMENTS THAT HONOUR THE NAME OF BAHRAIN AND HAD SUCCEEDED IN THAT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SHAIKH NASSER. SHAIKH KHALID EXPRESSED JOY AT THE RESULTS OF BAHRAINI JOCKEYS IN THE RACE AND AFFIRMED THAT THE COMING RESULTS WOULD BE EVEN BETTER. ROYAL TEAM JOCKEY AHMED ABDULLAH CAME FIRST IN THE 120KM PHASE OF THE BAHRAIN DUCKERIES RACE IN THE UK.
THE GUIDANCE OF SHAIKH NASSER AND SHAIKH KHALID AND THE COOPERATION OF THE TEAM WERE BEHIND THE ACHIEVEMENT, HE SAID. THE RACE WAS GOOD AND EXCITING IN ALL ITS STAGES AND WAS A GOOD BEGINNING FOR THE FIRST RACE OF THE ROYAL TEAM IN BRITAIN, HE SAID. COMMENTING ON THE RESULTS OF THE TEAM IN ITS FIRST RACE IN THE UK, THE COACH AND JOCKEY AT THE TEAM SHAIKH DUAIJ BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA THAT THEY CAME AS A GOOD PREPARATION FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MALAYSIA.
THE PREPARATION PROGRAMME FOR THE TEAM WILL CONTINUE FOR THE SAKE OF ACHIEVING THE BEST RESULTS UNTIL THE MALAYSIA CHAMPIONSHIP, HE SAID. NTQ/ 25-MAY-2008 23:09

Great Britain: Success at the Bahrain Dukeries Ride

Endurancegb.co.uk

26th May 2008

Winner of the Bahrain Dukeries Endurance Ride FEI 160-km in an exciting racing finish with H.H.Sh.Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and H.H.Sh.Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, was Tricia Hirst, riding Vlacq Abattarik, at a speed of 16.96kph.

Jenni Gilbert on Flurrie won the 160km National class.

The ride took place at the Dukeries at Thoresby Park, through the undulating forest tracks of Sherwood Forest. With thanks to the main sponsors, the Bahrain Royal Stables, the event was a wonderful showcase for Endurancegb, in front of the beautiful Thoresby House.

Results are on the Dukeries website and photos are by David Saunders.

Great Britain: Farewell to gold medal-winning endurance horse Hero

Horseandhound.co.uk

H&H news desk

24 May, 2008

Endurance horse Hero, who helped Britain win a gold medal at the 1990 World Equestrian Games, died on 2 May, aged 30, at his retirement home in Ash, Kent.

He had been looked after for the past 10 years by Kay and Alan Anstey.

Joy Barling Loyla partnered the 15.1hh palomino in most of his career successes. The pair picked up a gold award at the 25th anniversary Golden Horseshoe Ride at Exford and represented England three times in the Home International, as well as winning numerous other rides including the Red Dragon and Breamore.

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.

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