Mohammed spurs UAE

Khaleej Times
By Hisham Al Gizouli
30 June 2008


DUBAI - His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, led the UAE riders to their first seasonal European endurance title in Britain.

The race comes as part of the preparations of the national team for the World Championship scheduled to be held in Malaysia during the month of November.



Riders from France, Britain, Australia and the UAE took part in the competition which extended over 120 kilometres in relatively favourable weather conditions.

The three-member squad joined hands before they crossed the finish line ahead of the others.

Shaikh Rashid Dalmook bin Jumaa Al Maktoum and Abdullah Saeed were the other two members of the winning team.

According to the race reports, Shaikh Mohammed showed the way right from the start, followed by Shaikh Rashid Dalmook in the first 36km loop which they covered in 1:55:11 seconds at an average speed of 19,07/hr.

Shaikh Mohammed continued to set the pace in the second and third stages before the UAE riders dominated the field and went clear to cross the finish line in 3:31:28 seconds.

Sultan bin Sulayem was crowned champion of the 160km endurance ride which was held in the same venue.

Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed who started as hot favourite to win the ride, pulled out after the third loop to protect his horse.

The UAE rider and trainer Mubarak bin Shafiya said they were quite satisfied with the strong performance of the UAE riders.

Saeed Al Tayer, vice-chairman of the Dubai Equestrian Club said it was great to see the UAE riders winning two races at the same time in one day.

"UAE riders are the true champions of the world," he said.

Full Article

Bad Blumau Austria CEI*** 160km

Gulf Daily News
BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Ahmed Abdulsamad clinched victories in the Austrian International Endurance Horseride held yesterday in Bad Blumau, Austria. Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president (Breef), took the 160km race by clocking the best time of nine hours, 59 minutes and 22 seconds with a record speed average of 19.91 kms per hour. The Bahraini riders dominated this race, winning the next two positions through Ahmed Abdulla (9:59:25) who came second, followed by Ghazi Al Dossary (9:59:26) in third place.

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Arab sheikh backs wild horses for endurance

photo: horsetalk.co.nz

Could Australia's wild horses be about to take the endurance world by storm?

Thirteen wild horses from Western Australia have been plucked from the wilderness, and, in a tale reminiscent of "My Fair Lady", now find themselves living in air-conditioned comfort in Dubai with personal grooms.

Their mission is to make their mark in the sport of endurance in what will be an interesting tussle between the survival-of-the-fittest law of natural selection and the selective breeding of horse owners.

The whole exercise had its roots in a website built by Broome woman Libby Lovegrove to alert the world to the plight of horses in the broad expanses of the Kimberley.

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THE FEI WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 LAUNCHED WITH A BANG!

June 21, Kuala Lumpur: The FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 (FEI WEC 2008) was officially launched at Dataran Merdeka.

The launch started off with a parade of 48 horses and riders from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Royal Malaysian Police mounted units accompanied by police outriders, 2 marching bands, from the Malaysian Prison Department and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall along with a convoy of 10 cars and 15 motorbikes from Sime Darby Motor; the official vehicle partner for the FEI WEC 2008. The parade began from Lake Titiwangsa to Dataran Merdeka, along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

The Official Launch in Dataran Merdeka began upon the arrival of Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong (The King and Queen of Malaysia) and it started off with a colourful performance from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Cultural Group.

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Endurance Discipline Manager Selected for WEG 2010

TheHorse.com
June 26, 2008

Emmett B. Ross has been selected as the Endurance Discipline Manager for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Ross brings more than 20 years of international endurance riding experience, acting as trainer, Chef d'Equipe, manager, participant, organizer, and consultant in more than 100 FEI 2 to 4* endurance events in more than 14 countries.

"I am honored and delighted to take on the role of endurance discipline manager, and look forward to working with the team of disciplines managers to help create a world-class competition environment and endurance course for the upcoming 2010 Games," Ross said.

Ross is one of eight discipline managers responsible for planning, managing and directing the world championship competitions in eight equestrian sports.

As an athlete, Ross was a Gold medal team member in the first North American Championships, and a three-time, top-10 finisher in the Tevis Cup in Auburn, California. Ross is the only trainer and coach in the world with FEI endurance wins in nine different countries.

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Royal Bahrain Team set for Austria ride

Bahrain Gulf Daily News

BAHRAIN's Royal Endurance Team arrived yesterday in Graz City in Austria as they prepare to make debut in Austria's International Endurance Horseride scheduled for Saturday in Bad Blumau.

The team, to be led by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, will be among 120 riders from 12 European countries taking part in races over 120km and 160km, both on Saturday.

After a long journey via Frankfurt Airport, the 25-member delegation reached the Austrian city without Shaikh Nasser who is due to arrive tomorrow to join the team training prior to the championship.

Commenting on his team's participation, Shaikh Nasser said they recently decided to take part in this race which replaced Thatford Race in the UK due to similar weather conditions in Austria and Malaysia, which will host the World Championship from November 9 to 11.

The Bahrainis are seeking to have as many riders qualified as possible for the World Championship to be held at Terengganu International Endurance Park in Setiu Terengganu.

Shaikh Nasser added that this will be the first time for the team to participate in a race in Austria, having mostly competed in the UK and France, besides Ireland, Germany and Portugal.

Team manager Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan said the team is confident of doing well in the race, stressing on the importance of finishing the event without being disqualified in their bid to reach the World Championship.

NZ names World Champs endurance team

Three horse and rider combinations have been named to New Zealand's team to compete in the 2008 World Endurance Championships in Malaysia in September.

Jenny Champion and Freckles, Philip Graham and Wolfgang Amadeus, and Andrea Smith and Sierra Nevada have been selected.

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