Thetford Endurance Race in England.

BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance team, led by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, will today be taking part in the Thetford Endurance Race in England.

The event will consist of two categories - a 120-kilometre race and a 160km competition.

Shaikh Nasser, who won Thetford's 160km event last year, yesterday decided to take part in the 120km race this time. The Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president had his horse 'Sprite' undergo official medical check-ups yesterday conducted by the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI).

Shaikh Nasser has also already secured his qualification for the 160km category in the FEI World Endurance Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Terengganu, Malaysia in November later this year.

Meanwhile, it is still unsure if Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa will be taking part in today's race; it will depend on the schedule of his ongoing studies in the UK.

Set to compete alongside him is Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who will be riding 'Sebastian'.

The kingdom's other participants include Shaikh Daej bin Salman Al Khalifa who will be riding 'Wishky', Yousef Taher riding 'Canada Coy', Mohammed Abdulaziz riding 'Kafir', Mohammed Al Thawadi on 'Ciscada', and Lorent Mosti from the technical team riding 'Bisk'.

The event will be the Bahrain's third participation for the season. The first was the Bahrain Cup in England, while the second race was in Austria.

Riders representing the UAE will also be participating in the race. They will be led by UAE vice-resident and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum along with Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Qatari riders are other entrants from the Gulf.


Original Article

Nazulki Muda Wins Malaysian Endurance Race

SETIU, July 27 (Bernama) -- Nazulki Muda from Darul Iman Endurance Terengganu Club (DIET) emerged champion in the third circuit of the Malaysian Endurance Championship at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong here Sunday.

Riding Indiana Rose in the 160km race, Nazulki who clocked 12 hours 43 minutes and 52 seconds led the field ahead of Mohd Azizi Ismail from Tengku Mahkota Kelantan Club who registered 12:56:20s.

Another Tengku Mahkota Kelantan Club rider, Zainuddin Mohd Yusof came in third when he registered 13:08:23s.

Nazulki walked away with RM5,000 while Azizi collected RM3,000 and Zainuddin RM2,000.

Seven other riders failed to complete the race.

In the 80km race, Yusnar Yusup from Bukit Kiara Club crossed the finishing line in 6:25:30s to outpace 12 other riders to emerge winner.

Muhamad Arif Samsuri from Kuala Lumpur City Hall finished a close second when he clocked 6:39:16s followed by Azman Mat Ripin from DIET who registered 7:16:24s in the third place.

National Sports Institute director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz gave away the prizes.

He said so far 12 national riders qualified for the World Endurance Championship at TIEP in Lembah Bidong in November.

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Tasmania: Mare's in the money

The Advocate.com.au

BY MARTIN AGATYN
22/07/2008 9:56:00 AM

A COASTAL-BRED horse which won a world cup qualifying equine endurance event at Sassafras on Saturday has attracted international interest, with buyers willing to pay a six-figure sum to acquire the mare.

UNDER OFFER: Tony Purton, of Takone, and Beer Street Tiger Lily cross the finish of the 160km ride at Sassafras. Picture: Matt Bennet www.mattbennet.com

Beer Street Tiger Lily, ridden by her owner and breeder Tony Purton, of Takone, won the Federation Equestre International (FEI) three-star 160km event against an international field, and has attracted interest from the Middle East, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

The field for the Sassafras event included world No1 ranked male endurance rider Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi, from the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the event being a world cup qualifier, Purton said he would not compete in the world cup in Malaysia in September.

"I've got no doubt she would do well over there, but it's an expensive trip," he said.

Purton said Australian endurance horses were considered among the best in the world and were highly sought after, and in particular horses from Tasmania.

He is still undecided on whether or not to sell his champion nine-year-old mare.

"I've bred her parents and grandparents here at Takone and I hate selling any of my horses," he said.

Purton said Australian endurance horses took several years of training to perform at the elite level.

"You just don't breed them, you have to train them and build them up to become good endurance horses," he said.

Purton said cashed-up Arab buyers in particular, who were unable to breed and train endurance horses in the Middle East, were in the market for ready-made Australian endurance horses.

The world cup qualifying time for Saturday's Burnie Equine Endurance Riders organised event was 12 hours and 20 minutes, with Puton's mare completing the six-leg event in eight hours and 17 minutes.

Lilydale rider Sonia Brown kept pace with Purton for much of the 160km and was only three minutes behind with 10 km to go.

Second place was taken out by Penny Toft, from Queensland, riding Electra BBP Murdoch.

Toft had qualified for the world cup at a previous ride in Queensland, but still completed the Sassafras event in 8:40 hours.

Junior rider Bridget Nottle, riding one of the Toft endurance horses, Kitt, also completed the ride in 8:40.

Third place was Malaysian rider Faizal Ismail, riding Alpine Ripplin Waters, in a time of 11:23 hours, followed by fellow Malaysian Sjn Zulkefli Saari, riding RCM Shatman, in 11:24, also qualifying for the world cup in their home country.

The final three places went to three local riders, with only eight horses completing the event.

A total of 12 were vetted out and one withdrew.

Carolyn Foley, of Staverton, riding Valley Park My Solitaire, finished in a time of 11:52 hours, followed by Sonia Hodgetts, of Elliott, riding Millennium Star, in a time of 13:13, and Kaye Mitchell, of Wynyard, riding Krystal Creek Karisma, finishing in 13:30 hours.

The high rate of attrition was attributed to the concussive effect of the gravel roads on which a large part of the event was conducted.

The Australian Endurance Riders Association also conducted 80km, 40km and 20km rides in conjunction with the FEI event, attracting a field of 48 riders.

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2008 Mayan Adventure Results

Diego Zamora, of Costa Rica, riding Samurai finished first at the 2008 Mayan Adventure ride in Guatemala! Riders from Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras finished in the 160km division!

Complete Endurance.Net Coverage

Tom Noll Turtles at 2008 Vermont 100!!

Farzad Faryadi and Hot Desert Knight finish the 2008 Vermont 100 in 12:16 to claim first place. He was followed, in last place, by Idahoan Tom Noll 19 hours and 18 minutes! The complete results for 100, 75 and 50 milers may be found at:

Endurance.Net

[RC] Vermont 100 - Farzad Faryadi 1st to finish!

from Jo Steele:

Farzad Faryadi won after coming in at 8:46 pm. Christina Phillips was
first across at 8:45, bit did not get a completion. Ridertime: 12:16:00

Kathy brunjes won the 50 miles.
>

Dubai's royal family set endurance record at British ride

HorseandHound.co.uk

The royal family of Dubai set a unique record last weekend as eight of its members competed in the same endurance ride.

HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is passionate about endurance, a sport he competes in alongside his family.

At Euston Park on Sunday, 13 July at an international 80km endurance ride, Sheikh Mohammed competed alongside three of his sons, Sheikh Hamdan, Ahmed and Mayed, and four of his daughters, Sheikha Latifa, Maryam, Futeim and Sheikha.

The ride was won by Sheikha Latifa with her sister Futeim a close second.

Sheikh Mohammed's wife, Princess Haya, announced in The Sunday Times on 13 July that she intends to return to the Olympic show jumping ring in London 2012, riding for the country of her birth, Jordan.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (17 July, '08)
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