Bahrain: Royal team set for UK race

Gulf Daily News

BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team, led by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, will be taking part in the Thetford Endurance Race in the UK tomorrow.

The event, which will feature races over 160 kilometres and 120km, is part of the Royal team's preparations for the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) World Endurance Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Terengganu, Malaysia in November later this year.

Both Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid will be competing in the 160-km event, along with Shaikh Daej bin Salman Al Khalifa, Mohammed Abdulaziz, Ahmed Abdulla and Yousef Taher.

Meanwhile, the Bahrainis taking part in the 120km race will be Mohammed Abdulsamad, Ghazi Al Dossary, and Jordan Galas.

Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president, said that tomorrow's race will be the Royal team's final event prior to the world championships.

Shaikh Nasser also decided to compete in the 160km race with the main Royal team members, who will participate in the Malaysian event.

The race will be the second endurance meet being participated by the Royal team in Thetford. Last month, the team took part in a similar competition, with five of its top riders finishing among the top 10 in each of the categories.

Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid took part in the 120km race then, along with Shaikh Daej. Shaikh Khalid completed the race sixth overall, while Shaikh Nasser came in ninth and Shaikh Daej 10th.

Abdulaziz, on the other hand, came fourth in the 160km race, while Taher was fifth.

The medical check for tomorrow's race will take place this afternoon, to be held under the supervision of the FEI.

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.
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Australia: World class endurance events in Tonimbuk, Victoria

Horsedeals.com.au

6th Aug 2008

The motto of Australian endurance riders is "To complete is to win". In excess of 70 riders from around Australia and the globe will be aiming to complete the FEI CEI 3* 160km , FEI 2* 108km and AERA 108km elevated ride endurance ride this weekend (8-9 August) at Tonimbuk, Victoria.

Considered a world-class endurance ride, it is a preview event to the internationally renowned Tom Quilty Gold Cup scheduled for September 2009 as it covers the exact same course as the Quilty. This FEI ride will also be used as a qualifying event for the 2009 Malaysian World Endurance Championships.

Based out of the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre, an internationally recognised equestrian facility, the ride will pass through the magnificent Bunyip State Park, traverse private land, bush tracks and all weather sandy gravel roads.

The 160 km ride commences at 2 a.m. on Saturday morning with horse and rider combinations returning to the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre to vet in after each phase has been completed.

If you would like further information please contact:

Helen Ward
Tom Quilty Gold Cup Inc 2009 Communications Officer
Mob 0438 594285

Poland: The Nationals, Internationals and Regionals in Kuznia

22 July 2008

by Maciej Kacprzyk

The weekend of the 17th-20th of July was a busy date for the Kuźnia Nowowiejska Equestrian Center (near Zyrardow), as the club held competitions in endurance racing: the Polish National Championships for Young Riders and Juniors, an international competition and an All-Polish competition in this discipline. Altogether nearly 40 pairs from Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Sweden competed in 7 contests.

On Friday the domestic contests were held. Victorious over the shortest distance - 30 km (L rank) - was a competitor from the Champion Lodz Equestrian Club, Katarzyna Nykielewicz atop the stallion Elpas 2002 (Arzgir - Elema by Wermut), bred by Tarus Arabians. In the P ranked event (50 km) triumphed Olga Ciesielska with Peoria 2002 (Balon – Peseta by Eldon), bred by Janow Podlaski Stud., also under the flag of the Champion Equestrian Club. Apart from the distances where style mattered, also held that day was a racing contest ranked 1* over 70 km. Unfortunately, none of the five pairs who competed managed to finish this distance - all horses were eliminated due to lameness. In part this could've been a result of the going of the course, which (as far as Polish conditions go) was hard and required particular attention from the riders.

Photos and More ...

North American Young Rider Championship - DiCamillo and Crestwood Premiere Win

July 31, 2008
Endurance.Net

The first North American Endurance Championship for Young Riders was held at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado.

10 young riders started the event at 5:45, and Jessica DiCamillo and Crestwood Premier crossed the finish line at 4:23:30 PM for a first place finish and a total ride time of 7:48:30 in the 75 mile event. A tight race to the finish placed Caitlin Massman and CHF Adios in 2nd place with a ride time of 7:48:32.

Eight young riders successfully completed the course:

Place	Rider	Horse	Ride time
1	Jessica DiCamillo	Crestwood Premiere	7:48:30
2	Caitlin Massman	CHF Addios	7:48:32
3	Jennifer Stevens	Phil	7:49:42
4	Heather Stevens	RSA Count LaQuen	7:49:46
5	Kirsten Kimbler	Junior CAHR	8:04:44
6	Jordan Fleege	RCF Blad Runner	8:12:55
7	Frances Chase-Dunn	Dixie Love	8:56:41
8	Elizabeth Kingwood	DJB Double Trouble	8:56:43
-	Morgan Conner	Whistleddin	Eliminated, Lame
-	Ashley VanRaalte	Serloki	Eliminated, Lame

DiCamillo and Massman sprint for the finish. photo by Merri Melde, Endurance.Net

Full Coverage on Endurance.Net

2008 North American Young Rider & Junior Championship

July 30, 2008
Endurance.Net

Young riders are gathering this week in Parker, Colorado, for the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. Several FEI equestrian disciplines will be represented in the Championship: Dressage, Eventing, Jumping and Reining.

There will also be a Junior & Young Rider CEI*** Endurance competition, but due to the strict FEI qualification requirements for a North American Championship competition, USEF opted to hold an open competition rather than an official Championship for Junior and Young Rider (14-21 yrs) divisions so that more young riders could participate. While the Endurance event is not officially part of the NA Championship, riders from the various disciplines will reap the benefit of sharing the venue and the experience of a high level competition.

Endurance.Net will provide coverage for the event (July 31) at http://www1.endurance.net/international/USA/2008COYR/
.

List of starting riders for Endurance CEI***

Strong showing at Thetford Endurance

Bahrain Gulf Weekly

BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance team put in a strong showing in the Thetford Endurance Race in England, with five of its top riders finishing among the top 10 in both the event's race categories.

In the 120-kilometre race, Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, riding his horse 'Sprite', finished sixth overall, while Royal team leader and Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, on his horse 'Sebastian', finished ninth overall.

In the same distance, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, on his horse 'Wishky', came in 10th place.

UAE rider Hussain Ali Al Marzooqi won the race, while second place was claimed by teammate Majed Ahmed Al Sabri.

Shaikh Khalid completed his event in a time of 5:47:45 for sixth, while going for an average speed of 20.07kph. Shaikh Nasser, on the other hand, completed the 120km distance in 6:15:22, with a similar average speed.

Meanwhile, in the 160km race, Bahrainis Mohammed Abdulaziz riding 'Kahir' came in an impressive fourth and teammate Yousef Taher riding 'Canada Coy' finished fifth.

The win was clinched by UAE rider Abdulla bin Hazim, while second place went to his teammate Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Bahrain Royal team consisted of another two riders Mohammed Al Thawadi on 'Ciscada' and Lorent Mosti from the technical team riding 'Bisk'.

The race featured participants from Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, the UK, France, India and Saudi Arabia. Among them was UAE team leader UAE Vice-President and Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Shaikh Khalid and Shaikh Nasser met with Shaikh Mohammed after their respective events.

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

The Royal team competed as part of their preparations for the International Federation of Equestrian Sports World Endurance Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Terengganu, Malaysia in November later this year.

Bahrain Gulf Weekly

Canadian Nationals: Provincial teams announced

Sundre - The Rocky Mountain Challenge - 2008 Canadian Nationals is being
hosted at Red Deer River Ranches, a guest and working cattle ranch located
south-west of the town of Sundre, AB July 31 - August 4, 2008.
This long-distance equine event will feature eight events in three sports:
endurance, competitive trail riding and ride n’ tie with Canadian National
champions being named in each sport.

With Alberta hosting the prestigious event, the sports of endurance and
competitive trail riding are able to post two teams to compete. The
selection committees have watched these horse and rider teams compete over
the season and have the job of naming those horses and riders who will best
represent the province.

Trail Riders Alberta Conference (TRAC) - the sanctioning body for the sport
of competitive trail riding in Alberta has named their selections for the
80-mile 2-day Provincial teams and they are:

Natasha French (Millarville, AB)riding Savannah
Cathy Kolesar of (Coutts, AB) riding Classical Dancer
Kandace Krause of (Canmore, AB) riding Jasmine
Linda Riley of (Leslieville, AB) riding Kittasha
Christine Smith of (Calgary, AB) on JV Prism
Leanna Marchant of (Calgary, AB) on Samsons Fire
Shannon Harms of (Edmonton, AB) on Kaluha
Sylvio Campanelli of (Blackfalds, AB) on Misty
Holly Tibble of (St. Albert, AB) riding King Sera
Angie Bowring of (Spruce Grove, AB) on PeJay

Endurance Riders of Alberta (ERA) - the sanctioning body for the sport of
endurance riding in Alberta has named their selections for the provincial
teams as well and they are:

Crystal Fulcher (Seba Beach, AB)
Christy Janzen (Devon, AB)
Jaylene Janzen (Devon, AB)
(Alternate- Brenda Shaughnessy (Spruce Grove, AB)

50 milers:
Karen Badger (Grande Prairie, AB)
Dave Getzinger (Drayton Valley, AB)
Nancy Haughian (Grande Prairie, AB)
(alternates- Jaye Yavis, Jessica Yavis)(Breton, AB)

50 milers:
Carol Wadey (Edson, AB)
Robyn Wadey (Edson, AB)
Rae-Anne Wadey (Edson, AB)
(alternates- Colleen Williams (Spruce Grove, AB), Brenda Henrikson (Evansburg, AB)

"We are excited to see the strong showing of local talent competing in not
just the Championship events, but in many of our other featured events."
states Sandra Nielsen, RMC committee president, "The local volunteer base is
also extraordinary and is a critical component of putting together an event
of this magnitude. Of course, we still welcome any other volunteers that
would like to be a part of it."

These horse and rider teams have been competing and training all season in
preparation for this phenomenal opportunity to represent their province and
hopefully stand on the podium as Canadian National Champions. Come cheer
them on, volunteer or offer financial support!!

FAST FACTS:
Full schedules and details are available on www.canadiannationals.org
The Canadian Nationals alternating between western and eastern Canada every
two years. The first Nationals were held in Ontario in 1984.

Provincial teams are formed with riders nominating to their provincial
organization.

Status of provincial teams for the past two nationals in competitive trail:
Quebec 2006 * Gold - Ontario * Silver - Alberta * Bronze - Team Almost East
Manitoba 2004 * Gold - Ontario * Silver - Saskatchewan * Bronze - Alberta

Alberta has hosted the Nationals on two other occasions:
Kananaskis Country 1988, RAM River Falls 1996.

The 2008 Nationals will also host a 100-mile FEI competition that allows
competitors the opportunity to qualify for the 2010 World Equestrian Games
in Kentucky.

Nearly 170 entries will represent British Columbia to Ontario as well as the
United States. Eight events are scheduled in five days including the International and
Canadian National level rides as well as local level rides that are open to
all riders. A fundraising auction is planned for August 2 - profits raised from the
Rocky Mountain Challenge will benefit CASE (Central Alberta Special Equestrian), a therapeutic riding program.

http://www.canadiannationals.org

For further information, please contact:

Cyndi Rowat
Public Relations
Ph 403.936.2369
Cell 403.660.2257
Email cyndi.rowat@3web.net

Sandra Nielsen
President
Ph 403.637.0245
Email Sandra.Nielsen@xplornet.com