UK: Royal Victory

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ROYAL VICTORY

BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team rider Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa won the 160-kilometre event of the Thetford race, held yesterday in England.

It was the first European endurance victory for Shaikh Khalid, who is fast improving as one of the kingdom's best riders.

The Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) first vice-president completed the distance in a dominant eight hours 19 minutes and 12 seconds, which was more than half an hour than his closest rival. It was also a close mark to the winning time of Royal Team leader and Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa in Thetford last year.

Shaikh Khalid was congratulated for his victory by Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Shaikh Nasser. Both Sheikh Mohammed and Shaikh Nasser withdrew from the race in the second stage due to an injury to their respective horses.

Shaikh Khalid said that he dedicates his hard-earned win to His Majesty the King.

Finishing second in the 160km event was Royal Team member Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, who clocked a time of 8:56:24, while Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the UAE placed third in 9:31:21.

Meanwhile, Bahrainis Yousef Taher and Ghazi Al Dossary finished sixth and eight respectively in the 120km race at Thetford. Taher had a mark of 7:00:54, while Al Dossary came in in 7:19:37.

Mohammed Ahmed Al Subose of the UAE won in 5:20:35.

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.

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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