Bahrain: Shaikh Nasser joyful for victory of Shaikh Khalid in the Thetford race

Bahrain News Agency
London, Aug 1

The captain of the Bahraini royal endurance team Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa expressed his great joy on the first European victory of Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, leader of al Khalidiya Stables, at the Thetford race.

The victory in the fourth European event for the Royal Team adds to the good days Shaikh Khalid is having after graduating from the Toyal Military Academy Sandhurst, Shaikh Nasser said. The team is preparing for the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia to be held in November. The generous support of Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Mmaktoom and his sons Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikh Majed was also a great source of joy, Shaikh Nasser said.

Shaikh Khalid repeated his achievement of last year by scoring the fastest time in the 160 kilometre race. Shaikh Khalid praised the level exhibited by Shaikh Khalid in the race and his performance in its six stages. Shaikh Kkhalid deserved the victory which he earned after a putting a lot of efforts for this race, Shaikh Nasser said. On his part, Shaikh Kkhalid extended his appreciation for Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoom, Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikh Majed for their great support throughout the event.

Shaikh Khalid said the race would be a beautiful memory as it was the first time he won a European Endurance Championship. He said that the guidance of his brother Shaikh Nasser has led him to the finish line of the race. Shaikh Nasser became a main source of support after his withdrawal from the race, he said. Shaikh Duaij Bin Salman Al Khalifa praised the big victory of Shaikh Khalid, especially that the race witnessed strong competition from the very beginning. As a Bahraini Team, we were keen to stay together until the end but circumstances played against us, he said. Shaikh Nasser decided to withdraw, rider Mohammed Abdul Aziz was slightly injured after his horse tripped, he said.

Only three were left with Ahmed Abdulla who tried his best but could not complete the race as his horse did not pass the veterinarian checkup, he explained. Shaikh Duaij commended the significant role Shaikh Nasser had in guiding the team during the remaining phases of the highly competitive race. The Thetford race witnessed a steamy competition with the positions of jockeys shifting at every stage. At the second stage of the race, both Shaikh Khalid and Shaikh Duaij crossed the distance in 3.48.28. Mohammed Abdul Aziz completed the distance in 3.51.30 and Ahmed Abdullah in 3.46.29.

Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoom had the lead with 3.42.06. at the 120 km, Yousif Ali Taher completed the distance 3.41.56 whereas Ghazi Al Dosseri's horse was injured and therefore lost time. In the 120 km for youth, Mohammed Abdulsamad crossed the distance in 3.31.09. After the first stage, Sshaikh Nasser came third with 2.06.42 while Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid has the lead with 2.05.37. Ahmed Abdullah came third with 2.06.28 and Shaikh Khalid came fifth.

Although Shaikh Mohammed Min Rashid was ahead in the third stage, Shaikh Khalid continued with a time of 5.24.10. Ahmed Abdulla had a time of 5.29.09 and Yousif Taher 4.05.08. the members of the royal team were still present in the fourth stage for 160km and 120km. Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad had a time of 6.22.27, Ahmed Abdullah with 6.19. 46 and Shaikh Duaij Bin Salman 6.23.13. Mohammed Abdul Samad withdrew at 120 km because he got dehydrated.

Canadian Championship 2008 Results

Rocky Mountain Challenge website

Partial Results 100 Miles:

AERC
Place Rider Time
1 Gail Jewel 14:18:54 Best Condition
2 Sue Summers 15:42:33
3 Carol Giles 15:42:34
4 Jan Marsh 15:42:35

ERA
Place Rider Time
1 Jan Marsh 15:42:35
2 Crystal Fulcher 18:17:15

Junior
Place Rider Time
1 Kelsey Kimbler 18:17:17
2 Jaylene Janzen 18:17:18

FEI
Place Rider
1 Gail Jewel Best Condition
2 Sue Summers
3 Carol Gile
4 Jan Mars


Individual Canadian Championship
Place Rider
Gold Gail Jewell DVM
Silver Trisha Dowling DVM
Bronze Crystal Fulcher

South Africa News

Mogale Endurance Club
NEWSLETTER

Dear Fellow Mogalians,

It is with great pride that we congratulate the following members for completing FAURESMITH.

Danie Herbst Junior;
Bernice Binet;
Kay Lockwood;
Sophia Liebenberg;
Wendy Smallman;
Lianne Herbst;
Stephne Lockwood.

Congratulations to you all and for those who never completed the ride better luck next time..

It was good to see so many members at Dullstroom last weekend. Henno Pretorius and his family, Herbie and Johannie Geldenhuys, Laura Woods, Ance Deetlefs, Dr Paul VanDam and Franza Keyser and Julius Keyser.

To my knowledge all our members got through and this is also no mean feat as Dullstroom is a very difficult course.

I would also wish to thank the following club members who were so kind as to assist us with donations to obtain finance to assist with the furnishings of the luxury chalets which Mr William Khoury has built at the second dam. The members are, Antony Ball, Kobus Lombaard, Darnie Ferreira, Tim Anderson, Dr Paul VanDam and myself.

The new ride base apart from the grassing on the running lanes and vetting area which will take place early in September is looking absolutely superb and this is indeed a ride base which the club and its members can be very proud.

Monique and Laura recently returned from Brazil where they attended an international ride and I annex hereto a report from Monique on the ride which people might find of interest.

We will advise you shortly of the AGM which must be held before the end of October to enable all fees to be paid in and over to ERASA to avoid penalties. For those club members travelling to Walvisbaai I wish you the best of luck and a safe journey.

---

YOUNG RIDERS: BRASIL 2008

In 2006 and 2007, Nick and Vitoria Lins of Rio, Brasil, came to South Africa to join us at the FEI Christiana Endurance Ride on horses prepared by Laura Woods (2007) and Laura and the Marx family of Wolmaranstad in 2008. Both Nick and Vitoria have been selected for the Brasilian team to take part in the World Championships in Malaysia in 2008. Nick recently rode with South African Carmen du Preez in Brasil: Carmen won the open 160kms event, and Nick’s efforts gained him the Brasilian Championship.

A return invitation was issued to Laura Woods and Petrus Marx as Young Riders to take part in the prestigious Festival Internacional de Enduro: Jequitibá (Sao Paulo, Brasil) on 25 July 2008. 33 Young Riders from Brasil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, France, Italy and England and South Africa took part. The ride base was the exclusive Paradiso Resort, where spectators could watch the final leg being run around a fountain–filled lake.

The CEIOYR course of 122kms consisted of three extremely technical legs, with steep hills and hard roads, estimated at about a 10 handicap. The last two legs of 22 and 19kms were flat, fast and furious.

The horse ridden by Laura, NNL Millenium Bay, was recovering from a tendon injury and unfortunately despite a valiant effort could not get past the 4th leg.

Petrus rode Lumiar Simply Red, a fiery chestnut mare owned by Dr Paolo and Nick Lins. She has spent most of her 10 years as a show horse, only last year coming into endurance and with a mere 2 x 60kms and 1 x 90kms to her name. This was her first attempt at 120kms. She gave Petrus a hard time in the 1st leg, being most unwilling to be held in. After the 3rd leg Petrus decided to ride without a bit due to mouth injuries and the mare calmed down somewhat. Petrus was in the top ten from the first leg. The mare kept up her desire to run as fast as possible, and on the final two legs she and Petrus perfected their partnership. As Petrus approached the last 500m he passed two well known riders, Rafael Salvador (Uru) and Iuri Timoner (Bra) who then dramatically gave chase as they came in to full spectators’ view around the lake. Petrus casually turned around to see them coming in full flight, and he then turned on the power. To an exultant rendition of “Hier kom die Bokke” by the South African fans, Simply Red curled her tail over her back and leapt forward to sweep over the finishing line, giving Petrus 5th position in a time of 6h55. He was one of 23 who completed the course; 12 were eliminated.

This was Petrus’ first ride out of Africa. You may remember him in a documentary of Fauresmith made by Danie Ferreira (Urban Brew) in 2003. He was the little chap with big eyes captured in the early morning light; the commentator talked about his desire to become a Springbok – which in fact came true.

Petrus’ first horse was a Schneider; he qualified him in his first season and finished in the top ten children’s division at Fauresmith in 2003. Since then he has ridden for the national team on 3 occasions. His Arab gelding Shamalti Namib has been awarded Best Condition on 3 occasions.

---

Lekker Ry.

MOGALE ENDURANCE CLUB
Per: TONY BERLOWITZ
CHAIRMAN

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.

Photos and More ...