Malaysia WEC: Brazil withdraws

Endurance.Net
Oct 25, 2008

The Brazilian Federation has withdrawn its team from the FEI World Endurance Championship 2008.

Following an equine death from glanders(*) at the Sau Paulo Veterinary University, the EU posed a six month transi ban on receiving equines that originated from Brazil. Since all horses from South America must transit through Europe on their way to Malaysia this ban adversely affected the Brazilian horses. Eventually the ban was modified to apply to only 'at risk' zones which included Sau Paulo. This now permitted the Brazilian team horses, which were in a 'risk free' zone outside of Sau Paulo to be transported to Malaysia via Frankfort, but only from the South American port of Buenos Aires, Argentina, since Sau Paulo was off limits.

The Brazilian Federation horses were finally cleared to be shipped, but due to administrative delays in the various agencies, the soonest arrival that could be scheduled was for November 5. This was determined to be too late for competition horses to arrive considering that the total transit time from Brazil to Malaysia would be at least four days.

In addition to the Brazilian Federation horses, two other competitors whose horses resided in Brazil will also be withdrawn: South African rider Carmen Du Preez and her horse Nag Sharon Bez, and UK rider Dominique Freeman and her horse Roger HCF.

*Glanders is an important infectious equine disease of imposing antiquity. It is endemic in Brazil, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, and some other countries. While glanders is considered endemic in some northern and north-eastern areas of the country, this case occurred in the southeastern portion of Brazil. The contagious disease has been eradicated from many countries, including the United States, Canada and Western Europe.

Dubai: DRC to Cover Endurance Cup

Khaleejtimes.com

Hisham Al Gizouli

24 October 2008

DUBAI — Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council will lead the UAE charge at the FEI Endurance World Cup to be held in Malaysia next month.

Mada’in Properties will be the official sponsors of the Dubai Racing Channel (DRC) during its live coverage of the international endurance showcase, it was announced on Wednesday. The competition will be held over four days from November 6.

It has also been confirmed that Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will be in the six-member strong squad.

“We are pleased to associate ourselves with this newly born TV station,” said Abdul Aziz Al Awar, CEO of Mada’in Properties during a brief signing ceremony.

The agreement was signed by Rashid Amiri on behalf of the Dubai Media Incorporated and Abdul Aziz Al Awar for Mada’in.

Meanwhile, Darweesh Mohammed Ali, director of the Dubai Racing Channel reiterated that the agreement is a step forward in the right direction.

“It’s only the beginning,” he said. “We are embarking on an ambitious long term partnership with Mada’in after the official launching of the channel,” he said.

But Ali declined to unveil the exact amount of the deal. “Our immediate concern is to achieve our target by providing a live coverage to the satisfaction of the public through our dedicated team in Terengganu, Malaysia and live studio at our headquarters in Dubai,” he said.

The FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 will be held at Terengganu International Endurance Park in Setiu Terengganu, Malaysia.

Situated a few kilometres from the South China Sea, the venue will offer visitors and competitors the best of Malaysia’s natural beauty and hospitality.

The course is designed to provide a safe yet challenging competition, taking riders along the stunning coast line, through palm plantations, along canal banks and through natural vegetation forests. A long and wide grassy stretch of track provides ample space for the start of the competition from the venue, and for a safe finish line and entry back into the Endurance Park.

Meanwhile, the final MAS Cargo jet arrived at Sultan Mahmud International Airport, carrying the final load of horses. With the exception of UAE, Qatar and Bahrain horses which will by transported by privately owned cargo jets, all of the competing horses are now on location.

They will remain in separate stables and be confined to separate training tracks in accordance to FEI quarantine requirements as determined by geographic regions until the competition begins.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com

Malaysia WEC: Thoroughbred Arab Horses are Main Pick of Endurance Riders for WEC

Malaysia.news


Bernama - Wednesday, October 22

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Thoroughbred Arab horses aged from six to 12 are the popular choice of a majority of riders competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) to be held at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, Terengganu from Nov 6-9.

Project Manager for WEC 2008 Malaysian riders, Mohd Din Mat said not all bred are suitable for endurance races, especially to withstand the gruelling 160km endurance race at WEC, considered the toughest race in the world.

"The race is a real test and combination of the horses' stamina, endurance and the riders physical and mental strength. The Arabian horses are picked because they are renown for their intelligence, high spirit and outstanding stamina," he told Bernama here today.

Mohd Din said Malaysian riders, including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin too, would be using Arab horses during the competition.

"Tuanku Mizan who qualified for the championship on merit, will be using two Arab horses named Taljari Moon Pharoah and Ibrahim Pascha Larzac, during the competition," he said.

He added that apart from being physically and mentally fit, horses must also qualify for a Certificate of Competition (COC) from the Federation Equestrian International (FEI) to compete in the bi-annual championship.

Mohd Din said endurance race horses needed special care, attention and food to ensure they remained in good shape.

"Among the types of food consumed by such horses are Cuibes, Haven, Chaff and their food are supplemented by vitamins.

"For race horses, expenses for food can cost anywhere between RM1,000 to RM2,000 a month, based on the owner's financial capability," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia WEC: Canadians headed to Malaysia

Standard-freeholder.com

Most area horse people know the names of Lynda and Ken Townsend of Ste-Justine, Que. through their horses, ponies, buggies and sleighs as well as the “Cadillac” of petting zoos and pony rides, “Town and Country”, which they ran for many years.

What many don’t know, though, is that while most of us have been winding down our competition season and preparing for the colder weather, their daughter, Wendy MacCoubrey and “Mariah”, a sixteen-year-old Arab gelding, have been doing the exact opposite!

They are part of the six member Canadian Endurance Team (plus four officials and 15 grooms and crew members!) which left JFK Airport last week headed to Malaysia (read: heat and humidity) for the World Endurance Championships, Nov. 7 to 9.

Wendy herself has logged over 4,500 competitive miles in the saddle, and more than 4,000 of them with “Mariah” as they worked towards making this team.

Here’s wishing them all the best of luck in the competition.

The team can be followed through www.endurancecanada.ca.

Go Canada, go!

Malaysia WEC: Women rule in endurance riding

New Straits Times Online
Ajitpal Singh
10/22/08

SINCE its inception in 1986, only two men have managed to win the World Endurance Championships (WEC) individual title and in next month's edition, a woman rider is tipped to be the winner again.
In endurance racing, women make up the majority of competitors and more than 50 per cent of the 141 competitors for the 12th edition on Nov 6-9 will be women.

WEC technical advisor, Derek Liebenberg said endurance racing is a popular discipline in equestrian among women riders.

"The reason women riders have won nine out of 11 world individual titles is because of their huge numbers in each previous editions.

"I have reason to believe that women riders will start as favourites in Terengganu," said Liebenbery at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, Setiu on Saturday.
"The 160-km race is supposed to be tougher for women as they are lighter and need to strap 'dead weights' to their saddles.

"The minimum weight for competitors in endurance events is 75kg and normally only women athletes need to strap weights to their saddle."

Women riders from the United States have won seven consecutive editions, starting with the inaugural event in Italy through Cassandra Schuler, followed by three-time winner Becky Hart (1988-United States; 1990-Sweden; 1992-Spain).

Valerie Kanavy won in 1994 in The Netherlands and in 1998 in the United Arab Emirates, while her daughter Danielle nailed the 1996 US edition.

France's Milla Killa Perringerard broke the US dominance in 2000 to ensure a woman won it again, while Ahmed Al Maktoum of the UAE emerged the first men's winner in the 2002 edition in Spain.

In the 2004 edition in UAE, Barbara Lissarague of France won it for the ninth time for the women while Spain's Miguel Villa Ubach struck one back for the men when he emerged champion in Germany in 2006.

Meanwhile, the national squad, consisting of 12 riders led by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, have begun their final preparation for the WEC at the TIEP.

Malaysia are hoping to win their first ever world meet medal in the team event.

All the local horses, including Tuanku Mizan's ride -- Taljari Moon Pharoah -- are in good condition for the event.

Belgium: World Cup for Veterans/Coupe du Monde des Vétérans

POUR DIFFUSION IMMEDIATE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coupe du Monde des Vétérans – Mons/Ghlin – Belgium – Date d’envoi : 19 Octobre
La Coupe du Monde des cavaliers d’endurance vétérans se déroulera le samedi 25 octobre à l’Hippodrome de Wallonie à Mons/Ghlin.

Au départ, plus de cinquante cavaliers représentant neufs nations (Allemagne, Argentine, Belgique, Danemark, Finlande, France, Italie, Norvège, Russie). Les concurrents partiront de l’Hippodrome de Wallonie pour se diriger vers la réserve naturelle de la Mer de Sable où se dérouleront les contrôles vétérinaire et la deuxième boucle, avant de revenir vers l’Hippodrome pour l’explication finale sur la 4ème boucle.

Quelques vétérans de renom seront au rendez-vous, notamment Jack Begaud(Fra), Vincent Dupont(Fra), Miguel Pavlovsky(Arg) et Fausto Fiorucci(Ita), Freddy Meurrens (Bel) pour se disputer ce premier titre.

Une selle sera offerte par Gaston Mercier (deux fois Champion d’Europe) au vainqueur. Les selles Gaston Mercier, d’une qualité et d’un fini exceptionnels, équipent un nombre considérable de cavaliers belges et étrangers.

Plus d’informations ainsi que les résultats et les photos sur www.endurance-belgium.com

********************************************************
WorldCup for Veterans – Mons/Ghlin – Belgium – Release date : 19th October

The WorldCup for Veterans riders will take place on Saturday 25th October at the Racetrack of Wallonia, located in Mons, Belgium.

At the start, more than fifty riders representing nine nations (Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Italy, Russia). The flag-off will be done from the Racetrack of Wallonia. Horses will head toward the natural reservation of the “Mer de Sable”, near the superb castle of Beloeil. The first and second vetgates will take place there, then horses will come back to the racetrack, before the 4th and final loop.

Several well-known veterans will be competing, including Jack Begaud and Vincent Dupont from France, Miguel Pavlovsky from Argentina, Fausto Fiorucci from Italy and Freddy Meurrens from Belgium.

But there will only be one winner. The winner will be presented a saddle from Gaston Mercier, the double European Champion. The Gaston Mercier saddles equip many Belgian and international riders and have gained an international reputation thanks to their ultimate design and comfort.

More information, including photos and results on www.endurance-belgium.com

Malaysia WEC: US team arrives in Malaysia for 2008 World Endurance Championship

USEF News
October 21, 2008

Six US Horse/Rider combinations arrived in Malaysia this past week with the hope of a stellar performance on Nov 7-8 when 141 entries from 33 countries compete for the honor of being named World Endurance Champion. Over the past year, those hoping for a position on the US Team have attended competitions and training sessions under the guidance of Becky Hart, three time World Champion and Chef d'Equipe for the US Endurance Team.

The Endurance Selectors named the following horse/rider combos to the Team:

Kathrine Brunjes/ Theatric
John Crandell III/ HH Saba Shams
Cheryl Dell/ Reason to Believe
Valerie Kanavy/ Flash Flame
Margaret Sleeper/ Syrocco Reveille
Janice Worthington/ Gold Lightening

While in Malaysia, the team has access to the added expertise of Team Veterinarian Jim Bryant DVM, assistant Team Veterinarian Todd Holbrook DVM, Team Farrier Jeff Pauley and Equine Massage Therapist Jim Masterson. Due to the warm, humid conditions in Malaysia, the competition will begin at 5:00pm local time on Friday November 7th so that the majority of the competition will be run in the dark on a lighted course. The latest news will be available on the official website www.malaysia-wec.com and also on www.Endurance.Net.