UAE: 2008/2009 Season Starting

ABU DHABI — The season’s inaugural endurance ride is all set to roll with the staging of the Bou Thib Endurance Cup at the Bou Thib Endurance Village, Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi, on Saturday.

The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, in co-operation with the Emirates Heritage Club, Abu Dhabi, is organising the event for Junior and Young Riders.

Over 55 youngsters have already confirmed their participation for the CEN-JY 100km ride, which will be run in four phases of 30km, 30km, 24km and 16km respectively. The ride will begin at 6am.

The day will also feature two Federation Qualifying rounds of 40km and 80km respectively which has attracted a field of over 170 riders.

Qualifying rides are organised by the UAE Equestrian Federation to enable the riders to qualify to participate in long-distance rides.

All the rides are being held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Emirates Heritage Club.

Pre-ride inspection for the rides were held on Friday, at the Endurance Village.

Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum, Shaikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Shaikh Saqr bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Munthar Ahmed Al Bloushi, Rashed Ahmed Al Bloushi, Ali Ghanem Al Marri, Khalifa Ghanim Al Marri, Mara Khalid Ahmed bin Sulayem, Ahmed Tariq Abdullah Al Mutawa, Muhanad Ali Khalfan Al Abdullah, Buti Mohammed, Khalaf Al Marri, Hamad Ibrahim and Abdullah Al Marzouqi are some of the contenders for the juniors championship on the opening day.
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[WEC Reports] Deyaar announces title sponsorship of World Endurance Champions...

Wednesday, 29 October 2008

Demonstrates support for UAE team led by Dubai Crown Prince

Dubai, October 29, 2008: Deyaar Development, the region's fastest growing real estate company, announced today its title sponsorship of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Endurance Championship, set to take place in Terengganu, Malaysia, from November 6-9, 2008. The UAE will be represented in this highlight of the global equestrian calendar by a six-strong team led by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

Earlier this year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, personally led the UAE team to victory at the Austin Park Endurance Race in London, qualifying the national team to participate in next month's World Endurance Championship.

"We are very pleased to sponsor this landmark equestrian event and, in particular, to demonstrate our support for the UAE team as they prepare to compete in this test of strength and courage," said His Excellency Nasser Bin Hassan Al-Shaikh, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Finance and Chairman of Deyaar. "The UAE has a long and proud association with the sport of horse racing, including earning gold medals at the most recent Asian and Pan-Arab Games. We wish the team great success at the championship in Malaysia."

The FEI World Endurance Championship, held once every two years, is an extremely challenging event, covering 160 kilometres of terrain along the coast of the South China Sea. Held for the first time in Malaysia, the race will feature 142 riders from 34 countries, including stalwarts such as France, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Spain.

"Just as the UAE continues to play an increasingly prominent role in the global economic arena, so too is the country taking on a leadership position in the world of sport, especially horse racing," said Markus Giebel, Chief Executive Officer of Deyaar, said: "At the same time, economic and trade relations between this country and Malaysia continue to strengthen, including in sectors such as real estate, finance and tourism.

"For all of us at Deyaar, it clearly made sense to sponsor the FEI World Endurance Championship, a wonderful sporting event that demands teamwork, trust and a shared commitment to excellence. In choosing to sponsor this event and offer our support to the UAE team, we also noted that those are the very same values that continue to make Deyaar itself such a success," Giebel concluded.

About Deyaar:

Deyaar Development PJSC is one of the fastest growing real estate companies in the region. Headquartered in Dubai, the company has grown significantly to evolve into a complete one-stop real estate solutions provider. Today, Deyaar is one of the most prominent brands in the regional real estate sector, with interests in development, property and facilities management, in addition to offering a range of services such as brokerage, marketing and sales. Deyaar's strategic solutions and deep market insights have helped create exceptional value for its investors. The company currently manages over 16,000 commercial and residential properties. Deyaar is set to continue to play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the region's property landscape. The company complies with the Escrow legislation and all relevant laws in the UAE. Deyaar is registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority under reference number 15/07.

For further information, please contact:
Nicholas Nesson / Anusyia Nathan / Nitin Nambiar
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-3355969
Fax: 971-4-3356080
Email: n.nesson@asdaa.com / a.nathan@asdaa.com / n.nambiar@asdaa.com

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Posted By Steph Teeter to WEC Reports at 10/30/2008 02:07:00 PM

[WEC Reports] NSI Actively Involved In Preparing M'sian Team For WEC 2008

Bernama.com
October 30, 2008 17:22 PM

SETIU, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Institute (NSI) played a major role in preparing the Malaysian contingent for the World Endurance Championship 2008 horse riding competition which will take place at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong near here from Nov 6 to 9.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the NSI arranged international exposure for the riders by getting them to compete in countries like Argentina, Australia and the United States so that they could get the proper certification to be eligible for the WEC 2008.

"Secondly, the horses to be used were also tested by experts to ensure they would be able to handle the gruelling 160km race," he said in his speech at the Jalur Gemilang (national flag) handing over ceremony for the national contingent at TIEP here today.

The text of his speech was read out by NSI director-general, Datuk Ramlan Abdul Aziz. Also present was State Youth and Sports Committee chairman, Datuk Abdul Rahin Mohd Said.

-- BERNAMA

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Posted By Steph Teeter to WEC Reports at 10/30/2008 01:25:00 PM

[WEC Reports] Riders, Horses In Good Health Despite Unfavourable Weather

Bernama.com
October 30, 2008 20:02 PM

By Hilary Sebastian

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- All twelve members of Malaysia's team to the FEI World Endurance Championship in Terengganu which will be held from Nov 6-9 and their horses are in good health despite having to undergo gruelling training in the current unfavourable weather conditions.

The team is lead by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Team Manager Mohd Din Mohd told Bernama that the team members had to regularly undergo medical check-ups each time they completed their training sessions.

Entering the final training phase now, the team members practise twice daily -- morning and afternoon -- to be primed to land both the team and individual titles.

"Training includes riding several kilometers along the actual competition routes under the hot and dry weather conditions," Din said, adding that bad weather could affect the health of both riders and horses.

"Our medical teams and veterinarians are always on stand by to do regular medical check-up to determine the current health status of the riders and horses," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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Posted By Steph Teeter to WEC Reports at 10/30/2008 01:20:00 PM

[WEC Reports] Royal Ride

Thestar.com.my

Thursday October 30, 2008
By HILARY CHIEW

The sport of kings takes on its literal meaning at the National Horse Show in Terengganu.

ENDURANCE riding is one of the newest and fastest growing branches in equestrian sport and no less than the King himself is promoting the discipline.

Not only is Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin the patron of the Marang Endurance Track, a new competition at the 14th National Horse Show (NHS), His Majesty will also take part in the race to be held for the first time in his home state of Terengganu.

The accomplished equine enthusiast is all set to display his skills in the 40km and 80km events.

Jointly organised by the Terengganu state government, the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable and the Selangor Turf Club (STC) Equestrian and Sports Centre, the three-day event from tomorrow will also feature two other "firsts".

The annual show, which debuted in 1994, will host the Federation of Equestrian International World Jumping Challenge and World Dressage Challenge at the main venue, the Terengganu Equestrian Resort.

The endurance race is undoubtedly an exciting one as it challenges the fitness and skill of both the horse and rider. It is a test of good horsemanship where the riders must be attuned to the conditions of their mounts.

Apart from the medals for top placings, an additional award – the Best Conditioned Horse – will be given to the animal athlete determined by a combination of speed, weight carried and veterinary scores. This is undoubtedly a coveted recognition in any endurance race. STC veterinarians will be on hand to provide professional care to the horses in all the events at the show, especially those taking part in the strenuous endurance race.

STC official veterinary surgeon Dr Rebecca Tan, who is in the veterinarian commission of the NHS, says all the horses will be inspected for fitness to compete prior to the race and a series of compulsory checks are scheduled at intervals to ensure that the animals are fit to continue.

The newly-introduced equestrian events will certainly make the show more interesting. Besides the endurance race, there are also a pony club mounted challenge, a trade exhibition and a horse carnival. The carnival, called Kuda Sukmo, will showcase fun activities like pony rides, buggy and carriage rides, games, sideshows, treasure hunts and competitions to keep school children and families entertained.

As an event to promote the education and development of equine sport, visitors will get a chance to view 20 breeds of horses, ranging from the local registered miniature, Criollo and Java to the Percheron.

Horse breeds have evolved over the centuries through adaptation to their environment and human intervention in crossbreeding animals from different regions to get the desired characteristics for required tasks. For instance, horses that were needed for hauling heavy loads were bred for strength, while those required for fast transportation were bred for speed.

Today, there are more than 160 breeds of race and equestrian horses that have been developed through selective breeding.

Billed as the nation's premier equestrian event, the show has grown from strength to strength within the equestrian community over the years, as indicated by the number of visitors that now number around 10,000 to 15,000.

Besides activities that involve horses, the show offers other attractions, including a regional farriery (horseshoe-making) competition, an equine trade expo and a carriage display.

Held for the seventh consecutive year, the farriery competition is one of the biggest attractions for visitors, who are fascinated by participants hammering out and shaping horseshoes.

NHS head of media Lo Wai-fai says the profession is growing in tandem with the development of the equine service industry and the competition attracts local farriers as well as those in Asia from Brunei, to as far as Turkey.

Leading suppliers of equine products such as tack and saddlery, riding apparel, veterinary and equine nutritional products, fodder and stable equipment will participate in the expo, which has been an integral part of NHS since 1994.

And the show wouldn't be complete without that other item that is often associated with horse – the carriage.

The organisers have brought in a collection of these conveyances – the two most outstanding carriages are an authentic Australian regal glass carriage and an 18th century cobbin coach used to carry mail and money in bygone days.

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 10/30/2008 05:10:00 AM

[WEC Reports] Security A Top Priority At World Endurance Championship

Bernama.com

October 29, 2008
By Ahmad Muliady

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Security will be a top priority at the World Endurance Championship (WEC) 2008, which Malaysia is hosting for the first time.

Almost 1,000 security personnel including from the Malaysian Armed forces and Royal Malaysia Police will be on duty to monitor security throughout the prestigious biennial event, which will be held at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, Terengganu, from Nov 6 to 9.

The championship will see 142 riders from 34 countries taking part.

Malaysia WEC 2008 competition director Mohd Din Mat said the security personnel would also help riders and point them in the right direction so that they do not lose their way.

"To ensure that riders are not confused at night, the organisers will provide direction signs and lighting throughout the race track," he told Bernama.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin will lead Malaysia's charge at the championship. The team consists of 12 riders.

Other royalty who have confirmed their participation in the competition are Bahrain Crown Prince, Shaikh Nasser Hamad Al Khalifa and two members of the ruling Al-Maktoum family from the United Arab Emirates, Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and his younger brother Shaikh Majed.

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 10/29/2008 03:33:00 PM

Uruguay: 2009 Pan American Championship

November 2008
Endurance.Net

The FEI has finalized the details of the 2009 Pan American Championship. The competition will be held on April 24 near the popular resort town of Punta del Este on the southern coast of Uruguay. This area, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Rio del Plata River, is modern and upscale and a very popular vacation destination with a wide range of hotels, restaurants, country clubs and resorts. It also offers everything for a beautiful and challenging competition - forests, grasslands, lakes and long stretches of sandy beach.

The Championship will be held over a distance of 120 kilometers.

According to Ketty Friedman, a Uruguay FEI 4* Judge who has been involved with International Endurance in Uruguay since 1997 a very dedicated core group of people have been working together to build the sport in Uruguay, and are primarily reponsible for the finalization of 2009 event. Gustavo Sclavo, president of the Uruguay Equestrian Federation has strong ties with Endurance discipline, has also been instrumental in building International Endurance in Uruguay, and in helping secure the bid for the 2009 Pan American Championship. They are certain that Uruguay will host a world class event and they look forward to introducing the world to this small South American country.

Uruguay Endurance - Endurance.Net coverage of 2007 Rocha Internacional





Photos: Beach at Punta del Este, Ketty Friedman and Gustavo Sclaro at Rocha Internacional Endurance, Pueblocasa - artist Carlos Paez Vilaro, Sailboats at Punta del Este