UAE: Munthar wins season's first race

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 01, 2008, 22:58

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Al Reef Stables sent out the first winner of the 2008-09 endurance season as Munthar Ahmad Al Beloushi claimed victory in the 100-km Boutheib Endurance Challenge for Junior & Young Riders here on Saturday.

Riding Carallio, an 11-year-old horse trained by his elder brother Yousef Ahmad Al Beloushi, Munthar scored his first career win completing the 100km ride in three hours 46 minutes and 51 seconds.

Munthar used to ride horses at the Al W'rsan Stables and shifted to the Al Ain base of Al Reef Stables. His horse Carallio was coming back after a long layoff due to injury.

"I was a bit tired toward the end of the race," said Munthar.

Despite winning the race, Munthar was not the first to cross the finish line.

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[WEC Reports] Royal support makes it possible for Abdul Halim

The New Straits Times
11/02/2008

ABDUL Halim Alihan could not have fulfilled his dreams of competing in next week's FEI World Endurance Championships (FEI WEC) if not for the support of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Abdul Halim's interest in horses began when he was a youngster. He often read books on horses but could not venture into the sport due to financial constraints.

However, his chance came when he started work as a groom and riding boy at the Royal Terengganu Stable Club in Sungai Besi in 2006.

"I have been one of the King's horse grooms for the past two years. Tuanku Mizan encouraged me to venture into competitive riding and even loaned me his horse (Brookleigh Kentara) for competitions," said the Kuching-born rider.

"I managed to earn two Certificates of Capability (COC) on this horse for the world meet," said the 27-year-old rider.
Abdul Halim is one of the 12 Malaysian riders competing in the FEI WEC at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, Setiu..

The 27-year-old rider, who has competed in four 160-km endurance competitions so far this year, is ranked 161st in the world. His best result was fifth placing at the Saera event in Australia in June.

The FEI WEC will have 133 riders from 32 countries competing.

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Posted By Steph Teeter to WEC Reports at 11/02/2008 04:55:00 AM

[WEC Reports] Bahrain set for endurance test

Gulf-daily-news.com

BAHRAIN Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead the Bahrain endurance horseride team at the World Endurance Championship to be held on Friday at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Terengganu, Malaysia.

A few members of the six-member team reached Kuala Lumpur yesterday and will line-up with the world's top riders from 37 countries in this challenging event which will be held over 160 kms.

Other team members are Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Yousif Taher, Ghazi Al Dossary, Raed Mahmood and Ahmed Abdulla.

The team is being coached by Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa while Dr Khalid Hassan is the manager.

This will be Bahrain's third appearance in the world championship following their debut in 2005 in Dubai. The 2006 championship was held in in Akhn, Germany.

The riders will submit their entries at the endurance park and then attend the opening ceremony on Wednesday at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium.

On Thursday, there will be pre-ride inspection, followed by riders' weighing. The riders will then attend a briefing.

The race concludes on Saturday morning while the prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for the next day.

Shaikh Nasser, who will leave for Malaysia later this week, said the team members are optimistic of a podium finish. "We have been training for over a year for this championship," added Shaikh Nasser.

Their preparations started right after finishing second in the European Championship held in Portugal. The team resumed training in the summer in Europe where they had a month-long camp in the UK, Austria and France.

However, Shaikh Nasser said the team will encounter a fierce test as the surface of the race area in Malaysia is presently wet due to continuous rainy weather.

But Shaikh Nasser expressed faith in the team members who have gained enough experience to help them pass this stern challenge.

Shaikh Nasser thanked His Majesty King Hamad for his support and encouragement.

The course is designed to provide a safe yet challenging competition, taking the riders along the stunning coast line, through palm plantations, along canal banks and through natural forests.

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/02/2008 04:53:00 AM

UAE: Dreaming of the big race win

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 01, 2008, 22:58

Abu Dhabi: At six feet two inches Mattar Al Yabhouni hardly has the look of a horseman.

But not only is he a keen rider but also a polo player with a one goal handicap and a passionate lover of horses.

A two time winner of the President's Cup Polo Championship in Ghantoot, Al Yabhouni is an ardent follower of all horse-related sports.

When he is not looking after his business, he is either at his stables supervising the care and progress of his horses or playing polo.

Al Yabhouni, who owns a private stable with 20 endurance horses, says the encouragement he has received from the big horse owners in the UAE has allowed small, private stables like his to stay, expand and compete on level terms.

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[WEC Reports] Horse show a public sensation

New Straits Times

November 1 2008

KUALA TERENGGANU: The National Horse Show was a hit with 10,000 people turning up at the Terengganu Equestrian Resort in Kuala Ibai on its opening day yesterday.

The show was officiated by the Yang di- Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin. Among the activities held during the ceremony were a performance by the mounted unit of the Royal Malaysian Police and a horse-riding challenge by the Malaysian Pony Club members.

Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah also presented prizes to winners of the Secondary School Horse Art competition. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Sulaiman bagged the RM5,000 first prize while SMK Padang Midin and SMK Tengku Bariah walked away with the RM3,000 second and RM2,000 third prize, respectively.

Other attractions on the first of the three-day show were the start of the seventh Asian Regional farriery competition, Horse Carnival, Equine Exposition, Horse Breed and Carriage Display.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the event and the coming FEI World Endurance Championships would bring in more visitors to the state.

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/01/2008 05:52:00 AM

[WEC Reports] Riders to star in Terengganu

New Straits Times

November 1 2008

URUGUAY'S Pio Juan Olascoaga Amaya, the current World No 2 and the highest ranked endurance rider to feature in next week's World Endurance Championships (WEC), is the favourite to win the individual title at the Terengganu International Equestrian Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, Setiu.

Amaya has been outstanding in several competitions -- especially in Uruguay -- where he has won two 160km Costa Azul events held in April and September, respectively.

He will be riding his trusted horse -- Ar Vale -- at the WEC.

The second highest ranked rider in the competition is Mohd Ahmed Ali Al Subose of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The world No 4 has proved himself in several competitions and finished on the podium several times this year.

His latest win was in the United Kingdom, where he captured the Euston Park competition on Oct 10 while his compatriot, Abdulla Thani Huzaim, the World No 5, is also a strong challenger in the WEC.

The other challenger, Prince Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Maktoum is the only rider from UAE to have won the individual world title. He did it at the 2002 edition in Spain.

From the local front, Datuk Kamaruddin Abd Ghani is the highest ranked Malaysian rider at 93rd.

Kamaruddin, a former Sea Games gold medallist, has been involved in endurance riding for more than a decade.

He has competed in five tournaments so far this year and his most memorable outing was in Uruguay, where he finished third in the Costa Azul competition in April.

Kamaruddin will be riding Navidad at the world meet. Among other Malaysians competing are Ismail Faizal (World No 107), Abdul Halim Alihan (161), Zainuddin Yusof (168) and Rosdam Mohd Noor (192).

The 12-member Malaysian team will be led by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/01/2008 05:46:00 AM

UAE: Endurance riding growing among women in UAE

Gulfnews.com - Full article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 01, 2008, 00:01

Abu Dhabi: Women's endurance riding has been given a boost by the Al Asayel Endurance Village and the 2008-09 season will see the first GCC Ladies Championship.

Encouraged by the success of the rides held at this endurance venue in Sweihan in Abu Dhabi, the Al Asayel Endurance Village will be hosting the inaugural GCC Ladies Championship, a 120km ride in January.

The Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Challenge, a three-round series of races for female riders, was a major success last season with each of the event attracting over 30 participants.

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