King rides to third place in race

New Straits Times Online
2008/11/03

Photo: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin (left) taking part in the National Horse Show’s endurance race at the Marang Endurance Track in Marang yesterday. With him are other participants, including his son, Terengganu Regent Tengku Muhammad Ismail (second from right) and his daughter Tengku Nadhirah Zaharah (third from right).

MARANG: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin warmed up for the World Endurance Championship, scheduled for Nov 5 to 9 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park, with a third-placed finish in the National Horse Show's endurance race at the Marang Endurance Track yesterday.
The debut 80km category race at the three-day show, which ended yesterday, was flagged off by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah with 23 riders taking part.

National Horse Show 2008 supreme committee joint vice-chairman Che Mat Din Ismail said the downpour in the morning made the ride more challenging for the competitors.

First place went to Nazuki Muda of Langkawi Endurance Team while Ahmad Ali Abdullah Kanis Mohd Yusoff of D'Bali Stable came in second.

Che Mat Din said the event was a good test of the riders' stamina besides providing opportunities for local grooms to familiarise themselves with new methods of cooling down horses.
He said Terengganu Regent Tengku Muhammad Ismail, 10, his sister Tengku Nadhirah Zaharah, 12, and Marisa Hasmah Mokhzani, also 12, who is the granddaughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, participated in the 40km category race.

He added the 70 per cent completion rate in the 40km category was an outstanding achievement as in endurance racing, it was important for both horse and rider to finish in good condition to prove a test of good horsemanship.

New Straits Times Online Article

Turkmenistan Riders to Take Part in UAE Endurance Events

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

3 November 2008

ABU DHABI -The doors have been opened and now its just a question of when. If everything goes according to plan, endurance aficionados will get to watch and compete alongside riders and horses from Turkmenistan in the UAE.

These racing horses are known for their unique colours somewhat different from thoroughbreds and pure Arabians.

This was the outcome of a recent visit by a high-ranking delegation from the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, headed by the secretary general Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, according to a Press release.

The visit was in response to an invitation extended to Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, chairman of the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation, from the president of the Turkmenistan Equestrian Federation, in an effort to boost mutual relations in this field. The visit, which coincided with the 17th independence day celebrations of Turkmenistan, included the opening of a mega building which houses the headquarters of Turkmenistan Equestrian Federation. Some races were held to mark the occasion.


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Ireland: Ireland decides against WEG 2014 bid

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

November 2, 2008

Despite a €10 million pledge in sponsorship Ireland has decided not to bid to host the World Equestrian Games in 2014.

The decision was made at a Horse Sport Ireland board meeting on Thursday.

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said that the decision was an acknowledgement of the changing fiscal climate and the need for HSI to concentrate its resources on developing the sport.

Mr Walsh said that Horse Sport Ireland had a recent meeting with the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen T.D. At the meeting an initial feasibility study that had been prepared for Horse Sport Ireland by Mazars Consulting was discussed. From the report it was clear that substantial Government and commercial funding would be required to bring the games to Ireland.

"We had a very open discussion with the Minister and while we all agreed that hosting these games would be of great benefit to Ireland we cannot ignore the economic realities," he said.

"As the Governing Body for the sport we have to be prudent and be absolutely sure that the games would be viable. With the global economic downturn the risk factors in taking on a project like this have increased significantly in recent months. We all know what happened in 1998 and we cannot risk a repeat of that." he said.

Mr. Walsh said he wanted to thank Dr. Pearse Lyons, Global President of Alltech, for his generous offer to sponsor the Games.

"As an Irishman Dr Lyons really wanted to bring the games to Ireland. His offer to be the title sponsor of the games was extremely generous and it is unfortunate that the timing just isn't right," he said.

He said that he was confident that Ireland would bid for the World Equestrian Games at some stage in the future and the work done in assessing the feasibility of a bid for 2014 would prove useful.

Bidders for the games are to be circulated to the FEI Bureau. Bidders will be asked to make a formal presentation prior to the decision by the Bureau on the host Organiser, which will be taken in the spring of 2009.

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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