Malyaysa WEC: Bahrain riders ready for Endurance race

Gulf Daily News

BAHRAIN's Royal Endurance Team continued their preparations for the World Endurance Championship scheduled for Friday at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Terengganu, Malaysia.

The team is being led by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and includes five other members. They are Breef first vice-president and Al Khaldiya Stables leaders Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Yousif Taher, Ghazi Al Dossary, Raed Mahmood and Ahmed Abdulla.

The six-member team, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur, will line-up with the world's top 142 riders from 34 countries in this challenging event which will be over 160km. It commences at 12 noon (Bahrain time).

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

This will be Bahrain's third appearance in the world championship. Their debut was in the 2005 edition cup in Dubai. They also took part in the 2006 championship in Akhn, Germany.

The Bahrainis, whose horses were already shipped to Kuala Lumpur and then to Terengganu, will be vying to take a podium finish in this prestigious $200,000 tournament which features teams and individual races.

A total of $100,000 will be split into smaller amounts for the top riders in the individual race, including $22,000 prize for the overall winner, $16,000 for runner-up, $13,000 for third place and $11,000 for fourth.

In the teams category, $80,000 will be divided for the winners, including $22,400 for the champion, $19,200 for runner-up, $14,400 for third and $12,000 for fourth.

Additional cash awards will be given away, including a $20,000 prize for the owner of the horse with the best condition.

Meanwhile, the Bahraini riders will submit their entries today at the endurance park and then attend the opening ceremony tomorrow at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium.

On Thursday, there will be pre-ride inspection, followed by riders' weighing. The riders will then attend the briefing and team declaration on the same day.

The race concludes on Saturday morning, and the prize-giving ceremony will be held the following day.

More than 120 riders, representing 33 countries from across the world, are taking part in the prestigious event. Among top countries in the fray are the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden and the US.

Besides Bahrain, other GCC countries have also approved their entries. They are the UAE, Oman and Qatar.

The trails consist of shore front, wooded areas, water crossing, village settlements, flat logistic road and tarmac crossing. The trail will be marked with noticeable markers at strategic points to guide the riders.

Coloured markers and signage will be used to differentiate the respective loops. Night riding will be more interesting with respective different coloured lights marking the different loops.

Designated water points along the trail will be provided at approximately every five km distances.

The course will be established today and it will be open for inspection by teams from today until Thursday.

Malaysia WEC: South Africa looking for improvement

The New Straits Times Online
2008/11/04
photo: Thia Van Niekerk (left) and her brother Cornelius (right) will ride for the South African team while their father Sakkie Niekerk is the team manager. (The New Straits Times Online)

SIBLINGS Cornelius Van Niekerk and Thia hope to lead South Africa to a better outing in the 12th FEI World Endurance Championships at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, starting Thursday.
Their father, Sakkie Niekerk is also the team manager of the South African team.

Cornelius will be riding Ridasa Dr Gbm while Thia will be astride Izra Tendulkar.

The other South African riders are Gillese De Villiers (Traka Crypton), Carmen Du Preez (Nag Sharon Bez), Naomi Muller (Naomi Khyber) and Jenene Pretorius (Ruby).

Sakkie said his charges stand a better chance in the team event.
"We hope to do better than the ninth placing achieved in the 2006 edition in Aachen, Germany," he said at TIEP, Setiu yesterday.

Meanwhile, Cornelius, who is also captain, said it is going to be a difficult race for the team due to the adverse weather conditions in Terengganu.

"This is the first time we are racing in this part of the world. It's hot here compared to Europe. We really hope it will be raining on race day," said Cornelius.

"We have been training hard for the race for quite sometime. We are aiming big and all of us are in confident mood."

[WEC Reports]Bahrain looking for podium finish

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president, Shaikh Nasser Hamad Al Khalifa will lead his country in the FEI World Endurance Championships (WEC) at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, Setiu on Nov 6-9.
The other team members are Shaikh Khalid Hamad Al Khalifa, Yousif Taher, Ghazi Al Dossary, Raed Mahmood and Ahmed Abdulla.

The team is coached by Shaikh Daij 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 the 2005 edition in Dubai.

Shaikh Nasser, said the team members are optimistic of a podium finish.
"We have been training for over a year for this championship," Shaikh Nasser told www.endurance.net, recently.

Their preparations started right after finishing second in last year's European Championships in Portugal.

The riders have been training in Europe, where they had a month-long camp in the United Kingdom, Austria and France.

However, Shaikh Nasser said the team will encounter a fierce test as the surface of the race area is presently wet due to continuous rain. But Shaikh Nasser expressed faith in the team members who have gained enough experience to help them pass this stern challenge.

Malaysia: Marisa's first strides to excel in equestrian sports

Thestar.com.my - Full Article

Monday November 3, 2008

By SHAHRIL CHE WAN

MARANG: Having taken up horse riding four years ago, Marisa Hasmah Mokhzani has taken her first strides towards excelling in equestrian sports.

Marisa Hasmah, who is the ninth grandchild of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was among the three youngest participants to take part in the 40km Royal Tournament Endurance Stables/National Horses Show Ride 2008 at Kampung Permatang Seratus, yesterday.

"I was nervous at first but I am glad that I took part in this tournament as the experience gained today can be considered a stepping stone for me to further succeed in this sport," she said after the prize-giving ceremony.

Marisa Hasmah, 12, rode Blanco, an Argentinian horse, during the race.

She said she practised by riding her horses, Blanco and Otto, with her family every Sunday.

She decided to enter the competition after being invited by her friend Her Highness Tengku Nadhirah Zahrah, who is the daughter of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Her father Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir beamed with pride at his daughter’s achievement although she was a novice in the strenuous endurance competition.

He added that his daughter picked up horse riding from Dr Mahathir and the two would ride in Putrajaya and at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club.

"We are proud of her achievement and talent. She is a brave girl," he said. Terengganu's Regent, Tengku Muhammed Ismail, 10, was the youngest participant and got fourth placing with his horse, Harmere Cairo.

His sister Tengku Nadhirah, won fifth place with her horse Aanetta.

The overall champion in the 40km category was Tengku Temenggong Raja, Tengku Baharuddin Sultan Mahmud while the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin won third placing in the 80km category.

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.


More...

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.