[WEC Reports] Azizie, Halim do Malaysia proud

Azizie Ismail was the best-placed Malaysian finishing 34th in a time of 11:54:32s.

New Straits Times

THEY many not have won any medals but Azizie Ismail and Abdul Halim Alihan brought cheer to the Malaysian camp at at the Terengganu Endurance International Park yesterday.

They were the only two finishers among the 12 Malaysians who took part in the gruelling 160km FEI World Endurance event which was won by Spain's Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton, astride Nobby.

Azizie and Halim finished 34th and 39th respectively in times of 11:54:32s and 12:27:53. The event started with 126 riders and only 48 lasted the distance.

Malaysia's hopes for a placing in the team event were dashed when all four horses were eliminated for various reasons

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's horse Ibrahim Paschal Larzac was eliminated after the fifth loop as were Datuk Mohd Shuaib Isahak (third loop), Mohd Faizal Ismail (fourth loop) and Rosdam Mohd Noor (fifth loop). The King had to ride under extreme weather conditions caused by a thunderstorm between loops one and two.

He said that he was pleased other Malaysian riders were able to complete the race under such difficult conditions.

"I'm sad because my horse could not continue but I am happy that there were so many fans who came to watch the event."

The six other Malaysian riders in the individual category who were also eliminated included former World No 1 Datuk Kamaruddin Abdul Ghani.

The others were Datuk Abdullah Taib, Che Ahmad Yusri, Muhammad Firdaus Hamid, Norlaily Bunyamin and Zainuddin Yusof.

A beaming Halim said although he had completed 160km races before, finishing the WEC was a special feat that he would cherish.

"I only started endurance racing two years ago and earned a ticket to compete in event on merit," said the Sarawakian who started as a groom and riding boy at the Royal Terengganu Stable Club in 2006.

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

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/09/2008 02:31:00 AM

[WEC Reports] Qatar turn out to be surprise package

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
November 08, 2008

Terengganu, Malaysia: Qatar turned out to be the surprise package as they grabbed the silver medal in the team championship while Argentina's Vita Austin took the silver in the individual event of the 2008 World Endurance Championship as the two countries announced their arrival on the endurance scene.

Qatar's win, which was fashioned by Atta Mohammad Beer, Faleh Nasser Abugnaim and Mohammad Sultan Al Suwaidi now means that the Gulf nations will pose a stronger challenge to the Europeans, Americans and the Australians.

While the UAE have already underlined their supremacy in the sport, Qatar followed up their silver medal in the individual and team events in the Doha Asian Games with a superb display in the team championships in Portugal last year when they won the silver medal in the European Open.

More...

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/08/2008 10:25:00 PM

[WEC Reports] BAHRAIN TAKES THIRD PLACE IN FEI ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

Bahrain News Agency

08 11, 2008

MANAMA, NOV 8 (BNA)-- BAHRAIN ENDURANCE TEAM LED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE BAHRAIN ROYAL EQUESTRIAN AND ENDURANCE HORSE RACING FEDERATION SHAIKH NASSER BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA CLINCHED THIRD PLACE IN THE FEI WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008.
MEANWHILE, ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL SPAINS MARIA MERCEDES ALVAREZ PONTON ASTRIDE NOBBY NOT ONLY OVERCAME HUNDERSTORMS AND PITCH DARKNESS BUT ALSO HER MALE CHALLENGERS TO WIN THE FEI WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 INDIVIDUAL TITLE, WHILE THE UAE CLINCHED THE TEAM TITLE AT THE TERENGGANU INTERNATIONAL ENDURANCE PARK (TIEP) IN LEMBAH BIDONG, SETIU REPORTED THE MALAYSIAN NEWS AGENCY, BERNAMA TODAY. MARIAS WIN UNDERLINED SPAINS SUPREMACY IN WORLD ENDURANCE RACES AS IT WAS THEIR SECOND VICTORY IN THE INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY IN THE PRESTIGIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER MIGUEL VILLA UBACH WON THE TITLE IN 2006 IN AACHEN, GERMANY. THE SPANISH RIDER LED FROM START TO FINISH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SECOND LOOP WHERE SHE CAME IN SECOND BEHIND ARGENTINAS AGUSTIN VITA TO COMPLETE THE 160KM RACE IN A TIME OF 8 HOURS 48 MINUTES AND 06 SECONDS. HER WIN ALSO MAINTAINED WOMENS DOMINANCE IN THE WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP AS SHE BECAME THE 10TH WOMEN TO WIN THE INDIVIDUAL TITLE OUT OF 12 EDITIONS, SINCE 1986. APART FROM UBACH IN 2006 THE ONLY OTHER TIME MEN WON THE TITLE WAS IN 2002 WHEN SPAIN HOSTED THE CHAMPIONSHIP. AHMED AL MAKTOUM OF THE UAE WON IT THEN. VITA WENT ON TO CLINCH SECOND PLACE WITH A TIME OF 857:55S WHILE UAES SULTAN AHMED SULTAN SULAYEM CLOCKED 909:31S TO TAKE THIRD PLACE. MARIA WHO STARTED THE 160KM RACE AT 5. 30 PM YESTERDAY TOGETHER WITH 126 OTHER RIDERS WHO COMPETED IN THE INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM EVENTS, COMPLETED THE FINAL LOOP (LOOP 7) AT 7. 18 AM THIS MORNING AS THE FIRST RIDER WHILE THE LAST RIDER CAME INTO THE FINAL CHECK POINT AT 11. 40 AM. IN THE TEAM EVENT, MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES UAE, QATAR AND BAHRAIN MADE A CLEAN SWEEP OF THE TOP THREE PLACES WHILE DEFENDING CHAMPION FRANCE WERE RELEGATED TO 9TH SPOT AS PORTUGAL, SPAIN, ITALY, CANADA AND ARGENTINA FINISHED AHEAD OF THEM. THE TOTAL TIMES RECORDED BY UAES THREE TEAM MEMBERS, 27 HOURS 57 MINUTES 59 SECONDS GAVE THEM THE TEAM TITLE AHEAD OF QATAR WHO FINISHED WITH A TIME OF 2847:17S FOR SECOND PLACE WHILE BAHRAIN SNATCHED THIRD PLACE FROM PORTUGAL WITH A TIME OF 3055:34S. THE GRUELING RACE THAT WAS FLAGGED OFF AT 5. 30 PM YESTERDAY WITH 126 RIDERS SAW ONLY 50 RIDERS COMPLETE THE RACE WHILE 76 WERE ELIMINATED FOR VARIOUS HEALTH REASONS TO HORSES OR THE RIDERS. BY THE FIRST LOOP, 21 RIDERS HAD BEEN ELIMINATED AND ANOTHER 10 SAW THE EXIT IN THE SECOND LOOP, 15 AFTER THE THIRD LOOP, 13 MORE WERE ELIMINATED IN THE FOURTH LOOP WHILE THE FIFTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH LOOPS SAW TEN, FOUR AND THREE RIDERS DISQUALIFIED RESPECTIVELY.

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/08/2008 08:47:00 PM

[WEC Reports] Bahrain: HM THE KING HAILS SPORTS ACHIEVEMENT

Bahrain News Agency

08 11, 2008

MANAMA, NOV 8 (BNA)-- HIS MAJESTY KING HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA SENT A CABLE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BAHRAIN ROYAL EQUESTRIAN AND ENDURANCE HORSE RACING FEDERATION (BREEF) SHAIKH NASSER BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA FOR CLINCHING THE BRONZE MEDAL IN THE FEI WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 HELD IN MALAYSIA.
HM THE KING HAILED THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE BAHRAIN ENDURANCE TEAM LED BY SHAIKH NASSER WHICH IS CONSIDERED AN OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENT. HE ALSO SAID THAT SHAIKH NASSERS PODIUM ACHIEVEMENT ALONG WITH HIS BROTHERS FROM THE UAE AND QATAR IS CONSIDERED AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR GCC YOUTH IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. HM THE KING WISHED SHAIKH NASSER CONTINUED SUCCESS IN FUTURE CHAMPIONSHIPS. MEANWHILE, HM THE KING WILL RECEIVE TOMORROW SHAIKH NASSER AND BREEFS FIRST DEPUTY SHAIKH KHALID BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA ON THE OCCASION OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT. HE WILL ALSO RECEIVE MUHARRAQ TEAM ON THEIR WINNING OF THE ASIAN FEDERATION FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HS/ 08-NOV-2008 20:08

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/08/2008 08:46:00 PM

[WEC Reports] Mohammed bin Rashid wins "Godfather of World Endurance Race" award

Wam.org.ae

Nov 8, 2008 - 07:36 -

WAM Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, Nov. 8, 2008 (WAM) -- The King of Malaysia, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud, has granted H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the "Godfather of World Endurance Horse Race" Award in recognition of Sheikh Mohammed's great contributions and support for world endurance horse race.

The Malaysian monarch, who is also the Chairman of the Higher Organising committee of the World Endurance Horse Race, granted the title to Sheikh Mohammed on behalf of all participants in the race.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, received the award on behalf of his father from Sultan Mohammed, the brother of the Malaysian King, during a short but colourful ceremony attended by a number of officials and orgisers of the race.

In a comment, Datu Siri Doctor Mohammed Saleh Nour, Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee of the World Endurance Horse Race, said the award was an international sports honour being granted to the most significant personalities of the sport in recognition of their great contributions in sustaining the sport internationally.

He explained that the award is granted once only in decades to an extraordinary international sports personality whose support and contributions to the world Endurance Horse Race can not be overemphasised. He said the award was the least the committee can award to "a great knight who exerted great efforts in support of endurance horse race and put all his experience on the table to help lift the sport to greater heights".

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/08/2008 08:44:00 PM

[WEC Reports] New world endurance champion says Shaikh Mohammad was inspiration

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 08, 2008, 19:00

Terengganu, Malaysia: "If I am standing here as the world endurance champion it is only because of the support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai," said the Dubai-based Maria Alvarez Ponton after making it almost a start-to-finish victory in the 160-km FEI World Endurance Championship here on Saturday.

"He gave us everything. We owe everything we have or done in horses to him. This victory is his," said Maria, who first came to Dubai to work as a stable rider seven years ago.

She met Jaume Punti Dachs, who was a trainer for Shaikh Mohammad's horses and after marriage the two created a record by becoming the first husband-wife pair to win a silver and bronze medal in the European Championship.

"Shaikh Mohammad allowed us to ride in competitions and that has helped. He has always been supportive of us and this win is also due to the experience of riding with the best UAE riders during the season," she said.

Riding her favourite horse Nobby, Maria completed the 160-km ride in 8 hours 48 minutes and 06 seconds and said her horse was a world champion.

More...

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Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/08/2008 04:49:00 PM

Great Britain: Fourth place for Tennant

Herefordtimes.com

10:40am Saturday 8th November 2008

A YOUNG Herefordshire rider has been showing her endurance in some of Europe’s toughest terrain.

Abbi Tennant, with her horse Chador, was a member of the Great Britain team at the European Young Riders Endurance Championships in Northern Spain and just missed out on a medal with a fourth-place finish.

On one of the toughest courses in Europe, where the minimum speed was reduced from 12kph to 11kph, four of the five British riders completed the 120km or 76-mile course.

Riding sensibly over the mountainous and stony course, Tennant and her team-mates completed the course at an average speed of 12.8kph, taking 12 hours with compulsory vettings and rest/feed periods during the day.

Sixty-six horses from 17 nations started the event with 36 finishing. The remainder were eliminated due to lameness or high heart rates either at the finish or during the day. All the British horses returned home well and sound.

The France team won the gold medal, followed home by Belgium with Switzerland taking bronze.

Herefordtimes.com