[WEC Reports] Riders give event the thumbs up

New Straits Times - Full Article

By Ajitpal Singh - ajitpalsigh@nst.com.my

THE 12th FEI World Endurance Championships (WEC), which concluded yesterday was an intense competition among the best endurance riders in the world in Lembah Bidong, Setiu.
The race was a success as 48 riders or 38.09 per cent of the 126 participants completed the 160km race, one of the highest completion rate ever to be recorded in this event.

Riders also praised the challenging track conditions.

Spain's Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton emerged as the individual champion, becoming the 10th woman in the history of WEC to achieve the feat.

Argentina's Vita Agustin and the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Sultan Ahmed Sultan Sulayem won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Maria's horse - Nobby, was also named the "Best Condition Horse" in the competition.

"I would not have won if not for Nobby's perfect condition during the race. I'm happy that my horse won the award," said Maria at the closing ceremony at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Setiu yesterday.

More...

--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/10/2008 02:19:00 AM

[WEC Reports] Asia reigns top in World Endurance Championship

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 09, 2008

Terengganu, Malaysia: A colourful ceremony brought the curtain down on the World Endurance Championship as officials hailed the 'no casualty' event a success in tropical Malaysia - one of the toughest environments for riders and horses.

The King of Malyasia Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abideen Bin Al Marhum Sultan Mahmoud who took part in the 160-km endurance ride in which the UAE reigned supreme with a team gold, graced the prize distribution ceremony on Sunday and a gala dinner function was later held.

Later, speaking to Gulf News, Ian Williams, the FEI Director for Non-Olympic equestrian sport, said Malaysia confirmed the global status of endurance.

"A lot of people were sceptical about this championship because of the tropical climate. But the teams took on board the challenges and addressed them and we saw some high levels of horsemanship..."

More...

--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/09/2008 10:39:00 PM

[WEC Reports] I'm on cloud nine, says UAE endurance winner

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 09, 2008

Terengganu: Winning a gold medal in the World Endurance Championship with the UAE team in his very first appearance in his country's colours, Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim is still on cloud nine.

After the triumphant UAE team led by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, returned home after winning the team gold and an individual bronze medal, Bin Huzaim was elated after receiving the gold medal for being a member of the winning quartet.

Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya, Mohammad Ahmad Ali Subose and Bin Huzaim took the team gold while Sultan Bin Sulayem won the bronze in the individual event.

More...

--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/09/2008 10:38:00 PM

[WEC Reports] Terengganu prepared to organise WEC if given chance

New Straits Times

2008/11/09

SETIU, TERENGGANU:

The Terengganu state government is prepared to organise the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in future if given the opportunity to do so, said Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said.
"We are prepared to become the main sponsor in view of the good response from the public besides the benefits derived in terms of the state's economic activity," he said.

He disclosed this to reporters after the prize giving ceremony for the WEC 2008 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) at Lembah Bidong, near here today.

In the championship that ended yesterday, Spanish rider Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton emerged as champion in the individual category while the team from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) won in the team category. Ahmad said that in the WEC 2008, the state government only assisted in ensuring the smooth running of the championship organised by the National Sports Institute with the cooperation of the Equestrian Association of Malaysia and sanctioned by International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/09/2008 04:40:00 PM

[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.

--
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...

--
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.

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