Gulf News
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 12, 2008, 00:02
Abu Dhabi: Over 100 riders are expected to kick start the open competition 2008-09 season at the Sorouh Cup to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village on Saturday.
"We thank Sorouh Real Estate who are supporting this event for the second year and we are expecting all the top riders to take part on Saturday," said Adnan Sultan, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
"A total prize money of Dh300,000 and a car for the winner will be up for grabs in the FEI 120-km ride which will be held in five stages," said Adnan.
"We have also instituted two awards for the best rider and the best trainer for all the rides to be held here at Al Wathba."
Mohammad Al Marzouqi, HR and Administrative Director of Sorouh, said: "We would like to place on record our gratitude to Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, for giving us another opportunity to support equestrian sport.
"This is the second year that we are supporting this event and what makes it all the more important is that Saturday's Sorouh Cup will kick start the Open competition in the UAE's 2008-09 endurance season," he said.
"Endurance riding is so closely linked to the community, which has a deep-rooted affinity with horses, which is why Sorouh is keen to support and promote this equestrian sport."
Promotional campaign
Lara Sawaya, Managing Director of Tasweeq Management, said the Sorouh Cup would see that start of a promotional campaign for the breeding stables of Shaikh Mansour.
"This is the first in a promotional campaign which will see Sorouh and other companies involved in promoting the breeding stables of Shaikh Mansour.
"The campaign will also include organising seven races around the world for Purebred Arabian horses."
The Sorouh Cup trophies have been designed specially by a top company in Los Angeles, according to Sawaya.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Horse sport body appoints Lexis
Brandrepublic.com
by Matt Cartmell, PR Week UK 10-Nov-08, 10:16
The Federation of International Equestrianism (FEI), the international governing body of horse sport, has appointed Lexis Sport to provide consultancy work.
The FEI is responsible for a variety of different horse sport disciplines ranging from show jumping and eventing through to more niche sports such as carriage driving and endurance.
This is both the first win for Lexis’s new head of sport Will Oscroft and the agency’s first sports commercial consultancy.
Oscroft said: ‘It is a constant challenge to expand the appeal of these sports to reach out to new audiences whilst capitalising on the commercial value within each sport.’
Oscroft added that Lexis will be working closely with the commercial department of the FEI to capitalise on the fact that horse sport appeals to an up-scale family audience and that it is one of the only Olympic sports when men and women compete on equal footing.
The FEI is also expanding its event-based sponsorship opportunities within jumping and dressage, as well as capitalising on the increasing demand for content through the development of a web TV platform.
by Matt Cartmell, PR Week UK 10-Nov-08, 10:16
The Federation of International Equestrianism (FEI), the international governing body of horse sport, has appointed Lexis Sport to provide consultancy work.
The FEI is responsible for a variety of different horse sport disciplines ranging from show jumping and eventing through to more niche sports such as carriage driving and endurance.
This is both the first win for Lexis’s new head of sport Will Oscroft and the agency’s first sports commercial consultancy.
Oscroft said: ‘It is a constant challenge to expand the appeal of these sports to reach out to new audiences whilst capitalising on the commercial value within each sport.’
Oscroft added that Lexis will be working closely with the commercial department of the FEI to capitalise on the fact that horse sport appeals to an up-scale family audience and that it is one of the only Olympic sports when men and women compete on equal footing.
The FEI is also expanding its event-based sponsorship opportunities within jumping and dressage, as well as capitalising on the increasing demand for content through the development of a web TV platform.
Monday, November 10, 2008
[WEC Reports] New Zealand: They did it!
NZEquestrian.org.nz
9/11/2008 4:20:09 p.m.
Andrea Smith and horse Sierra Nevada were placed 31st in the 160km World Endurance Championship in a time of 11:46 yesterday.
Kevin James the High Performance Director said today that the team is very happy with Andrea's performance and that she has done NZ proud. When asked how Andrea was feeling today, Kevin said "a box of fluffy ducks".
There were 127 starters in the World Championship with an unbelievable 70 that "vetted out". The low completion rate says a lot about how difficult the climatic conditions and track may have been.
Smith's completion and excellent placing has given NZ the ability to compare, how we sit on the international stage. It is at times like these that the future of the sport, heading into WEG 2010, looks very promising and exciting for Endurance NZ.
--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/11/2008 01:19:00 AM
9/11/2008 4:20:09 p.m.
Andrea Smith and horse Sierra Nevada were placed 31st in the 160km World Endurance Championship in a time of 11:46 yesterday.
Kevin James the High Performance Director said today that the team is very happy with Andrea's performance and that she has done NZ proud. When asked how Andrea was feeling today, Kevin said "a box of fluffy ducks".
There were 127 starters in the World Championship with an unbelievable 70 that "vetted out". The low completion rate says a lot about how difficult the climatic conditions and track may have been.
Smith's completion and excellent placing has given NZ the ability to compare, how we sit on the international stage. It is at times like these that the future of the sport, heading into WEG 2010, looks very promising and exciting for Endurance NZ.
--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/11/2008 01:19:00 AM
[WEC Reports] The Aussies: 12th FEI WEC 2008
12th FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 by Sharon Meyers
What a roller coaster of an adventure this ride has been.
Maria Alvarez Ponton won the ride. Her bay French-bred Arab gelding Nobby (Best Conditioned) is only a little fellow but is neatly put together - an athletic horse. They traveled at 21.41 for the final leg.
Second: Agustin Vita, UAE.
Third: Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, UAE.
Fourth: HH Sh Majid Bin Mohd Al Maktoum, UAE.
The Australians vetted through to a huge cheer. The horses looked as though they could go out on another leg! Penny Toft and Don placed 18th and Kristie McGaffin and Tierview Maverick 19th. A sterling effort all round. The Australian contingent worked hard throughout the night and morning.
Derek Armitage and Moorah Park Mickerby, Matthew Sample and Brookleigh Ricardo, Brook Sample and Brookleigh Excalibur and Meg Wade and China Doll did not complete the ride.
Penny Toft and Don and Kristie McGaffin and Tierview Maverick both completed in 18th and 19th position. Their big striding horses ate up the course and they came back to base looking extraordinarily well after each loop. The Australian crew did a sterling job strapping the horses, as did the roving crew meeting the riders out at the crew points. A great team effort from everyone. Our team consisted of Penny, Kristie, Meg and Matthew.
It was a tough ride with the weather conditions that prevailed at the time. A huge storm hit the area with lightening strikes and thunder claps that hurt your ears. Lighting struck the media tent and the Aussie base. The Aussies received a nasty electric shock including Kristy and Maverick. The thunderclap that followed was unbelievable – we all jumped out of our skins! Fortunately Matt and I were not in the media tent at the time when it was struck by the lightening. I believe two American horses were knocked off their feet while out on the track as a result of a lightening strike.
I was surprised at the speed that Spaniard Maria Alvarez Ponton travelled at throughout the ride. It was obvious from the start she was out to win the ride. Her support team at the crew points were like a well-oiled machine – they never missed a beat. Maria never stopped, they just ran along side throwing water over the horse and doing what was necessary. One the first loop her speed was 20.45, second loop 17.56, third loop 19.44, fourth 15.83, fifth 17.71, sixth 16.80 and seventh 21.41. Maria led for all loops except Loop Two where she came in second. I went and had a close look at her horse Noddy while waiting for Best Conditioned. He is a lovely purebred Arab gelding with kind eyes, very athletic looking, well put together and quite small. For the pedigree conscious he has three crosses to Nabeg. Noddy looked as though he could go out again, a credit to his rider and team.
The Team Results
First – UAE
Second – Qatar
Third – Bahrain
Fourth – Portugal
More...
Photos by Matt Bennet
--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/11/2008 01:15:00 AM
What a roller coaster of an adventure this ride has been.
Maria Alvarez Ponton won the ride. Her bay French-bred Arab gelding Nobby (Best Conditioned) is only a little fellow but is neatly put together - an athletic horse. They traveled at 21.41 for the final leg.
Second: Agustin Vita, UAE.
Third: Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, UAE.
Fourth: HH Sh Majid Bin Mohd Al Maktoum, UAE.
The Australians vetted through to a huge cheer. The horses looked as though they could go out on another leg! Penny Toft and Don placed 18th and Kristie McGaffin and Tierview Maverick 19th. A sterling effort all round. The Australian contingent worked hard throughout the night and morning.
Derek Armitage and Moorah Park Mickerby, Matthew Sample and Brookleigh Ricardo, Brook Sample and Brookleigh Excalibur and Meg Wade and China Doll did not complete the ride.
Penny Toft and Don and Kristie McGaffin and Tierview Maverick both completed in 18th and 19th position. Their big striding horses ate up the course and they came back to base looking extraordinarily well after each loop. The Australian crew did a sterling job strapping the horses, as did the roving crew meeting the riders out at the crew points. A great team effort from everyone. Our team consisted of Penny, Kristie, Meg and Matthew.
It was a tough ride with the weather conditions that prevailed at the time. A huge storm hit the area with lightening strikes and thunder claps that hurt your ears. Lighting struck the media tent and the Aussie base. The Aussies received a nasty electric shock including Kristy and Maverick. The thunderclap that followed was unbelievable – we all jumped out of our skins! Fortunately Matt and I were not in the media tent at the time when it was struck by the lightening. I believe two American horses were knocked off their feet while out on the track as a result of a lightening strike.
I was surprised at the speed that Spaniard Maria Alvarez Ponton travelled at throughout the ride. It was obvious from the start she was out to win the ride. Her support team at the crew points were like a well-oiled machine – they never missed a beat. Maria never stopped, they just ran along side throwing water over the horse and doing what was necessary. One the first loop her speed was 20.45, second loop 17.56, third loop 19.44, fourth 15.83, fifth 17.71, sixth 16.80 and seventh 21.41. Maria led for all loops except Loop Two where she came in second. I went and had a close look at her horse Noddy while waiting for Best Conditioned. He is a lovely purebred Arab gelding with kind eyes, very athletic looking, well put together and quite small. For the pedigree conscious he has three crosses to Nabeg. Noddy looked as though he could go out again, a credit to his rider and team.
The Team Results
First – UAE
Second – Qatar
Third – Bahrain
Fourth – Portugal
More...
Photos by Matt Bennet
--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/11/2008 01:15:00 AM
[WEC Reports] Bahrain endurance team receive award
Gulf-daily-news.com
10th November2008
BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team yesterday received the bronze medal following their third place finish in the World Endurance Horseride Championship which concluded on Saturday at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Terengganu.The Bahraini team was captained by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who came eighth in the individual category.
Other riders of the Royal team were Ghazi Al Dossary who was ninth overall, Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Yousif Taher, Raed Mahmood and Ahmed Abdulla.
The Bahraini team is coached by Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa while the team manager is Dr Khalid Hassan who received the trophy on behalf of Shaikh Nasser who returned to Bahrain right after the race.
A total of 242 riders, representing 34 countries from across the world started this race but few managed to cross the finish line due to heavy rain, especially in the first three stages.
The awarding ceremony was held under the patronage of the Malaysian monarch Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who deputised his wife to honour the winners.
Maria Mercedes of Spain won the race while Argentinean rider Agustin Vita finished second and Sultan bin Sulayem of the UAE was third.
Finished
The next four places were won by UAE riders - Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum finished fourth and was followed by Mohammed Al Saboosi, Mubarak bin Shafia and Abdulla bin Hazeem in that other.
Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid congratulated the members of the UAE and Qatari teams who finished first and second respectively in the team event, adding that the Gulf nations will now pose a stronger challenge to the Europeans, Americans and the Australians.
--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/10/2008 04:39:00 PM
10th November2008
BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team yesterday received the bronze medal following their third place finish in the World Endurance Horseride Championship which concluded on Saturday at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Terengganu.The Bahraini team was captained by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who came eighth in the individual category.
Other riders of the Royal team were Ghazi Al Dossary who was ninth overall, Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Yousif Taher, Raed Mahmood and Ahmed Abdulla.
The Bahraini team is coached by Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa while the team manager is Dr Khalid Hassan who received the trophy on behalf of Shaikh Nasser who returned to Bahrain right after the race.
A total of 242 riders, representing 34 countries from across the world started this race but few managed to cross the finish line due to heavy rain, especially in the first three stages.
The awarding ceremony was held under the patronage of the Malaysian monarch Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who deputised his wife to honour the winners.
Maria Mercedes of Spain won the race while Argentinean rider Agustin Vita finished second and Sultan bin Sulayem of the UAE was third.
Finished
The next four places were won by UAE riders - Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum finished fourth and was followed by Mohammed Al Saboosi, Mubarak bin Shafia and Abdulla bin Hazeem in that other.
Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid congratulated the members of the UAE and Qatari teams who finished first and second respectively in the team event, adding that the Gulf nations will now pose a stronger challenge to the Europeans, Americans and the Australians.
--
Posted By Merri to WEC Reports at 11/10/2008 04:39:00 PM
Sunday, November 09, 2008
[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
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
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
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