FEI 2009 General Assembly, Buenos Aires

Eighty-three National Federations gathered in Argentina for the 2009 General Assembly.
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Endurance topics:
ENDURANCE 21/11/2008 View online
Rules

The revision of the Rules for Endurance - 7th edition, effective 1 January 2009 – was adopted. They are the result of a major review which began in January 2007. In fact, it was the largest and most in-depth consultation process ever undertaken in this discipline. It was done by a Task Force in cooperation with the National Federations involved in the sport. The new rules are largely based on the concern for the welfare of the horse. The major topics to be noted are the categories of endurance events; rest periods (as amended following a revote by the General Assembly following a failure to approve the original timings); and progress from one level to the next. Another significant improvement is the introduction of a pre-FEI national system (Novice Qualifying) for riders and horses, though not necessarily as a combination. All horses and riders must have successfully completed Novice Qualifying to be eligible for CEI Star Qualifying. To progress from one FEI star level to the next, riders and horses must have graduated from the qualifying process. The full text of the rules is available here.

Education Programme

This Education Programme, for which sponsorship has been secured for the next two years from Hydra Properties, will work on the revision and formatting of all of the Courses for Endurance Judges (Levels I and II), Technical Delegates and Stewards to reflect the new rules.

Bahrain: Shaikh Nasser claims title

ROYAL Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa emerged overall champion of the Endurance Horseride Qualifying Championship, the first endurance event of the season, held at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

After leading the Bahrain national team to a remarkable third-place finish in the World Championship held two weeks ago in Malaysia, Shaikh Nasser was again unstoppable as he competed with the Kingdom's best riders in this 90-km race.

More than 75 riders, representing different stables from across the Kingdom, took part in this championship which featured four stages, starting with 30km for the first, 25km for the second, 20km for the third and 15km for the fourth.

Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president, steered Omsura Nasrohn to victory in three hours, 41 minutes and 27 seconds with an average speed of 24 kms per hour.

Second place went to Abdulhaq Qadoori, also of the Royal Endurance Team, in 3:59:54.
He was followed by Al Fateh Stable rider Isa Al Dossary, the surprise of the championship, who rounded off the podium with an impressive third-place finish in 4:13:24.

Ibrahim Al Jabouri of Al Fateh Stable was fourth while Royal Endurance Team rider Abdulrahman Al Saad, who had a good start, went down to settle in fifth position.
The race, which got underway at 5am, saw Raed Mahmood of the Royal Endurance Team ride Naima to take the lead at the end of the first stage in one hour, 12 minutes and 48 seconds.

Behind him was Shaikh Nasser (1:13:25) in second place and Qadoori (1:13:53) third.

However, Shaikh Nasser came from behind in the second stage which ended in his favour in 2:15:27 and ahead of Qadoori who went up to second place in 2:15:59 while Mohammed Al Thawadi (2:16:34) of the Royal Endurance Team jumped to third.

Shaikh Nasser maintained his lead in the third stage in 3:08:52, followed by Qadoori (3:12:49) who also remained second while Al Saad (3:16:05) moved up to third.

In the fourth and last stage, there was no stopping Shaikh Nasser who secured the title. The race was followed by the prize-giving ceremony during which Breef general secretary Ghalib Al Alawi and Shaikh Nasser's Media Office director Tawfeeq Salehi honoured the top three riders in the race.

Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa congratulated Shaikh Nasser on this victory and said this season promises to feature exciting competition among many new talented riders who showed outstanding performance in yesterday's race.
The next event on the federation's calendar will be a 120km National Day Championship scheduled for December 20 at the same venue.

That will be followed by the Open Endurance Championship on January 10 then the Breef Open Women's Championship on January 31, both over 120km.

The next event on the Breef calendar will be a 100km and 160km races on February 7 and this will be followed by the season's most prestigious competition, His Majesty King Hamad Championship in March.

The season's first night race will be held on April 3 and is for the Crown Prince Cup covering a total distance of 120km. It will be followed by the final event of the season - a 100km senior championship in the first week of May which will also be held at night.

Abu Dhabi: Brothers ride high in competition

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
November 22, 2008

Abu Dhabi: It was a perfect day out for the Al Beloushis and Al Redhas at Bou Thieib Endurance Village in Al Khatem yesterday.

Fourteen-year-old Rashed Ahmad Al Beloushi and his elder brother, 20-year-old Munthar Ahmad made it a 1-2 finish for the all-conquering Al Reef Stables in the 100-km Emirates Endurance Cup for Junior and Young Riders.

The two horses Rivendell Sharman and Carallio were trained by Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi, the elder brother of the two youngsters to complete a hat-trick of wins in the three rides this season for the Al Ain-based trainer-cum-rider.

Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi picked his youngest brother as a better rider after the 1-2 finish in the junior ride gave Al Reef another dominating victory.

"He is just 14 so it is a good achievement. Munthar, who finished second today had won the first ride here on the same horse and Carallio is shaping up into a great campaigner," said Yousuf.

After the exploits of the Al Beloushi brothers, the father and daughter combination of Aziz Al Redha and Layla tasted success in the 100-km Emirates Endurance Cup for privately owned horses.

More...

Abu Dhabi: 200 riders set for Endurance

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
November 21, 2008

Abu Dhabi: Two competitive rides and two Qualifier rides make up a busy day with nearly 200 riders set to be in action at the Boudtheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem on Saturday.

Organised under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, the rides are being held by the Emirates Heritage Club.

A 100-km ride for juniors and young riders will be the second for the juniors here this season while the second competitive ride today is a national ride open to horses owned by private and small stables in the UAE.

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Oman: Endurance race concludes in Barka

Omantribune.com

Friday, November 21, 2008

MUSCAT Habib Al Balushi won the second round of the endurance race, which was held in Barka on Thursday. Nearly 37 horses took part in the race, which was organised by the Omani Equestrian Federation under the auspices of HE Sayyid Suleiman Bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Chairman of Shabab Club.

While 37 horses took part in the first round (35km), only 18 of them qualified for the second round (30km).

After completing the veterinary inspection in the end of the second round, only 13 horses were qualified for the third and last round (25km).

Habib Al Balushi managed to come first at 6 hours and 1 minute followed by Abdullah Saleh Al Ajami at 6 hours and 19 minutes. Hisham Al Farsi came third with only five second behind the second place winner.

At the end of the race, the chief guest handed over awards to winners and horse riders who qualified for the last round.

UAE: Ponton looks to improve on her European bronze

Thenational.ae.com - Full Article

Amith Passela
November 20. 2008

First it was the junior and young riders, next the men, and now it’s the turn of the women, who will be in action in the first of the three-race series exclusively for the ladies at Al Asayel Endurance Village today.

The 120-km race with an FEI-CEI three-star status has drawn 30 entries including the newly crowned world champion Maria Alvarez Ponton, of Spain. Ponton, who trains endurance horses with her husband Juma Punti Dachs in Dubai for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, won the world crown earlier this month in Terengganu, Malaysia.

She has been in fine fettle with her champion horse Nobby. On whom she won a bronze medal in last year’s European Championship in Portugal.

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Bahrain: 80 riders set for qualifying race

Gulf-daily-news.com

21st November 2008

MORE than 80 of Bahrain's top riders are taking part in the 90km Endurance Horseride Qualifying Championship scheduled for tomorrow at 5am at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir. Leading the entries in this warmup event is Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president and Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who will be riding Omsura Nasrohn.

Other prominent Bahrainis taking part includes Al Khalidiya Stable captain and Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa who will ride Naima El Fayssetts.

Other riders from the Royal Endurance Team include Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Khalifa, Isa Al Dossary, Abdulla Al Muawda, Ibrahim Al Jaboori and Hussain Al Nayef.

Five entrants will spearhead Al Ruwaie Stables owned by Hassan bin Saleh Al Ruwaie and they are Hamad Al Tamimi, Abdulla Yousif, Jamal Al Tamimi, Abdulla Al Ruwaie and Ahmed Jamal.

The Al Talia Stable, one of the hot contenders tomorrow, will be represented by five riders - Dalpat Hari Singh, Ganpat Singh, Sang Singh Bhati and Ahmed Al Ruwaie.

Mohammed Makki will lead a three-member team from Awal Stables. Other riders are Hassan Ali and Jaffer Salman while Isa Buhazza and Mohammed Khan will ride for Hafeera Stables.

Other stables in the fray includes Bahrain Riding School, Al Shuwamekh, Al Ajyal, Wadi Ali, Al Reem, Al Mughairat, Jehad Ahmed Sharaf, Ali Ghuloom, Abu Younes, Azadi, Abdulla Malalla, Zainab Za'alan, Jassim Malalla, Sayed Hussain Ali and Ahmed Al Mannai.

Ghalib Al Alawi will be the head of the jury committee which also includes Abdulsamad Al Busta and Mahdi Al Klaiti.

The international commissioner is Mahmood Abdulsaheb who will be assisted by Fahad Al Rumaihi. Mohammed Abdulla was named technical commissioner of the race.

The veterinary committee will be headed by Breef assistant general secretary Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan and comprises of Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Al Hammad, Ibrahim Al Hassan of Jordan, D C Niranjan of India, Bahrain's Ibrahim Yousif, Sabah Al Ka'abi and George Bandalo of Argentina.

A purpose-built veterinary clinic and laboratory will be available at the village and will be supervised by a team consisting of Dr Farida Abdulrazzaq of Bahrain and including compatriot Abdulrahman Abu Al Shouk, Merghani Jilani, Ahmed Dhaif, Milo Kanabo of Dominican Republic and Stephan Prince of France.