Bahrain: First of Grand Prix Series at Al Wathba

The first rides of the 120-km Grand Prix series will be held this Saturday. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, head a strong list of riders in the 120-km Giants Endurance Challenge to be held on Saturday at Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba. This event will be the first in a three-round 120-km rides promoted by Bahrain's Shaikh Nasser, who will also be participating. The second event will be held in Dubai, and the third and final will be in Bahrain. The championship was recently announced by Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa at a Press conference held at Banyan Tree premises in Sakhir. "This is a new idea of having Grand Prix endurance races like in the Formula One and it's just a beginning to have two countries hosting three different rounds," said Shaikh Nasser who confirmed his participation in this prestigious event. "We are planning to have this championship on an annual basis and hopefully more countries will be included in the future," said Shaikh Nasser. Shaikh Nasser said Breef will be inviting top officials and riders from all over the world as either participants or guests to witness this year's event. He added that this year's championship is expected to finish before March. The Breef chief said the rider to accumulate the highest number of points at the end of three rounds will be crowned overall champion. "It doesn't matter if you take part in one, two or all three races to win this competition. The idea is to get more points to become the champion," added Shaikh Nasser. "The Grand Prix is open to all riders of all nationality. All are welcome to take part," he said. In this specialised category of riding, every rider must weight 75 kgs or above without riding equipment and must be registered with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Shaikh Nasser said the federation decided to organise this championship after it was approved by the FEI last year.

photos: Press conference announcing Grand Prix competition

UAE: Mohammad in Giants Ride even

photo: Adnan Sultan (right) Director-General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Dr Al Fahim, CEO, Hydra Properties and Lara Sawaya, managing director of Tasweeq announcing the 37 National Day Cup and Giants Endurance Challenge.

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: December 10, 2008, 23:40

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, head a strong list of riders in the 120-km Giants Endurance Challenge to be held on Saturday at Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The Giants Ride is the first of the three rounds in the 75-kg Body Weight series and Saturday will also see the prestigious 120-km National Day Cup also being staged at the venue.

Hydra Properties and Shaikh Mansour's breeding stables in Normandy, France have joined hands to sponsor and support the National Day Cup and the Giants Endurance Challenge.

As well as Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Mansour, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority will also be in the contest. Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamed Al Khalifa and Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamed Al Khalifa are the two top riders from Bahrain who will stage the second round of the Giants Challenge.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club said: "The Second Round will be held in held in Bahrain on January 10, 2009 and Dubai will host the concluding race on February 28, 2009."

"It is also our privilege to collaborate with the Breeding Stables in Normandy, France owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in sponsoring these two endurance rides and other events this season," said Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO, Hydra Properties

"This is the first time that Hydra Properties has been involved with the National Day Cup which is one of the most important events and most of the top riders in the UAE will be there to add to the prestige of this event," he said.

"Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's breeding stables in Normandy, France is supporting the National Day Cup and the Giants Endurance Challenge as part of its promotional campaign," said Lara Sawaya, managing director of Tasweeq.

"The campaign to promote Shaikh Mansour's breeding stables started with the Sorouh Cup Endurance Ride last month and will become more prominent as the season unfolds and will be associated with various equestrian events," she added.

Italy: European Championship, Press launch in Paris

In front of the French specialized Press, Assisi Endurance Lifestyle presented its rich and prestigious progam of events planned for the next September.

Full Report on Endurance.Net

Bahrain: To organize Grand Prix series

Gulf Daily News

By RAMI Hulayyel
December 7

THE Bahrain Royal and Equestrian Federation (Breef) will be organising the first-ever 120-km Endurance Horseride Grand Prix starting next week.The first of this three-round event will be held on Saturday at Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi while Dubai and Bahrain will host the remaining two rounds which are yet to be scheduled.

The Dubai round will be held at the Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalem while the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir will host the Bahrain round.

The first round at the Emirates International Endurance Village will coincide with the National Day Cup which is scheduled for the same day.

The 120-km ride, which will be divided into five stages, is expected to attract some of the world's best riders and horses apart from huge participation from other GCC countries.

The championship was announced last night by Breef president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa at a Press conference held at Banyan Tree premises in Sakhir.

"This is a new idea of having Grand Prix endurance races like in the Formula One and it's just a beginning to have two countries hosting three different rounds," said Shaikh Nasser who confirmed his participation in this prestigious event.

"We are planning to have this championship on an annual basis and hopefully more countries will be included in the future," said Shaikh Nasser.

Shaikh Nasser said Breef will be inviting top officials and riders from all over the world as either participants or guests to witness this year's event. He added that this year's championship is expected to finish before March.

The Breef chief said the rider to accumulate the highest number of points at the end of three rounds will be crowned overall champion.

"It doesn't matter if you take part in one, two or all three races to win this competition. The idea is to get more points to become the champion," added Shaikh Nasser.

"The Grand Prix is open to all riders of all nationality. All are welcome to take part," he said.

In this specialised category of riding, every rider must weight 75 kgs or above without riding equipment and must be registered with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

Shaikh Nasser said the federation decided to organise this championship after it was approved by the FEI last year.

"We submitted our proposal to the international federation which agreed to have this kind of event under its umbrella."

Shaikh Nasser thanked UAE prime minister, vice-president and the ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his support to getting this event underway.

Spain: CEI*** Santa Susana

Madrid, Dec. 4, 2008. - Tomorrow begins the first race of the 56th edition of the traditional Santa Susana Raid, the last big European Raid 2008. The first test will begin at 7:30 pm in the Parc de Colomer of the town of Barcelona. In the list of participants are 14 Spanish riders.

This classic, in addition to being the oldest rallies in Europe, has the honor of being the only one in Spain which is held in two days: the stage tomorrow is composed of 99 kilometers demanding in a scenario that is characterized by great difficulty, because it has a gap of more than 500 m. The final stage will take place on Saturday, and will consist of 99 km also Each of the two days will be divided into three stages of 40, 33 and 26 km.

Yesterday was the first veterinary review. It is planned that tomorrow at 15:00 am the review will be held on the first day of competition. Similarly, when finishing the final race on Saturday, will be held two further revisions: the very tender and will determine the award of "Best Fitness"

The celebration of the Santa Susana Raid closes a season in which this discipline has once again become a major player in the riding of our country, mainly thanks to the results obtained in the recently disputed World Championship, which has been repeated individual gold and has achieved a creditable 5th placed teams.

Qatar: Al Shaqab Team riders set to dominate event

The Peninsula

12/7/2008

Doha: The Endurance Riding season continues this weekend as three separate competition rides are scheduled to be held at the Qatar Endurance Village.

Al Shaqab, member of the Qatar Foundation, has entered a strong group of 12 riders in the Senior Open, 100 km event, and an additional nine, Junior Youth competitors, in the 80 km race. Both events are regulated by the rules of Concours de Raid d'Endurance International (CEI).

Five of the six Al Shaqab riders that represented Qatar in a second place finish in the World Endurance Championship in Terengganu, Malaysia will compete in the Senior Open event.

The sixth member of the successful Qatar national team will ride in the Junior Youth division.

The six riders include: Atta Mohammed Beer, Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi, Mohammed Sultan Ahmed Al Suweidi, Faleh Nasser Saleh Bughenaim, Mohammed Tahous Saif Al Nuaimi and Abdulla Towim Al Marri.

The group will be joined in the ride by Al Shaqab's team trainer, Hadi Nasser Al Ramzani, and assistant trainer, Abdul Aziz Saleh Al Jaber.

In addition the Qatar National Cup will be held in two divisions on December 20, a 120km event and a junior youth ride at 100km.

The calendar for December includes:

Saturday, December 20

Qatar National Cup, 120k, CEI,Qatar National Cup, Junior-Youth, 100k, CEI

UAE: Baloushi brothers’ double delight

The National

Amith Passela
December 06, 2008
DUBAI

The al Baloushi riders from the Al Reef Stables are on the crest of the wave in endurance. They celebrated a double to take their tally to five winners and a second from six races.

Sultan al Baloushi led a superb 1-2 finish with his cousin Omair al Baloushi in the FEI 120-kilo- metre Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge in Dubai and the younger brother Rashed, 14, won the 100km Boudthib trophy for the junior and young riders in Abu Dhabi.

Yousef al Baloushi, who trained all the winners, said he did nothing special in churning out the victors. “Sometimes you need a lot of luck in this game and right now it seems to be with me. I thank God for that.

“This is the best ever start we have had. The horses that came first and second have done nothing better than today’s finish.

“And the one that won in Boudthib was also winning for the first time. So it’s all going well for us. we are very excited and cherishing every moment.”

The trainer al Baloushi, who was denied of a win in last weekend’s race by his Abu Dhabi rival Ali Khalfan al Jahouri from the Al Wathba Stables, had to make the exit at the end of the penultimate loop in yesterday’s race when the part-Arab mare Lauralyn Sisette was vetted out for lameness.

“She is new for endurance and got very nervous,” added al Baloushi. “She was hard to control and ran at a crazy pace.

“The rains had made the conditions underfoot a bit heavy in some parts of the course and difficult for the horses.”

Sultan, on the 12-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding Sharahd Talik, and Omair, on Hurst Ibn Hamed, crossed the finish line together in just over five hours for Al Reef.

Khalifa Ghanim al Marri on the seven-year-old Purebred Arabian mare Azurra was a further two minutes behind in third for the Fazaa Endurance Team.

Al Reef’s Mohammed Jasim Rahimi was fourth on Corleone and the Dubai-based Spanish world champion Maria Alvarez Ponton was fifth on Halim for the Emirates Stables.

Meanwhile, Rashed completed back-to-back victories in the event for the junior and young riders.

He rode Al Galahn to victory in over four hours and three minutes with Hamdan Mousa al Hammadi over a minute behind in second on Rhiannons Nimbi for Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum.

The Al Reef also occupied the third and fourth spots with Munthar al Baloushi (Kasalo) and Ahmed Ali al Yahyaei (Spoutnik).