Bahrain: Shaikh Nasser finishes fourth

Date:14-12-2008

ROYAL Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa finished fourth place overall in the first round of the 120-km Endurance Horseride Grand Prix yesterday at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, in Abu Dhabi, writes RAMI HULAYYEL.

Forty six riders from Bahrain and the UAE took part in the first of a three-race series being organised for the first time by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian Endurance Federation (Breef) in co-operation with the UAE Equestrian Federation.

Only 18 riders could finish the race which was divided into five stages - 32 kms, 30 kms, 24 kms, 18 kms and 16 kms.

The hosts dominated the podium yesterday with Abdulla bin Hazim winning the race in four hours, 58 minutes and 10 seconds.

Behind him was UAE's presidential affairs Minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (5:08:34) while compatriot Ahmed bin Harmash (5:13:06) was third.

Riding Omsura Nasrohn, Shaikh Nasser was among five of Bahrain's top riders in this prestigious event which is only open to riders over 75 kgs.

Shaikh Nasser had steered the same horse to victory in the Opening Season Championship held last month,

Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president, finished the race in 5:16.51.

Federation's first vice-president and captain of Al Khaldiya Stables Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa had to pull out of the race in the second stage as his horse was exhausted.

The remaining Bahraini riders in the fray were Ghazi Al Dossary (5:33:40) who was eighth overall while both Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa and Abdulhaq Qadoori were unable to complete the race.

Among the leading riders from the UAE were UAE's vice-president, prime minister and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum who finished fifth overall.

Shaikh Mohammed's son Shaikh Hamdan, who entered the race as one of the leading contenders for the title, had to pull out in the first stage following an injury to his horse.

The event was witnessed by a number of Breef board members headed by Endurance Committee chairman Shaikh Faisal Rashid Al Khalifa.



Endurance.Net Coverage

UAE: Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan finishes second

Khaleej Times

photo: Khaleej Times
James Jose
December 14

ABU DHABI – He watched with glee, his club Al Jazira crush Al Nasr in the UAE Pro-League on Friday night. And on Saturday, Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan rounded off a perfect weekend, by finishing an impressive second in Round 1 of the Giants Endurance Challenge FEI CEI 120km Endurance Ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Abdullah Saeed bin Huzaim, astride Nucius Romas, won the three-star ride. Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority, astride Carallio, was impressive as he came second.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, rode an impressive ride to finish fifth. Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid, was placed 21st after the first loop before bouncing back in style.

The Giants Challenge is a three-round series with the second ride in Bahrain on January 10, 2009 and the third in Dubai on February 28, 2009.

Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan was placed fourth after the first loop of 32km, with a time of 1:16.45 seconds. He moved up to second in the second loop of 30km, with a timing of 2:28.45 seconds. But he dropped down to seventh in the third loop of 24km, with a time of 3:38.09 seconds.

He remained in seventh in the 18km fourth loop, with a time of 4:31.02 seconds. He finished the fifth loop of 16km in second. He had an overall time of five hours, eight minutes and 34 seconds with an average speed of 25.58. “It was a tough ride. Nevertheless, it was good to get some points in the first round,” Shaikh Mansour said later.

The top 10 placed riders in each of the three rounds will receive points with the rider who accumulates the highest number of points emerging the champion. A bonus of 10 points will be given to the rider who complete the rides on the same horse.
Ahmad Ali Bin Harmash, astride Aratahnes Legend and from the Fazaa Endurance Team, was third with an overall timing of 5:13.06 seconds.

Abu Dhabi: Mohammad, Mansour in top five

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
December 13, 2008

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, finished in the top five to pick up valuable points in the first of the three-round FEI Three-Star 120-km Giants Endurance Challenge (Body Weight) Ride on Saturday.

Shaikh Mansour, riding Carallio, finished second behind Abdullah Saeed Bin Huzaim on Nucius Romas while Shaikh Mohammad finished fifth on Tazoul Al Parry in yesterday's ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Bahrain's Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa finished fourth and the leading riders in this 75kg Body Weight ride will now meet again in Bahrain in the second round on January 10, 2009.

More...

The Netherlands: 2009 Dutch Championships

The 2009 Dutch Championships will be held 12-14 June 2009, in and around Ermelo, Netherlands. For the 8th consecutive year, organizer Eric Lamsma is putting together a 160-km course over the established Fasna Trail. Routes will carry riders through the beautiful Veluwe region: forest paths interspersed with vast heather.

Start, vet gates, and finish are in one location, at the headquarters of the KMSH, the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation.

Many international participants are expected, as well as last year's returning Dutch Champions, Janet van Wijk and Latino.

More information at Fasna Trail.

Bahrain: Riders for UAE event

Gulf Daily News

ROYAL Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and a group of Bahraini riders are set for a new challenge today, when the first round of the 120-km Endurance Horseride Grand Prix gets underway at 5am (Bahrain time) at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, in Abu Dhabi.

Top riders from Bahrain, the UAE, and other invited guests will line up in the first of a three-race series, being organised for the first time by the Bahrain Royal Endurance Federation (Breef) in co-operation with the UAE Equestrian Federation.

Riding Omsura Nasrohn, whom he steered to win the Opening Season Championship held last month, Shaikh Nasser will lead the Bahrainis' hopes in this prestigious event which is only open to riders of 75kg weight and above.

Shaikh Nasser, the Breef president, will be joined by the federation's first vice-president and captain of Al Khaldiya Stables Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Other Bahraini riders in the fray are Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Abdulhaq Qadoori and Ghazi Al Dossary.

The Bahrainis will face a stern test in this race where they compete it out with the region's best riders, including those from the UAE.

Prominent riders from the UAE will be Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, his son Shaikh Hamdan and UAE's vice-president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai besides Presidential Affairs Minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Nasser and members of the Bahraini riders underwent training yesterday at the race venue.

During their practice session, the Bahraini riders met with the UAE team members, including Shaikh Hamdan, who welcomed the Bahrainis and wished them the best of luck.

Both Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid were also present at the veterinary examination held yesterday to follow up the procedures and approve their participation in today's race.

This race, which coincides with the National Day Cup scheduled for the same day, will be divided into five stages.

The first stage will cover 32km, 30km for the second stage, 24km for third, 18km for the fourth and 16km for the fifth.

After this event, riders will then travel to Bahrain next month for the second round, to be held at the International Endurance Village in Sakhir on January 10 next year.

The third and final round of the series is scheduled for February 28 next year at Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalem.

The overall winner of the series will accumulate the highest number of points. The top 10 riders in each race of the series will gain points.

The organising committee earlier approved the points system for the series as the winner in each round will be awarded 100 points.

Eighty points will be given to second place, 70 for third place, 60 for fourth, 50 for fifth, 50 for sixth, 30 for seventh, 20 for eighth, 10 for ninth and five points for 10th.

Bahrain: Riders ready for Grand Prix race

Bahrain Gulf Daily News

SHAIKH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived in the UAE to lead Bahrain's top riders in tomorrow's first round of the 120-km Endurance Horseride Grand Prix at Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, in Abu Dhabi.

Commencing at 6.30am (Bahrain time), the race will be one of three races in the 75-kg body weight series to be organised for the first time in the region with riders from Bahrain, the UAE and other invited guests in the fray.

Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal and Equestrian Federation (Breef) president and Royal Endurance Team captain, will be joined by Breef first vice-president and captain of Al Khaldiya Stables Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Leading prominent riders from the UAE will be Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE's vice-president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai besides Presidential Affairs Minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Tomorrow's race will be divided into five stages - 32km for the first stage, 30km for the second, 24km for third, 18km for the fourth and 16km for the fifth.

Bahrain will host the second round, to be held at the International Endurance Village in Sakhir on January 10 next year while the third and final round is scheduled for February 28 at Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalem.

The overall winner of the series will accumulate the highest number of points. The top 10 riders in each race of the series will gain points.

Approved

The organising committee approved the points system for the series as the winner in each round will be awarded 100 points.

Eighty points will be given to second place, 70 for third place, 60 for fourth, 50 for fifth, 50 for sixth, 30 for seventh, 20 for eighth, 10 for ninth and five points for 10th.

Tomorrow's first round will coincide with the National Day Cup which is scheduled for the same day.

Both events were announced during a Press conference in Abu Dhabi.

It was attended by Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club director general Adnan Al Nuaimi, Hydra Properties chief executive officer Dr Al Fahim and managing director of Tasweeq Lara Sawaya, announcing the 37 National Day Cup and Giants Endurance Challenge.

Al Nuaimi said Hydra Properties and Shaikh Mansour's breeding stables in Normandy, France have joined hands to sponsor and support both races.

"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 Al Fahim.

Al Fahim said that 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 the event.

"Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's breeding stables in Normandy, France is supporting the National Day Cup and the Grand Prix as part of its promotional campaign," said Lara.

South America: News from Enduroonline.com

News from Enduro On Line www.enduroonline.com.br

RESULTS:
- Brazilian Championship CEN*, CEN** and 6ª round of Brasilia Championship

- Argentina Championship 120 km and 160 km and Cazón International Ride

- Endurance La Costa Atlantica, Costa Azul - Rocha, Uruguay