Bahrain: Raring to Go!

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Article

4th January 2009

BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance team, led by captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is gearing up for the second leg of the 120-kilometre Endurance Horseride Grand Prix, which will take place on Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The round follows the opener held last month at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.

Shaikh Nasser, who is the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president, finished an impressive fourth riding his horse Omsura Nasrohn in that race, which was divided into five stages.

Shaikh Nasser is once again expected to be at the forefront of the Bahraini contingent taking part as hosts in the kingdom's leg. The others set to take to the saddle are Breef first vice-president and Al Khaldiya Stables captain Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Ghazi Al Dossary, and Abdulhaq Qadoori.

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Emirates Heritage Club calls off endurance festival

Published: January 03, 2009, 12:34

Abu Dhabi: The Emirates Heritage Club has called off the third Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed International Endurance Festival, which was in progress at the Bou Theib Endurance Village in Al Khatam.

The decision is part of the official mourning declared in the country to mourn the death of Shaikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, who passed away Friday morning in London.

In a statement, the higher organising committee said that the death of Shaikh Rashid is “a great national loss that plunged us to deep grief.”

Abu Dhabi: Al Reef bag top two places on day one

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
January 01, 2009

Abu Dhabi: Al Reef Stables rider Ahmad Salem Al Beloushi, riding Spoutnik, emerged as day one leader in the three-day 240 kilometre Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup here yesterday.

The Al Reef rider managed to finish marginally ahead of Mohammad Jasem Rahimi on Tonki Dee Boo Kentucky, out of 64 riders who started in this important ride which is part of the Endurance Festival being held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, at the Boutheib Endurance Villagein Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi.

Riders are required to cover 80 kms each day in the 240 kms ride.

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Abu Dhabi: Khalid and Hazza start as frontrunners

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan
December 31, 2008

Abu Dhabi: Last year's defending champion Shaikh Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his elder brother Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the 2007 winner, will once again start off as frontrunners to win the three-day (80x3) 240-km Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup.

Last year, Shaikh Khalid won the 240-km ride on Nemer while in 2007 it was Shaikh Hazza, who finished first on ZT Faraventura.

The three-day 240-km ride is one of the four rides which make up the three-day endurance festival staged at the Boudtheib Endurance Village in Al Khatem under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE.

The three-day 240-km event is a tough test for both rider and horse.

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Abu Dhabi: Endurance festival kicks off Wednesday

Wam.org.ae

Dec 31, 2008

ABU DHABI, Dec. 31st, 2008: The Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Endurance Festival is set to kick off on Thursday at the Bou Theib Endurance Village in Al Khatem.

250 male and female jockeys from the UAE and other countries will compete in 4 races over 3 days for a total of AED 600000 in prizes.

The event is held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and President of Emirates Heritage Club.

The winner of the main 3-leg 240km ride which will be spread over 3 days will receive AED 100000 in cash and the Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Endurance Cup.

Dubai: Hamad wins Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge 1

By M Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter

Dubai: Hamad Ebrahim Abdullah Al Marzouqi scored a fluent win on Lautaro to take yesterday's 100-km Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge 1 endurance ride, a national event open only to UAE riders from private stables.

Hamad, riding the 13-year-old chestnut gelding for Al Ain Stables, completed the 4-stage 100-km ride in four hours 10 minutes and 56 seconds at an average speed of 23.91kmph at the Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalam.

A total of 72 riders took part in yesterday's event which was attended by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

It was a consistent riding display by Hamad on Lautaro that ended in a comfortable win for the youngster with Rashid Arif Al Zarouni on Soughah in second place and Mohammad Hassan Abdullah on Tiramisu in third ahead of Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha, who was one of the favourites.

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Abu Dhabi: From Hobby to Profession!

Gulf News

(photo: M. Satya Narayan/Gulf News)
Maj Al Adhab says the support of the Rulers and the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation has helped him get a good insight into the finer aspects in officiating as an endurance judge.

By M Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: December 27, 2008, 23:32

Abu Dhabi: What started out as a hobby in 1990 soon blossomed into a fruitful association with horses and Major Mohammad Eisa Al Adhab is not only the Director of Dubai Mounted Police but has enjoyed many firsts in the equestrian world.

It was a hobby in 1990 and as a cadet in Dubai Police he began to enjoy riding and competing in equestrian events and after he became an officer in 1996, Mohammad Eisa caught the eye and began his journey as an official.

In 1997, the officer was sent to Australia under instructions from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and became a Steward in flat racing and was named to the Emirates Racing Authority as the first UAE national Steward.

His next step was into endurance and starting off as junior official, he soon reached the peak and is today one of the two active four-star international judged in endurance.

Speaking to Gulf News, Major Mohammad Eisa Al Adhab speaks about his involvement with horses which has seen him officiate in numerous world championships.

Gulf News: How did it all come about your involvement with horses?
Major Mohammad Eisa Al Adhab: It started as a hobby but and it was this interest in horses which soon resulted in me being named as Director of Dubai Mounted Police in 1997 after I became an officer in 1996.


Could you please explain Dubai Mounted Police in brief?
We have over 200 horses and they are part of different divisions. We have horses for crowd control, endurance, show jumping, ceremony shows and more recently we have a division which helps in rehabilitation of handicapped.

Apart from heading the Dubai Mounted Police, what are the other areas of interest with horses?
Thanks to the busy racing and endurance season in the UAE I have become a four-star international judge which allows me to officiate in international events. I am also the first UAE national who has been named as an 'Expert' in horses by the Dubai Courts.

What is your role as a Horse 'Expert'?
In cases involving horses or other equestrian activities, I am eligible to give my opinion to the courts.

As a UAE national, how do you look at your role as an International Endurance Judge?
The UAE is one of the few countries with the highest number of FEI rides. Apart from this the support of the Rulers and the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation has helped me get a good insight into the finer aspects in officiating as an endurance judge. With the horse's welfare being paramount my experience as a rider helps.

In the recent past, you have been officiating in all international championships. What are the challenges?
I was the Head of the Ground Jury at the Doha Games and have been a member of the Jury at the World Endurance Championships in 2006 in Germany and the recent World Endurance Championship in Malaysia. I was also an official at the European Open Championship in Portugal in 2007.

The sport is one of the fastest growing equestrian disciplines. With it the rules are also constantly being changed but fortunately for me... I manage to keep abreast of developments.