UAE: Top UAE riders for Bahrain event Mohammad leads UAE's charge

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan
January 06, 2009

Abu Dhabi: UAE riders led by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, along with Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, are likely to dominate the second leg of the FEI Three-Star Giants Endurance Challenge (Body Weight) Ride Series to be held in Bahrain on Saturday.

The ride is being organised at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The Bahrain Royal Endurance and Equestrian Federation (Breef) will see the UAE's top riders take on some of Bahrain's best and many others from around the world.

More...

Bahrain: Five stages for endurance race

Gulf Daily News

ORGANISERS of the 120-kilometre Endurance Horseride Grand Prix, scheduled for Saturday, yesterday approved five stages for the race.

The Bahrain event, which is the second of a three-leg series and will be organised by the Bahrain Royal Endurance and Equestrian Federation (Breef), is taking place at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The Breef decided to have 30km for each of Saturday's first two stages, 25km for the third, 20km for the fourth besides 15km for the fifth and final stage.

In the first round of the 120-km Endurance Horseride Grand Prix, held at Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa steered Omsura Nasrohn to a fourth-place finish.

The hosts dominated the podium yesterday when Abdulla bin Hazim was the first to complete the race, followed by UAE's Presidential Affairs Minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in second place with compatriot Ahmed bin Harmash third.

The third and final round is scheduled for February 28 at Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalem where the rider with the highest number of points will be honoured. The top 10 riders in each race of the series are gaining points.

Among a race's top finishers, the winner earns 100 points, while second gets 80, third 70, fourth 60, and fifth 50 points. Riders classified sixth through 10th will also come away with points.

Each participating rider must weigh at least 75 kilograms without riding equipment, and must be registered with the International Equestrian Federation.

Meanwhile, Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team manager Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan said the team is training on daily basis ahead of this event, adding that he is confident to see his riders among the top finishers.

On his part, route committee head Fahad Al Rumaihi said the committee has finalised its preparations for this event which started last week.

Al Rumaihi said the committee's has succeeded in its mission thanks to directives from Shaikh Nasser and Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Breef general secretary and ground jury committee head Ghalib Al Alawi confirmed that his committee members are ready to receive the participants from Bahrain the UAE.

Al Alawi said this race promises to feature stronger competition than in the first round in Abu Dhabi as more riders from both countries have approved their participation for the second leg.

Shaikh Nasser, the Breef president, expressed his appreciation for race sponsors Unicorn Investment Bank, especially its chief executive officer Majid Al Rifaee.

Shaikh Nasser also said he was proud that Bahrain is hosting such a prestigious race, which has been approved by the International Equestrian Federation.

World Games 2010 Foundation Names New Chief Executive Officer

DATE: January 5, 2009

LEXINGTON, KY - The World Games 2010 Foundation today announced that it has selected Jamie Link as the new Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Link has been serving as Deputy Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet since December 2007 and prior to that spent several months as the Deputy Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park. In his current role, he has served as an ex officio member of the World Games 2010 Foundation board of directors and has been actively involved in the ongoing construction projects at the Kentucky Horse Park and major vendor selections related to the Games.

"I am honored to be selected as CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation and look forward to working with the wonderful staffs of the Foundation and the Kentucky Horse Park," Link said. "It is going to take all of us working together and we are committed to showcasing to our visitors not only the world’s finest equestrian venue that is the Kentucky Horse Park, but also the many amazing attractions we have throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky."

"I have watched Jamie participate in many of the meetings and was impressed with his ability to get things done. The planning for the Games is at a critical juncture and we need to have a full time CEO to manage the process for the next 21 months," said John Long, board chairman and acting CEO. "Jamie’s familiarity with the Games planning means he will be able to jump in immediately and make an impact."
Long also added that the Games proactively recruited Mr. Link. There was no pressure from the state. In fact, Long said that Secretary Marcheta Sparrow - also a board member - politely reprimanded him for stealing Link.
Secretary Sparrow added "although I am sorry to lose Jamie as my co-worker in state government I am confident in his abilities to lead the Games at this critical time. His knowledge of the Kentucky Horse Park and the importance of this event to our state’s image throughout the world is tremendous."

John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park said "having known and worked with Jamie Link for a number of years, I can state with confidence that he is uniquely qualified for this position and I am delighted that he has accepted the Board's offer. Everyone at the Kentucky Horse Park has witnessed firsthand Jamie's uncommon talent, integrity and dedication during his time as Deputy Director. He understands the Park’s day-to-day operations and the special needs of the Park for the 16 days of high level championship competition. In addition, it is helpful to have someone familiar with all of our key community and state leaders involved in this project to help streamline our efforts. I look forward to once again having the pleasure of working with him as we build toward, not only this epoch moment in our history, but for the great legacy it will provide."

Link will officially begin serving as CEO on January 12, but has already begun the transition and attending meetings as needed to be up-to-date on all operations when he joins the staff full-time.

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The Games have never before been held outside of Europe; nor have all eight disciplines competed at a single site—both firsts that will be achieved at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and other current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere and Ariat International, Inc. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.feigames2010.org.

Media Contacts:

World Games 2010 Foundation
Amy Walker
859-255-2010 ext. 235 or 859-699-0443 (cell)
awalker@feigames2010.org

Ellen Gregory
Preston-Osborne
859-231-7711 ext 234 or 859-338-1775 (cell)
elgregory@preston-osborne.com

Bahrain: Unicorn support for Grand Prix

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Article

5th January 2009

UNICORN Investment Bank will sponsor the Bahrain round of the 120-kilometre Endurance Horseride Grand Prix, organisers the Bahrain Royal Endurance and Equestrian Federation (Breef) announced yesterday. The race, which will be the second of the three-leg event, is set to take place on Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Breef president and Bahrain Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa expressed his appreciation for Unicorn's support of the leg. Shaikh Nasser also said he was proud that Bahrain is hosting such a prestigious race, which has been approved by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

Breef officials, under the guidance of Shaikh Nasser, yesterday continued to intensify their preparations for the ride, which follows the opener held last month at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.

Coverage on Endurance.net
More...

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.

More...

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.

More...