Bahrain: Royal Victory

Gulf Daily News


By RAMI Hulayyel

SHAIKH Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum raced to victory in yesterday's 120-km endurance horseride, the second round of the Endurance Grand Prix staged at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.The UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai steered his horse Tahhan to top place in four hours, 53 minutes and 14 seconds following a fierce battle with Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa (4:53:53) and Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (5:00:15) who finished second and third respectively.

Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president, rode Farhoz De Paute while Shaikh Hamdan was astride Eo Fawati.

Top riders from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE competed in this challenging event.

The five-stage race started with 30 kms for each of the first two stages and was followed by a 25-km third stage. The fourth stage was over 20 kms while the fifth and concluding stage consisted of 15 kms.

Shaikh Nasser, who led the Bahraini riders, kicked off the race on a high note by finishing the first stage first in one hour, nine minutes and 43 seconds.

Having finished fourth overall in the first round held in Abu Dhabi, Shaikh Nasser completed this stage ahead of Shaikh Hamdan (1:11:16) who came second while Shaikh Mohammed (1:12:15) was third.

In the second stage, Shaikh Mohammed leapfrogged Shaikh Nasser to steal the lead in 2:25:22. Shaikh Hamdan was second in 2:25:11 while Shaikh Nasser went down to third in 2:25:22.

Shaikh Mohammed maintained his lead after the third stage which ended in his favour with a total time of 3:28:05 while Shaikh Nasser (3:29:31) moved up to second while Shaikh Hamdan (3:29:44) was third.

In the fourth stage, Shaikh Hamdan came back strongly to lead in 4:20:31, just four seconds ahead of his father Shaikh Mohammed who dropped to second while Shaikh Nasser (4:20:46) went down to third.

Shaikh Mohammed regained his lead in the fifth stage and cruised to victory.

Honoured

Joining Shaikh Nasser in this five-stage race was Breef first vice-president and Al Khaldiya Stable leader Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and other prominent Bahraini riders.

The winners were honoured at an awarding ceremony held right after the race which was attended by His Majesty King Hamad. His Majesty, who witnessed the race, congratulated the winners and wished others success in future races.

Earlier, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and National Guard Commander Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa attended the flag-off along with His Majesty.

Yesterday's race was sponsored by Unicorn Investment Bank and telecast live on Bahrain Sports Channel.

Australia: Horse Flu Free State a Winner

Qt.com.au - Full Article

Felicity Caldwell | 11th January 2009

THE Toft family received a belated Christmas present recently when the world officially acknowledged Australia was equine influenza (EI) free.

The official recognition from the World Organisation for Animal Health follows a sustained surveillance and compliance effort in the 12 months since the last notified case of equine influenza on Christmas Day, 2007.

Tallegalla endurance horse breeder Peter Toft said the most significant announcement for the industry was when people were allowed to move their horses and go about their normal activities.

But the official recognition was great news for Australia, as it would reassure international industry members.

"That can help put a bit more confidence in the international market for our horses," Mr Toft said.

More...

Abu Dhabi: Mohammad scores giant victory

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
January 10, 2009

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, won the second round of the 120-km Giants Endurance Challenge (Body Weight) Ride series in Bahrain on Saturday to emerge as the overall leader with the final round left.

Riding Tahhan, Shaikh Mohammad completed the gruelling 120-km distance in a time of four hours 53 minutes and 14 seconds to finish ahead of Bahrain's Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Firhos de Paute.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, came third aboard EO Fawati and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, fourth on Carrallio.

More...

Bahrain: Mohammad leads UAE challenge at Giants Endurance

Gulf News
photo:Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Hamdan practise for today's Giants Endurance Challenge (Body Weight) Ride series in Bahrain.

By M Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: January 09, 2009, 23:48

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai are part of the 22-strong UAE line-up for today's second round of the Giants Endurance Challenge (Body Weight) Ride series in Bahrain.

Shaikh Mohammad is expected to ride Tahhan while Shaikh Mansour, who finished second behind Abdullah Bin Huzaim in the first round in Abu Dhabi, will be riding Carrallio. Shaikh Hamdan is expected to be on EO Fawati while Bin Huzaim will be riding Shahab.

A total of 39 riders are expected to battle for honours in today second round that will be run over 120-kms at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir. Today's ride gets off to a mass start at 6.00 am and all participating riders must weigh at least 75 kilogrammes without riding equipment. The final leg will be held in Dubai and points accumulated over the three rounds will decide the overall champion.

Bahrain: Royal Welcome

Gulf-daily-news.com

9th JANUARY 2009

HIS Majesty King Hamad yesterday welcomed the UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who arrived in Bahrain to participate in the 120-kilometre Endurance Horseride Grand Prix.

This five-stage event will be held tomorrow at the Bahrain International Endurance Village.

Shaikh Mohammed was also given a warm welcome on arrival by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and other federation officials.

Shaikh Nasser, who is also captain of the Bahrain Royal Endurance Team, will lead Bahrain along with Al Khaldiya Stables captain Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikh Majid, sons of Shaikh Mohammed, are also be in the fray along with the UAE's presidential affairs minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Ahmed Harmash, who finished second and third respectively in last month's first race of the series at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Abu Dhabi.

The Bahrain race, divided into five stages and the second of a three-race series, is sponsored by Unicorn Investment Bank and top riders from Bahrain and the UAE are in the fray.

FEI Online Rankings as of 19/12/2008

FEI.org - Complete List

Rank	Rider Name	NF	Points
1	Jack Begaud	FRA	1977
2	Pio Juan Olascoaga Amaya	URU	1631
3	Laurent Mosti	FR	1338
4	Mohd Ahmed Ali Al Subose	UAE	1140
5	Abdulla Thanki Bin Huzain	UAE	1136
6	Meg Wade	AUS	1032
7	Majid bin Mohd Al Maktoum	UAE	989
8	Vincent Dupont	FR	939
9	Ghazi Mohammed Al Doseri	BRN	873
10	Sh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum	UAE	816

New Zealand: NORTH ISLAND ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009

NZ NORTH ISLAND ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009
Hosted by Taumarunui Endurance Club at Aria
Photos and Results