HH the President of the UAE Endurance Cup FEI CEI*** 160 km

Full coverage on Endurance.Net

12th February 2009
Merri Melde
Endurance.Net

The 10th Running of the His Highness the President of the UAE Endurance Cup FEI CEI*** 160 km will be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on February 14, 2009.

The race is sponsored by Hydra Properties, Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Al Wathba breeding stables of Normandy, France, and Al Awani General Enterprises Establishment, whose support for equestrian activities in general and endurance races in particular is an integrated partnership between the economic and sport sectors of the UAE.

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Gulf News article: President's Cup winners will ride away with Dh1.5m and cars
Abu Dhabi: A whopping Dh1.5 million and four cars are up for grabs in the President's Cup 160-km endurance ride to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba tomorrow.

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An amount of 1.5 million AED has been allocated as cash prizes and will be distributed to all riders who complete the race. In addition, four cars will be awarded as prizes to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, and for Best Conditioned Horse.

115 riders are expected to participate, including 20 foreign invitees from France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, USA, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Poland, and Jordan.

The ride will consist of 6 loops of 34, 32, 30, 24, 24, and 16 km, with holds of 30, 30, 30, 50, and 40 minutes, with 2 presentations to the vets at each hold. Minimum weight carried is 75 kg, and maximum pulse is 64 bmp, with recovery inspections during the 4th and 5th holds.

The race begins at 6 AM.

Foreign riders:

Belgium - Maritza Pereira - Taborah De Sier

France - Phillippe Benoit - Akim Du Boulve
- Caroline Denayer - Kouleur Du Parc
- Pascale Dietsch - Hifrane Du Barthas

Australia - Penny Toft - Kitt
- Kristie McGaffin - Castlebar Darthvader
- Meg Wade - Castlebar Kalahari

Spain - Jon Zabalua Dorronsoro - Eteldjel De Peyrinie

Portugal - Rui Pereira - Trovador Da Oliveirinha
- Joao Raposo - Titanic

USA - Janice Worthington - Golden LIghtning
- John Crandell - LR Jasuur Melika

Italy - Simona Garatti - Drago Sauro
- Patrizia Giacchero - Sunny Boy
- Cinzia Iacchelli - Missouri

Germany - Belinda Hitzler - Shagar 5
Stefanie Arnold - TBA
Rebecca Arnold - TBA

Poland - Beata Dzikowska - Cyryl
Kamila Kart - Cert

Jordan - Farah Abunameh - Zarazeen

Kuwait: Bahrain Royal team for Kuwait event

SHAIKH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead a 12-member Bahrain Royal Endurance Team at the 120-km Kuwait Open Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for Saturday. The Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president will be accompanied by Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, captain of Al Khaldiya Stables, besides 10 other members of Bahrain's finest riders who are expected to reach Kuwait today.

They are Yousif Taher, Jaffer Mirza, Abdulrahman Al Saad, Ahmed Abdulla, Mohammed Al Thawadi, Abdulhaq Qadori, Ahmed Abdulsamad, Raed Mahmood, Fahad Ismail and Abdulrahman Al Zayed.

Team manager Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan had already arrived in Kuwait to arrange the accommodation and training venue for the team.

More than 100 riders from Kuwait, Bahrain and other GCC countries are taking part in the championship to be held at Kabad desert located in the southwest of Kuwait as part of Kuwait's National Day celebrations.

The race, which provides a total prize money of $50,000, will be divided into five stages, including 30km each for the first two stages, 25km for the third, 20km for the fourth and 15km for the fifth.

The prize includes $10,000 for the winner, $9,000 for second place and $8,000 for third.

The veterinary examination is set for tomorrow while Breef general secretary Ghalib Al Alawi was named head of the ground jury committee. Other committee members are Abdulsamad Al Busta, Mohsin Al Battal of Kuwait besides Eyad, Nasser, Yaqoob Al Khalaf, Ali Faraj, Falah Fahad, Ali Ghuloom and Mohammed Dadulla.

Commenting on this participation, Shaikh Nasser said he is excited to take part in this event which brings his memory back to 2005 when they won top positions in a similar race which was also held in February.

Shaikh Nasser added that this race will be a useful experience for his team who are gearing up for the third and final round of the Endurance Horseride Grand Prix scheduled for February 28 in Dubai.

After two rounds, Shaikh Nasser is holding third place overall with 140 points, just 10 behind UAE riders Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan who are sharing the lead.

Shaikh Mohammed, the UAE vice-president, Prime Minister and the ruler of Dubai, steered Tahhan to win the second round race which was over 120km and staged at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

After coming fifth in the first round race held in Abu Dhabi where he won 50 points, Shaikh Mohammed gained 100 points for winning top spot in the second race.

For Shaikh Mansoor, he was given 80 points after finishing second in Abu Dhabi then 60 points for coming fourth in the Bahrain event, received an extra 10 points for riding the same horse in both races.

Shaikh Nasser took 60 points for coming fourth in the first race and 80 after finishing an impressive second in the second race.

The Breef chief is being followed by Shaikh Hamadan, son of Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with 70 points gained from taking third place overall in the second race of the series.

Shaikh Hamdan was unable to win any points in the first race in Abu Dhabi where he had to pull out after his horse suffered from exhaustion.
Full Article

FEI announces 2010 WEG COC requirement

The FEI has announced the qualification (COC - Certificate of Capability) requirement for the 2010 WEG:

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Australia Fires: Livestock Assessment Begins, Feed Needed

Thehorse.com - Full article

by: Erin Ryder, TheHorse.com News Editor
February 09 2009, Article # 13589

Recovery from the recent fires in the Australian state of Victoria is just beginning. The fires burned an estimated 850 square miles. According to the state's Department of Primary Industries, Victoria produces around 26% of Australia's agriculture and food from 3% of Australia's arable land.

According to a statement on the DPI Web site, livestock assessment teams will go into affected areas as soon as it is safe to do so. They will also asses other losses, and are working with the Victorian Farmers Federation to arrange for emergency feed.

Senior DPI veterinarian and Manager of Animal Health Field Services, Lloyd Klumpp said farmers have three major options:

* Destroy immediately--if the animal is down, unable to walk, has excessive burns, swelling of limbs, or difficulty breathing.
* Keep and nurse--if the animal is mobile and alert or has burns to less than 10% of its body. These animals will need shade, water, feed, daily inspection, and veterinary advice and treatment. They will also need constant reassessment.
* No apparent damage--Livestock will still need shade water and feed and they will also need to be reassessed.

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USA: 2009 North American Young Riders Championship

Updated, February 7:

July 24, 2009 (Friday) - Clark State Forest - Henryville, IN

Similar trails to what the AERC NC ride ran on this past year.

75 mile (120 KM) FEI 2* Event

To be held in conjunction with the North American Junior Young Rider Championships to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park July 22-26. We will be participating in Opening and Closing Ceremonies along with being invited to all the parties and festivities that go along with it. Lots to see - other disciplines etc - vendors.

I will have complete information up soon on our website at http://www.NAYRER.org - just finishing up on the qualifications for the event.

It will be open to all riders 16-21 years old (This includes riders from the beginning of the year they reach the age of 16 until the end of the year they reach the age of 21 per FEI General Regulations Article 124.1 - this includes riders born between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1993.). In addition, riders who are 14-15 years old who have a letter from AERC stating that they are allowed to ride unsponsored in the senior division of AERC are also welcome to attend.

Jan Stevens
Ride Manager

Bahrain: Latifa wins title in women's race

Gulf Daily News

SAUDI Arabia's Latifa Al Shaikh of the Kingdom Stables won the women's race in the Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Endurance Horseride Championship yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Clocking five hours, 22 minutes and six seconds, Latifa finished ahead of her main opponent Manal Fakhrawi (5:22:52) of Bahrain Royal Endurance Team.

Sherine Fayez (5:27:38), also of the Royal Endurance Team, finished third.

Top riders from Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman took part in this race which was the first women's event of the season.

Nine horses were disqualified - six in the first stage, two in the third and one in the fourth.

The race comprised of five stages, the first two stages of 30 kms each, 25 kms in the third, 20 kms in for fourth and 15 kms for the fifth and final stage.

The event, sponsored by Maalem, also featured a 160 kms senior race besides an additional 100 kms race.

The 100 kms race, which was open to men and women of various age-groups, consisted of four stages in total, including 30 kms each for the first and second, 25 kms for the third and 15 kms for the fourth and final stage.

Around 40 riders, representing 15 stables, were in the fray. Raed Mahmood of Al Murghairat Stable won this race in four hours, 29 minutes and 27 seconds.

Behind him was Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Khalifa (4:43:13) of Ahmed Al Fateh Stable in second while Al Asayel Stable rider Khalifa Saad (5:04:34) was third.

Fourth place was taken by Nooruddin Qadoori of the Royal Endurance Team, followed by Yousif Isa of Al Asayel Stable in fifth, Ibrahim Busheit of Alio Ghuloom and Hussain Al Mulla of Abdulaziz Al Rumaihi Srables in sixth and seventh positions respectively.

Twenty one horses were unable to compete the 100 kms race as seven horses were disqualified at each of the three stages.

The championship was held under the patronage of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who honoured the winners of each race in presence of first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid congratulated the top riders and wished others success in future races. The Breef chief praised the standard of competition and thanked the entrants from Bahrain and other GCC countries for taking part in the event.

Also attending the event was actress Tuba Buyukustun of Turkey. She was the chief guest of the event and awarded trophies and other prizes.

VVDoItAgain: Brooklyn's Only Endurance Rider Leads Day 2

Brooklyn Endurance Rider Sandra Fretelliere holds a narrow lead going in to day 3 of the 4 day Very Virtual DoItAgain Endurance Ride. Riding in Arizona, an escape from the unpredictable weather in Brooklyn, Ms Fretelliere has 2 days left to maintain her lead and complete the 2009 VV DoItAgain