UAE: Shaikh Mohammed Al Maktoum wins Giants Challenge Final

Results:

1 – HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tahhan 4:52:31

2 – HH Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum on Garaman Mikado 4:52:32

3 – Mubarak Abdullah Al Bloushi on Estaban 5:01:06

4 – Buti Mohammed Khalifa Al Marri on Aratahnes Legend 5:06:50

5 - HE Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum on Hungares 5:07:20

6 - HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Omsura Nasrohn 5:09:38

41 starters, 14 finishers

Champion Maria leads Spanish 1-2-3 in Dubai Ladies ride

Gulf News
photo:Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton wins the Dubai Equestrian Club Endurance Challenge for Ladies at Dubai International Endurance City at Seih Assalem in Dubai on Friday.
Champion Maria leads Spanish 1-2-3 in Dubai Ladies ride. Abdul Rahman/Gulf News

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: February 27, 2009, 23:08

Dubai: Reigning world endurance champion Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton led a Spanish 1-2-3 in on Friday's 90-km Dubai Equestrian Club Endurance Challenge for Ladies staged at the Dubai International Endurance City.

Riding 13-year-old Antares Sauveterre, Maria led from start to finish in the 90-km event which was spread over four stages. Maria, who won the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia last year when the UAE riders clinched the team gold, cruised home comfortably and later drove away with a brand new car for her winning effort.

She completed the ride in three hours 17 minutes and 01 seconds with a ride average speed of 27.96 kmph.

A total of 77 riders took part in this first Ladies ride of the season being held here by the Dubai Equestrian Club.

While Maria was dominant in her victory her two Spanish compatriots Sonia Le Hecho and Silvia Valenti Vidal also had it easy winning the second and third places respectively.

The UAE's Reem Shaban Ibrahim Hasan, riding Hurst Kariba trained by champion rider Yousef Ahmad Al Belouhsi, finished fourth on her 10-year-old chestnut gelding. Reem was in 16th place after the first loop but after that she gradually moved up to 6th in the second stage and then 5th in the third stage before completing in fourth place.

Ali Moosa Al Khamiri, General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club gave away the trophies and the key of a 4WD car to Maria Alvarez Ponton the winner.

"We had a lot of UAE lady riders in the fray and with some of the world's best international riders taking part it was a good experience for them," said Al Khamiri.
full article

Uruguay: 2009 Pan American Championship update

2009 Pan American Championship - El Panamericano de Endurance - Uruguay


Official website: http://www.panamendurance2009.com/ in Spanish

Date: April 24

Venue: Haras La Perseverancia, Costa Azul, State of Canelones.
55 km distance of Montevideo (Capital) and 30 km from International
Airport of Carrasco

Distance: 120 km

Categories: Senior and Young Riders and Open

On April 25 there will be open FEI rides of 120 km and 80 km

UAE: Shaikh Nasser eyes Dubai challenge

Gulf Daily News

BAHRAIN Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will be looking to clinch the title tomorrow when the third and deciding leg of the 120-kilometre Endurance Horseride Grand Prix is flagged off at the Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalem.The Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president is presently in second place with 140 points after two legs and behind UAE riders Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both are on 150 points each.

Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Ghazi Al Dossary are the other two Bahrainis to take part in tomorrow's race to be divided into five stages.

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

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

Shaikh Mansoor bagged 80 points after finishing second in Abu Dhabi and claimed 60 points for coming fourth in the Bahrain event. He received an extra 10 points for riding the same horse in both races.

Shaikh Nasser claimed 60 points for coming fourth in the first race and 80 for an impressive second place in the second race.

Gained

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 as his horse was exhausted.

In the first round of the 120-km Endurance Horseride Grand Prix held two months ago, the UAE riders dominated the podium with Abdulla bin Hazim winning the race.

He was followed by UAE's Presidential Affairs Minister Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in second place while compatriot Ahmed bin Harmash was third.

The top 10 riders in each race of the series are gaining points. He winner earns 100 points, while the second placed rider gets 80, third 70, fourth 60, and fifth 50 points. Riders classified sixth through 10th will also bag points.

Shaikh Nasser is expecting a stiff competition in the third and concluding Grand Prix.

The Breef chief said the Bahraini riders were confident and determined to win a spot on the podium.
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Qatar: Al Shaqab endurance team to compete in Qatar Open

Gulf Times
Friday27/2/2009February, 2009

THE Al Shaqab Endurance Team will enter 16 riders in the Qatar Open International Cup at the Qatar Endurance Village in Mesaieed near Sealine tomorrow.
Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, is headed by general supervisor Owaida al-Hajeri, manager and trainer Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani and Assistant Manager Jabr Nasser al-Ramzani.
The competition will begin at 5:30 a.m. and will last approximately 12 hours, allowing the entrants to complete a 120 km course. Entrants from Qatar and the Gulf region will compete for the winning prize of QR 400,000.
As one of the fastest growing international equestrian events, endurance racing consists of varied terrain through a course in the desert.
There are mandatory check points where all horses must pass a veterinary inspection, including tests for heart rate, respiratory abilities and dehydration.
A horse must pass the inspection to continue on to the next check point, including a final inspection at the end of the race to clock an official time. Any horse that does not pass a test in the check point, or is considered lame, is eliminated from the race.
Riders competing on the Al Shaqab Endurance team for the Qatar Open International Cup are the following: Atta Mohammed Beer, Mohammed Tahous Saif al-Nuaimi, Khalid al-Malki, Hassan Tahous Saif al-Nuaimi, Faleh Nasser Saleh Bughenaim, Jassim Mohammed al-Maadhadi, Abdulrahmen al-Sulaiteen, Essa Ahmed Saif al-Mannai, Ali Yousuf al-Malki, Hadi Nasser Ramzani al- Naimi, Sophei Arnaud, Tomas Philippe, Hakeem Ali Khan, AbdullaTowaim al-Marri, Hamad Ali Rashid al-Marri and Naif Ibrahim.

UAE: Mohammad to lead strong line-up

By M Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter
Published: February 26, 2009, 23:06

Dubai: 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, will be part of a strong line-up of riders for tomorrow's (Saturday's) Endurance Giants Challenge.

Tomorrow's event is the third and final leg of the three-round challenge, the first of which was held in Abu Dhabi, the second in Bahrain.

Shaikh Mohammad, who won the second leg in Bahrain, earned 100 points for that win and is joint leader with Shaikh Mansour after the first two rounds.

Shaikh Mohammad had finished fifth in the first round for which he earned 50 points and now has a cumulative total of 150 points, the same as Shaikh Mansour.

Shaikh Mansour, who was second (80 points) in the first round, secured another 60 for his fourth place finish in Bahrain and also earned 10 bonus points for riding the same horse in the first two rounds.

Bahrain's Shaikh Nasser, who has tallied 140 points (60+80) is third. Abdullah Bin Huzaim of the UAE had won the opening round.

Tomorrow's ride will be held at the Dubai International Endurance City, which will also see a Ladies Ride being worked off today. The 90-km ride has attracted a sizable number of entries and the winner will receive a car while there is also cash prize on offer for those who finish at the top.

The Endurance Giants Challenge ride gets off to a mass start at 6.00 am tomorrow and all participating riders must weigh at least 75kgs without riding equipment. The points accumulated over the three rounds will decide the overall champion.

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Qatar: Qtel sponsors endurance event

Gulf Times
Wednesday25/2/2009February, 2009

photo: Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Thani, executive director, Group Human Resources, Qtel (left) and Sheikh Hamad bin Ali al-Thani, president of the Qatar Endurance Committee seailing the agreement yesterday

Qtel yesterday announced that it will be the ‘Gold Sponsor’ of the Qatar International Endurance Cup, organised by the Qatar Endurance Committee for Horse Racing.
The Qatar International Endurance Cup is set to take place at the International Endurance Village in Sealine, Mesaieed on Saturday, and the six-hour race is set to attract racing enthusiasts from across the region.
As one of the toughest challenges in Qatar racing, the Endurance Cup is set to feature a number of leading endurance riders.
The partnership was announced at a special ceremony held at Qtel Headquarters in Doha, attended by representatives of the Qatar International Endurance Cup and Qtel.
In its role as Gold Sponsor, Qtel will provide material and technological support for the event, including a range of communication facilities on-site that will enable organisers and visitors to keep in touch with the race’s progress.
Sheikh Hamad bin Ali al-Thani, president of the Qatar Endurance Committee, said: “We are delighted that Qtel has agreed to become the Gold Sponsor for this year’s edition of the Qatar International Endurance Cup. The Cup has a very important place in the year’s racing calendar, and we are only able to provide such an exciting spectacle with the support of our local sponsors.”
Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Thani, executive director, Group Human Resources, Qtel, said: “One of the major goals of our sponsorship programme is to ensure that we are providing support for every event that has an emotional importance for our customers. Horse racing – and endurance racing in particular – has a long-standing appeal for many Qatar nationals, and we are delighted to be associated with an event of this caliber.”
Qtel is a long-term supporter of sport in Qatar and the region. It was a major sponsor of the Gulf Cup 2009, the Sony Ericsson Championships Doha, and the Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship.
At a local level, the company is the Official Sponsor of the Al Murqab Sailing Team, the first private sailing team in Qatar. It also supports a range of local teams and keep fit activity.
“Our sponsorship program blends seamlessly with our corporate social responsibility program, which looks to support the lives and interests of the people of Qatar. By supporting sport at all levels, we are not only ensuring that people can be entertained by sporting spectacles like the Qatar International Endurance Cup, we are also encouraging them to lead fit and active lives through sport, which can contribute to the health of the nation,” concluded Sheikh Saud.
Other sponsors for this year’s Endurance Cup include Qatar Airways, UDC, Qatar Petroleum, and Doha Bank.