UAE: Riding to glory

Khaleej Times Online
photo: Sheikh Mohammed (right) and Sheikh Hamdan on their way to a 1-2 finish in the 120km Dubai Endurance Challenge on SaturdayM

Hisham Al Gizouli
28 February 2009

SEI ASSALAM (Dubai) — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, partnered eight-year-old Tahhan to glory in the final leg of the Giants Endurance Challenge at Seih Assalam Endurance City on Saturday.

The UAE riders swept the first five positions as Bahrain’s Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa finished sixth to walk away with the second place honours in the overall standing 
of the competition.

Shaikh Mohammed was crowned Champion of the Giants Endurance Challenge Grand Prix after having won the second leg in Bahrain and finishing fifth in the first race at Al Wathba International Endurance Village 
in December. The leading international horse owner, breeder and rider finished just ahead of his son Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, when the two riders crossed the finish line hand in hand with the UAE flag 
flying overhead.

Tahhan is trained by Abdullah Saeed bin Huzaim at Emaar Endurance Stables owned by Shaikh Mohammed.

“My horse has been well prepared for the race after receiving a perfect dose of training.

“The only problem was the sand storm and the dust which has adversely affected the overall speed of the race. But in all cases, it is an endurance race which tests the stamina of both the horse and its rider,” Shaikh Mohammed said.

The race was attended by His Majesty King Hamad bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, and a number of Shaikhs and top officials and a large number of spectators who came to enjoy the race.

Bahrain’s King praised the hard work of Shaikh Mohammed who is behind all the success achieved by this fast growing sport. He also described Shaikh Mohammed in a brief TV interview as a man of vision and 
forward thinking.

Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum heaped praise on Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum for the manner in which he handled Garaman Micado, who is still new and needed to be ridden with care.

Shaikh Hamdan rode 11-year-old Garaman Mikado from the stables of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables whose horse are trained and prepared by Ali Mohammed Al Muhairi.

Competitors from different parts of the world took part in the competition with 41 riders skirting the sand hills under the early rays of the sun in the final leg of the Triple Crown contest.

The 120km CEI Giants Endurance Challenge was a tough test for the riders and their horses as well after the sandstorm which hit the country from early in the morning.

The pre-race weather forecast reading was clear vision with the temperature up to 38 degrees centigrade and the wind speed 28km/hr SSW in the early morning to increase to 28k/hr in the afternoon.

But the riders had to find their way through the dust as the vision was decreased to less than 20 metres in some areas. More than 10 riders were either eliminated or retired between the first two Vet Gates which underlines the difficult weather conditions that forced quarter of the field to quit in the early stages of the race.

Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, who was a front-runner for the title was eliminated between Gate 1 and 2. He told Dubai Racing Channel that he was unlucky and God be 
with the others.

Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum was also quoted by the TV commentator as saying Shaikh Mansour’s horse Eo Jaras was not in its best form. “The indications on the day before the race were not positive, but Shaikh Mansour decided 
to take the risk.”

Bahrain rider Shaikh Salman bin Saqr Al Khalifa was among the first batch of those eliminated in the opening phases of the gruelling race.


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Bahrain: Shaikh Nasser finishes second in Grand Prix

Gulf Daily News

BAHRAIN Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa claimed second place overall in the 120-kilometre Endurance Horseride Grand Prix which concluded yesterday at the Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalem.

Riding Omsura Nasrohn, Shaikh Nasser completed yesterday's third and final leg of the series in sixth place among more than 40 riders.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE vice-president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, won the race with a time of four hours, 52 minutes and 31 seconds with an impressive average speed of 24.61 kms per hour to claim the overall title.

Shaikh Hamdan, son of Shaikh Mohammed, took second place in 4:52:32 which gave him an overall joint third position with compatriot Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Mubarak Al Beloushi (5:01:06) was third in yesterday's race, followed by UAE's Buti Al Mirri (5:02:00) and Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (5:04:50) in fourth and fifth places. Shaikh Nasser came in sixth in 5:09:38.

Victory

Shaikh Nasser, the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president, needed a victory in yesterday's race in order to clinch the overall title which was eventually won by Shaikh Mohammed who steered Tahhan to a fine win.

Shaikh Nasser went into this race in third spot with 140 points, just 10 behind joint leaders Shaikh Mohammed and compatriot Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Bahrain's Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa was excluded during the first stage. Ghazi Al Dossary, Bahrain's third rider in the race, finished eighth overall in 5:39:47.

Shaikh Mohammed staged a spirited performance in the last three stages to bag the overall title.

An awarding ceremony was held after the race and was attended by His Majesty King Hamad who presented trophies to the top three riders.

His Majesty congratulated Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Nasser and the other riders on their performance and , hailed the high level of competition.

Shaikh Nasser was also congratulated by General Organisation for Youth and Sports president Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and other senior Bahraini sports officials right after the race.

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.