Spain: The CEI2 * Badajoz, for Luis Cenisergue

Ecuestreonline.com - Full Story, Photos and Results

More than 60 riders and horses participated in the Raid XLII Riding of Badajoz contest organized by the Society Hipica Lebrero which consisted of three tests, including two international and two stars, which were imposed, respectively, Luis Cenisergue ( " Mediatik Larzac) and Isidoro Bautista ( "Dance").

Mas de 60 jinetes y caballos participaron en el XLII Raid Hipico de Badajoz, certamen organizado por la Sociedad Hipica Lebrera que consto de tres pruebas, dos de ellas internacionales de dos y una estrellas, en las que se impusieron, respectivamente, Luis Cenisergue ("Mediatik Larzac") e Isidoro Bautista ("Danza").

El sabado 14 de marzo se disputo la 42nd edicion del Raid de Badajoz, compuesto por sendas pruebas internacionales de dos (CEI2*) y una (CEI*) estrellas, y por una territorial de Promocion.

Treinta y un binomios participaron en el CEI2* (120 kilometros), 23 de los cuales se clasificaron, empezando por Luis Cenisergue y "Mediatik Larzac", que se impusieron con un tiempo de seis horas, cuatro minutos y 41 segundos (6:04:41), y una velocidad media de 19,710 kilometros por hora (kms./h.). Juan Manuel Alonso (6:04:42 con el Mejor Condicion "Ezz") y Patricia Mariscal (6:16:04 sobre "Salduero") fueron segundo y tercera, respectivamente.

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New Zealand: Round One To The South Africans at HOY

Photo by Helen Bain
NZEquestrian.org.nz - Full Article

24/03/2009

The visiting South African endurance team seized victory in round one of a South Africa–New Zealand contest which began at Horse of the Year. The 100-kilometre one-star endurance event at HOY was the first of two rides in the inter-country challenge –the second will take place in Dullstroom, South Africa in October. However New Zealander Peter Birkett took individual honours, taking first place in the HOY CEI* 100km rideon Makahiwi Fire, with fellow New Zealanders, Amy Crowley on Makahiwi Stirling in second place, and David Hutchings on Tally Man coming third.

The South African team of Eone Willemse riding Hardisty (4th place), Leanne Geldenhuys riding Makahiwi Pandora (6th), Dominique Van Zyl riding Makahiwi Huron (7th), and Machel Greyling riding Makahiwi Genoa (9th) didn’t take out the top individual rankings but they all survived to compete the course successfully.

In contrast the New Zealand team lost two riders (Trina Hill riding Arizona McCue and Selwyn Boler riding Denzel) to vet-outs after the third loop of the four-loop ride, so Peter and Amy’s first and second placings weren’t enough to secure a team win.

However the Kiwis will have the chance to even the score when they ride in the 123km CEI** event in Dullstroom on South African horses – the South Africans rode horses provided by their New Zealand hosts here.

The HOY endurance rides were run through vineyards and farmland south of Hastings on a track which was relatively flat for a New Zealand endurance course. But though the terrain was not particularly arduous, the fast pace and warm conditions provided their own challenges, and only 10 of the 19 starters in the 100km ride completed the course.

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Qatar: Al Shaqab team sweep medals

Gulf-times.com

Doha: The Al Shaqab Endurance Team dominated the HH Emir Endurance Cup at the Qatar Endurance Village in Mesaeed on Saturday. The team won the gold, silver and bronze medals in the junior and senior race.

Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, had 12 of their 19 riders finish in their respective races, which is an incredibly high completion percentage for a team.
In the Senior race, which is 120 km long and had 34 competitors, Al Shaqab rider Mohammed Tahous Saif al-Nuaimi received the gold medal with a total time of 5:26:01 on his horse In Situ. Just three seconds behind him, Al Shaqab rider Essa Mohammed al-Sulaiti upon Hidalgo crossed the finish line for the silver medal. The two riders finished with the same average speed of 22.08 km/h for the entire race. Capturing the Bronze medal for Al Shaqab, Jassim Mohammed Ali al-Meadadi and horse Epson De Labruskaie finished the 120 km in 5:42:42.

Also finishing in the standings in the senior race for Al Shaqab, Khalid Yousef A al-Malki, Atta Mohammed Beer, Mohammed Sanad al-Nuaimi and Hanut Singh Pabu Singh placed 4th, 5th, 7th and 10th respectively.

The winning streak continued for the Al Shaqab team in the Junior race of 100km, which had a total of 45 entries. Hassan Tahous Saif al-Nuaimi secured the gold medal aboard First Star in 4:27:31. Al Shaqab’s second through fifth place finishes were an exciting race to the end with only five seconds separating all four riders, all with the same average speed of 22.4 km/hr for the race. Salem Rashid Mohammed al-Marri grabbed the silver medal on mount Lysa De Lap with a time of 4:27:48.

Abdulla Towaim Ali al-Marri came in two seconds later to win the bronze medal on Sanniesguns Sadan. Naif Rashid Ali Ibrahim was fourth place on Petite just one second behind his bronze placing teammate. Fifth place was won by Al Shaqab rider Khalid Mohammed Abdulla al-Emadi on Lasan in 4:27:53.

Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, is headed by general supervisor Owaida al-Hajeri, manager and trainer Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani and assistant trainer Jabr Nasser al-Ramzani. The team will compete next at the National Endurance Ride in Mesaeed, Qatar on April 24.

UAE: Yousef Wins Shaikh Rashid bin Hamdan Challenge

Khaleejtimes.com

22 March 2009

ABU DHABI - President’s Cup winner Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi won the Shaikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge 2 FEI CEI 119km Endurance Ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village at Al Wathba on Saturday.

The champion trainer, from the famed Al Reef Stables, finished with a time of four hours, 36 minutes and 44 seconds. Harmke Margreta Westervelt of The Netherlands, astride Khaki, was second with a time of four hours, 39 minutes and 48 seconds, while Saeed Mohd Al Jaber Al Marri of the UAE, riding Hurst Kariba, from the Al Reef Stables, was third with a timing of four hours, 47 minutes and 43 seconds.

World Endurance champion Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain, who had won the Al Jaber Group Endurance Cup for ladies UAE CEN 92km Endurance Ride earlier on Friday, was fourth. Maria, astride Vendetta from the Emirates Stables, had a time of four hours, 47 minutes and 51 seconds. Hassan bin Ali of the UAE, riding Centre Traveller, was fifth, with a time of four hours, 56 minutes and 17 seconds. It was a keen tussle between Yousef and Harmke but Yousef held on, to prevail in the end. Yousef, astride Carallio, finished the first loop of 32km in third spot before jumping to the top spot in the 27km second loop. He maintained the top position in the third stage of 24km before he dropped a spot to second by the end of the 20km fourth loop. But Yousef fought back to finish the fifth loop of 16km in top spot. He had an average speed of 25.80.

Harmke, meanwhile, finished the first stage in sixth spot before jumping to second after the second loop. Harmke held on to the second spot in the third loop as well before making a charge in the fourth loop to grab the top spot. But Harmke slipped up to eventually finish second.

Maria staged a splendid fightback to finish fourth. She had finished the first stage in 30th position, before working her way up.

She ended the second loop in 17th place before jumping to 10th after the third loop. She moved to the third spot after the fourth stage but dropped down a spot to finish the fifth loop in fourth position.

Around 80 riders took part in the Ride which was organised by the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

The Ride was held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. The event had a total prize money of Dh550,000 and Yousef won a Nissan Patrol car. Harmke was richer by Dh50,000, while Saeed Mohd Al Jaber Al Marri got Dh 45,000. There were cash prizes for the Best Conditioned Horse Competition as well.
Results:
Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi (UAE (Carallio) (Al Reef Stables) 4:36.44 seconds

Harmke Margreta Westervelt (Ned) (Khaki) (Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum) 4:39.48s.

Saeed Mohd Al Jaber Al Marri (UAE) (Hurst Kariba) (Al Reef Stables) 4:47.43s.

Maria Alvarez Ponton (Esp) (Vendetta) (Emirates Stables) 4:47.51s.

Hassan bin Ali (UAE) (Centre Traveller) (Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum) 4:56.17s

UAE: Maria Rides Antares Sauveterre to Victory

Khaleej Times
March 19 2009

ABU DHABI - World Endurance champion Maria Alvarez Ponton won the Al Jaber Group Endurance Cup for ladies, winning the UAE CEN 92km Endurance Ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba on Friday. Spaniard Maria, astride 13-year-old Antares Sauveterre, from the Emirates Stables, finished with a time of three hours, 21 minutes and one second. The average speed was 27.46.

The event was held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. Latifa Al Shaikh of Saudi Arabia, astride 13-year-old Coolaroo Jubal from the Al Reef Stables, was second with a timing of 3:21.52 seconds. Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha of the UAE, was third. Layla, astride Kerria Du Vrihou, finished with a time of 3:21.59 seconds. UAE’s Reem Shaban Ibrahim Hasan came in fourth. Reem, riding Sharahd Sataka from the Al Reef Stables, had a time of 3:26.22 seconds. Argentina’s Ana Lia Mendez, astride Benaur Tom Dooley, from the Emirates Stables, was fifth. Maria, who rode Antares Sauveterre to victory in the 90km Dubai Equestrian Club Endurance Challenge for Ladies, at the end of February, stamped her class again. She finished second to start off with, after the first loop of 32km. But after that, Maria, who won the silver and her husband Jaume Punti Dachs the bronze in the European Championship, moved to the top spot and held position for the remaining three loops.

But the most thrilling Ride of the day was form Latifa Al Shaikh of Saudi Arabia. Having finished the first loop in 10th position, Latifa fought back in fine fashion. She jumped five spots up to fifth after the second loop and moved to fourth at the end of the third loop and finished second. Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha too fought back well. Finishing the first loop in seventh spot, Layla moved to third after the second stage.

Results: Maria Alvarez Ponton (Esp) (Antares Sauveterre) (Emirates Stables) 3:21.01s; Latifa Al Shaikh (KSA) (Coolaroo Jubal) (Al Reef Stables) 3:21.52s; Layla Abdul Aziz Redha (UAE) (Kerria Du Vrihou) (Shaikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi) 3:21.59s; Reem Shaban Ibrahim Hasan (UAE) (Sharahd Sataka) (Al Reef Stables) 3:26.22s; Ana Lia Mendez (Arg) (Benaur Tom Dooley) (Emirates Stables) 3:42.04s.

Qatar: Al Shaqab Endurance Team to Compete in Emir’s Cup

March 19, 2009
Doha, Qatar -- The Al Shaqab Endurance Team will enter a total of 19 riders in the prestigious Emir’s Cup Endurance Race that will be held Saturday, 21st March at the Qatar Endurance Village in Mesaeed near Sealine Beach.

The Emir’s Cup is the highlight of the Qatar Endurance season and entails winning purses of over QR 1,000,000. The Cup will have a 100km race for Junior-age riders and a 120km race for Senior entrants. Al Shaqab will have twelve Senior entrants and seven Junior riders.

Al Shaqab’s Endurance Team, 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.

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 Senior race are the following: Atta Mohammed Peer, Mohammed Tahous Saif Al Nuaimi, Khalid Al Malki, Faleh Nasser Saleh Bughenaim, Hanut Singh, Abdulrahmen Al Sulaitin, Essa Ahmed Al Mannai, Khalid Sanad Al Naimi, Jassim Mohammed Al Maadhadi, Hadi Nasser Al Naimi, Mohammed Sanad Al Naimi and Llyas Mushtak Khan.

Competing as a Junior in the Cup for Al Shaqab are: Hassan Tahous Al Nuaimi, Hamad Rashid Al Ardhi, Abdul Aziz Mohammed, Saad Senan Al Kaabi, Abdulla Towaim Al Marri, Rashid Naif Ibrahim and Salem Rashid Al Marri.



P.O. Box 90055
Doha, Qatar
(974) 454-6245
sdohmann@qf.org.qa

Bank Windhoek Otjivero Endurance Ride

NewEra.com.na
March 19, 2009

WINDHOEK – The fourth annual Bank Windhoek Independence Otjivero Endurance Ride gets under way at Gobabis tomorrow.

Bank Windhoek is sponsoring the event for the umpteenth time with a staggering amount of N$15 000.00, in addition to Bank Windhoek promotional caps, golf shirts, waterbottles and folders.

The Bank Windhoek Independence Otjivero Endurance Ride attracted 87 participants in distances ranging from 30 to 160km last year. This year, riders will again test their mettle in the junior, senior and heavyweight categories over distances of 33.6; 66.5; 83.1; 100.3; 127.1 and 160 kms.

Endurance riding in Namibia dates back to 1966 and has grown in popularity ever since. This particular equestrian sporting discipline is unique in its own sense because of the fact that it’s not always the fastest horse that takes the accolades, but rather the horse and rider with the ability to complement each other.

Endurance riders must be physically fit with immense determination. The sport’s ability to unite diverse cultures, coupled with the addition of high quality locally bred horses, makes it an ideal activity for the country as a whole.

Namibian Equestrian Federation

Namibia Endurance Ride Association