Malaysia: King to join in endurance ride

New Straits Times Online

2009/04/09

MALACCA: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin will join local and international horse riders in the Melaka Grand Invitational Endurance Ride starting tomorrow.

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob had invited the king to officiate and participate in the inaugural event, which will end on Monday.

"Tuanku Mizan has confirmed his participation in the the race," Ali said.

To be held at the Hang Jebat Stadium and the tracks surrounding it in Krubong here, the event is expected to attract members of the Malaysian Equestrian Association as well as participants from Singapore, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.

"More than 130 participants, including 10 foreign riders, will participate in the championship aimed at placing the World Heritage City on the world map for endurance horse-riding events," Ali said.
The event is divided into the 40km, 80km and 120km races with the king taking part in the 80km race with his steed, Magna Thor.

New Zealand: Champion seeking endurance hat-trick

Times-age.co.nz

09.04.2009
By Gary Caffell

Eketahuna horsewoman Jenny Champion is seeking a hat-trick of victories in the 160km ride at the national endurance riding championships at Whareama tomorrow.

Champion and her part-Arab mare Freckles tasted success at Hawarden in mid-Canterbury in 2006 and Kurow in North Otago last year and they will be amongst the more favoured combinations again.

Not a big horse, Freckles should be suited by the Whareama course which does contain

some hills but is mainly flat in nature.

However, if she is to chalk up win number three she will probably need to finish well inside last year's winning time of 10hrs 43mins 13secs.



"The course is fast and should suit us but when you have that many kilometres to cover you don't take anything for granted," Champion said.

"It's very much down to the day, you can never be too confident."

As it happens one of Champion's main rivals is likely to be her partner Shane Dougan, who is president of the host club, the Wairarapa Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Club. He will be riding Taralea Sheer Illusion.

Look too for big efforts from last year's runner-up Mark Tylee on Class Act and Murray Smith on Glenmore Toyboy.

The three-star 160km ride actually gets under way at 1am tomorrow morning with the 30-plus participants being guided through the darkness by fluorescent markers and by the wearing of head lamps.

One-star and two-star championship events will be ridden over shorter distances on Saturday and Sunday.

New Zealand: 100 horses start Endurance Nationals

Dominion Post
April 8

Well over 100 horses and riders are entered to compete in the National Endurance Championships to be held in Wairarapa at Easter.

Wairarapa Endurance and CTR Club President Shane Dougan says the host club is delighted by the strong number of entries from all over New Zealand and was looking forward to a highly successful championships.

There are 32 horse and rider combinations entered in the longest-distance ride, the CEI three-star 160km event, which begins at 1am on Easter Friday.

Riders entered in the three-star ride include several past winners of island and national championship titles, including Murray Smith riding Glenmore Toyboy, Shane Dougan riding Taralea Sheer Illusion, Jenny Champion riding Freckles, and Mark Tylee riding Class Act, so competition should be intense.

Shane Dougan says the 160km ride will be held over six loops covering farmland around the ride base at Whareama Domain, east of Masterton. He says much of the course is flat, with some rolling hills and mostly good conditions underfoot, so it is likely to be a fast track and many competitors will not need to take anything like the maximum 16 hours allowed to complete the course.

"We wanted to set a course that is challenging for some of the best endurance riders in New Zealand, but we also wanted to make it a fair go, and give everyone a reasonable chance of completing the course successfully," he says. "I think the course we have at Whareama will achieve that."

Another 31 riders are entered in the 120km two-star event on Easter Sunday (including 11 riders in the junior 120km), 28 riders (including 9 juniors) in the one-star event on the Saturday, and 11 riders in the Competitive Trail Ride events on the Saturday. The club also expects significant numbers of entries in the 40km ride on the Sunday and 80km on the Saturday (entries are taken right up till the day of these non-championship rides).

Wairarapa Endurance and CTR Club is grateful for the support of the Whareama community, landowners and sponsors who have made the event possible. In particular significant sponsorship from Mitavite, Trust House and Tuff Rock has provided valuable support to the championships.

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UAE: Sheikh Mohammed 'bans himself' after his horses test positive

Horse and Hound
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor
7 April, 2009

Two horses belonging to and ridden by Sheikh Mohammed have tested positive to banned substances during competition.

The horses were tested last week during routine post-competition checks by Sheikh Mohammed's personal staff in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Two banned substances — Guanabenz and 16b Hydroxy-Stanozol — were found by his team after an international and national endurance competitions in the UAE.


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Shaikh Hamdan Wins Dubai Crown Prince Cup

Khaleej Times Online
Hisham Al Gizouli
5 April 2009

DUBAI — Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, partnered Garaman Mikado to land the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup for the Fazaa Endurance Team at Seih Assalam Endurance City on Saturday.

The CEN 120km race was originally scheduled to take place on March 26 as part of the Dubai World Cup events but it was postponed due to the unstable weather conditions last month.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, retired from the race after Gate-3 for the welfare of his 18-year-old mare Yamama.

Shaikh Mohammed showed the way in the early stages of the grueling race. He was second behind pace setter Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri as the riders covered the first 36km loop, but reversed places with the Al Wathba representative by the end of the second loop. But Shaikh Mohammed decided to rest his mare after the third loop.

Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also took part in the race astride Arabian gelding Dell Hama. Despite the light rain showers which hit the city last night and early morning, the 104 riders enjoyed the race. They said the conditions were extremely favourable for the horses.

“At least 15 horses were in with a chance to win the race. I have put my horse behind the early speed but not far away from the pace and Garaman Mikado kicked away from the pack when asked the question,” Shaikh Hamdan told reporters in a post-race conversation. “The race was competitive and the speed was relatively high. All riders have been preparing themselves for the test and leading stables like Al Wathba and Al Reef have sent their best horses. “I was only lucky to win the race, otherwise any of the other 15 top riders had equal chances to cross the finish line first,” he added.

The winner covered the distance in four hours, 20 minutes and 47 seconds at an average speed of 27,61 km/hour to finish 59 seconds ahead of runner-up Omair Hussain Al Baloushi astride Charlandre El Sharif for Al Reef Stables. Dutch rider Harmke Margrela took the third place honours for the stables of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In the CEN 102km Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Challenge, veteran rider Abdul Aziz Al Redha rode his Arabian gelding Mystic Dream to victory for the Saeed Al Kamda Stables. The winner covered the distance in four hours 15 minutes and 58 seconds at an average speed of 20,58 km/hour to finish three minutes clear of runner-up Hussain Ali Al Marzoki aboard Anter Baby. Meanwhile, 52 riders lined up for honours, but more than half of the field have been eliminated, retired or disqualified. Most of eliminations were due to lameness or metabolic. Some of the riders did not start the race for various reasons. The big number of eliminations were attributed to the fact that all riders came from small stables who lack the experience of races during this season.
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Australia: Lachlan Endurance Club members out in force

Cowra Guardian
photo: Lachlan Endurance Club member Mark Lindsay and Kintamani Charisma were first Heavyweight and third outright at the Cedar Ridge 120kms in February.

6/04/2009
Many members of the Lachlan Club have been having time out getting new horses ready and having a break from the constant training/riding during the hot summer months, although last weekend saw them all converge on the Oberon base at Cedar Ridge Stables for its third ride this year at the lovely Native Dog Station.

This base has been set up as an Endurance Centre and runs rides on a very regular basis, varying the course to suit and is gradually being set up as a permanent facility.

Cedar Ridge One

At the first 120-80kms ride in February, very few of the club competed as the early heat was a great deterrent from having horses in work.

The Bailey and Lindsay family with Mary Symons in tow, were the only members to front up to this very wet/cold ride.

Mark Lindsay was the only club member to elevate to the 120kms for first Heavyweight and third outright riding his homebred Kintamani Charisma.

Alan, Mary and Andrew were successful in the 80kms and were able to withdraw at this point.

Mary Symons was successful on her seasoned Ralvon Vim in a time of 6.45, Alan Lindsay successful on his homebred Kintamani Silver Flame in 6.01 for her first ride out of the novice division and Andrew Bailey riding his Aloha Delegate in 6.11.

Cedar Ridge Two

The second Cedar Ridge ride was on the first weekend in March and again the Baileys and Lindsays were there and Marjorie Trudgett making a comeback in the trainer as well as Duncan Myers and Greg Hamilton from Canowindra.

Annette Bailey was the only one successful on her young stallion Harmere Katif in a time of 8.41.

Mark Lindsay was riding Mary Symons gelding Ralvon Vim, which had a minor floating injury which turned into a lameness by the first check and Alan withdrew his mare with a saddle problem.

Marjorie rode her new horse Inshallah Solitary Man successfully in the 40kms trainer however her other horse ridden by Duncan Myers was unfortunately vet out lame on Arabina Sheliska.

Greg Hamilton had a great time on his young homebred horse Windradyne Choc Chip, with success in the 40kms trainer.

Cedar Ridge Three

By the time it came around to the round three ride at Cedar Ridge every man and his neddy from the club rode, even those who had extended breaks from the sport such as Andrew and Linda Jonkers, Helen Brown, Marjorie Trudgett, Donna Tidswell, Barry Blinman and Matt Thuaux.

The Baileys were the only notable absentees as they had travelled interstate to Victoria for an FEI ride, more on this later.

The 80kms attracted quite large numbers with around 90+ riders, with 34 Middleweight; 35 Heavyweight and the balance in Lightweights and a good contingent of juniors.

The organisers had opted to make a return to the AERA rules with 30 mins vetting which suited the hot conditions and all of the horses looked very well.

In the 80kms first home from the Lachlan Club was Mark Lindsay riding Kintamani Silver Motif; followed by Mary Symons on Ralvon Vim.

Karen Rhodes and her gelding Shadow were also successful as was Matt Thuaux and his gelding Tavern Park Shiraz and Barry Blinman on his Waugoola Creek Chips.

In the 40kms training ride Donna Tidswell’s OP Bailey made his successful debut to the sport as did Andrew and Linda Jonkers stallion Girilambone Comet and their gelding Girilambone Haizib.

Helen Brown recently took over the Jonkers’ pony Girilambone Eclipse and had heaps of fun after a long break from the sport.

Danielle Beard rode Botusa Park Spirit to success as did Nikki Tucker riding Karibu Kalari and her new jockey Pen Whatman riding her Anglo mare Alhambra Khalita enjoyed the change of pace.

Rachel Benad of Woodstock was also successful on Robin Gossip’s Wesswood Willow.

Also successful in the trainer was Marjorie Trudgett for her second this year riding father Paul’s gelding Buddy and her friend Duncan Myers was successful this time around riding Inshallah Solitary Man.

The next big event is over the Easter weekend at Tumbarumba where there are a variety of rides including AERA and FEI and the introduction of a Young Horse challenge.

Many of these Lachlan Club members will be competing in this, one of the favourites on the calendar.
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Spain: Final day - Tierras de Al-Andalus

April 4

The final day of the Tierras de Al-Andalus was run from Cordoba to Montero. Full results and photo galleries will be posted at http://www.enduranceeurope.net/international/Spain/2009AlAndalus

The following are photos of overall winners. (photos by Kristian Fenaux)

	Inigo del Solar on Zafia, ganador general equipos First Place - team
	Eduardo Sánchez on Hidalgo, ganador general binomios First Place horse/rider
	Otto Vélez, segundo general binomios